Any Harley riders here?

[Marsha Cassada]

Our son got a new Harley Crossbones this summer, and persuaded my husband to get a Harley, too. He found a nice 1999 Heritage Softail for sale locally recently. I've only been on it briefly, but am looking forward to some short rides when the weather warms up. Son and husband have been on two rides lately. They are having fun together. My husband is sort of a workaholic and never had a hobby, outside of work, so the Harley has been a good leisure outlet for him. His favorite reading is still shop manuals, but now he gets out and socializes a little more.

I guess I need to get a Harley coat, as I am what will be seen from behind when we are out on the road. There are some really pretty bling coats and "lids" available now. My baggy barn coat with the roomy pockets full of hay and horse treats, and old headscarf probably wouldn't do!

Another reason I haven't been on a ride with him yet, is I want him to get a little more road experience--he hasn't ridden a motorcycle in 30 years.

Here are son and husband heading out for a 190 mile ride yesterday.

 

[Becky]

Motorcycles are not my thing, but my next door neighbor has a Harley and I actually get a kick out of seeing him and his friends riding. Professional business people during the week - black leather and Harleys on the weekend!

 

[MinisOutWest]

My husband had a kick butt Heritage Softail. We had a blast, then came minis. what size are you and your husband? I might have a ton of jackets, vests, etc, I never ever wore. Don't think I ever sold any of it.

 

[LindaL]

I have a huge fascination with Harleys, but dont own one....yet!

Deb and I are going to take riding lessons once the weather gets better and see if we both wanna get bikes. Just the sound of the rumble makes my skin tingle!! lol

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Not much experience with motorcycles--except burning my leg on an exhaust when I was a teenager.

Then I rode with my husband last week for a few miles for the first time. In a way, it reminded me of being a passenger in a cart, instead of the one holding the reins. It sort of gave me an out-of-control feeling. I will have to learn to relax if I do much touring.

I know what you mean about the rumble, though! In fact, that is why he chose an older bike, as the new ones have so much EPA stuff on them, they don't quite sound the same, unless they are modified. The new ones also have to be tuned by laptop computer! Of course, that would give my husband more manuals and diagrams to enjoy reading...

Another thing I will have to relax about, is the Harley magazines. Those babes draped around the bikes are--um, well--BABES.

 

[LindaL]

Another thing I will have to relax about, is the Harley magazines. Those babes draped around the bikes are--um, well--BABES.

Where do I subscribe?? Oh wait...I'm married now...dang it.....LOL!

 

[Laura]

[SIZE=12pt]Dana's is not a Harley, but she looks great on it. She and hubby Billy have gotten very involved in BACA (Bikers Against Child Abuse) and are LOVING life on steel and chrome

[/SIZE]

Dana (Dream Weaver Farm) on her "girl"..and she had just taken her helmet off. I yell at her till she wears it!

Here's a great one of their oldest daughter Jessa at Bikes, Blues and BBQ this year. For those of you who have watched her show all of her life, she's now, gasp, 17 and will graduate HS in the spring!!!!

 

[Ginia]

Bought my Hubby a Harley for his 65th birthday a couple of years ago. A Dyna Street-bob. We have a lot of fun with it during nice weather, but only use it for short (100 mile or less) jaunts. Kinda "fair-weather bikers". Maybe someday we'll even get out of state with it (or not).

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Ginia, My husband is planning a long ride in June with son and friends. They are planning to go up to the Four Corners area, then back down to the big rally in OKC. He is 57, so I hope he can keep up with those young guys. Maybe with him along they will drive more safely.

It is good for him to get some riding experience before we go twosome. I'd like to go for short rides and build up to a nice long trek eventually. But, we will also be fair-weather bikers. Roughing it--been there done that!

 

[Charley]

My hubby has two harleys. The first one is a Road King and it has a side car. We took it for a week long vacation a few years ago and traveled the entire Blue Ridge Parkway. We drove during the day and stopped to look at views over and over again. We were on no schedule to do anything, just did what we wanted when we wanted. Met some nice people also on bikes. And stayed in motels along the way. His second one is a Fat Boy. They are both fun, but each year we ride less than the year before.

 

[LC Farm]

My husband has always wanted a Harley so a few years ago he bought his first one. Then went and bought the 100 th ann. fat boy, then won yes I did say WON a sportster, and then got his dads 1948 harley after he passed away. So his harleys are like my mini's you can't have just one.

 

[BigDogs & LittleHorses]

I have a Harley-wanna-be, a 2000 Honda Shadow Spirit 1100. Looks kind of like a Dyna Wide Glide, which is my favorite Harley model. It's a nice bike, but I wish I had the real deal though!

I also have a Honda dual sport 250 for hitting the trails. It's tons of fun.

My stepdad has a 2005 Heritage Softail Classic. It's a gorgeous dark green. Think I'll see if I can talk him in to letting me ride it this year!

Daryl

 

[WhiteTailsMinis]

since I've been called out to start posting - I couldn't resist posting on this subject. I never thought the REAL horsepower would be discussed on a mini forum LOL Glad to see the subject!

We have 4 Harleys parked in the garage. We did the usual Myrtle Beach Bike Week, Ocean City Bike Week, Daytona etc...for several years. Did the group rides / bar hopping etc every weekend to local bike events. Fun yes - but that gets old - and oh gosh how expensive.

I think they all have dead batteries at this point because we haven't ridden them - literally they've stayed parked under cover in the garage all of 2008 and probably only rode couple times in 2007. The MINIS have taken over! We've discussed selling them this spring actually.

Hubby has a 95th Anniversary Fat Boy ('98 model numbered edition), he's also got an '05 Screaming Eagle Fat Boy Limited Edition. I have an '04 or '05 (can't remember) 1200 Sportster - the first year they came out with the wider/larger tank - looks much better than the standard sportster tanks (and of course it's slammed to the ground and chromed out with forward controls, etc). My son's is in the garage too - he's got a Softail Standard - limited edition numbered with special effects paint on it. All the bikes got completely chromed out, slammed and whatever else you do to them - now we just spend money on the minis instead. LOL

I still get the goose-bumps and the heart pitter-patters when I hear a bike rev up - can't help it - just don't have time anymore. Between full time jobs, the farm, the horses and all the other upkeep with farming and livestock - the bikes pretty much sit still. And when you come in on our mile long dirt road ........ it takes 3 hours to polish up the bike afterwards! LOL

Glad to know there are other bikers out there

 

[candycar]

Well since you asked.... We have 2 now down from 5. When we were in CA we used to go to all the runs. We even made it in the Easyriders mag. We built most of ours from scratch. I did 2 myself. I had the 47 Knuck and a 2000 custom with EVO engine. Hubby had the 49 & 57 pans and 78 Electra Glide. Now we are down to the 2000 custom and 78 Electra glide. No more kick start for these old folks! I haven't ridden much since we moved to KY. We lost our support system and friends to go with. Now it just seems like too much hassle to get them out & dressed up just for a short ride. The minis and critters have taken up all of my time too!

WTFminis, good luck in selling yours. We should have sold ours when we were west. The market has fallen for them and you have to practially give them away around here!

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I think having the Harley will help ME with my horses--when he sees how fun it is to go to "shows" and buy "show gear", he will be more receptive to my hobby.

It's fun to read the bike stories here! Hopefully I will have some good ones of my own by the time the summer is over.

 

[Charley]

We call the Harley Dealership the Two Hundred Dollar store...it costs us that time each time we go "window shopping"....just for those gotta have accessories. He does find plenty of HD stuff on Ebay and loves the savings there. I think he has plenty of stuff, but he's still looking.