I never understood Ape Hangers either. To me it seems like that would make the bike much harder to ride. Only speculation as I have not ridden in many years.
But, if I keep hangin' around the likes of Paper and Big Dog I may just change that!
Wish list: KLR, Moto Guzzi 850, Honda Gold Wing.........what? No Harley? Nope. I don't want one. I don't need a status symbol and the only people who rode Harleys when I was growing up were not nice people.
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Wish list: KLR, Moto Guzzi 850, Honda Gold Wing.........what? No Harley? Nope. I don't want one. I don't need a status symbol and the only people who rode Harleys when I was growing up were not nice people.
I understand, and truthfully, HD makes some nice bikes, but it all depends on what kind of riding and type of bike you're after.. Harley's never made a bike that I want to ride, and I've ridden a lot of what they've made. Heavy steering, heavy bike, and upright seating with feet out in front of me is not my style..
But, obviously for hundreds of thousands of riders, it is what they want.. While the whole cruiser thing has declined in the last few years, it's still a huge portion of the motorcycle arena..
And as I mentioned, I know a lot of HD riders... Unfortunately, I know a lot more pretenders.. Luckily, after I while they usually find a different costume to wear. And it's not just HD that contains the poser group.. I've been riding BMW's for 25 years and I've seen a few come in go in that group, too..
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Sorry AC, but I've never understood "Apes. Not to stereotpe, but around here (one hour from where your bike was built) there are two types of riders. Those who ride, and those who ride to bars.. I like riding a lot more than drinking..
Does this help? BTW, I don't drink or go to bars. I ride my bike, and the apes are incredibly comfortable for a guy my size. I don't mind the stereotypes, I ride my bike everywhere and it doesn't apply to me. I love all motorcycles. I've been through 37 states on my bike and plan on hitting a few more this spring. My bike has never been on a trailer, and I'll never go to Sturgis... at least not during the rally... Nothing against it but it's not my thing.
I ride my bike everywhere and it doesn't apply to me. I love all motorcycles. I've been through 37 states on my bike and plan on hitting a few more this spring. My bike has never been on a trailer, and I'll never go to Sturgis... at least not during the rally...
Excellent!!, and GREAT PHOTOS!!!!
Last spring I bought my latest BMW out in Spokane and rode it back home over a 3 day weekend. During the ride I hit a bunch of of passes (Lolo, Beartooth, Bighorn) and was waved at by just about every rider, until I got to within 50 miles of Sturgis.. For about a 100 mile radius every rider I met hand their nose in the air, to the point where I just gave up and quit waving to my fellow riding brothers.
I still don't understand the Apes, though..
On the other hand, I've always ridden slightly leaned forward, feet under me and I prefer no windshield, or a minimal one at most..
My 05' GS
My 81' R65
My 85' R80
I already posted my KLR, and here's my 18 year old Honda 250 Helix
And for those that enjoy getting out there to ride, I'd suggest this all summer long Grand Tour.. GLMC Grand Tour It's a great time, and a great excuse to wander into some towns for photos, finding stuff you might never have noticed if you just ride past these towns..
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The KLR "Doohickey problem" is massively overhyped. My KLR has 43,000+ miles, and has NEVER had the cases opened. Another rider Iknow had 80,000 miles on his 1989 KLR before he even knew what a doohickey WAS.
A very good Kawasaki mechanic who I trust (not the usual 'steelership mechanic') told me awhile back that those he's seen broken were alldue to owners doing the 'adjustment' incorrectly. I don't doubt that EagleMike makes a good product in his improved Doohickey - it just isn't the critical item many think it is.
The 'thermobob' isn't necessary at all - just a nice gadget to have if you ridea lot in hot weather. Some riders get hinky when their KLR runs 3/4 of the way up the temp gauge. Not a problem. Mine has reached that level often in Florida summers and never had an over-temp problem.
Some farkles just aren't that necessary.
I test rode some Harleys on year at the local "Harley Days" ride weekend. It showed me I am NOT a Harley Guy. The danged Thunder Mountain chopper nearly killed me, and I just don't fit the H-bikes.
I'd never even fit inside those enclosed machines - just can't call them 'bikes'!
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The KLR "Doohickey problem" is massively overhyped. My KLR has 43,000+ miles, and has NEVER had the cases opened. Another rider Iknow had 80,000 miles on his 1989 KLR before he even knew what a doohickey WAS.
A very good Kawasaki mechanic who I trust (not the usual 'steelership mechanic') told me awhile back that those he's seen broken were alldue to owners doing the 'adjustment' incorrectly. I don't doubt that EagleMike makes a good product in his improved Doohickey - it just isn't the critical item many think it is.
My Doo wasn't broken, but of the 15 I've helped change, 6 were broken, and only one was due to over tightening.. 3 were broken springs, 2 were broken welds, and one was over tightened..
Mine, in my 2002 was fine, but the $40 spent on the improved Doohickey and spring was worth every cent in peace of mind.. Wandering out on the end of the Keweenaw Peninsula in the UP of Michigan, I'd really have hated to have my balancer chain to start grinding at the insides of my motor.. Now that it's done, I don't have to worry about it, and after seeing as many failures as I have (one was on a bike with 270 miles on it, broken spring) I'm glad I spent the $40.. While I was at it, I also replaced my subframe bolts with oversize Grade 8 hardware..
