Harley Davidson V-Rod

[BlackSunsine]

I own an 04 Road King Classic and love it. 1st bike and will never get rid of it.

I cannot comment on the Vrod, as I have never ridden one.

I am not much on the looks, but I do have to say that LAVA's Vrod looks very nice, as well as JAMNUTZ Orange Vrod.
Also, I agree with JAMNUTZ's rant about the weekend riders.



And, if anyone here is in Colorado, we have a Penguin run scheduled for February 7th! PM me if you want more info. It will be about a 250 Mile ride.
Last years I think the temps got up to 30 Degrees.

Keep your wheels up.

And Dragon - good luck on finding the bike you want, I think you will find riding is a great time!

[jamnutz]

Originally Posted by BlackSunsine

I am not much on the looks, but I do have to say that LAVA's Vrod looks very nice, as well as JAMNUTZ Orange Vrod.
Also, I agree with JAMNUTZ's rant about the weekend riders.

Thanks, but that's not my V-Rod, just the only one I ever liked, almost bought it.

I hate getting on my Podium about my feelings about some of the new age riders & don't even get me started about my feelings on the way the company is these days. I still buy bikes from Harley, but I do everything not to buy their parts & stuff. Back when Harleys started getting popular again in the late 80's & early 90's, they did some dirty stuff to some of the shops that went broke trying to sell Harleys throughout the bad years during the 70's & 80's. Some of these guys had been selling Harleys for 30 or 40 years & had to have other jobs just to be able to keep their shops open. Then the MC took off & the accountants got involved & went around auditing shops, and if the shops couldn't afford to upgrade due to being broke from all of the lean years, the MC would pull their license & the big rich man down the street would get the license for that area & have the money to open his boutique & get rich selling $0.15 trinkets for $75.00 to the wannabees.

[Ravirn]

Spent two days with a V-Rod through the Rockies, loved it immensely.

Personally, I'd go for the 2010 Night Rod Special (VRSCDX). The Night Rod Special will be my next major purchase (after my Maro, of course).

I'm 6'3", and those bikes fit well.

[Ravirn]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

The purchase is off about a year from now...but I'm looking into insurance rates, and licensing courses...

Do it. I'm doing the same for the Night Rod Special. Just like the Camaro wouldn't let me go, the NRS has been calling my name, too.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Hey, V-Rod riders....

Roughly, how long can you ride nonstop before you have to pull over?
I'm looking for a comfort gauge -- I'm the kind of guy who'll take long treks just for the fun of it...100s of miles at a time. I don't want to have a broken back or bottom...

[drtwo]

Originally Posted by jamnutz

[rant]

I'm a die hard Harley guy, been riding Harleys for 24 years now, back when every time you would turn around you would be getting pulled over because you were a Biker. Now a days, I can't stand most of the Harley riders out there. My motto is it's not what you ride, it's IF you ride. I would rather ride next so some kid with a Night Hawk 250 who does it every day because he loves & lives it, than a group of weekend warriors/RUBS who put 20 miles a month on their bikes going from one coffee house to another every 3rd Sunday to show off their $300 HARLEY boots, & their $600 Harley jackets & all of their bolt on Harley parts.


[/rant]

I gotta say... some of you do sound like haters! I only put 1500 miles on a year.

Just because someone rides for fun only whenever they feel like it doesn't make them an inferior Harley rider. I also have a boat but I don't hate boat owners who only go out on the weekend, that's rediculous. Look at all the Camaro owners who never bring'm out in the RAIN! It's thier hobby.

Just because someone rides only 20 miles a week doesn't make them less a biker. There is no contest for the most devoted biker. I'm not sure why some people are offended by occational riders. Others apparently have money to blow to buy crap simply to show off. Just look around at this forum and their egos. Just because I don't smoke, have a beard, chaps nor hold some sort of a grudge doesn't mean I don't love riding. But I'm not going to ride in a rainstorm or if it's freezing out...I have alternatives so as not to arrive smelling like a wet dog and have people avoiding me. If that's how people identify themselves...go for it.

