Bike Wrenching

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RoadKing
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Re: Bike Wrenching

Post by RoadKing »

Prodigal_Sun wrote:"Trusted Mechanics" is the key phrase in that for me. Those are tough to find around here, and they usually struggle to stay in business competing against the loudmouth b.s. artists that the ignorant masses seem to flock to in droves.e
I understand your POV and where you are coming from. I understand big time. But my understanding comes from a POV that too easily steps on toes. The Harley culture makes it very easy to find and meet and become brothers with those who are exemplary Harley mechanics. Water seeks its own levels and I can go anywhere in the world and immediately be immersed in the Harley reality. Harley shops, franchised or not. Biker bars and gatherings. I am the real deal amongst others who are the same. And I can tell you why... it is always about the bike if you are the real deal amongst Harley people. I recognize them and they recognize me and that is comforting. Now, here is where you may feel I am stepping on your toes... I can come unknown into your area and within a month I will know and become a part of those I need to know including reliable Harley mechanics. It’s part of the culture. It’s all about the bike and has been for 115 years in the world wide Harley community.
“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more.
It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury…
Signifying nothing”

Signifying monkey, stay up in your tree. Always lying and signifying, but you better not monkey with me.

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Prodigal_Sun
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Re: Bike Wrenching

Post by Prodigal_Sun »

RoadKing wrote:
Prodigal_Sun wrote:"Trusted Mechanics" is the key phrase in that for me. Those are tough to find around here, and they usually struggle to stay in business competing against the loudmouth b.s. artists that the ignorant masses seem to flock to in droves.e
I understand your POV and where you are coming from. I understand big time. But my understanding comes from a POV that too easily steps on toes. The Harley culture makes it very easy to find and meet and become brothers with those who are exemplary Harley mechanics. Water seeks its own levels and I can go anywhere in the world and immediately be immersed in the Harley reality. Harley shops, franchised or not. Biker bars and gatherings. I am the real deal amongst others who are the same. And I can tell you why... it is always about the bike if you are the real deal amongst Harley people. I recognize them and they recognize me and that is comforting. Now, here is where you may feel I am stepping on your toes... I can come unknown into your area and within a month I will know and become a part of those I need to know including reliable Harley mechanics. It’s part of the culture. It’s all about the bike and has been for 115 years in the world wide Harley community.
None taken. I've looked at a lot of Harleys, and Harley owners/riders since I grew up in the late 70's. Seems there's a division, y'all by and large seem to fall in one of two "camps" Either "lean and mean" or "clean and pristine". "hippies" or "yuppies". Myself, I don't really fit in those groups, but I can relate to both. I like to go and ride my own way. I've been on some big group rides. One there were a couple hundred bikes, I was the only one without a helmet even though the law was repealed a few years prior, but I still had to be the one to go block an intersection to keep a car from trying to plow into the middle of the group. :roll:

I guess I could have got a dirty old sportster for the same money I spent on my Zuk and spentore time wrenching on it than riding it, or more money fixing it than it would have cost to buy one that ran right in the first place, but the "jap-crap" made more sense, and I'm happy with it and the amount of aftermarket available. It's easy to weed the the wheat from the chaff. There is so much Harley garbage parts out there that looks and sounds like it'd work... Just gives me flashbacks to the p.o.s. Corvette that's been sitting in pieces in a garage for 10 years because I just got overwhelmed by the :bs: people with their hand out claiming their product can do this or that, but it's all a front... ;IDunno:

Not saying you're like that. Just put me off.
:evil: [emoji56]

I have a lot of opinions, some of them professional, some of them educated, most of them I just pulled out of my @$$

Some of my best stupidity is largely self-inflicted. :roll:
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RoadKing
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Re: Bike Wrenching

Post by RoadKing »

