Posted: 6/8/2009 10:17:52 AM EDT
|
All the bike threads got me thinking about something I have wondered about for quite a while.
I have been riding bikes for 37+ years and have never owned a full dresser, and have never understood why anyone would want one. If you need a windshield, saddlebags, floorboards, sound system, cruise control, and whatever other bells and whistles you can think of to add, When is it a 2 wheeled car, and not a bike anymore ? If you really need all that comfort and luxury to get from point A to point B, why not leave the bike sitting in the garage and take your car ? I will give exception to the people who depend on their bike for their sole means of transportation. But the others I just don't understand their reasoning for cluttering up a bike till it becomes a 800-1000 lb. hippo. |
|
Some people have ridden basic UJM type bikes for so long that they long for the comfort, then eventually, they will crave the lightweight simplicity of the former again. Some like 870's with lights, lasers, pistol grips, side saddles etc.... others (like me) just like 'em stock. |
|
As long as it's on two wheels it's still a motorcycle regardless of what you do to it, IMO.
To me, the joy of riding is all about the wind, scenery, smells, rolling the throttle, shifting the gears, proportioning the brakes, leaning into and accelerating out of turns, letting the sound of the motor permeate your spirit. That is where the fun lies. The hassles particular to a motorcycle to get that (like no storage space, no creature comforts) is an inconvenience to me. But I guess you do kind of take away from the good stuff by weighing it down and making it less nimble. |
|
Quoted:
As long as it's on two wheels it's still a motorcycle regardless of what you do to it, IMO. To me, the joy of riding is all about the wind, scenery, smells, rolling the throttle, shifting the gears, proportioning the brakes, leaning into and accelerating out of turns, letting the sound of the motor permeate your spirit. That is where the fun lies. The hassles of a motorcycle to get that (like no storage space, no creature comforts) is an inconvenience to me. But I guess you do kind of take away from the good stuff by weighing it down and making it less nimble. This. I have a Road King-tourer without fairing, radio, etc. My buddy has a Fat Bob, and wishes he had a bike with some storage. I'll be buying myself a quick detachable fairing soon. The nice thing with this setup is I can have it on for a 1000 mile trip, and when I stop and just want to cruise, I can strip it off in seconds, and it's back to a sleek Road King. Not to mention the fact that a fairing is nice on very long trips because you get sick of the wind smacking you. |
Your bike doesn't necessarily have to be porky and overweight to have saddlebags and a windscreen. The BMW boxer twins are relatively lightweight when compared to a dresser, yet offer various amounts of weather protection and storage. My R1200GS weighs in at around 560 wet, with bags and screen, if I recall correctly. 85 ft/lbs of torque and 100 hp.
Comfortable even on bumpy roads, good on long tours, and will scratch with sportbikes if you ask it to. |
|
Quoted:
It does seem a little bit silly if you're just going to run around town on it. On the other hand, if you put 20k+ miles on your bike a year with highway travel, it sure would be nice to have that stuff. For sure, I went on a 3500 mile trip in 9 days on my softtail and it should would of been nice to have some hard storage! |
|
Well I can only speak for myself but I'll try to enlighten you. Not everybody owns a bike just to run to the local beer joint or bike night at Hooters. Some of us (myself included) use them to tour on. I travel 15,000 miles + per year traveling this great nation of ours on 2 wheels.
Being away from home for 2+ weeks at a time on a motorcycle demands that it have plenty of storage. I have to carry everything I need with me. Clothes, tools, rain gear, camping gear, etc. Some of us ride when it rains, or is cold, or windy...for 5-600 miles a day. Windshields, lower fairings etc make that much more bearable and comfortable. A stereo system has its practical uses too, Weather band being one of those. I'm exposed to the elements and its nice to know whats up the road. I ride a Harley Electra Glide Ultra Classic because thats what I enjoy riding. Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki all make fine touring bikes. I'm not a brand hater. Ride what makes you happy, I do. In short, not every rider has the same needs dude, dont judge just enjoy your own ride. |
|
Quoted:
As long as it's on two wheels it's still a motorcycle regardless of what you do to it, IMO. To me, the joy of riding is all about the wind, scenery, smells, rolling the throttle, shifting the gears, proportioning the brakes, leaning into and accelerating out of turns, letting the sound of the motor permeate your spirit. That is where the fun lies. The hassles particular to a motorcycle to get that (like no storage space, no creature comforts) is an inconvenience to me. But I guess you do kind of take away from the good stuff by weighing it down and making it less nimble. I agree with you except on one point.....If your 2 wheeler needs reverse.....Then it may be a little much. BTW....I have a Dyna with bags & a removable windshield....When its F'n cold or super buggy...that windshield helps a bit... As far as the bags, I take along things with me I may need: Tools, spare sets of sunglasses & clear glasses, spare set of gloves, Rain gear & depending on the weather, chaps......cant fit all that crap on a bike w/o bags...sorry |
|
Quoted:
All the bike threads got me thinking about something I have wondered about for quite a while. I have been riding bikes for 37+ years and have never owned a full dresser, and have never understood why anyone would want one. If you need a windshield, saddlebags, floorboards, sound system, cruise control, and whatever other bells and whistles you can think of to add, When is it a 2 wheeled car, and not a bike anymore ? If you really need all that comfort and luxury to get from point A to point B, why not leave the bike sitting in the garage and take your car ? I will give exception to the people who depend on their bike for their sole means of transportation. But the others I just don't understand their reasoning for cluttering up a bike till it becomes a 800-1000 lb. hippo. LMAO  I was in milwaukee for the 105th and saw a guy wearing a shirt " windshield and radios are for cars". I laughed because all of my friend ride "road sofas", ages 35 and up, with a few exceptions. I rode my 03 v-rod to sturgis from indianapolis in 2004, with a few other brothers. I did get a detachable windshield (bugs getter bigger out west), and at times wished i had a raidio(thaks ipod). So no, 99% of thei time its got to be overkill!!!! Oh yea, a buddy wore a shirt on the way home from milwaukee saying, "nice trailer pussy", that got a few laughabale looks. Did i mention, I RODE MINE!!! STURGIS 2004
|
I don't ride a dresser, and never have, but I also don't take it upon myself to bag on what other people feel like riding.  I guess when you do 300-500 miles a day for 2 weeks straight, like my brother will be doing next month, a dresser will be a nice thing to have. |