Larry1963

Well sad to report, since Tippy didn't win either did I. No motorcycle retreat going up in the south

I ran across this story and made me think of the original question with this thread about how long before the gas engine is gone. "Harley-Davidson Tries to Rejuvenate Motorcycle Sales Harley finds it hard to get past macho act that worked with boomer men" This article was in the Wall Street Journal By James R. Hagerty Updated Jan. 12, 2016 1:23 p.m. ET HD is struggling because Macho guy that was buying their product are dying off. That macho guy is you and me. The younger generation is not really interested in loud, big and slow. The disposable income for those under 50 years of age is also gone. It maybe gone because they have houses they can barely afford, along with fancy foreign made cars, and maintaining a life style that they really cannot afford. But to put 30-50K on a toy they do not have it. It maybe because regardless what our president says, our economy is not that strong and most are worried about their job. Even those that have a good paycheck coming in, are worried about loosing their job. I know in the State of the Union address our president said that there were more jobs. But most of the jobs are not high dollar paying jobs, or jobs without benefits. Funny federal law made it mandatory for everyone to have health care, yet employers are cutting hours so they do not have to pay health care, leaving the average guy to buy it from a government portal for a high price or high deductible. Rev Franklin Graham said it best, "The American dream that you and I grew up with is dead!" Plus, the new generation is not interested in a bike that every 50K miles you have to have some kind of maintenance done to it. They are looking for the economy bike that will not break the bank. I bike that is fast and limber, mainly in town driving, good mileage, and maintenance free, and throw away. Where Victory is a little over HD, their bikes have a more modern look, but with keeping the loud and rawness of an American bike, plus their engines, even if air cooled are good for 100K+ miles. But even Victory is having a hard time. Remember when we were kids, we had old cars, sneaking dad's beer out and getting together and working on them. Seemed everyone where I grew up had a POS, even the rich kids. Almost everyone was a car mechanic. Usually any kid over 16 could change points or clean spark plugs on the side of the highway. Those days are gone, most do not even know how to change a tire. Most young people today do not even own a tool box with the basic tools in it. I do a lot with the youth of today, this is a microwave, throw away generation. If they do not get it their way in Nano-seconds they do not want it. Everything has to be instant at their fingertips and be able to be made to their liking or they do not want it. Most are looking for the latest and newest thing on the market. What kept HD alive is the older guy, that worked hard, raised his kids, sent them to college, saved his money and now he is an empty nester with life still in his bones and so he at 60+ years old went and bought his dream, a HD, which has not really changed looks over the years. Well those guys are either getting to old to ride or are dying off. It seemed like the guys I grew up with our every dream was to drive a fire truck and own a HD motorcycle. Well I have driven a fire truck but I have yet to own a HD motorcycle. When I was looking to replace my 01 Victory I wanted a HD and almost bought a 07 HD Limited addition Road King Ultra Glide with 6,500 miles on it. The guy wanted 12,500 for it, good deal, I was going to have to borrow half of the money, but in the same town, I ran across my 07 RSV, all the options the Road King had, but for 6K and a bike that is more comfortable, and will last a lot long with less maintenance or daily cost. So it wont be the gas companies that run out of fuel, it will be the customer that runs them out of town. Just my .02 cents plus a little more worth Larry

@BigClayton I was just looking at your profile. I hope to be coming close to your way in April or May, I am from Lee's Summit, MO, and I want to come up to visit some family, friends, and my mothers grave. Also I seen you are interested in Ham Radio, what is your call sign? Do you have ham radio on your bike? My call sign is AL7NS, use to be NL7NY and originally KA0FEV. Hope all is going well with your trip Larry

Okapi

You mean there is more than one of these. The is Crusty from Crusty Leather in Nashville GA

Great point to make

As nick names go, I do not have a motorcycle nick name, not sure if that is good or bad. While in the AF my nick name was Doogie, because Doogie Howser was real popular. I know live in a small town, when I first go here I was opening up a bank account, well one day in the bank one of the ladies asked me what the W. stood for in my name. I told here that when I was little my mom thought I was the best and she made my middle name Wonderful. Well before I could get home, it was around town and even put on a marquee in town about Rev. Wonderful..... LOL still a funny joke here. I am a CMA member, but they do not have a CMA where I am at, so I made friends with the Hell Fighters, they went and all grew beards. At 52 I still grow a beard like a teenager, patch here and there. So I normally stay clean shaven, they call me Baby Face. I guess it is fat and clean shaven LOL Larry

defiantly commission, the other you just have to work out

I hear ya brother.

