Why own it if you don't ride it?

[jer878]

HOLY CRAP! I hope no one sees my 07 RSV in the Haul I'm planing on using the 1st week of August to trailer down to the Smokies. Fact is, ol' lady will ride 200+ day if we end up at home but refuses to do a trip. I figure we can trailer down and ride 200 a day in the smokies, as long as we're back at the motel that night.

 

I also trailered down to Datona this spring with a couple of HD guys. I want to enjoy my vacation and ridin' 3 days in rain and snow don't sound like much fun.

 

I wonder what the HD riders were thinking when they saw me trailering my brand new 07 home from the dealer that was 200 miles from home.

 

Then again I wonder what they would be thinking if they knew it was $14,838.00 out the door.

 

Trailers have a purpose. With an HD it's a toss up: is it broke or just being transported?

 

Just my 2 pennies

[midnightventure]

I have trailered too. Its only been recently that my wife realized she could do 300 miles or more in a day. I thought about trailering to the International rally because our trailer is also our camper but I believe we are going to ride. I have spoken up on HD forums defending metric bikes. I've spoken up on Adventure forums defending cruiser riders. And I have spoken up on here defending Harleys before. The narrow mindedness really gets old. Some say its all in good fun. The 1st gen and 2nd gen bantering is in good fun but I have seen members leave when they got tired of the constant HD bashing. HD provides lots of good paying jobs. As far as I know none of the metric bike do any more. I oncehad a Kawasaki that was made in the USA. Are there still any of them made here? How long before the last Goldwing? 72000 miles on my 2002 and most of the time I had 2 bikes and some of the time 3 while I've been putting the 7200 miles on. Rode home in the rain twice last week.

[Yammer Dan]

Who woke me up for this???

[Guest tx2sturgis]

I dont care for motorcycle 'racism' at all. So I dont practice it.

 

I ride what the heck I want to. When and mostly where, I want to.

[Steve S]

I hate to do it, but it has come to the point that trailering is a viable option for me. My riding buddy and I both experience quite a bit of prostate pain when we ride those 6 to 700 mile days anymore. Trips to Daytona and out west, like Sturgis, where we have to ride hard on the interstate, we trailer our bikes. It saves a lot of pain and agony. Sides, we have made these trips several times and it's just not a lot to see from the "slab" at 80mph.

 

We are planning a trip to western Montana this summer so we plan to trailer out to Red Lodge so we can ride Beartooth Pass again. If we can find a place to leave the truck and trailer we will continue on from there on the bikes. If not, we will trailer out to Missoula and base camp there while riding out to the west coast. Which ever way we do it, we will have fun. It sure beats the heck out of not getting to go.

[Uturn]

Trailering is a part of my life.

 

.....and if trailering my bike offends anyone, Im sorry, but I enjoy my wife and understand her feelings when it comes to riding my bike.

 

I really enjoy sharing different interests with my wife.

 

Makes for GREAT vacations, she goes her way, I go mine...then share pictures. Talk is good - just don't tell her...

 

MIKE aka Uturn

[Guest BluesLover]

Happy riding to all...or as the case may be to all you Harley owners...trailering

What an ignorant thing to say. I bought my bike on Oct 31 of last year, and now have over 22,000 kms (14,000 miles) on her... oh, and by the way, she IS an HD Ultra. How many miles have you done on your bike since the end of October of last year? Oh, and just to clear up some facts, I don't live in an area like you where you can ride all year round like you do in NC... we get snow up here in SW Ontario and other than a Ural, it ain't too conducive to riding these big bikes on.

 

And yes, she has seen the inside of trailer, since that is the only way I could get her south to get in some riding - and that trailer has also carried my 06 RSV when I had her, for exactly the same reason!

 

Cheers,

LOu

Edited June 16, 2009 by BluesLover

[midnightventure]

It's all about marketing if you own a harley or at least a sticker you're a real biker so the line goes, personally i don't think there's anything wrong with harley if you're willing to pay 2 prices for a "reasonablely" good mototrcycle. show me a harley with a 100k and I'll show you a bike that the engines been apart at least 2 times. plus if you buy a harley you have to have the "look" and that can cost as much as another bike.

At 100000 miles the Yamahas should have had the valves adjusted 3 times which would probably cost about the same as any work that had to be done on the Harley.