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I just get to thinking about how very few dirt roads are left in my area and it turns me off to a DS, but I raced motocross for years so I'm always open to getting back on a similarly styled motorcycle. The bike I have I ride everyday, and man does it become a drag; 860 pound motorcycle is not easy to move around in parking lots... but there aint a harley out there that will run with it! 125 cubic inches of butt kickin!
Thanks Paper, and I love your bikes... well, that Helix has a look only a mother could love!
I don't understand the Harley riders that don't feel the love towards their fellow bikers no matter what they ride but I see it all the time. And to be fair I've met plenty of crotch rocket riders that sneer at HD riders. It makes no sense to me, we all share the love for the road or the trail and the outdoors. Those people have issues that go way deeper than motorcycles.
I've ridden them all, I've ridden Hondas, Kawasakis, and Yamahas and they've all been great bikes. As I got a little older I started steering clear of bikes that would tempt me to ride too fast and I got back on the Harleys about ten years ago. I had a Harley back in the early 80's (pre evo motor) that was such a piece of trash I swore I'd never ride another, then Karen and her crew got ahold of the R&D department and started making some real decent bikes by the late 80's. I knew I would be stereotyped by some and embraced by others, but I just flat out don't care. I love riding and I'm going to ride what I like! As far as the apes go, look at the bottom pic and you'll see they just fit me. They are extremely comfortable! I've done all those rides with the apes and If there was something that felt better on my bike, I'd have it.
I am planning on buying a dual sport this summer for some trail riding.
My original post in the thread was meant only for that thing the OP video showed, that half-car, half-bike thing. That's no motorcycle the way I see it!
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BUY USA MADE.
Hee Hee.. Yeah, the Helix is an acquired taste, for sure.. But, it makes me laugh and smile when I ride it, and it's actually comfortable and more than capable of the long haul, as long as you stay off the interstates.. Very happy at 60, it's a backroad ride..
I just wish I had photos, or even a list of all the bikes I've had over the years.. I have multibike disorder.. Hell, some give me crap about having the BMW's, Kawi and Helix now, but I was up to 7 bikes (all rideable) at one time..
Kinda like guns and potato chips, ya can't have just one..
And I wave at everyone.. Riding is a brotherhood, no matter what you're on!! And yes, I even wave at scooter riders..
I needed to know that 11 years ago when I first started riding and racing motocross and have done countless top ends on "jap bikes" since then. Oh yeah... I also do all of the maintenance on 2 Japanese Vtwins, mine and my fathers. Funny how they always seem to run right after I work on them, yet the last shovelhead I saw leaked at least a pint a month, and had a pushrod that kept backing off. Oh yeah, don't tell all those guys who own twin cam 96's that put about 1000 miles on them a year, that at 15,000 miles those little plastic tensioner shoes will fail at anytime and frag their motor, and harley davidson won't cover it. Oh yeah... those dang oil pumps that drop to as little as around 3PSI at idle.
Well we like what we like. Did a lot of puttin around. Loved the ol Shovel I had. For me it was easy to work on. BTW those little oil leaks, just markin thier territory and leavin ya a trail to find your way home.
__________________ Take what you can, give nothing back: Capt Jack Sparrow
Does this help? BTW, I don't drink or go to bars. I ride my bike, and the apes are incredibly comfortable for a guy my size. I don't mind the stereotypes, I ride my bike everywhere and it doesn't apply to me. I love all motorcycles. I've been through 37 states on my bike and plan on hitting a few more this spring. My bike has never been on a trailer, and I'll never go to Sturgis... at least not during the rally... Nothing against it but it's not my thing.
2006
2008
2007 Groom Texas
2007 Wilmington North Carolina
2009 Santa Fe
2010 Big Sur
2011 Show Low Arizona
Nice Heritage AC. Ya know when I had and rode my ol Shovel there were those times that it saw a trailer. But one time and one time only it broke down out of a town. We stopped at the next town and found an aftermarket shop and picked the part I needed. We were in a hurry so I jumped in the trailer yanked off the tool bag dropped it on the floor of the trailer and told em to take off. The trailer was high walled and with a steel floor, the bike all strapped in and I went to work on it. points, plugs, some wireing, that I had fixed before I had left home with it (vibaration messed it up again). The big problem was the bendix gear for the electric start. Oh that was fun bouncin around tryin to get that put on. By the time we stopped I was pushin the button to see how she sounded. Yep ya do some real crazy stuff when your a lot younger. I'm just glad that there was some extra weight on the trailer. Along with me and my bike there was a little scooter and an additional 200 pound tool box in there with me.
As for the apes you got yours set up the way I had mine. That sissy bar pack turned around the wrong way. I would lean back against it and the bros behind me could only see the top of my helment. They would pull up next to me to see if I was sleepin. Yeah apes are comfortable.
__________________ Take what you can, give nothing back: Capt Jack Sparrow
15Likes
And it's not just HD that contains the poser group.. I've been riding BMW's for 25 years and I've seen a few come in go in that group, too.. 
BTW, I don't drink or go to bars. I ride my bike, and the apes are incredibly comfortable for a guy my size. I don't mind the stereotypes, I ride my bike everywhere and it doesn't apply to me. I love all motorcycles. I've been through 37 states on my bike and plan on hitting a few more this spring. 
NRA Lifer. God bless our troops.
