beltfed50

The only reason I never have is the benefit vs effort ratio is just too low. Swinging steaks are quite tasty.

I haven't been to any. Not for lack of want-to, but my rich uncle still demands a lot of my time. Next year I plan to retire...but that won't mean I'll be able to go as I please...there is an endless list of work that's been neglected at the farm the last few years because my Dad can no longer do it. I'm sure I'll ride more, and hopefully meet up with some of these folks though. That might even mean making some of the awesome rallies...

That looks like a messy track to me...but I know nothing.

Not one to be overly concerned about form over function...most of the time.

So far, well. Not riding for a bit...some man got hold of both knees with knives on 17 July. Tells me not to ride yet...so far I'm not hard to convince.

I hate tar snakes

...anybody use one? Likes/dislikes?

I do like that black cherry...

... 'Aine

Even a "low" speed high side can be ugly quick. Glad he's going to be okay!

Purty dang cool!

Definitely one of the good things in life!

1. Glad your BIL is okay. 2. I've stripped the farkles off my bike, so I have an F4 with vent & a Baggershield to unload...

Re: Ride-on It is worth it. Kept me from being stranded by the roadside with a nail I caught on a 500 mile day trip.

I had MCII 130 on the front of my RSTD and HATED it. Squirrely as hell on the highway in a little wind. E3s on right now correct size up front and nearest equivalent on rear...best tires yet in over 45,000 miles on RSV & RSTD, and I liked the MCII rear tire a lot.

Sound system on the Hardley is head and shoulders above my RSV. Lights...there is never enough light, but hardley is much closer. Electrical power...525 watts@ 2000 rpm, 650 max. That's pushing 50 amps and I remember when 45 amp alternators on cars were a big deal. Color options...I wanted a red one when I bought the blue RSV. EFI...while I understand carbs, carbs on a 2011, 12, 13 year model bike is on ludicrous par with cassette players in same. If hardley had not added the twin cooling I would not have at this point bought one, but they did and that was the clincher. 105 ft lbs of torque...if they can do it you can too, especially with 4 cylinders to work with. I'm not a forever fan like some of these guys; didn't even ride for 30 years, but in spite of 2 deployments, and downtime from surgeries I've got nearly 50,000 miles on bikes since September of 2011. I ride, rather a lot. I LIKE riding and I like for riding to be comfortable and fun. 360 watts power for cold weather riding + heated gear (I ain't proud...But I'm warm) doesn't cut it. That's just a handful of the considerations that led me to The Motor Company's product.

My next Boykin will be learning to ride from very early on...I guess there might be a rare one who just takes to it, but neither of the critters I've had since I got back on bikes wanted anything to do with it.

TFL...I already bought a hardley.

I've got one I guess I won't need any time soon...

Copy all Cowpuc

Congratulations! But, remember...a wife is like a hand grenade. Remove the ring and your house is gone...

Jimmy, I have made fun of hardley riders for years...even when I wasn't actively riding because for many it's a cult. I'd ridden a couple over 30 years ago and the most memorable part of the experience was loose fillings. I've always thought that air cooled is perhaps not the best way to expect a long service life...so I never really thought I wanted one. Liquid cooled heads helped, but it just jumped on me when we saw that red/cayenne & all the "rushmore" updates. Not logical, but real.

So far my favorites are the E3s. Liked the CII rear but not the front. If there had been a 150 I probably would never have made it to the point of trying E3s.

Things I noted on a 20 minute ride: the stock seats were quite nice, and did not settle into the pan, which was the reason I ended up with different seats on both my TD & Venture. Torque at low speed, which is the main nice thing I remember from the old shakes-a-lots. Did I say TORQUE? It was much, MUCH more smooth than I remember them being. This one had the short wind splitter wind screen, and my wife said it is a big improvement over any of the 3 screens I have for the RSV. I think that's what sold her more than anything. I will likely still want longer bars, and extended foot controls & boards, because while she said it felt more roomy to her it did not have quite as much leg room to me. It didn't feel quite as top heavy, but also seemed more resistant to lean at low speed. 180 turn was not really any easier than the RSV; maybe I just need to get in tune with the bike. I could definitely tell when I got above the speed where the brake system starts splitting...but then I was looking for reasons not to like that because front brakes when I want back brakes idea made me a little leery. It worked beautifully. Overall, and obviously so since I'm about to drop a chunk of change on one, I was much impressed. Alas, because we're soon to close on the house we'll retire to next year I'll have to wait until that's completed before I can do this...my bike is the only thing I owe on but don't want silly people getting nervous! Wait...wait...wait...I should have it by the end of May. And, yes it IS Yamaha's fault. Both the RSTD and RSV are great bikes; I STILL miss the 09 TD (it was RED!), and I'm pretty dang sure I'll miss the Venture too, but the bikes they're trying to pawn off as tourers...aren't. The "Rushmore" updates are awesome, and it's red! I've been so crazy busy trying to get new house stuff sorted out I've hardly had time to get on here, but I certainly expect to stick around.

I've had a raging fever ever since I stopped in the Savannah Hardley dealer a couple of weeks ago while waiting for the Shellhouse to open...where we saw an Ultra Limited w/mysterious red & cayenne paint scheme. I have read, and drooled, and even begged a ride on someone else's Limited so I could try to get it out of my system. THAT didn't help...and now I've put a deposit on one. I couldn't help myself. My wife rode with me this afternoon, and was very impressed with the passenger comfort. She's hyped too.