[Nason]

Wow! There is alot of different opinions on riding vs. trailering! I can honestly say that my 98 GW has been on a trailer. Here is my thought...... Trailering a motorcycle is similiar to being on this site! ....... You have your motorcycle on your mind, but just aren't riding it at that moment! I don't think this post was meant to offend anyone, but was originally started by someone who doesn't have the need to trailer therefore doesn't realize the need for one.

[Guest divey]

The Mods. would do well to pull the plug on this one. There's been no shortage of HD bashing (no I don't own one) and I thought this forum was supposed to respect riders, regardless of what they ride (or trailer). Who really cares if someone wants to trailer their scoot instead of ride it. Like many have said, sometimes there is a valid reason for trailering.

[Guest seuadr]

At 100000 miles the Yamahas should have had the valves adjusted 3 times which would probably cost about the same as any work that had to be done on the Harley.

i'm not trying to open a can of worms here, but i am curious, do you have to have a dealer ajust the valves? i mean, i've never done it on a venture of either generation, so i don't know how complicated it is. I know i did it myself on my suzuki GS after a dealership quoted me 350 dollars, and it took about 30 mins with me only following a clymer and a few photos from a website.

[Guest Backroads]

I have my mech do it, only because it would just be my luck not to have all the right shims.

[Snarley Bill]

i'm not trying to open a can of worms here, but i am curious, do you have to have a dealer ajust the valves? i mean, i've never done it on a venture of either generation, so i don't know how complicated it is. I know i did it myself on my suzuki GS after a dealership quoted me 350 dollars, and it took about 30 mins with me only following a clymer and a few photos from a website.

a gs suzuki is a piece of cake compared to the shim under bucket valve adjustment. although the shim underbucket is the next best thing to hydraulic lifters when it comes to low maintenance.

[MikeC]

I didn't see this thread when it first came out so the original post has been removed. I don't know what was written there.

And I don't care about people trailering their bikes for whatever reason - their reasons, their bikes, their money...

 

BUT, this does remind me of my dentist, who I see twice a year where I get great tooth care and always offer to buy his bike. He bought his Harley new in '98 and has about 400 miles on it. I haven't seen it yet but I bet that is one nice-lookin' 98!

[buddy]

I want to Apologize if I stepped on anybody's toes. I did not mean too if I did I'm sorry.. if you knew the guy I was trying pointing out you would know what I meant and not by what I said.

 

Some of my dearest friends here trailer their motorcycles and I have no problem with that....I have a trailer as well.

I am truly sorry.

 

Buddy

[saddlebum]

I would rather have a cheap bike and ride than an expensive bike and not ride. i would put 20,000 miles a year on an old 400 kawi I had about 25 years ago at the same time my buddy had a gold wing and I would be suprised if he even put 20 miles a year on it. he didn't like the way the wind buffed his head when he rode but at least he could tell everyone he owned a gold wing. In the mean time he mocked my little kawi said it wasn't a real bike. But I rode He didn't:bang head:

[SLOW HAND]

Because I don't own a trailer I really wouldn't want to offend anyone with one as I'm not above asking for help if needed but wouldn't want ask with a belly full of crow . Hope to never need one but if I was far from home it wouldn't do me alot of good sitting in my yard . I think everyone knows someone who has gone to bike week & never took the bike off the trailer (in good weather & health) & that is probaly what puzzles .

[Eck]

I want to Apologize if I stepped on anybody's toes. I did not mean too if I did I'm sorry.. if you knew the guy I was trying pointing out you would know what I meant and not by what I said.

 

Some of my dearest friends here trailer their motorcycles and I have no problem with that....I have a trailer as well.

I am truly sorry.

 

Buddy

 

 

All posts and comments are worth hearing. Everyone wants to say something and be heard but it takes a lot of getting used to, to be able to read between the lines as to what one is really trying to say and know they were not trying to offend anyone.

When I read yours, I immediately knew you were not off on a tangent to offend anyone and I think this entire thread has brought out many opinions on why some people do trailer and why some don't.

 

A very good post if you ask me Buddy...!!!

 

In fact, I am borrowing a trailer today to use this weekend to haul my GW up to Knoxsville to spend the weekend up there riding around while my wife goes shopping and doing her thing..

