I was watching discovery channel over the weekend and they had a couple of shows on about custom bike (motorcycle) makers. A couple of guys in Florida and a company in New York State. How many of you guys are interested in those things and what in your opinion is the main reason why you own or want one. For me it’s the freedom. The super fast acceleration, just being out there. I love what I do but it’s just a job. Traveling around the world (or the US for that matter) with your friends, and seeing all the beautiful sights now that’s an adventure! What do you think?
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I'm a mountain biker although I've never really ridden any place all that interesting. There are some excellent cross country trails in Wisconsin- in fact we hosted a NORBA race for the first time within the last few years. Someday when I have money, and time, I'd love to ride MOAB or hit some of the trails in the northwest.
Now if you want to talk about super-fast acceleration, this has to be the coolest thing I have ever seen:
http://www.car-truck.com/chryed/buzz03/b010603a.htm
some people go to church, some it's a family gathering that give's them that "swell ". Me .. it's that man and machine thing , that prickly feeling you get right at the nape of the neck... the veins on my arms are more prononced, the sense's at full function. it's not the look 's from the people who have a carload of soccer midgets. ok maybe... there is a replenshing thing that goes on of a man and his motorized sculpture. you know that frozen smile you get after work on a june friday dusk.... that just get's me..... bear
bear
so are you saying you wanna go to Dakota this summer with me on our bikes?
Be rpm's
Namaste
Andy"Attachment is the strongest block to realization"http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
I saw the show on Discovery too. If you knew how much thoes bikes cost you wouldent be interested. thoes bikes are mostly 70's technology for the cost of a new luxury car. I think riding a bike with no rear suspension would get old real fast here in michigan. I think If I were looking for a bike it would be a honda or BMW. There better built, have more features than thoes customs and are cheaper. remember custom hand built doesent mean better.
Did anyone see that guy trying to make his gas tank? he used one from a sportster and modified it. talk about old fashioned manufacturing.
Leddebuhr1- Have you sat on a Gold Wing or BMW? I hope you have long legs. You can hardly touch the ground when you stop. Besides they're to dang quiet. Who wants to cruise down the highway listening to the hum of a sewing machine?
Noise pollution, Dual pipes, Vibration, Power, ape bars, sore ####, leaning back on your squeeze, that's what biking is all about.
Orange county builds other than hard tails.
Did you look at the whole site?
I beg to differ with you on the stretched sporty tank. Old Fashioned? That was done to make it look like a jet. I thought it was very unique but impractical for a 1200cc engine.
Did you also notice the guy took two completly different sized fenders and made them work. That's not old fasioned, that's talent.
Oh, Custom hand built in that shop does mean better.
Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Edited 1/29/2003 3:16:46 AM ET by Pro-Dek
couldn't be more wrong.
ever ride a wide-tired hardtail?
and yeah....all that hidden wiring ..hidden controls.....100+ HP.......choppers engineered with front ends that stick way out there but a 14 year old kid can hop on and make it around a corner......
sure....70's technology.....
all that...and reliability.......
U got no idea......and yes...I'm sure anyone that appreciates those works of art for more than one second have a good idea what they cost.
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
I'm not too wild about Billy Lane bikes for the most part. He's a craftsman and does awesome work, but his designs are a little toooo retro for me. If you want the high tech, then get a Bourget, his is all high tech stuff, stamped tanks, oil in the frame........but they howl.
Given the cash, I'd take a West Coast Chopper, Roger Bourget would be a close second.
Last year I has the oportuntity to rid a BMW crusier(not sure which model) its equivilant to a goldwing. Let me tell you that is in a hole different league. It any of you guys had to ride a long distance you would want to do it on this machine.
You say Lanes manufactureing processes arent old fasioned?? go to honda north america in Marysville Oh. and see how they do it. Anything that is hand assembled and welded is old fashioned. There are way to many Man-hours to make one of his bikes
Roger Borget does not hold a candle to BMW. Air cooled is not high tech. No instrument panel is not high tech.
I know most of you are going to say a bike should be loud and ride stiff. Many of you would also say the same about trucks. Drive a new F-150 or Chevy and tell me its loud and rough, like the trucks of yeasteryear.
Neither Roger Borget, Jessie James or Lane are engineers and it shows. There bikes are Very simple, still use old technology. so does Roger Borget use Engine manegment with EFI??
