Bought my wife a bagger
Yeah thats simple enough for me.
Nah, it all started in 1974 with Stone, America’s following us, they just took a while to catch on :-)
Well I see we are starting to follow America with most of the dealership's stocking more and more baggers.
I've known several people who've bought baggers because it's the thing that big boys are supposed to do. Only to realise that they're shit bikes, and end up selling them for something lighter after they've dropped them a few times I've never understood them. There's much better touring options than baggers, adv bikes, sport touring etc.
Old grumpy chestnut....where do we start? Tourers are designed just for that...touring! So like the constant advice asked by members on here "what cam" what tires"even what color should i get perhaps dont buy a tourer if you want to race your mates R1 through the mountains or do a track day. Its going to disappoint you and maybe even dump you on your soft head. But if you bought one to do weekend away with the Mrs and all the gear they are the ducks nuts. I have done many back to back 1000klm days with the Mrs fully loaded without a ache or sore back etc. I also have a BMW 1200gs and although a lovely bike start getting fidgety around 500-600klm but it can go where my tourer cant. As Wade said each bike brings something different to the table.
You can tour on a Harley bagger, I'm not denying that. They're nice looking bikes and they are comfortable. And what is a good touring bike, is a matter of opinion. In my opinion they're not good touring bikes. They're overweight and slow. Years ago I had a Yamaha FJR1300, now that's a good touring bike. As comfortable as any Harley, with better wind protection and much, much better engineering in every way. Each to their own.
Having owned an FLHT for 120,000 kms I have to say that my bike is the best thing I’ve ever owned for racking up big km days.
This was good
How good was the guy in front on the Pan American?
Everyone has their own philosophy. When I lived in Melbourne I commuted on my Ultra and didn't see a problem with it. Now I am out rural I commute on it 3-4 days a week (100km each way). There are faster bikes and there are lighter bikes. None of them have the same feel and manner as my old slug, which is what it is all about to me. Oddly enough I jumped off a VTX1300 and found the ultra 1000 times more agile and easier to handle at lower speeds (maybe a rake thing?) I live in the sticks with no local shops and can bring home groceries or a slab of beer and a couple of Pizzas home from Ballarat if I am on the bike. Although I am one of those weirdos who is happy to run a stock TC88 with no plans of upgrades or the latest chrome nut and bolt kit (or T-Bars - god help us all) .
I have on occasions commuted on my Street Glide and that's when i really got serious about heat control...out with the cat, heat shields on back of rear cyl, making sure EITMS is activated etc. After sweating our arses off and watching that temp start climbing we both agreed that we enjoyed each others company far better on the open roads or running thru the hills so that's mostly the old girl does now.
Maybe you need some StepOne undies. 😎
Stop women whistling on the back of the bike.
Dead right. A few of us are toying with heading to the tip this year.....dreading the 2000klm road route to get to Port Douglas on my BMW 1200GS. Have done a lap of the map on the street glide without a single thought of long days in the saddle.
