"Frank Boettcher" wrote

I've been thinking about a Harley 883 Sporster. If I
catch one at a
good price......


That's a girls bike, Frank

Scotty

On Thu, 3 Aug 2006 16:58:05 -0400, "Scotty"
wrote:


"Frank Boettcher" wrote

I've been thinking about a Harley 883 Sporster. If I
catch one at a
good price......


That's a girls bike, Frank

Scotty


Well, not a matter of image for me and I don't want it for touring.
basic local transportation with a little fun thrown in.

Every morning I get in my truck and ride about 5 miles one way to a
trail head and then I run 5-8 miles. Ten miles with truck mileage.
The bike would be more fun and less gas.

Besides, most of those so called " tough guys" that I know that have
big Harleys put them on trailers or trucks and haul them to "ride ins"
Now that's really macho. And they couldn't run 80 yards much less 8
miles.

And it's a matter of perspective. When I was a kid a 300CC bike was
considered a "big" bike. Pushing 60, I want something that is fun
without busting the bank.

Frank

"Frank Boettcher" wrote

Well, not a matter of image for me and I don't want it for
touring.
basic local transportation with a little fun thrown in.

Okay, just stay out of the biker bars.


Every morning I get in my truck and ride about 5 miles one
way to a
trail head and then I run 5-8 miles. Ten miles with truck
mileage.
The bike would be more fun and less gas.


Good for you. Why not ride a bicycle?


Besides, most of those so called " tough guys" that I know
that have
big Harleys put them on trailers or trucks and haul them
to "ride ins"
Now that's really macho. And they couldn't run 80 yards
much less 8
miles.


So true. Most Harley owners keep them in the garage, but
make damn sure everbody knows they own one.


And it's a matter of perspective. When I was a kid a
300CC bike was
considered a "big" bike. Pushing 60, I want something
that is fun
without busting the bank.


I know two guys that own them, the 883. It was a cheap (
relatively ) way to own a Harley. You get to wear the
T-shirt then. IMO they are junk, especially compared to
other ( foreign) , smaller, lighter, faster, cheaper bikes.
But, to each his own.


--
Scott Vernon
Plowville Pa _/)__/)_/)_

On Thu, 3 Aug 2006 18:49:46 -0400, "Scotty"
wrote:


"Frank Boettcher" wrote

Well, not a matter of image for me and I don't want it for
touring.
basic local transportation with a little fun thrown in.

Okay, just stay out of the biker bars.

I'm OK here. Most of the Harley owners are bankers, lawyers,
insurance salesment and doctors.


Every morning I get in my truck and ride about 5 miles one
way to a
trail head and then I run 5-8 miles. Ten miles with truck
mileage.
The bike would be more fun and less gas.


Good for you. Why not ride a bicycle?

I would except that the 5 miles is on a four lane, high traffic,
rush hour road. Not that brave.


Besides, most of those so called " tough guys" that I know
that have
big Harleys put them on trailers or trucks and haul them
to "ride ins"
Now that's really macho. And they couldn't run 80 yards
much less 8
miles.


So true. Most Harley owners keep them in the garage, but
make damn sure everbody knows they own one.


And it's a matter of perspective. When I was a kid a
300CC bike was
considered a "big" bike. Pushing 60, I want something
that is fun
without busting the bank.


I know two guys that own them, the 883. It was a cheap (
relatively ) way to own a Harley. You get to wear the
T-shirt then. IMO they are junk, especially compared to
other ( foreign) , smaller, lighter, faster, cheaper bikes.
But, to each his own.

Not interested in the T-shirt, but, truthfully I haven't done a lot of
research into the subject, don't know good from bad. Thought after HD
came back from their spiral down in the seventies, all the bikes were
good. Maybe not?

When I was a kid and had an interest, Honda's were the rage. No
Harley dealers any where close but the local motorcycle shop was a
Triumph and Cushman dealer. Then Honda's were first imported and they
took on the line. I bought a fifty when I was 13 to throw a paper
route. Quality beat anything sold in the US at that time. Maybe still
does.

