Motorcycle Forums

Grunt, grunt...

@ TomRR – Just because “Jap Crap” is an old saying does not mean it is appropriate.

And I used to live in Milwaukee, so I know all about H-D and the “lifestyle”. Now I am in Iowa, so I would get a Victory instead (made in Spirit Lake, Iowa) if I wanted a heavy cruiser made in the US. Besides, everyone here (it seems) has a H-D – to you the Honda NT700V is a dull commuter-middle weight tourer, but here it is an exotic that has everyone asking me “what is that?”

And if I want “grunt”, I will get a Ducati Diavel with nearly the same torque and twice the power for about the same price as a H-D “Big Twin”; and of course, much better brakes and handling.
 

Miss Piggie

Different bikes for different purposes.

Let's face it, you simply are interested in the best performance for your buck.  If that's what you want then there is no better class of bike for the latest tech and pest performance than the liter race rep segment. Does this mean that all other types of bikes follow suit?

No.  Sometimes you just want to get on a bike, tool around in the countryside with no pretentions or ego driven feelings, smelling the roses, so to speak.  Riding for the sake of riding.  Simple and pure.  That's what cruisers and sport classics are for and why so many manufacturers still have them in their lineup.  No need for 200 RWHP and all kinds of electronic gimmeckery and top shelf componentry for this kind of riding.  Is it wrong that people like this kind of riding?

Judging by the way you post on this site, you obviously like hanging out at the local coffee shop or other shit hole where you believe that's the place to be, talking smack about each other's stretched swingarms and 240 wide rear tires, chrome heelguards and such.  Some riders like to get out and ride and not care what others think.  No do they need to hang out in groups trying to impress each other.

As for Jap crap, I'm not sure why you're taking such offense if you're not Japanese.  Besides, even Jap crap has much of their parts coming from China and Indonesia.  But I have to admit, it kind of is crap.   I've had a Ninja 1000 for almost a year now and it's going up for sale.  The most boring bike I've ever ridden.    Decent enough, but the I-4 bores me to tears.   Cracked swingarm and leaking head gasket and an electronic glitch that shuts down the engine while leaned over or while braking hard.  I just bought an underpowered archaeic Guzzi and have more fun on it.  Fun, that's what it's all about, isn't it?  Who cares what bike you have your fun on?

But I do have an HD in the garage too.  It's actually been sitting in the corner of the garage for 10 years, untouched.  I enjoyed it for a bit.  And will again someday.  Lots of othe bikes for other reasons have happened in the interim.  All my favorites have been the air cooled twins, I must say... all 3 brands of them.  All have been reliable and cheap to own over the years.  The 4 cylinder ones have been my least favorite and most expensive to keep running.  But I'm still glad they exist.

x2glider

Your assumptions regarding Mr Piglets Biking habits are a little wide of the mark, Mr piglet Rides a honda110 lead.... daily and for longer trips at the weekend.... the venerable Dullsville, neither have 240 section tyres or extended swingarms.

Hmm

If you ride it well then fair play, i am by no means trying to bring wealth into this, I'm merely stating that you see a hell of a lot of people buying these things, having massive chicken strips on the tires whilst it sits in the garage for 10 months of the year then selling the thing, people who ride these well and often need not take notice of my comment.

Apologies Piggie

Seems I was off the mark a bit about you.  Sometimes hard to tell by your posts about your attitude about biking style and choice of bikes. But you can't be all bad.  Anyone who digs the TW is good in my book.  I've climbed quite a few hills on it and made full on MXers cry because I had traction on the climb and all they did was spin the tire or tumble backwards. 

Nothing wrong with admitting you own a NT700V.  I admire utilitarian.  And out of Honda's current lineup the NC700X and CBR250 are my personal favorites.

As for HD owners talking smack, I'd put race rep riders and stunters over the HD guys.  Won't catch me hanging out with either though.  Can't stand the chip-on-the-shoulder attitudes.

Don't let the pirates stop you from ever buying an XR1200R.  Just stay away from them.