Some need to ask: do I hate them...or do I hate myself... (no charge for the counseling)

[BlackSunsine]

Well, I had never had a bike until I was 41. I was never sure I would get one.
My Father had Bikes for many many years and rode a lot. And I rode on his through Canada around Lake Superior when I was 18.

But I had always wanted a Harley. Then I got my chance and bought one.
I had to learn how to ride. In the first two years, I had only put on 5,000 miles on it.

Now, I ride nearly every day to work, in the summer, and if the streets are clear, I will occiasionally ride in the winter. I take trips and ride on the weekends. Around 7500 a year now.

But to ride 20 miles a week ???? I am not sure I would call that a Biker. Riding to the SuperK and back, or to the pub across town is not being a Biker.
Yes, you own a Bike.
I know people that own bikes and do not ride them, but trailer them. Not a Biker.
Going on a ride that the morning is crisp and clear, but it turns sour. Maybe some heavy rain and wind. Or when riding over a Colorado Pass in August and it Snows!!!
Continue riding. - BIKER

Sorry drtwo - 20 Miles a week does not make a Biker.

[speedster]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

Hey, V-Rod riders....

Roughly, how long can you ride nonstop before you have to pull over?
I'm looking for a comfort gauge -- I'm the kind of guy who'll take long treks just for the fun of it...100s of miles at a time. I don't want to have a broken back or bottom...

Have ridden a 105th Anniversary Edition quite a bit. Very comfortable. Can ride for hours no problem. A beautiful ride for you is to cross over to Canada and ride along the north side of Lake Ontario and cross back over the 1000 Islands Bridge (or the ferry boats) where the Lake and the St. Lawrence River meet. I am a speed freak so the next HD will be a 2006 Screamin' Eagle VRod unless of course we could get a Muscle Rod and Marissa Miller came with it.

[drtwo]

Originally Posted by BlackSunsine

Sorry drtwo - 20 Miles a week does not make a Biker.

Absolutely it does. How many miles does it take? 30, 50, 100?

Personally, if I go out it's certainly going to be more than 20 miles. But for those who go less, who cares. They are a biker. They are biking. What does it matter the distance?

I've run into far too many 'bikers' (all Harley) that have some emotional insecurity and grudge with people that don't ride as much, look as rough or suffer as much as they do. Like if the local rich computer nerd who has a Harley calls himself a 'biker' that it somehow insults them. I'd thank'm for keeping Harley alive!

Not sure what the beef is. I say good if you accept getting rained on and looking windburned every day because you ride to work. I don't, I drive my car in the comfy A/C and heat. But I am a biker too. I'll go out for a 100 mile trek with some locals many weekends. Some of them don't even have a Harley . I think that's the new generation of Harley owners. A more down to earth, spend-thrifty, diverse group that Harley chose to target.

If you ride a motorcycle you are a biker.

If one tries to set himself apart, he would need to build his own bike. That would be a true 'enthusiast"! Otherwise he's just a buyer and rider like the rest of us.

[jamnutz]

Originally Posted by drtwo

I gotta say... some of you do sound like haters! I only put 1500 miles on a year.

Just because someone rides for fun only whenever they feel like it doesn't make them an inferior Harley rider. I also have a boat but I don't hate boat owners who only go out on the weekend, that's rediculous. Look at all the Camaro owners who never bring'm out in the RAIN! It's thier hobby.

Just because someone rides only 20 miles a week doesn't make them less a biker. There is no contest for the most devoted biker. I'm not sure why some people are offended by occational riders. Others apparently have money to blow to buy crap simply to show off. Just look around at this forum and their egos. Just because I don't smoke, have a beard, chaps nor hold some sort of a grudge doesn't mean I don't love riding. But I'm not going to ride in a rainstorm or if it's freezing out...I have alternatives so as not to arrive smelling like a wet dog and have people avoiding me. If that's how people identify themselves...go for it.

