Ridden a K1200R/K1300R lately? I like HDs but to me -- along with Goldwings -- they are the ultimate bland-o-matics. The Goldwing feels like an appliance; the HD like an appliance... that's busted.
Well, I wager you'd be surprised how fast a good rider can make my wife's Super Glide go through the twisties. But I'll posit 2 things. The average Harley rider doesn't corner fast and the average GS rider thinks "off road" means packed, gravel two lanes.
True, after the K1200R I tried a MTS1100S then a year later, bought my current exercise in blandness: You feel my pain. cheers, melby
I know right?!! Every time I get to a corner with my HD I have to get off the damn thing, pick the whole bike up over my head (there's an owners strength training course when you sign up with your local HOG chapter ) and physically point it in a new direction. This task is exacerbated by the fact that it takes miles for it to slow down on account of barely functioning brakes!! ...And if you run over an earth worm or worse yet, a small crack, pebble or carelessly discarded Viagra medicine cap (very common on HD traveled routes especially between bars) ?! WATCH OUT because the suspension will do it's best to throw you off the bike!! :eek1 Still totally worth the $70k I spent on chrome, bar end tassels and custom chaps......
It's strange that even though the brakes hardly work, the slightest touch on the front brake will throw you right over the handlebars. :huh
Sadly, I have to agree with you on both counts. Ive seen the outliers on both bell curves.... and they are rare
The Goldwing does indeed feel like an appliance. It's one appeal is that it is extremely comfortable, allowing you to travel long distances without pain. The bike itself is dead boring. It's what you can do with it that is not boring. I never rode mine around town, would rather drive a car. But I don't see anything boring about a Harley. I can (and have) had fun on those riding around a parking lot. They have a sound and feel that I don't see how anybody could find boring. They actually corner fine, but that is not what they were designed for. The only BMW I would probably not find boring would have to be the GS, but I could have just as much fun on a KLR for 1/3 the price. As for BMW road bikes, I do not know of any modern ones that do not have a sportbike riding position, which to me means not only boring but painful as well. The R1200C was also boring, but comfortable, making it a great bike to enjoy traveling on. But as far as the title of the thread, I would take any Harley over any BMW in a heartbeat. An Electra Glide has both comfort and character. What more could you want from a touring bike?
You don't want any BMW motorcycle in the same way that I find Harley's fantastically boring. Except the XR1200 - I liked that bike a great deal but it needs the V-Rod motor