Bikes you didn't like nearly as much as you thought you would.

[EetsOK]

Originally Posted by Mr. Canoehead

I wasn't trying to pick a fight - the post went on about how bad the company was and made no mention of actually riding it. You and I agree that it was a turkey (I actually called it crap) - I said so in my second paragraph.

Sorry if it sounded like an attack. I just figured that no one here actually thought that they would like that bike so riding it would not have been a surprisingly bad experience, more a confirmation of expectations.

That's alright.
I remember the first time I sat on one, it was a red and black 1999 with the S&S engine and the double downtube frame. I have NEVER lifted a bike that felt so top heavy! I can't even compare it anything, including some of the aftermarket "choppers" that used to be so popular.
There is nothing about these new Indians, even Polaris's 2013 (which is a slighlty warmed over Gilroy design) that makes me say "Yeah it is worth what they are asking." Wehn it comes down to it, a HD will win out every time and I am not a huge HD fan. The HD (and every other cruiser out there) will out ride, out handle and generally out perform the Indian with one spark plug out.

I HOPE Polaris is fixing this. The new engine sounds promising but a 5 second clip of an engine....what can you really say about it? Poalris does make good cruisers. Just looking at the internals of one is proof enough for me that they have good engineers designing this stuff.

[dmac57]

Originally Posted by X1Glider

A beautiful bike I've lusted after since it came out. 10 years ago I found one, an '83. Tested it out. Determined that the engine simply outperformed the rolling chassis and handle poorly. I was simply in love with the idea of the bike. Was heartbroken when it didn't meet my expectations.

Might explain how I held one off with my R90 across a twisty bit in NC years ago.

[dirtdreamer50]

Originally Posted by dmac57

Might explain how I held one off with my R90 across a twisty bit in NC years ago.

The biggest complaint of all bikes Japanese back then was, they did good in a straight line but scary in the curves. ( I remember those bikes) Euro bikes ruled the twisties back then. Today, most bikes, regardless of their origin work well, under most conditions. Thanks to Olins and others, for creating units of equalization... tp

[PhilB]

Originally Posted by scootrboi

Vespa GS160

It is supposed to be about the best scooter ever. I had abandoned my Honda 305 Dream in Valentine Texas Dec. 1974. In the Spring of 75 I picked up the Vespa for $100. It was peppy, shot up to 55mph as fast as I could shift, but I felt like I was riding on a balloon. I preferred my brother's old Heinkel, which accelerated like a Beetle, felt like a small locomotive,and handled beautifully. The Vespa seized within a month on a long downhill coast, and I didn't fix it. I bought the Heinkel for $50 in 1981 and am still riding it.

That's funny. Comparing the Vespa to the Heinkel is kind of like comparing a Ducati Monster to a Harley Road King. They're completely different. I own both (a '64 GS160, and a '60 Heinkel 013A1), and they are really different to ride. The Vespa is a hell of a lot more fun, especially on a twisty road; the Heinkel is far better at touring.

If you should happen to still have the remains of that GS160, they're worth quite a bit these days. (And note that just about any 2-stroke will sieze "on a long downhill coast". The lubrication is in the fuel, and any sort of engine braking will have it turning higher revs than idle with the same lubrication as at idle, causing it to be underlubed. *Never* engine brake with a 2-stroke.)

PhilB

[Dilligaf0220]

Originally Posted by X1Glider

A beautiful bike I've lusted after since it came out. 10 years ago I found one, an '83. Tested it out. Determined that the engine simply outperformed the rolling chassis and handle poorly. I was simply in love with the idea of the bike. Was heartbroken when it didn't meet my expectations.

Even when it was new everybody loved the motor & hated the crap chassis on the CBX.
There were half a dozen Euro shops building frame kits to bolt in the CBX motor (which really does sound as good as you hope it does). Spondon still builds frames for the I6, all you need to do is source a motor and do a little garage wrenching. 380lb, stiff, well handling bike that the CBX never was.