Some need to ask: do I hate them...or do I hate myself... (no charge for the counseling)

Do you ride because you love to ride, or do you ride because you are trying to impress someone. What I said is that I would rather ride next to someone with anykind of bike I used a Night Hawk 250 because it's the smallest cruiser that I could think of, it's not what you ride, it's if you ride & if you love it, don't ride just because you want to be something you aren't, ride because you want to have your A$$ in the wind. I may be a hater, reverse descrimination I guess you can call it.

It sometime gets to me, when I DD a Sportster because my chopper is in semi retirement, 6 rebuilds & almost a million miles on one bike in 24 years. It does get me when I ride the sportster all the time, go to events on it & then I pull out my chopper just to let it stretch it's legs & go to some bar to get a beer & look at the beach & a bunch of riders pull up and see me on the chopper and ask me when I got it because they always see me on my Sportster & my chopper is so much Cooler, & that they would never ride a Sportster or something like that. That's when I started putting my arms around any rider who does it because they love it & they don't have to have a Harley to be a biker they just have to have a love for riding. It's not a fashion show, to me it's about being in the wind, finding some back roads lined with trees & nice curves & forgetting about all the crap and just riding. It's my escape from everything, when nothing else works, a long ride on my bike always puts everything back into perspective.


If I lived where you lived I would be riding all the time, but that's just IMHO. I work in North Dakota all the time, my company has a big interest in the Bakken & we do a lot of drilling up there, it sucks not having a bike to ride through the bad lands.

My Camaro is my hobby, I just can't convince my wife of that, so it's gotten almost 10k miles put on it since August.

[drtwo]

Originally Posted by jamnutz

Do you ride because you love to ride, or do you ride because you are trying to impress someone. What I said is that I would rather ride next to someone with any kind of bike I used a Night Hawk 250 because it's the smallest cruiser that I could think of, it's not what you ride, it's if you ride & if you love it, don't ride just because you want to be something you aren't, ride because you want to have your A$$ in the wind. I may be a hater, reverse descrimination I guess you can call it.

I don't think we're too far off from each other. Though, I personally don't know many people who ride just to impress someone?! That would lose it's appeal/luster pretty quickly.

Many people buy a bike or car to turns heads to impress or to define themselves; you included by your own account. I don't find anything wrong with that. A chopper is quite a head turner. If image wasn't an issue, we'd all be on that Nighthawk 250. I don't think you'd feel the same going to that bar on a Nighthawk. Your bike helps define your image too. People sometimes choose to ride a Harley because it is safe and very socially acceptable. I've met a lot of people simply because I bought this Harley and it helped me through the wall of exclusion of owning a foreign bike.

I do deeply respect people that ride that beat up Honda and go on poker runs with a Harley majority. They do it because they love it. They take the heat from the posers and the haters and still participate. That's someone who truly loves to ride. Good for them!

BTW around here you would be storig your bike >6mo a year like the rest of us. But there is an occational 35 degree day in Jan!

[BlackSunsine]

Originally Posted by drtwo

Absolutely it does. How many miles does it take? 30, 50, 100? .................If one tries to set himself apart, he would need to build his own bike. That would be a true 'enthusiast"! Otherwise he's just a buyer and rider like the rest of us.

Ok, Congratulations, you are a biker.

Or, maybe you are just a buyer and rider.

[springerpete]

There's Bikers, motorcyclists, riders, enthusiasts and then there's posers.

It's a thin line between some of them and its a very clear line of demarcation between others.

I believe its the posers that irritate the die hards. I can understand that. I feel the same way about some of the car guys that buy a $100,000 street rod and then he/she wants to act like they built it. Or they want to look down on me because my Rambler is three different colors of white.

I've ridden for 20 years now and have two sitting in the garage now. I don't get to ride them much these days because of kids and business, but I still do get out.

The reverse of this finger pointing is usually what happens to me. I can't grow facial hair and I hate long hair (too much maintenence). Therefore I don't look like your typical biker. When I go to the rallies to see some old friends, its usually the posers and RUB's that try to snub me. You should look at their faces when the greybeards come up and hug me and then don't talk to them.

This is the way I see it.

Bikers= it is more about the friends that you've met over the years and keep. Friends that will help you out of a jam when they don't have time to.

