# That does it; Ladies, I'm buying a motorcycle!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-does-it-ladies-im-buying-a-motorcycle/316525
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [August 10, 2005, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-does-it-ladies-im-buying-a-motorcycle/316525 "2005-08-10T23:13:44Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@kaiwik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaiwik)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2005, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-does-it-ladies-im-buying-a-motorcycle/316525/21 "2005-08-11T03:37:31Z")
I guess maybe I’m just old, but I’ll give myself whiplash trying to locate the source of that distinctive Harley rumble any day.
Only thing better is a vintage Indian! 😃
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2005, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-does-it-ladies-im-buying-a-motorcycle/316525/22 "2005-08-11T03:49:41Z")
You’re supposed to ask, ‘bad boy’? 😛
[This is my bike](http://pw1.netcom.com/~heliboy/r1.jpg). (Well, one of them anyway.) Yup. Crotch rocket. 😃
.
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### Author:  [@Meaty\_Beaty\_Big\_and\_Bouncy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meaty_Beaty_Big_and_Bouncy)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2005, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-does-it-ladies-im-buying-a-motorcycle/316525/23 "2005-08-11T04:11:05Z")
> [@Misnomer](#):
>
> I prefer a) [Crotch Rocket](http://www.aprilia.com/models03/road/eng/modello.phtml?id=55). Looks cool enough, is quick, gets the job done, and you won’t look like a moron riding it.
>
> Touring bikes always make me think “just get a car already!” The BMW you linked to is cool-looking, but in a car kind of way, not in a motorcycle kind of way. (That probably makes no sense to anyone but me … oh well.) If some guy tooled up on one of those, I think I’d be ambivalent.
>
> Last, but not least, you’re too pretty for the Harley (or any other kind of American chopper-style bike – even, IMO, the Yamaha). Those bikes are meant for guys who grew up riding 'em, or for\*\* guys who turn 40, let their hair grow, get a few tattoos, buy a “if you can read this, the bitch fell off” shirt, and completely change their lifestyles.\*\* Any other kind of guy on a bike like that just seems like a poseur (and it can scream “mid-life crisis”).
>
> All just my $0.02, of course, and I know that I’m in the minority. Don’t mind me. 🙂
bolding mine
Not everybody who has a Harley is a rich fucking dentist or doctor or lawyer, who rides a $50,000 straightout of the show room “custom”, (which has $30,000 worth of bolt on chrome, worth about $5,000) Guys like that, piss guys like me (has been riding motorcycles for 20 years, Harley’s for 15, 10,000 miles or more per year) off. :mad:
2002 Road King Police Special
1997 FXSTSB Bad Boy
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2005, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-does-it-ladies-im-buying-a-motorcycle/316525/24 "2005-08-11T04:14:09Z")
> [@zagloba](#):
>
> You show me a bike with a 10 liter engine and I’ll show you more bike than you can handle.
>
> Sorry, I couldn’t resist. I know you meant 600 cc.
Sez you! [This is my ride!](http://www.allpar.com/cars/concepts/tomahawk.html) Now pull over little man and let me pass!
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### Author:  [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2005, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-does-it-ladies-im-buying-a-motorcycle/316525/25 "2005-08-11T04:17:32Z")
> [@Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy](#):
>
> bolding mine
>
> Not everybody who has a Harley is a rich fucking dentist or doctor or lawyer, who rides a $50,000 straightout of the show room “custom”, (which has $30,000 worth of bolt on chrome, worth about $5,000) Guys like that, piss guys like me (has been riding motorcycles for 20 years, Harley’s for 15, 10,000 miles or more per year) off. :mad:
>
> 2002 Road King Police Special
> 1997 FXSTSB Bad Boy
Once again you beat me to it!
To the OP… I’d say that b) is probably the right choice for _you_. Just based on the discussion thus far.
