Biker is not about what you wear or ride, it is about who you are & what you do.
What civilians think of bikers does not mean anything.
If you are talking trash, you’re probably not a biker.
In breaking news … Harley has released some prototype electric bikes. I read Cycle World’s online article that included a description of their test ride and a lot of pictures.
I’ve been following Zero and Brammo for a couple of years. Their performance (mainly range) numbers keep improving to the point where I could see myself buying one. But, they’re not quite there yet.
However, I have to agree with the Cycle World writer - Harley-Davidson did it with style. That’s one good looking bike. Its fit and finish are excellent for a prototype. They didn’t have real-world range numbers, but I will be watching this closely.
I need about 100 mile range (about 70 real-world miles) to be able to commute with a comfortable safety margin. If Harley goes to production with that bike (big “IF”) and it has a 90-100 mile range, I could see myself owing one.
Apparently, Harley has now become a rice burner.
PSYCH! 
I disagree with the first two. I think there are all types of riders, but the word “biker” conjures up a specific image of a type of rider. And some riders buy into that image in a big way.
What civilians (non-riders, I guess) think means a lot. Riders are in the minority, so most of the legislation impacting riders are decided by non-riders. What civilians think decides helmet laws, emissions laws, and things like licensing and lane-splitting (legal in only ONE of the fifty states).
I agree about trash-talk, but I think the poor image of riding motorcycles comes from the fact that the bulk of motorcycling in the US is done by people who ride poorly. Americans drive poorly as well, but that gets lost in the larger numbers that driving has.
The common failures of BMW bikes are unrelated to new technology; it’s just crappy engineering and/or crappy manufacturing. Examples:
Oilheads (boxer-engined BMW bikes from 1996-2005):
-crank position sensor wiring insulation became embrittled/cracked over time from exposure to engine heat. Faint signal from hall effect sensor would eventually get grounded out due to moisture; classic failure was a bike that died during a rainstorm or after washing.
-gearbox input shaft splines occasionally sheared off. Suspect was misalignment between gearbox and engine, because on bikes that had this failure after some mileage, they usually had a repeat failure after roughly the same additional mileage.
-bearings in the final drive would occasionally self-destruct. This was a bad one because the rear wheel typically cocked to some non-vertical angle suddenly, and also barfed gear oil all over the tire.
Hexheads (boxer-engined bikes from 2006-~2010):
-fuel pump controller (little electronic package) had a bad seal that allowed water in, causing failure of the electronics. Replacement units were of a new design.
-a very spindly aluminum rear wheel spider (bolts brake rotor and wheel to hub) tended to developed cracks at the bolt holes. Numerous cases of this, including one where the brake rotor was completely liberated, nearly causing a crash. Replacement spider is forged steel with thicker sections.
-fuel pump sending unit at top of tank had a threaded boss, made of plastic, that develops radial cracks, resulting in substantial fuel leaks. New units have a steel reinforcement collar pressed over this boss to alleviate the crack-inducing stresses. There has been recall over this.
Wetheads (boxer-engined bikes from the last year or so?):
-BMW recently issued a “stop-riding” order on all 2014 BMW bikes with dynamic electronic suspension adjustment systems. There’s a potential for failure of the main plunger rod, which would spew shock oil on the rear wheel. I don’t know much about this part, so it’s possible that this failure is related to being on the bleeding edge of technology, but this is the only one; the rest are just stupid.
Another of my current rides! And if you guessed I have a W650, you are correct!
I think my garage is waaaay cool! 
I agree. The W650 is very cool, as well as the GB500. I don’t know why, but a local used bike dealer has had three dusty GB500s in their showroom for years.
Some of the problems with BMWs become obvious with mileage. Other brands of bike MAY have similar failures crop up if their owners put anywhere near the mileage on them that a lot of BMW riders do. Not all but many BMW riders log 20k mile per year. Many other bike’s typical owners just don’t log that kind of mileage
My current bike I bought 6 months ago. It’s a 2003 model. It had 3050 miles on it. In 11 years.
thing is a rocket.
will they add a noise maker?
Baseball card in the spokes.
I really don’t get that. My CB400T has 7000 miles on it and it’s a 1978, and half that is me in just over a year, splitting the mileage between three bikes. I rode about 5000 miles a year in the 80s when I had one new, and was considered a lightweight.
I know. It’s nuts to own a bike and park it for years with no riding. My bike still had the original tires on it when I bought it. The bike is 11 years old and still had the original tires. Why have a bike if you’re not going to ride it.
New tires on it now and I plan to triple the mileage before 2015.
Harleys are not about transportation. A Toyota or a Ford is about transportation. Harleys are strictly about image. “See me; I ride a Harley. I’m this certain kind of person and I don’t wear a sensible helmet, only what the law requires. Given a choice, I would wear no helmet, but the government insists on infringing on my right to ride my donorcycle without a helmet.”
But you can only ride one at a time! Spread 20k miles over 6-10 bikes and they last forever! 
Absolutely wonderful screen name / post combination. :rolleyes:
Perzactly…
While a lot of Harley buyers are into the brand’s image, I think some of it is they still look like what most people think of as motorcycles. A lot of the buying public is Boomers returning to riding and modern insect-looking bikes look uncomfortable and unfamiliar to them, while the Sportster looks a lot like it did in 1957 (though annoyingly lowered) and everything except the V-rod is similarly comforting. That mindset is why Triumph does so well with the Bonneville and its derivatives. I don’t get why the W650 didn’t take off (better than the Bonnie in many ways) or why the SR400 is moving slowly here on its return (okay, engine size might be a factor).
I rode about 300 miles this last week. 150 on the GB, about 80 on the Hawk and the rest split up on the DR and the WR. Short trips for them. Just keeping the juices flowing…
I rode a Yamaha 650 V-Star from Maimi to Panama City Panama and every where south of Texas people asked if it was a Harley. The first bike I ever had was a Harley, and I wouldn’t ride one after that. Had to be tuned up daily and shook and shivered like pair of boobs on the dance floor.
I met a guy a few years ago who identified himself as a biker. What kind of bike you got I asked. " I used to have a one third share in a trike." He answered.