[Guest seuadr]

I would rather have a cheap bike and ride than an expensive bike and not ride. i would put 20,000 miles a year on an old 400 kawi I had about 25 years ago at the same time my buddy had a gold wing and I would be suprised if he even put 20 miles a year on it. he didn't like the way the wind buffed his head when he rode but at least he could tell everyone he owned a gold wing. In the mean time he mocked my little kawi said it wasn't a real bike. But I rode He didn't:bang head:

 

i can't imagine spending that kind of money on a bike and then letting it rot in the garage. i'd sell it first. i'd hate to see my baby all neglected.

 

i got a KZ400 if you want to "relive the past"

[Sylvester]

At 100000 miles the Yamahas should have had the valves adjusted 3 times which would probably cost about the same as any work that had to be done on the Harley.

 

I have 104,xxx on my 02 Venture; the valves have never been adjusted. My mechanic has a 99 RSV with 185,xxx miles and has checked his four times-no adjustment needed.

[1 Canuck]

Its all in what you want to do. I have had a few 'bikers' make negative comments about the trailer I pull WITH my bike.

 

Who cares? Its a bit like the thread awhile back on who does or doesnt return the cool wave.

 

Whatever. Just ride.

 

Right on!

My opinion, which isn't worth much...just ride safe, trailer safe and safely store it. Whatever you do with your bike, enjoy and don't worry what the others think. Life's too short!

[COLORADO BOB]

Spent last saturday riding my rstd with the lovely wife on her vstar 1100 right behind me. Traveled I-40 between Laughlen and holebrook nm. Unbelievable cross winds along with all the trucks made me wish I had a trailer! Denver to Reno, Laughlan,taos, with stops in between 2900 miles total. So proud of my wife!http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg100/ntmrobert/biketrip2009031.jpghttp://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg100/ntmrobert/biketrip2009028.jpghttp://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg100/ntmrobert/biketrip2009027.jpgfile:///C:/Users/robert/Desktop/bike%20trip%202009%20031.JPG

[Snarley Bill]

i just realized, i break all the real biker rules. i have a very expensive 2007 zx-14 that sits in my work shop most of the time only 1300 miles on it. does it bother me? a little but i love to look at it. i trailer my bike when going any distance with my wife. does it bother me? yes, i hate loading it and unloading it. i hate to ride my new goldwing in the rain cuz it's so pretty when it's clean. does that bother me? not in the least. i ride the heck out of it when it's nice. i have a lowly v-twin v-star 1300 that i ride in the rain and very seldom clean it. does that bother me nope. i love riding it rain or shine. last but not least i ride a majesty girly scooter. for errands, and to work, rain or shine, before that i had a helix. i ride it when ever i don't feel like shifting and to beat the oil companies. i guess that knocks me out of being a real biker what ever that is. although i have rode almost 60,000 miles in the last 2 1/2 years on six different bikes. does that bother me? you bet wish i had the time and the weather to have gone 100,000 miles. what do i have to do to qualify to be a real biker? :rotf:

[mountainhorsega]

Not so much about trailering but about having it and not riding it.

I know a few people at work that have had their bikes for 5-10 years and have 5000-8000 miles on them. One is a Harley, the other is a Honda Shadow. They just don't ride much/far. personally, I like to put miles on it - we have 35000 in 3 years (have slacked off the last year due to building the house) - they don't and that's ok. (I don't get it but - it's ok)

[Condor]

Trailering is a part of my life.

 

Reason is, my wife doesnt like to ride much.

I want to be with her on some of our weekend excursions, so I will trailer my bike to the place we are going for the weekend. Once there, I will get up early and ride off while my wife hits the stores and shops in that town / area. When I get home from riding, she always has a place in mind of where she would like to enjoy dinner. Off we go (in the cage) to dinner and spend the evening together enjoying each others company and other interests.

 

Next morning I am off again on the bike enjoying what I like and later on in the day I will meet up again with my wife for another evening of shared interests.

 

Trailering my bike is a must for me.....and if trailering my bike offends anyone, Im sorry, but I enjoy my wife and understand her feelings when it comes to riding my bike.

 

I really enjoy sharing different interests with my wife.

 

I'm with you Eck. My bod is falling apart and 600 mile days don't sound like much fun any longer. I'm seriously thinking about trailering the scoot up to my daughter's in Idaho and then riding the last 300+ miles to Cody from there. These younger guys who are bad mouthing trailers, and talk macho.....just wait.