[Blakebird]

Originally Posted by X1Glider

A beautiful bike I've lusted after since it came out. 10 years ago I found one, an '83. Tested it out. Determined that the engine simply outperformed the rolling chassis and handle poorly. I was simply in love with the idea of the bike. Was heartbroken when it didn't meet my expectations.

you didn't find an '83....the last year was '82. The first couple of years were twin shock, the change to Pro-Link made for the "sport touring" variant years ('81-'82)...a much better handling bike. The engine was not a horsepower monster, so I doubt it outperformed the chassis - it was a long, heavy bike.

Forks were still a bit spindly, and if you expected much serious handling even by 10yr-ago standards, you were expecting too much.

[EetsOK]

The new Bonnies. Tried numerous ones and they are all boring. They work well enough, comfort, handling, braking pwoer are all very good for a bike in its class and price but somehow I feel bored on it. It does everything very well except it is as interesting as a new kitchen appliance.

[Lornce]

Having a hard time wrapping my head around the 380lb claimed wieght.
Stock CBX's were over 600lbs, and much of that was drivetrain.

Other than that, it looks like a neat bike.

Originally Posted by Dilligaf0220

Even when it was new everybody loved the motor & hated the crap chassis on the CBX.
There were half a dozen Euro shops building frame kits to bolt in the CBX motor (which really does sound as good as you hope it does). Spondon still builds frames for the I6, all you need to do is source a motor and do a little garage wrenching. 380lb, stiff, well handling bike that the CBX never was.

[Mr. Canoehead]

Originally Posted by Dilligaf0220

Even when it was new everybody loved the motor & hated the crap chassis on the CBX.
There were half a dozen Euro shops building frame kits to bolt in the CBX motor (which really does sound as good as you hope it does). Spondon still builds frames for the I6, all you need to do is source a motor and do a little garage wrenching. 380lb, stiff, well handling bike that the CBX never was.

That's beautiful (except for the cheesie headlight brackets). I love the single side swingarm.

I was touring the Olympic Peninsula a few years ago, we were gassing up in the morning and an early model red CBX pulled up at the pumps. We all rushed over to look at it and within 5 minutes there was about 15 motorcyclists crowded around the bike.

The owner was touring on it and said that the same thing happened every time he stopped. Definitely an icon.


Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk 2

[canoli]

The Harley Sportster 883 Iron.





I really wanted to like this bike. Basic, no frills, good ergos and just a bit of character. However from the moment I picked it up off the kick stand I knew it wasn't going to be right. Heavier then I thought a bike of that size should be and when I started it I watched the gas tank shake like a paint can being prepped. The engine had a very noticeable valve tapping noise that the dealer told me was normal. On the road it handled well enough but just when things started getting fun it felt like someone turned off the air and the bike refused to get up and move out of it's own way. Additionally I found the suspension to be absolute garbage. It felt like I was riding down a set of railroad tracks.

Now I don't expect a bike to be %100 perfect fit to me from stock, but I do want it to show me it's finer points on the test ride. The amount of money that the 883 Iron needs to get out of it's stock phase is well beyond what I am willing to put into $8000 bike. Sucks … I really wanted to like it.

[Nadgett]

I think just about every bike ever built has been covered now. Any we've missed?

[vicster]

Rocket 111 Roadster?

DR650?

[plugeye]

Originally Posted by vicster

Rocket 111 Roadster?

DR650?

i covered the dr650 earlier

[dirtdreamer50]

Anyone mention the Yamaha XS650? I bought one in '81. Black and chrome, a thing of beauty. Any speed over 50mph, the whole bike shook so badly, from bars to pegs, it was impossible to use on the highway. The bike went to the first guy who admired its looks. Someone stole it from him.......tp

[vicster]

Originally Posted by plugeye

i covered the dr650 earlier

D'oh!