Prodigal_Sun wrote:
None taken. I've looked at a lot of Harleys, and Harley owners/riders since I grew up in the late 70's. Seems there's a division, y'all by and large seem to fall in one of two "camps" Either "lean and mean" or "clean and pristine". "hippies" or "yuppies". Myself, I don't really fit in those groups, but I can relate to both.
Seems there’s a division. Hippies or yuppies. Really? That’s a really odd yet typical vision of who we are. I see no division and my perspective is from not one who has looked at but rather from one who is. I see only motorcycle riders.
I don’t see ‘dirty old Sportsters’, I see hundreds of thousands of clean machines. Go to Sturgis or Daytona and witness how hundreds of thousands of Harley riders strive to not let their own bike be the weak link on the chain of form and function. I ride motorcycles that are strong and dependable and safe and would not ride them if they were otherwise. I use very few after market products and when I do it is because of a successful proven product that is accepted in the Harley culture, the Harley world. And, to get back to my salient statement that you ignore... I can come unknown into your area and in a brief period of time, contrary to what you claim, find great mechanics, great people who are Harley mechanics. That is hardly a chauvinistic statement, it is not ‘a front’ or trying to push anything, it is just reality. I respect the fact that you are a rider and could care less the brand you ride. It’s all two wheels.
“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more.
It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury…
Signifying nothing”

Signifying monkey, stay up in your tree. Always lying and signifying, but you better not monkey with me.

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Re: Bike Wrenching

Post by old time rider »

I don't laugh at super low mile motorcycles as much as I once did but still low mile usually is poser.
All ways best trips are as mixed up bunch of brands as you can have.You learn fast all have weak spots and none perfect,just like the owners. Fun in the wind main thing.

RoadKing
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Re: Bike Wrenching

Post by RoadKing »

old time rider wrote:I don't laugh at super low mile motorcycles as much as I once did but still low mile usually is poser.
All ways best trips are as mixed up bunch of brands as you can have.You learn fast all have weak spots and none perfect,just like the owners. Fun in the wind main thing.
Experiences are vastly varied, OTR, between East and West. Ferinstance, on numerous occasions have ridden from Northern California to The Black Hills for the annual Sturgis run on the first week of August. From The Coast eastward, over the beautiful Sierras and into Reno is an experience in itself. Already the Reno casino parking lots are filled with motorcycles on their way east to S Dakota. All Harley, virtually no other brands. East out of Reno the heat is intense across the Nevada desert. Every 60 miles or so there are small town oases, every parking lot filled with Harley by the thousands. It is just something you get used to seeing on a yearly basis and hardly exaduration. Just like this all the way across the desert into Utah’s salt flats and Salt Lake City where tens of thousands of Harley people have stopped for the night. Again, the concept of mixed brand is virtually non existant and I let you decide why that is. I believe it has a lot to do with heat. Well, next morning the second half of the ride commences for us and concludes late day in S Dakota where hundreds of thousands of Harley riders have assembled from around the world.

OK, here’s the kicker. For over a thousand miles I have lived at 80MPH which is where I enjoy the ride. However, again a big HOWEVER, groups of bikes are continuously passing me! And the mind blower of it is that not once between my N California home and The Hills do I see any bikes pulled to the side of the road due to mechanical problems, in spite of the fast ride and intense heat! All Harley!

This board is mostly Easterncentric and that could very well be the reason, OTR, that the riding experience is so much different. I know, I know, there are those who have made the occasional trip to California or maybe even The Hills. But I really believe that a lifetime of being a rider in The West brings an entirely different perspective than living as a rider in the East. Breakdowns on the way to Sturgis or elsewhere are seldom seen, we don’t have time for that, and mix brand groups are virtually non existant. No low mile bikes nor posers to be seen.

What I type above is not opinion or theory. It is written from a life of riding. A very long life. If what you take away from this is that I have a problem with mix brand rides, you are mistaken. It is just not my experience. Have ridden with a few IAers since living here in the East for five summers. But even here when in groups it is mostly Harley and basically that is all I ever see in groups.
“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more.
It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury…
Signifying nothing”

Signifying monkey, stay up in your tree. Always lying and signifying, but you better not monkey with me.

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Re: Bike Wrenching

Post by old time rider »

Rode to Sturgis on Harleys more than Japan brands but been on both.All ways camp and sea of Harleys for sure but by 2001 lots of other brands seen.Not near as many it seemed hauled as Daytona but plenty.Have only owned six Harleys but like all but my drag bikes were broke down if hauled.
See more super low mile bikes every year of all brands.Owners that just think they like to ride and buy one.Like my only new truck.43,000 in 25 years.I was a Hardley driver!

RoadKing
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Re: Bike Wrenching

Post by RoadKing »

I can truly understand why so many bikes trailered to Daytona by the tens of thousands from the northeast and Midwest states ice and snow. My rides to Daytona Bike Week have been down the coast of California to Interstate 10 then east across the south. But even that can be brutal in Feb or March.

