‘BTW...I suspect that you ride the sue-sue-key because you could afford it. And every time you pull up by the HD at the light, you secretly admire it and wish you had chosen differnetly. Once you admit it, you’ll feel a lot better.’
Actually, I grew up riding Benelli’s 50 cc mini bikes, won the Cavalcade of Custom’s mini bike division two years running with it. Moved on to Honda’s, then Kaw’s, and yep, today I own a Suzuki 1500 cc Intruder.
Brand new my Intruder cost me $9,990 from Jeff Wyler Suzuki. I had seriously considered the comparable Harley, but realized spending two times (minimum as you know) for it didn’t make sense, because I had been without a bike for about nine years, and wasn’t sure my wife and I would get ‘back into it’. My original thought was ‘ride it for a year, then go get a Harley’.
That was a mistake. I love the Intruder, its perfect for the riding I do ‘out here’. Great combination of cruiser and tour bike, mostly I cruise with friends - Harley riders all btw - but its got a great load capacity for the couple of road trips we’ve taken.
I’ve picked up all my Harley friends over the years after breakdowns, and when they call they always demand I pick em up with the Hummer, not make them ride ‘bitch’ on my Intruder....(chuckle)
Next comment...when we ride down to Ripley Ohio (on the river, a haven for bikers every weekend when the weather is right) I park along side all those expensive Harley’s.
And it never fails, we come out of the bar, and there are people looking at MY SUZUKI.
Its a running joke with my Harley bud’s.
I could easily afford any Harley, but why? I ride about 12,000 miles per year, most of rural and small town (Courthouse and a Square you know what I mean?). All it does is run well, look great, and never have a breakdown.
I admit, I’m not a wrench turner. Think Tom Cruise in ‘Thunder Road’. I ride em, but fixing them myself? I make Tim Taylor the Toolman look competent.....lol.
I have a large garage, so nope, no rusty. Yes, most is plastic, as opposed to steel used in Harleys, but hey thats why I saved well over 10K when I bought it. Had a good time with the left over cash, btw.
As for ‘if Harley’s are such a bad deal, why do the Japs try so hard to compete’...friend, Suzuki isn’t looking for a bailout, nor is Honda, nor is Kawaski.
Harley is. Again. Right now, they are thanking God Warren Buffet bought up their existing debt, for a 14% return on his investment, announced TODAY.
Last but not least, my wife, who has been with me for 25 years this month (21st Wedding Anniversary was December) and I had our first date on a Honda CB 750 (1983 model). She ‘thanked me’ for not spending 20k on a motorcycle. Then she REALLY thanked me after our first ride on the Intruder, if you get my drift.
As for ‘all the girls’ I drive a Hummer. I laugh at your view of what you think is a ‘chick magnet’.
And when they see me later on the Intruder, they realize I have a kick ass, bad ass bike, AND a kick ass, bad ass black and chrome Hummer.
I used to tell em ‘Sorry, if you ain’t sleepin with me, you don’t ride with me’...except they kept saying ‘And your point is what, big boy?’
Ain’t life great? Ride safe, friend.
I’ve owned one Kaw, five Hondas, prior to my HD.
Liked the first six, but REALLY like my HD.
I simply find it odd that the FORST to show up on the MC threads and start bashing, are the jap bike owners.
And in each and every thread, the claim is made by them that HD owners somehow sit aroudn b!tching about Jap bikes.
Just ain’t true!
Facts are, it’s the other way around.
And the FR threads prove it.
First basher out fo the gate...a Jap bike owner.
I have ridden with the same group of about 35 guys for over two years. Only ONE HD broke down and it was a POS that this guy had put together like the caddy out of Hohnny Cash’s song “One piece at a time”, so it was doomed to fail from the day he put it together on a salvaged parts budget.
Wish you and your bride the best.
As far as the cost of my HD.
Well, I could afford it.
The higher cost got me better quality.
So price was not the object.
I don’t ride my HD b/c it is a chick magnet.
My comment was plain enuf without you trying to twist it.
best wishes to you and your bride
and congrats on the anniv.