Archive for Aussie V Twins A forum for Aussies who ride or love V Twin motorbikes
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Sector5
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Raced a Harley.I raced a Harley today and after some really hard riding I managed
to PASS the guy. I was riding on one of those really, really
twisting sections of a mountain road with no straight sections to
speak of and where most of the bends have warning signs that
say "MAX SPEED 35 MPH".
I knew if I was going to pass one of those monsters with those
big-cubic-inch motors, it would have to be in a place like this where
handling and rider skill are more important than horsepower alone.
I saw the guy up ahead as I exited one of the turns and knew I could
catch him, but it wouldn''t be easy. I concentrated on my braking and
cornering. Three corners later, I was on his mudguard. Catching him
was one thing; passing him would prove to be another.
Two curves later, I pulled up next to him as we sailed down the
mountain. I think he was shocked to see me next to him, as I nearly
got by him before he could recover. Next curve, same thing. I''d
manage to pull up next to him as we started to enter the curve but
when we came out he''d get on the throttle and out-power me. His
horsepower was almost too much to overcome, but this only made me
more determined than ever.
My only hope was to out-brake him. I held off squeezing the lever
until the last instant. I kept my nerve while he lost his. In an
instant I was by him. Curve after curve, I could hear the roar of
his engine as he struggled to keep up. Three more miles to go before
the road straightens out and he would pass me for good.
But now I was in the lead and he would no longer hold me back. I
stretched out my lead and by the time we reached the bottom of the
canyon, he was more than a full curve behind. I could no longer see
him in my rear-view mirror.
Once the road did straighten out, it seemed like it took miles
before he passed me, but it was probably just a few hundred yards. I
was no match for that kind of horsepower, but it was done. In the
tightest section of road, where bravery and skill count for more
than horsepower and deep pockets, I had passed him. Though it was
not easy, I had won the race to the bottom of the mountain and I had
preserved the proud tradition of one of the best parts of Brit iron.
I will always remember that moment. I don''t think I''ve ever pedaled
so hard in my life. And, some of the credit must go to Raleigh
cycles, as well. They really make a great bicycle...
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Meteor
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Fuzz
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mick
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thats older than me 
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LeatherPants
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Murdoch
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While that is quite funny.....................
You obviously haven't ridden some of the Harley's I`ve been lucky enuff too 
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LeatherPants
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Hey, I've got nothing aginst Harleys... pic just seemed to fit in with the thread 
LP
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Murdoch
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Yeah its a cool pic 
And no, most HD`s don't corner very well at all
Although some are better than others
Theres no denying they are more suited to cruising around (preferably in straight lines)
But you may be surprised at how fast some of the Big Block Twins are
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Sector5
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Just some thing i read on a email got a :lol
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Meteor
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Tell me this, do those forward mounted pegs and wide bars actually make for a comfortable ride on a long trip? I've often wondered. I mean, I get battered around enough at 100kmh on my XB with its upright seating position. I can only assume that when you're sitting there like a human spinnaker, it would be worse?
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Tel
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| Murdoch wrote: | Yeah its a cool pic
And no, most HD`s don't corner very well at all
Although some are better than others
Theres no denying they are more suited to cruising around (preferably in straight lines)
But you may be surprised at how fast some of the Big Block Twins are |
My Street Rod will slaughter the majority of air cooled Harleys in a straight line and around corners. It doesn't corner like a Buell but it has certainly embarrassed the odd sport bike rider around. A Harley designed for twisty back roads. Unfortunately most Harley Davidson buyers are not in the market for that type of bike at that price point, so the model was dropped. The XR1200 is a much cheaper attempt by H-D to capture buyers interested in bikes that have some ability to corner and also have the brand name.
Really though it comes down to the rider most of the time. Whilst obviously an extreme example, a competent rider on a Fat Boy will often be able to out corner a mediocre rider on a Ducati.
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buellbabe
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Personally I reckon most HDs can corner just as well as any other bike but it just takes more balls to throw something that heavy around. The only issue I ever had on a HD was ground clearance but after ya scrape the first time ya just don't worry about it anymore LOL! Scraped flat exhausts are a sign you go hard!
BTW a mate of mine has a Dyna Wideglide that I can only just keep up with on the Buell. And I can't lose him when I am leading. He throws it around corners like its a trailbike!
Its all about attitude 
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Fuzz
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| Meteor wrote: | | Tell me this, do those forward mounted pegs and wide bars actually make for a comfortable ride on a long trip? I've often wondered. I mean, I get battered around enough at 100kmh on my XB with its upright seating position. I can only assume that when you're sitting there like a human spinnaker, it would be worse? |
I can't speak for every H-D out there, but I get far less buffetting on my 67 E Glide than I do on my Cyclone, probably because of the big fender and large headlight nacelle along with the tiny little windscreen between my handlebars, and then you throw in the mods I've put into the suspension and motor and that bitch will (and has) suprised a number of sportbikes. I've hardly ever raced in a straight line, always through the twistys, and it's always cost them money when they caught up to me sitting on the side of the road waiting for them.
Like BB said "its all about attitude", not to mention " it just takes more balls to throw something that heavy around"
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