Never owned nor driven nor rode a ‘Hardley’. Don’t even know what the fuck that is.
“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more.
It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury…
Signifying nothing”

Signifying monkey, stay up in your tree. Always lying and signifying, but you better not monkey with me.

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Re: Bike Wrenching

Post by old time rider »

Hardley as in hardley rides at all no matter the brand. :putput:

Tbeck
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Re: Bike Wrenching

Post by Tbeck »

The problem with claims like the aforementioned is that they are just that, claims.
If you ride, and I mean ride, and you don't have to stop to help some guy/gal riding cause they are broken down, you've lived a blessed life. This was particularly true in the 60's, 70's and early 80's when bikes of all makes were less reliable.
I got nothing against HD, owned my fair share and ridden more miles than many on them. They break just like any other, and are as reliable as other's, luck of the draw.
As for Harley's heading for Sturgis? No kidding. Who else would drive hundreds or thousands of miles to get to a place where you're unable to get out of town to ride, so the only activity left is getting drunk and buying tee shirts.

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Re: Bike Wrenching

Post by RoadKing »

OK. I preface this post by saying NO CLAIMS HERE! I have never, this board or purple, posted a single word that is not true. Tell you what, ride with me to California where there are many who call me ‘Old Friend’ and ‘Outlaw’ and will tell you that what I have typed here only scratches the surface. If I never ride another mile most of you fellows have got a long way to go to appear in my rear view mirror. You low rate me by saying I just make claims? I smile when I hear folks say they have ridden more than most because I want to believe them. I have no reason to doubt nor should you. Once more, the Western experience is different, wide open to endless miles. I have over the decades ridden many miles in Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Massachusetts’s, and now New York State and have known a whole lot of riders in those places and from experience I am able to say there is a difference between the East and West expérience. What I type seems foreign or unlikely to you? Perhaps it is because you have not known the reality of a lifetime being a rider in the West States. I am sure of it having lived both sides of the country. I love the life I’ve lived on two wheels and enjoy sharing it. I have been reading IA posts for almost nine years now and know with no uncertainty that I have much to share that goes way beyond not only the miles but the experiences of most of my two wheel brethren and when I hear stories by many who low rate the Harley experience I enjoy correcting the myths with real life motorcycle stories. I know about the continuous maintainance involved in a ride of several thousands of miles during the 60’s and 70’s, rebuilding a clutch a long way from home with an old saddle bag full of tools. Having to relace a wheel in a farmer’s field and truing it by eye. Adjusting chains every 300 miles during a hot jam to Arizona. Stopping at small aviation airports to get 60 weight oil hundreds of miles from anywhere. The slow process along a rr track of using discarded cross ties to get the ass end of my bike up in the air to remove and repair a flat tire on a bitter cold night. Untold nights sleeping under a groundcover next to my bike amongst big rigs whose drivers also were riders. Breaking down in Idaho only to have another rider happen along to help me get the next small village where he knew a machinist to help me back on my journey. Riding in packs of as many as two hundred bikes where during a five hundred mile mandatory run we were constantly pulling over because bikes needed fixing. Back in the 60’s and 70’s. Yeah, I know all that shit hard core. But I also know something else... IN 1984 THE ÉVOLUTION MOTOR CHANGED ALL THAT FOREVER!!! For an already old outlaw scooter tramp the new Harley seemed like an impossible dream. No longer needed to even carry a saddle bag full of tools even though old habits were hard to break. Then cell phones came along to call for help if necessary. Everything changed. Today’s Harley is damned near bullet proof and a cell phone to an old biker is better than any gadget out of Star Trek! I started riding in 1957 and still ride hard fucking core. And ya know something else? The West is best, that’s what!
“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more.
It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury…
Signifying nothing”

Signifying monkey, stay up in your tree. Always lying and signifying, but you better not monkey with me.

