Howard Messner USA & Sponsor from HDF USA.
By way of a customer from way down there I wish to say hi to all of you HD enthusiastic & bikers. I am a HDForm Sponsor and member for several years in the USA version of HDF, undoubtedly the best USA chat site for us. I am sure yours is the same for you. I am in the business of designing, manufacturing, and developing HD only world class original motorcycle performance components. I do not wish for you folks to perceive that I am trying to sell anything to you. Your Sponsors should do that as they pay your bills for you.
I have 5 bikes and ride my FXR (hand built) the most. A little less than 500# bike with a worked 113 ci TP & 6 speed. I like to start & stop as well as corner quickly. I do not care about the appearance of the bike as I ride past the bar in place of sitting in the bar talking about riding.
I just came back from the Daytona FL Bike Week show. Around 30+ degrees @ night and between the high 40’s ~ a high of 60 degrees (Fahrenheit). The cold weather and the economy + years of gaffing the bikers by the locals kept away more than a traditional ½ of the crowd. I met a lot of people from England, one group from New Zealand and many Canadians. The mood was subdued from past years, I guess due to the weather and much police presence.
I came for 10 days to your country (Melbourne) while I was in the USMC during Viet Nam (1968~1969). Your cities are so clean, beer is strong, and a definite shortage of ugly women. I do wish I have the time to ride in your country before going toes up. Just wanted to pop on by and say hi to all of you….. Later
from downunder
welcome
Welcome to HD Forums Oz style Howard. I'm the Aussie you're getting the Ohlins for my Dyna Fat Bob .
Can't wait and thanks for the helpful service so far. Our Aussie forum members are a good bunch. I'll let them know how the Ohlins feel.
Tony
No, that is a fork system I make. At the risk of promoting which I will not do, it accepts a Wide Glide 6.32" standard OEM wheel. The calipers align up on the rotors. With radial mounts you can lengthen the line to accept any size rotor from 11.5" to whatever. Those are 320 mm Metal Matrix rotors that weigh 2.2 lbs/each. They cool rapidly and are very hard, lifetime when using the correct pad on them. The calipers are M-4 monoblocks (made from one piece). I am using the HD 11/16" piston M/C found on dressers. They work well but I believe I will give the new 1" (handlebar) Brembo radial M/C for better feed back (so Brembo says).
I have the new 30 mm Ohlins drop in cartridges in them. Very smooth on the top end and firm right when you push them toward the bottom of the stroke. Defending Daytona SportBike champion Danny Eslick took them for a spin on his Geico Powersports RMR Suzuk that was equipped with TTX Pressurized front forks ($13.5k) for testing than popped in the new 30 mm cartridges and turned the same track time. For street the tire stays in contact with the road which can be a very smooth ride and on the track the principles (tire on the track) are the same but the system is valved to provide traction under extreme loading.
The 17" wheels are C/F that weigh in at 4.2/4.6 lbs and are direct bolt on. The motor is a Total Performance (TP) worked over 113 w/Bandit clutch. A 6 speed with 0.86 final and high gearing allows mellow cruising @ 3K rpm/90 mph. Of course it is much better to do this in the middle of the night on desolate roads as the police have no sense of humor here.
As far as the big Adams apples goes, man has that place changed! I went into a few bars and the entire (bar) furniture was cemented down and tiled and the stools were anchored securely to the floor and the windows were all up higher than you could reach. Everything was tile and the floor was doted numerous scuppers for a high rate of drain. The only thing that moved in the bar was a long linen table cloth and the drinks were served in plastic cups. I guess the WWII movies were fairly accurate as far as you guys and social interaction while consuming large quantities of dangerously potent alcoholic drink and women.
Welcome mate
Welcome aboard Champ!
Fatcat68
Hey Mate, welcome to our forum.
G'day Howard
welcome to the forum
Welcome FastHarley hope you enjoy the oz forums.
Here are the links to photobucket to view the Ohlins I got from Howard at Motorcycle Metal in the US.
Great service and advice.I'm happy to recommend him and these Fantastic Ohlins shocks.
He set them up for my weight and riding style and they are so good straight out of the box. I haven't needed to change the settings at all.
I'm real happy. They are as good as the hype says they are.
I'll put in some serious kilometers through the Hunter Valley roads and let the Forum know how they go on some of those goat tracks.
http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab118/T-Bone106/FaT%20BoB/26032010170.jpg
http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab118/T-Bone106/FaT%20BoB/26032010169.jpg
http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab118/T-Bone106/FaT%20BoB/26032010175.jpg
welcome shit datonas to cold for me . dont ride if its below 25 cent.you should come to WA. dont think do it your a long time looking up