I've ridden both the new Beemer and the Goldwing(both customers bikes) But like others have said, they are not much like riding a motorcycle. The choppers are . No windscreen, no fairing, no floorboards......hair in the wind freedom. I've got a few convertibles, that weigh less than a Goldwing.
Radios on a real bike.....c'mon.
Hand made rather than machine made anyday!
Sooo, your idea of a real motorcycle is..................small trunk, 6 cylinder, windshield, upper and lower fairings to keep the wind off your body, cushy but small seat, has reverse, stereo, lots of guages, cruise control and gets 30 miles or so to the gallon. By golly what you've got there is a sports car! Or a Pinto convertable. No fun their. I have ridden Beemers, Goldwings, and owned an assortment of jap bikes and 3 different Harleys. Now I am a too each his own guy but I can tell you that when I rode up beside the bikes you are talking about, everyone in the area including the owner of the other bike looked at mine. And I didn't look at his because I knew how slushy the suspension was, and that even with a slow shovel head motor mine was quicker. DanT
Let me ask you this, if rugged, no suspension, wind in your face is what you want, then why is it that only certian motorcycles are still left in the 70's. All other "toys", like snomobiles PWC, ATV's, cars and trucks get more refinded with each new model. How many sleds do you see that dont have any rear suspension, like a chopper would?? none. Any type of vehicle needs to evolve over the years and become better than it was, not jsut stay the same. Ever notice what type of car Jessie James drives? its a Benz S500. Shouldent he be driving a '73 ford truck with a loud engine and stiff ride? I guess even old jessie gets tired of bugs in his face and a stiff ride.
Don't know a thing about snowmobiles. Rode one or two but thats it. I am fine with refinment. I am not fine with isolation. If you want isolation and to wrestle a 1000lb two wheeler have at it. I am not advocating a chopper but a simpler motorcycle that will handle a little bit, back up when you push it and feels like there is a little freedom to the ride vs being wrapped in a cocoon, like say riding in your pickup. But as I said, to each his own. Want to ride it, go ahead its your nickel. I will spend mine where I choose also. DanT
Oh, and I'm not a Benz fan either and yes I have owned one. Probably doesn't surprise you though. DanT
respectfully- you sound like you have a little ax to grind with harley. which i in some ways i slightly agree with you, but the new generation of harley's i.e. softails, belt driven, engine modification's. make these bikes pretty enjoyable to ride. there is a torque shift you get from a harley, that is like no other... i too have scootered on goldwing's, and a bmw once that i enjoyed around a lake in new hampshire and they are a nice touring ride, and compared to a retro- 70's harley sled as a touring bike the bmw was more of a ergo- friendly ride. the rub we are getting here from my end is the sculpture / functional quotient (ooopppss was that a scarf i heard) and it is a real quotient. and roll your eyes at the likes of jesse james and the like about being engineers but put with a harley it is a perfect match . the american spirit,ingenuity, and a " f*** it " a can do spirit. which by the by shouldnt be trifled at because i believe they got more on the ball than your giving them credit . european engineering fine .... i'm american i buy american first at all possible...... period.....which granted becomes more and more difficult. a lot of people try to lay claim to a representation of them selves and there hereidity by buying european cars, motorcycles, etc., which is fine, but when the arrogance get in the way to see the merits of other's (which jeese james does) ..... i get miffed.... " ein bien auschlander " ( i think ??)..........bear
Edited 1/29/2003 7:13:27 PM ET by the bear
Edited 1/29/2003 7:30:26 PM ET by the bear
I have nothing aginst american made. In fact, i prefer it. Hondas are made in Ohio. Kawie and yamaha also have plants in the US. BMW has a plant here, but I dont think its the bike plant. When Jessie james's special was on Discovery, did you notice when he traveled long distances he always has a chase vehicle? He also seemed nervous about riding in rain. He said something about water causing problems with the ingnition and getting in the intake. I have a hard time believing this is quality engineering. Most of you talk about "freedom", but I dont understand where a harley( or a west cost chopper) takes you that a BMW cant? The bimmer motor is silky and reliable. How does vibrating engine mean quality and refinment? Would you buy a new pickup with the engine causing the stearing wheel to vibrate? i'd say No.
We all started at the same point, but I can see you are going in a total opposite direction from us, which is fine, have a safe, smooth and quiet journey, I however want a fast, loud ,unsafe and bumpy journey, with frequent stops. I fthe space/ time continueum is indeed a circle, we shall someday pass each other.