RoadKing
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Re: Bike Wrenching

Post by RoadKing »

As for Sturgis, only a dipshit would make such an ignorant statement. Can’t tell you how many times I was in the midst of thousands of scooters on Main Steet and within minutes I was on my way to hundreds of miles of the best riding roads in the world just within The Black Hills. Beyond were the endless miles of Montana and Wyoming and the Pacific NW. When I was in the middle of hundreds of thousands of my own in Sturgis I was in motorcycle heaven. You see, i truly do love bikes and the people who ride. I arrived at my own free will then left the same when I was ready for thousands of miles of open highways and Western Sky and no fucking cities. Forests and mountains that are unimagined to anyone who has not been there, biker or otherwise. You start riding there in your youth and you never want to stop. I’m going back. Soon. And be certain in the modern age of computers I will continue to post, something unimaginable just 20 years ago. Maybe see you out there.
“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more.
It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury…
Signifying nothing”

Signifying monkey, stay up in your tree. Always lying and signifying, but you better not monkey with me.

Tbeck
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Re: Bike Wrenching

Post by Tbeck »

As I said the problem with claims, is they're claims. I've ridden extensively on several continents and while you might claim west is best, it's a claim.
Further the Evo didn't cure Harley's issues, it simply created new one's, like the ongoing tranny issues of the 80's.
Personally I always just laid my bike down on the ground to get that tube changed. And Sturgis in my book is a huge waste of time that would be better spent out riding. I can drink anywhere and find Harley brethren at any dealership on Saturday morning eating donuts.
Obviously our memories are different. Mine include riding all day and seeing maybe another bike or two. Pulling into a roadside rest to see parents scooping up their children and seeking safety within their cage because a motorcycle pulled in. I damn sure don't remember many shining chrome Harley's, only bug plastered, dust covered, rain spotted road rider's enjoying the breeze.

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Re: Bike Wrenching

Post by lonerider »

RK, I know where you're coming from, but from a different perspective. I wandered into the bike culture at a later stage in my life. having bought into the hobby at age 57 with my first and only bike, the Intruder 1400. In my youth, I had the desire to hit the road for parts unknown, and by the time I was 27 had visited all 50 states, plus numerous countries in Eastern and Western Europe, the far East, and even Down Under and NZ. During my travels I met many good folks, not the least of which chose 2 wheels to ride. I found that it didn't matter what mode of transport one chose, or what brand, or if you relied on the good will of fellow travelers to move from place to place, the lure of the open road was a common theme, and there was/is a real brotherhood which one could count on if one was in need. And the ones who rode HD were no exception.

.

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franktiregod
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Re: Bike Wrenching

Post by franktiregod »

I read all these posts and I came away with one thing, you fuckers are old as shit. [emoji2]

But even though you are all screwed up, I still like you and thank God for the mighty Suzuki Intruder because thats how I met you. :cheers:

Now go back to arguing.

RoadKing
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Re: Bike Wrenching

Post by RoadKing »

franktiregod wrote:I read all these posts and I came away with one thing, you fuckers are old as shit. [emoji2]

But even though you are all screwed up, I still like you and thank God for the mighty Suzuki Intruder because thats how I met you. :cheers:

Now go back to arguing.
Yep, Franktire, old as Tyranosaurus shit, smell just as bad, and I thank God for my pups and my motorcycles cuz without them there ain’t much point. I hurt bad most of the time and truly dangerous like an old bear. Ain’t got time for arguing, to be true, I just like remembering with you guys and doing so without a dipshit calling me a liar. Have often thought about the first time that dipshit called me a liar several years ago, thought about a ‘claim’ he could make how a pained bear knocked him cold. But, then I think, nah, ever met the dipshit I’d probably just feel sorry for him and walk away. Him and HalfNutz just full of themselves and equally full of shit. But they don’t matter, they jumped my shit the very first day I posted on IA nine years ago, didn’t like me at all but fuck them both. Dipshit wannabe motorcycle riders. Dipshits.
“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more.
It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury…
Signifying nothing”

Signifying monkey, stay up in your tree. Always lying and signifying, but you better not monkey with me.

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franktiregod
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Re: Bike Wrenching

Post by franktiregod »

I think it was my second post on IA before I was into it with somebody. That was in 2008 and it didnt stop until they shut it down.

Everything is temporary. One day we will miss the assclowns we argue with today.

I used to say on IA I had some great stories that I never posted because ten people who never met me would call me a liar even though they could be verified by people who know me, people who were there, or court records. [emoji2]

I also said there are only a few reasons people lie. To impress someone, to avoid responsibility, or to make themselves into something they are not. I then said I have no desire for either of those things so I have no reason to lie.