Motorcyclists= these are the guys that know quite a bit about their bike but don't ask them for a favor or help. They don't have time for you

Enthusiast= This is someone that is usually in it for the bike and the riding. They have a very close circle and don't venture out of it very often.

Riders= They are usually metric riders that can ride the wheels off of a bike but have little brains. Organ donors.

Posers= New everything, including the wife that has as many accessories at the new bike. Usually more obnoxious than anyone at the gathering trying to make a point to fit in. First sign of trouble and the bike and wife will be gone.

I know not everyone fits in just one of these groups but this is what I have seen over the years. Some have moved from one group to another and some just faded away.

[mrray13]

Originally Posted by springerpete

There's Bikers, motorcyclists, riders, enthusiasts and then there's posers.

It's a thin line between some of them and its a very clear line of demarcation between others.

I believe its the posers that irritate the die hards. I can understand that. I feel the same way about some of the car guys that buy a $100,000 street rod and then he/she wants to act like they built it. Or they want to look down on me because my Rambler is three different colors of white.

I've ridden for 20 years now and have two sitting in the garage now. I don't get to ride them much these days because of kids and business, but I still do get out.

The reverse of this finger pointing is usually what happens to me. I can't grow facial hair and I hate long hair (too much maintenence). Therefore I don't look like your typical biker. When I go to the rallies to see some old friends, its usually the posers and RUB's that try to snub me. You should look at their faces when the greybeards come up and hug me and then don't talk to them.

This is the way I see it.

Bikers= it is more about the friends that you've met over the years and keep. Friends that will help you out of a jam when they don't have time to.

Motorcyclists= these are the guys that know quite a bit about their bike but don't ask them for a favor or help. They don't have time for you

Enthusiast= This is someone that is usually in it for the bike and the riding. They have a very close circle and don't venture out of it very often.

Riders= They are usually metric riders that can ride the wheels off of a bike but have little brains. Organ donors.

Posers= New everything, including the wife that has as many accessories at the new bike. Usually more obnoxious than anyone at the gathering trying to make a point to fit in. First sign of trouble and the bike and wife will be gone.

I know not everyone fits in just one of these groups but this is what I have seen over the years. Some have moved from one group to another and some just faded away.

Great post!! I've tried to stay out of this " real biker" pissing contest, as their is nothing to be gained. Also, I'd wager most here, and no offense is intended, is nowhere near what a "biker" is supposed to be. I'm talking a true one percenter, outside of the law living, hell raising, pen educated sumofabitch. My father-in-law is one such "biker", having been jumped in, and late on, jumped out of (although one is truely never out) organizations like the Grim Reapers and Ghost Riders. Location and time withheld for personal reasons.

Anyway, there are a few things I'd like to add to your post, if I may.

Poser= will trailer their $60k custom rigid to all big rallies, park their tow vehicle outside of town and "ride" in. I've even seen trailers designed to put miles on the bike, so the posers could point at the odo and say, "see how far I've ridden."

Enthusiast= Goldwings and BMWs come to mind. Those guys are always geared up, ride everywhere in every kind of weather. IMHO, outside of true one percenters, the only real bikers left. 10k miles a year on their scoots is a slow year.


Me? I'm a cross between enthusiast and biker, according to your definition. I will definitely pull over if a fellow brother/sister is in need. Even if I'm not on my scoot. I have short hair, minimal facial hair, I'm a cop. I've got a few tattoos, hell, I'll wager I have a tattoo noone here would duplicate, lol. Yet, I don't consider myself hardcore, or a one percenter. While I love the freedom of the wind in my face, and the feel of the twisties, my life is too busy to put everything aside to be a one percenter.

Like Ford vs Chevy, this arguement grows old quickly. The serious posers give us all a bad name, and leave seriously bad impressions on everyone. Just like our Camaros, if the vehicle is what make you, instead of you making the vehicle, you are in serious need of some help. A $60k custom doesn't make you anymore of a biker then a $7k Sportster makes a poser. You are not your bike, your bike is not you. Get over it, get over yourself.


I'm done. LMAO, sorry for the seriously long rant.