NEW TAG LINE: I'm not totally worthless......I can be used as a bad example.
what's that old saying..."If I have to explain........"
and did ya think maybe the chase vehicle had something to do with a film crew?
... to each his own.
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
i'll say it again -This generation of harley is completely diffrent ride than 20 years ago.
"but i dont understand where a harley takes you where a bmw cant"
that is a real loaded question- take a heritage softtail for a three hundred mile tour and i think you might change that tuetonic hymn..... respecfully ..... guden nicht.... bear
Yeah, that and a real bitchin' flame job would still look lame on a beemer, or Goldwing.
think about it.... can european cars, bikes... take on the modifications like an american cars and bikes. a benz a great vehicle, porsche another great ride but put next to a 55' buick roadmaster i'll stop everytime and ache to sit in the buick... i've a buddy who exports harleys over to sweden by the container. and he does all the custom work over there . and he cant breath he is up to his dumper in h-d parts,bikes, memorablia. he customizes from soup to nuts, you wanna know what country he ships the most- germany- than- england- that's not a flagrant B.S. story. there are know other bike in the world like the one we 're discussing. they dont want BMW, TRIUMPHS, i 'm trying to remember that italian bike but it escapes me. over in europe the harley tradition is very strong... that sez quite a-bit from here....... bear
motoguzziBob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
that's it- thanks -
How about real flames under them.
Notice all of the ferin bike mfg. making nock offs of Harleys and then having the gall to claim nastolga.
Anybody have a servicar that they want to sell cheap ?
but the new generation of harley's i.e. softails, belt driven, engine modification's. make these bikes pretty enjoyable to ride.
No Doubt about that Bear- the new belt drive primary and secondary are unbelievably smoother and quieter than my old chain drive shovelhead.
Here's some shots of my sons best friend on a real bike.
Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Sweet...did he buy it or build it. That looks like a Bourget tank, but not his rigid frame.
that one excepional bike, a work of art... i could go on with the adjectives... there it is .... in all it's glory. i 've been around motorcycles for awhile and have never seen ####BMW have the "character" that a harley has. ####big kudos to your son, and his dedication, and $$$$$$ .... man that is one hell of a ride... bear
Bob,
This is the problem my wife doesn't understand. I just bought my 3rd scoot and want a 4th. Ya' gotta have a "go fast, look sharp, ride sucks" bike, like the one you posted. Another for all day country rides. Another for extended trips with bags, windshield and tunes. At least 1 old classic that everybody congregates around and remineces about....and I'm still working on some more excuses.Ditch
Ditch- Actually ya don't have to go fast to be cool on a chopper. Just lean back and enjoy the ride.Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
The attached is some 70's technology for you, Led, a Harley V Rod.
I shouldn't get into this thread, I sold my bike a while back for a combination of reasons, (I didn't have too much time to ride and a judge said something like "one more ticket and I'm tossing you in jail"), but I would ride anything, I couldn't care less what name it has on it.
I do agree you can't have just one bike, maybe I'll track down some ancient 50's technology, and see if that won't keep me out of trouble. ;-)
gotta talk to the doctor in april, believe it or not he rides to . we'll see.....
Be
Sturdy
Not nasty
Bear
Edited 1/28/2003 9:34:53 PM ET by the bear
You can tell a happy motorcyclist by the bugs in his teeth. I bought a black 1978 lowrider off the showroom for $3800.00 and my wife and I had a gas on that thing. It was 1200 cc's of loud vibrating action.We went 5500 miles on our honeymoon thru WA,ID,NV,UT,AZ,CA,OR,WA.
Wish I still had that bike. Nothing ever felt more exhilarating than having the wind in my face and the pavement swishing past my feet.
Here's where some of the best choppers are made
http://www.orangecountychoppers.com/occ/default.html
Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
I saw that show.......pretty cool ride that young man designed wooooaaaaaaahh! The Jet Bike!
OCC is not far from me, mabe I should take a ride over someday.
Bob, I bought a brand new Sporster in '81, the first year back for Willie G. after AMF; paid $3280.00 out the door! Some of the best times I ever had riding that Blue Baby!Sold it a few years later with 6000 mi on it and lost a whopping $280.00!
