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Curiosity Satisfied

1009 Views 13 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  IdahoRaider, 
sandiegobrass
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Been in Los Angeles on business last two weeks so was getting the itch to ride.. Found a place that rents HDs so rented it for the day.. partly just to ride but also to satisfy my curiosity.. rode from LAX to Rancho Cucamonga to visit relatives and back (with a couple short side trips)
All I can say is it is a completely different bike compared to a GW… of course shakes at idle (like most two lungers).. smoothes out at speed.. liked the floor boards and heel toe (guess I could add that to my GW)… not quite the get-up-and-go as I am used to.. but cruising at 85 on the freeways here was effortless…. seemed like a lot of road feed back through the bike (I had to duct tape the GPS to the pod)..I like the low end torque and 6 gears.. Breaks were great.. It needs some lowers on the front fairing… too much wind on the right foot.. kept wanting to be pushed off the board (that was at 85)

Noticed also that the rental agency sells the HD off at about 25000 miles but keeps the goldwings going until 75000..

Doubt that I will be buying anything soon, but I can see why someone would like them.. uniquely different (and I can’t see why some bash them either… so no bashing here..).. Keeping my Goldwings, though:waving:

Enjoyed my day.. 140 miles in about 5 hours.. with about 3 hours seat time..

Jim
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Oldshack
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Good personal review. I appreciate the honesty. I have never ridden a Harley. I would like to. I love the looks of Harleys but I, like you, believe I would miss the power. What does it mean when you say you liked the low end torque? I don't get that. Is it somehow better then the Goldwing? Anyway good little write up. Thanks. Bobby
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Motorcycle Pete
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Hey Jim-

I rode a RoadGlide around the Maritime Provinces back in 2005. It was actually a VERY good bike for that trip.

Good stuff- The riding position and floorboards were stunningly comfortable on really long days (in other words, all of 'em!. The seat was comfy beyond belief, and I've owned some expensive, custom-made ones. The fuel-injection made starting flawless, in all weather. The quality of the bags was very high; far superior to what I'm used to (old Vetter stuff) and probably as good as those on the 1800. The electronic cruise control worked adequately, although not quite as slick as that on the GL1800.

Bad stuff- cornering clearance was awful. Ground off a bunch of stuff in a corner, on the third day....rode like a "little old man", after that. It was nearly knew but, true to it's reputation, it started seeping oil on the first day, and managed to stain a brand-new pair of jeans worn by a passenger.

I think the ElecraGlide, RoadGlide etc. are pretty decent bikes now, if you can find 'em used, at a fair price. Otherwise, I still think they are at least 20% overpriced, for what they are. That may not matter to some, but it matters to me, I fear. Just IMHO.. :waving:
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Hatchetman
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Hey Jim, Just ride that 1500 up here to Vancouver Island & you can ride my Decker back to California!!!:action:
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IdahoRaider
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I understand what you mean about the power, what it does have is useful but itis lacking (power). Harley has been riding (pardon the pun) literally on its name for awhile now. Many buy a Harley.............many of my personal friends....just because its a Harley and that is enough for them.For many people that is enough, for myself, I rode an 1800 and thats all it took. Motorcycles to me are a personal thing. For example when I rode a 1500 Wing I did not like it due to the way it handled so I never got one, but it was not about the brand. I have never understood buying/spending so much money on something just because of the brand. That is why they call it "brand loyalty" though. I know many buy themonly because its an American Motorcycle. I am not going to get into the whole "buy American" thing, to many holes in the argument. Bottom line is buy what you like and you will be happy.
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sandiegobrass
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Oldshack wrote:
...What does it mean when you say you liked the low end torque? I don't get that. Is it somehow better then the Goldwing? ....
Click to expand...
It was a "retro moment"... reminded me of our John Deere 720D back on the farm 50 years ago... just engage the clutch and chug chug chug.. away you go... my wings need a little throttle, particularly the 1100... and keeping the rpm up at slow speeds.. and the HD chugged along at 85mph and 3000 rpm.. (GPS said it was 82 though...) and the HD didn't care much what gear it was in at slow speeds..
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RayandTracy
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Thanks Jim for the ride report, fun trying different bikes out for sure.
Ride Safe, Ray:waving:
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Geezerglider
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I'd love a chance to rent one to ride, but to my knowledge, there's no place in my area that does. Before I bought my 1800, I stopped in the local Harley dealer to look. They gave me plenty of talk, but no offer to take one for a trial run. From there I rode 80 miles to a Honda dealer. They almost twisted my arm to get me to take one out for a trial. All that was left for me to do after that was choose my color. :action: Some day maybe one of my Harley friends will let me jump on theirs.
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M
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Having owned both, the one thing I like about the wing is that it is unique... there are not dozens of them on every street corner.
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sandiegobrass
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hatchetman wrote:
Hey Jim, Just ride that 1500 up here to Vancouver Island & you can ride my Decker back to California!!!:action:
Click to expand...
Naaa.. keep'n it.. just have to mod the cruise so it will set at 85 and I'm good to go... may get a little more armor though.. lots of trucks out there.. :waving:

and on the "I no longer receive E mail notifications on posts that I am subscribed to. ".. I am the same way.. if I use my Yahoo account, I get it.. using my att.net account I don't.. my guess is that this forum..goldwingfacts.com... is tagged as a spam site... and it will takesomeone with some influence to get that changed.. and it is probably not just at att.net.. I've heard other reports like ours...
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JBz
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That low end torque of a vtwin is nice annd something I do miss. Id trade a few high rpm HP from my 1100 for a little more bottom end torque. JB
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sandiegobrass
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Geezerglider wrote:
I'd love a chance to ride one, but to my knowledge, there's no place in my area that does.....
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There is a place in Dallas which I think is about 40 or 50 miles from you.. It is not cheap.. normally about $140/day but they are having an October "special" at $99/day..

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sandiegobrass
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Geezerglider wrote:
I'd love a chance to ride one, but to my knowledge, there's no place in my area that does.
Click to expand...

Also found this...

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IdahoRaider
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Geezerglider,

is that you in the photo with the little girl?

Wonderful photo:)
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