So when you're stepping up from a 50, an 883 is a big enough step :~)

Frank

"Frank Boettcher" wrote

So when you're stepping up from a 50, an 883 is a big
enough step :~)


Is there an H-D dealer near you, do they also sell Buell?
Buell makes a 500cc 'Blast' that is a decent mid size bike.

Scotty

Frank, I dunno why you're talking about buying a motorcycle
instead of a boat. Here's a thought, why not bicycle to your
running trail? Then you can get more exercise coming & going.

And I wouldn't worry about a "girl's bike." One of the best
welders I ever worked with was a lady biker.


Scotty wrote:
Is there an H-D dealer near you, do they also sell Buell?
Buell makes a 500cc 'Blast' that is a decent mid size bike.


A neighbor down in New Bern has a Buell. Seems to be a great
ride.

DSK

On Fri, 04 Aug 2006 07:01:52 -0400, DSK wrote:

Frank, I dunno why you're talking about buying a motorcycle
instead of a boat.

Mutually exclusive projects not restricted from concurrent activity.

Here's a thought, why not bicycle to your
running trail? Then you can get more exercise coming & going.

Would like to, but way too dangerous because of the road I have to
take. It's bad enough that, when running, I have to come off the
trail onto the Natchez Trace to cross one street on an overpass.
Unbelievable how many people will not give way even when not faced
with any oncoming traffic.

And I wouldn't worry about a "girl's bike." One of the best
welders I ever worked with was a lady biker.

Not worried. Haven't seen any girls riding them down here. And when
I was welding women were not. That came later.

Scotty wrote:
Is there an H-D dealer near you,
No, although maybe in Memphis or Birmingham. If I go through with it
I anticipate buying private party used.

do they also sell Buell?
Buell makes a 500cc 'Blast' that is a decent mid size bike.

Don't know, might check, haven't seen any in the area.

Frank


A neighbor down in New Bern has a Buell. Seems to be a great
ride.

DSK

"DSK" wrote
Scotty wrote:
Is there an H-D dealer near you, do they also sell
Buell?
Buell makes a 500cc 'Blast' that is a decent mid size
bike.


A neighbor down in New Bern has a Buell. Seems to be a
great
ride.


My buddy has one of the early Buells, with the 1000cc
Sportster engine. That sucker flies!

Scotty

Frank Boettcher wrote:
...snip... Thought after HD
came back from their spiral down in the seventies, all the bikes were
good. Maybe not?
....snip...

Hi, Frank, This is Frank. grin My $.02...

I had a Sportster in the 60s. At the time, it was pretty much as
dependable as any other bike available. By the 70s, that was far from
true. However, like you said, by the 80s they talked about how they'd
bought themselves back and were producing bikes as good as anything
from Japan. So in 88, I bought a new H-D. This one had electric start.
Whoo-hoo!

Hah! What a POS. Couldn't go a thousand miles without needing a major
visit to the shop. I sold it in 90 and bought a nice Yamaha for about
1/3 the price. Faster, can actually corner without scraping anything,
infinitely more dependable, blah, blah. H-D will never get any of my
money again.

YMMV,

Frank

On 4 Aug 2006 09:37:33 -0700, "Frank" wrote:

Frank Boettcher wrote:
...snip... Thought after HD
came back from their spiral down in the seventies, all the bikes were
good. Maybe not?
...snip...

Hi, Frank, This is Frank. grin My $.02...

I had a Sportster in the 60s. At the time, it was pretty much as
dependable as any other bike available. By the 70s, that was far from
true. However, like you said, by the 80s they talked about how they'd
bought themselves back and were producing bikes as good as anything
from Japan. So in 88, I bought a new H-D. This one had electric start.
Whoo-hoo!

Hah! What a POS. Couldn't go a thousand miles without needing a major
visit to the shop. I sold it in 90 and bought a nice Yamaha for about
1/3 the price. Faster, can actually corner without scraping anything,
infinitely more dependable, blah, blah. H-D will never get any of my
money again.

YMMV,

Frank


Thanks for the info and opinion Frank. You're the hurricane magnet are
you not? Were are you? I need to stay away. And can we chip in and
pay your way for an extended stay on City Island, NYC, during
hurricane season?

Frank