well, hears my take, as a kid friends and myself would love to go to the harley shop to see the new bikes.

But come time to drop the wad- we dropped it on honda's or kawasaki's or what ever our individual favorite bike was. i always wanted a dirt bike , in new mexico, back in the 70's dirt bikes were the way to go. Lots of open land and no fences.

The indians didn't care if you wondered onto their land as long as you were not polluting and it was by accident. don't fret will get to my harley. I could not afford a new dirt bike and didn't know enough about bikes to pick a used one by myself. what i ended up with was a cl 100 honda, what a joy- spark plugs and oil- almost. those who know this bike know what i am talking about. well the old girl met her end when i t-bones a 60's era international traveler doing about 63mph, yes back then a 100 would go that fast. didn't even dent the traveler but sure bent the honda. i rode that bike to the shop to have it fixed were i was given the bad news that she was gone. the tires lined up like this /\ when you looked at her from the rear. i owned that little bike for 5 years and rode her all year round, all seasons, put about 30,000 miles on her and she was healthy when she went over. next was a honda 500 , first water cooled, then an 1100 kawasaki specter- great bike, and then the harley, my brothers children got the dirt bikes i could never afford two yamaha's, a tt 50 & 90, i sailed an extra month to buy them for them- both children and bikes are doing well and i make sure those bikes always start. In my 30's i gave up motorcycle's because they were too dangerous. On February 21 2005 we got a call in California from my sisters husband around 4:43 out in New Mexico. He informed us that my sister had been killed on her 500 vulcan when a toyota tundra driven by an Yugoslavian bought bride jumped the center divide and decided to drive down the wrong side of the road hitting my sister head on and killing her. For years my sister begged me to start riding again and buy a harley, she was the sort that would borrow the bike, jacket and borrow a few bucks for gas, wish she was here. i decided to send her a sign. i bought the softail springer 05. a leaky seal was fixed by the dealer after strongly suggesting it. i also had some questions about strange goings on and the dealer said it was just a harley thing. after hearing that i bought a shop manual and do everything myself. She, my sister was right i still love motorcycles, motorcycles. I opened up my cam chest at 20k, and there is some wear but not critical, my tires go to the mom and pop shop or i buy there for replacement, kawasaki mounts and balances my tires for about 25 dollors. have done one set of brake pads, one set of tires- dunlop k181 use to give me 16k miles per set, their new stuff sucks, the marathons are ok but don't get caught in the rain, its like ridding rodeo.

i did some research online and after careful consideration drop harley oil like a plague. mostly castrol and mobile, the bike likes the castro, spectro in the primary and belray in the tranny when i can find it. i keep the oil 3k and no longer, adjust the primary and clutch when ever needed, good plugs always, replaced the battery yesterday- the original. i have the adjustable rods the tools and the hd upgrade oil pump but am considering fuel pump and will put in cam gears & 510.

have replaced the break switch, one set of pads, one set of tires, the battery -4 years from original. i put one of those eye lids over the head lite, stage one'd it my self with vance & hines and arlene ness with power commando. And like the old hippie told me on the mountain - stage one it and ride the hell out of it. so today i have almost 30 k miles on it.

i cant tell you the amount of money harley dealers have lost on this bike due to their attitude or lack there of. there is no such thng as "its just a harley thing" there is only good diagnosing. their famous security system that has to be repaired or replaced every year i had ripped out at purchase because last years owners gave me the skinny.

harley has always done their r&d on the public

computer testing is code for no testing at all- ride your bike across country 6 times and then run it on the tract till it blows, then you'll know what king of bike you have.

harley could be a rock solid bike- if only harley wanted it to be

for the price harley asks their bikes should be a name for quality. (words omitted so as not to rub salt)

riding your bike to rallies for publicity (harley) does not a bike lover make.

If Harley rode their own bikes the way we ride their bikes maybe they would understand.

harley davidson's actual business is to separate their customers from their money, they pretend to manufacture motorcycles to facilitate this.

harley davidson really deserves to be run by someone who cares and who would build the brand.

my motorcycle has lasted because i watch it very closely, so far. and read like crazy.

the cam problem should have been backed by harley from the start, and a good system put in from the onset of problems.

and peoples bikes should be fixed on harleys dime- harley mistake, harley pays, not the customer. the real rubs are the manufacturer.

to think building bikes for people who ride 1000 miles every few years is bullshit. but i've said enough in fact to much because all will hear but harley so whats the point. i hear triumph is coming out with a new bike, next.