Now my 'bike' has 27 speeds and a total of 2 legpower! Rode from Brewster, NY to Lake Placid (325mi) through Mass and Vermont on my honeymoon last year. A little harder work, but nearly as much fun!
Eric
Her's a nice picture of a hog for ya:
View Image
Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me, either. Just leave me the heck alone.
I ride a HD Wideglide my wife a HD Deuce. Because of family obligations I hadn't owned a bike in 20 years. Then in 2000 I bought a new one, the following year my wife bought one. It is the single best thing we've done in 20 years. We've been to Sturgis the last 3 years, wild , beautiful, lots of fun. NC, just beautiful, home of Deals Gap "The Dragon" 318 turns in 11 miles, so much fun I had a wet spot. We're from Illinois 318 miles 11 turns, and ridden most of the states in between. Just got back from Fla. We ride with a group of about 20, most of them in the construction business, about 40% women riders, ages 35 to 60, myself being the oldest and have nothing but fun. My wife and I ride the most of the group, about 13,000 mi. a year, no bad for a cold weather state, and did I mention have a gang of fun. It doesn't matter what you ride it's the trill, exileration, freedom, and fun of the ride. I would recommend it to anyone. Getting older is manditory, growing up is optional.
LOL Russ- I remember a time we were heading over the pass from sunny eastern Washington to a black storm front. We didn't want to get our leathers all wet so we stopped at a Safeway and bought garbage bags and duct tapped them over our leathers.
Now that was a funny site watching the "Man from Glad" and wimmins going down the freeway floppin in the breeze in a monsoon.
Sorry too wet for a photo. Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Thats exactly what I was saying. The adventure or getting there is the fun part! Where bouts in IL you from?
You could say 2 places, La Grange area or Piper City.
I grew up just outside Downs. Lived in Bloomington/Normal for quite a few years also. How are things in IL? Cold I'll bet! It will be spring before you know it.
i'm gonna jump in on this for nothing else today......diversion...... the three places i've rode on or too 1) kancamangus highway , new hamster 2)route 61 from memphis to baton rouge trailered with bil with the ladies... great food. 3) blue ridge mountain parkway shenandoah to asheville ..checked out that big ole house down there.... anyone else ... come on jump on in...
I dont know how I missed this thread. Here is a picure of my "chopper". ;)
You scare me Stan. DanT
wow,.... that gotta be a rush..... an eggbeater... your cajones must barely fit in a wheel barrow....LOL... well stanley how about some picts...?? i'd ask for a ride but duct tape makes me chafe.... life is not a spectator sport, but you seem to already know that.......
Here is another shot of my "chopper"
These are the safest machines to have an engine out in. I have had 13 since 1985.
when you say engine out, you mean the engine quits?
How do you control it on the way down and not end up as a pancake?
Looks like it could be fun though? How high, how fast and whats the range?
CAG: The rotor is not powered ..it is in a state of autorotation all the time. When the engine quits..you just maintain about 45 mph glide speed...and then you flare out your landing reducing airspeed to almost 0. The ground roll is just a few feet..if not 0.
It will fly around 90...cruise easily at 70....range is over 200 miles..it will not stall and you can bring the airspeed right back to 0 and have a vertical descent. They will fly 10000 feet up..but I have only been up to 3000 feet.
Winds or thermals do not effect a rotorcraft near as much as a fixed wing.
Edited 2/3/2003 6:09:38 PM ET by Stan Foster
Looks cool, but I think I would need a parachute on my back at least the first few times. 10000 feet, damn must be cold up there
Well I wanted to just post the picture but it said I had to add to text so here you go
it's not what you do... it's who you do it with that makes it fun...
I've owned a harley since HS way before they were cool to pose beside.... i also own a 70's honda750 4 chopper... a zx7 and about 20 others from the 70's on up... I ride a 10yr old somewhat stripped down ultra classic.... picture this... November... 12 guys on bikes... ft lauderdale boat show...homestead nascar race... and key west... 90degree days.... smiles don't get any bigger
I'd rather die with regrets for things I've done... than with regrets for things I wish I had...
Get you a 10yr old evo harley with a tour pac and 10-20 thousand miles... it won't break you and worst case... you'll be able to say ..."i did that"
ps... I stay home late on nice days just so i can ride my 5yo to school on the bike... I've never regreted one day be'n late to a job for it
Did someone say "retro"?
Looks like an ole Knuckle Head from here Jim. Was that yours?Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"