Pink

I am an ex wing rider. I love the wing but at 6'3" 285ish the wing for me was to small. The cockpit was to small, loved the bike. but my knees and legs hit the fairing in front of me. Then someone turned me onto the Yamaha Venture, I had never heard of it, but man I love this bike and to me rides so much better than the wing. If only Yamaha would of replaced the cassette player with something we can actually use. Larry

Ok that has to be somewhere down here in South GA. I am really an Northerner, from the Kansas City area. It amazes me what some of the folks in the south will rig up

I can go to bed now, I learned something today And what guy in his right mind reads the instructions. I didn't even know this site had instructions

Great story, glad everything is going ok

Would it be rude to say, hey stop, I need a part off that bike?

This story my also classify under embarrassing moments. My Victory is kind of funny with oil changes. Problem with Victory an oil change kit is over 70 dollars, and it says it takes 6 qts of oil. Now if you know what you are doing you put in 5 qts, and check and add the last one very carefully. Well I didn't know that, bought a kit, changed my oil, added all 6 qts and filter, cranked it up well if it sat for more than a couple days, it leaked oil from the rear cylinder valve cover. On a forum like this, someone said let some oil out. Well instead of being smart and sucking out oil from the oil fill area, I thought I can just pull the plug let a little out and put the plug back in. Long story short, there I was laying on the carport floor, oil all down my arms, and all over the floor..... there was 70+ dollars everywhere. to make the story even funnier my daughter text me while I am there with oil everywhere, and all the text said is "why are men so stupid" I thought how in the hell are you in school and you still know what I am doing..... The Family Dollar store loved me, as I bought every ounce of kitty litter to clean up the mess. I had two hours before the wife got home and also said how stupid are men and why is my parking spot messed up. Yes when the wife got home the mess was cleaned up, and bike back in the storage shed. Lesson is, watch how much oil you put in. I think the problem lies is the bike sits at tilt. Where most car engines sit straight up and down. Whey they did not include a center stand like Goldwing I do not know. Larry

And yes for those getting older in age, I will have trikes too.

Cowpuc, I was talking to the ONE upstairs, and he was telling me how great Tippy was but I think HE was leaning that I was going to be the next Billionaire Instead of buying one person a motorcycle, what I am going to do, I am going to build, in the south, is a motorcycle retreat, with a fleet of motorcycles that others can ride. And during the winter months a place where those up North can come and stay for free or cheap and have some ride time. How great would it be to come to the warmer states to a place that didn't break the bank to ride motorcycles and just have fun. Larry

If you get stuck riding in the snow this is what the people will be thinking

a little song for you to remember as you ride, probably what others are thinking.

I always thought the nick name came from others and we didn't get to pick it. What we need is someone in every club or motorcycle group that is willing to give nick names. It can be like how the Indians did it. Took the pipe and put some weed in it went to the top of the mountain and smoked the pipe and had visions and come back with a nick name. If or person for giving a nick name is not in a state where weed is legal I guess beer or bourbon would be ok. The problem I see is who are we going to find, that is willing to go and get high or drunk for free, and go off by themselves to give us all nick names. Is there any takers here? LOL

I was reading cycle world, and Polaris, the folks that make a bunch of off road stuff, Victory and Indian motorcycle company. They bought a company that was working on an electric bikes. In 2015 and a new improved model in 2016, they are offering a motorcycle called the Empulse TT here is the web site. http://www.victorymotorcycles.com/en-us/electric/empulse-tt-titanium-silver-havasu-red As for how long will gas be around, for most of us over 30 and defiantly over 50 for the rest of our life. There will be enough rich people driving classics to keep the fuel companies going. plus the oil companies are to deep into the politicians pockets to get out of business to soon. Plus we all know now there is enough oil to fuel us and the world for the next 300 years, a fuel shortage is only a lie. Finally the average American cannot afford the new technology cars and bikes that are electric powered. So electric cars will have to be faded in. What I think will happen, in the deep low voice, from the prophet Larry's desk. As the younger generation comes up, they are more fascinated with technology, more sensitive to pollution and emissions than we are. The next generation there are more "bunny huggers" They are willing to buy in and try new technology and as they start to buy cars and bikes the electric will appeal to them. As technology with batteries improves along with charging systems us dinosaurs will fade into the sunset, and turn into fossil fuel that nobody will be using. Plus once the demand gets bigger for new fuel technology and there is money to be made the fuel companies will be more than happy to switch over. When will all this happen, I say in the next 20-30 years. Some of it will happen depending on who we put in office from the president to the representatives, how much do they buy into global warming and the need to cut emissions. Well that is my 3.58 cents worth. Larry

I have sent Carbon one an email, I hope to be buying one tomorrow, I did ask the question if I needed anything else. I have a high dollars harbor freight jack. Larry

Any update on Bobbie We are still praying here

finger