But it is what it is.

I am off to deal with the tag department. I kept my Intruder when the insurance company totaled it and it has been a pain in the ass getting the salvage title/registration. But she will ride again!

RoadKing
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Re: Bike Wrenching

Post by RoadKing »

franktiregod wrote:
I am off to deal with the tag department. I kept my Intruder when the insurance company totaled it and it has been a pain in the ass getting the salvage title/registration. But she will ride again!
That is exciting!!! From the ashes The Phœnix will rise! I would love to see that rebuild and receive updates! [emoji106]
“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more.
It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury…
Signifying nothing”

Signifying monkey, stay up in your tree. Always lying and signifying, but you better not monkey with me.

navigator
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Re: Bike Wrenching

Post by navigator »

Tbeck, what a crock of shit.
"As for Harley's heading for Sturgis? No kidding. Who else would drive hundreds or thousands of miles to get to a place where you're unable to get out of town to ride, so the only activity left is getting drunk and buying tee shirts."

:lmao: :lolfall:
Been to Sturgis for 2016 and 2017. On a Suzuki. :shock:
Had absolutely NO problem getting out of town to ride.
Rode Needles, Custer SP, Iron Mountain road, Spearfish, Bear Butte, Belle Fourche, Deadwood, Lead, Nemo, Pactola, Sheridan Lake, Hill City, and a whole lot more.
Saw Devils tower, Keyhole SP, Crazy Horse, Mt Rushmore, Vore Buffalo Jump, Wind Cave, ...the list goes on.
Returned to camp for a few bands and conversed with a shitload of people, some of which rode Harleys, others were on Suzukis :shock:
I wasn't stuck in traffic, forced to buy a t-shirt. :lmao:

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Re: Bike Wrenching

Post by Cuban »

franktiregod wrote: I read all these posts and I came away with one thing, you fuckers are old as shit. [emoji2]

But even though you are all screwed up, I still like you and thank God for the mighty Suzuki Intruder because thats how I met you. :cheers:

Now go back to arguing.

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Prodigal_Sun
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Re: Bike Wrenching

Post by Prodigal_Sun »

RoadKing wrote:
Prodigal_Sun wrote:
None taken. I've looked at a lot of Harleys, and Harley owners/riders since I grew up in the late 70's. Seems there's a division, y'all by and large seem to fall in one of two "camps" Either "lean and mean" or "clean and pristine". "hippies" or "yuppies". Myself, I don't really fit in those groups, but I can relate to both.
Seems there’s a division. Hippies or yuppies. Really? That’s a really odd yet typical vision of who we are. I see no division and my perspective is from not one who has looked at but rather from one who is. I see only motorcycle riders.
I don’t see ‘dirty old Sportsters’, I see hundreds of thousands of clean machines. Go to Sturgis or Daytona and witness how hundreds of thousands of Harley riders strive to not let their own bike be the weak link on the chain of form and function. I ride motorcycles that are strong and dependable and safe and would not ride them if they were otherwise. I use very few after market products and when I do it is because of a successful proven product that is accepted in the Harley culture, the Harley world. And, to get back to my salient statement that you ignore... I can come unknown into your area and in a brief period of time, contrary to what you claim, find great mechanics, great people who are Harley mechanics. That is hardly a chauvinistic statement, it is not ‘a front’ or trying to push anything, it is just reality. I respect the fact that you are a rider and could care less the brand you ride. It’s all two wheels.
I don't doubt you could. Everyone's experience is different. I haven't put as much time into learning how to weed out the good mechanics from the hacks. Even a good tech costs $100 an hour, to me that's last resort money. I did pay cash for my machine, and you show me a strong dependable and safe Harley that doesn't look like a bag of @%% for $4,000 and I'll show a Harley that sold two days before it was listed.

When I was a Porter I rode whatever the shop manager put in front of me. Usually something the techs just got done working on. I was given a full tank of gas, told to take it for a couple hours, ride a hundred miles or so, take my cell phone with me, and call if it broke down/blew up/fell apart on me. About the best damn job I ever had [emoji106]
:evil: [emoji56]

I have a lot of opinions, some of them professional, some of them educated, most of them I just pulled out of my @$$

Some of my best stupidity is largely self-inflicted. :roll:
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