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### Author:  [@Meaty\_Beaty\_Big\_and\_Bouncy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meaty_Beaty_Big_and_Bouncy)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2005, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-does-it-ladies-im-buying-a-motorcycle/316525/26 "2005-08-11T04:22:37Z")
[This is similar to one of mine](http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcharley/badboy.html)
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### Author:  [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2005, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-does-it-ladies-im-buying-a-motorcycle/316525/27 "2005-08-11T04:30:27Z")
> [@Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy](#):
>
> [This is similar to one of mine](http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcharley/badboy.html)
Very nice. How do you like the new springer? I’ve never gotten to try one of these and have heard mixed reviews. I have had an evo though: a '90 Fatboy (silver-gray) for a couple years.
I had old springers and girders back when but I hear these are completely different.
To OP: many dealerships permit test rides these days. Go take a few out for a spin once you feel you have had a refresher course that is.
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### Author:  [@Meaty\_Beaty\_Big\_and\_Bouncy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meaty_Beaty_Big_and_Bouncy)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2005, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-does-it-ladies-im-buying-a-motorcycle/316525/28 "2005-08-11T04:57:11Z")
> [@Nic2004](#):
>
> Very nice. How do you like the new springer? I’ve never gotten to try one of these and have heard mixed reviews. I have had an evo though: a '90 Fatboy (silver-gray) for a couple years.
> I had old springers and girders back when but I hear these are completely different.
I like it fine, I think the shock makes all the difference in the world, compared to the old ones. Still not as nice as my Road King. though. 🆒
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### Author:  [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2005, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-does-it-ladies-im-buying-a-motorcycle/316525/29 "2005-08-11T05:14:05Z")
If you’re getting a motorcycle…then…that means you’ll have to wear a [helmet](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=6393710#post6393710)…
So…um…you’ll, like, take some pictures of yourself in it…right? And maybe…you know…send them to me?
Why? oh, uh, no reason.
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### Author:  [@gouda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gouda)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2005, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-does-it-ladies-im-buying-a-motorcycle/316525/30 "2005-08-11T07:00:42Z")
What you want is a combination of a) and b). [This](http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/machine/models/model.jsp?model=k1200r). In black and yellow.
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### Author:  [@Euthanasiast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euthanasiast)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2005, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-does-it-ladies-im-buying-a-motorcycle/316525/31 "2005-08-11T08:05:16Z")
> [@twickster](#):
>
> Do not, under any circumstances, get a Harley.
>
> The _only_ thing Harley says is “periodontist with a midlife crisis.”
Harley also says, “Buy me for ‘x’ amount, put several thousand miles on me, then sell me for damn near exactly what you paid.” The resale value of a Harley generally kicks the hell out of most of your other bikes. I’m no periodontist, and I’m only 33, but dis’ the Harley and we’ll see about sending your periodontist some business. 😉
Admittedly, Harley was going down fast when AMC had control, but things are different now and HD’s are a viable option again.
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2005, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-does-it-ladies-im-buying-a-motorcycle/316525/32 "2005-08-11T08:17:52Z")
> [@Euthanasiast](#):
>
> Harley also says, “Buy me for ‘x’ amount, put several thousand miles on me, then sell me for damn near exactly what you paid.” The resale value of a Harley generally kicks the hell out of most of your other bikes. I’m no periodontist, and I’m only 33, but dis’ the Harley and we’ll see about sending your periodontist some business. 😉
>
> Admittedly, Harley was going down fast when AMC had control, but things are different now and HD’s are a viable option again.
How are Harley’s quality wise vs the Japanese and German bikes at this point?
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### Author:  [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2005, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-does-it-ladies-im-buying-a-motorcycle/316525/33 "2005-08-11T12:27:27Z")
> [@gouda](#):
>
> What you want is a combination of a) and b). [This](http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/machine/models/model.jsp?model=k1200r). In black and yellow.
I’d sooner go with the [Ducati ST4S](http://www.ducati.com/bikes/my2005/ducatiModel.jhtml?family=sporttouring&modelName=ST4S-05). 🆒
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### Author:  [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2005, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-does-it-ladies-im-buying-a-motorcycle/316525/34 "2005-08-11T12:30:36Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#):
>
> You’re supposed to ask, ‘bad boy’? 😛
> [This is my bike](http://pw1.netcom.com/~heliboy/r1.jpg). (Well, one of them anyway.) Yup. Crotch rocket. 😃
>
> .
Now we’re talking…
What do you think… [YZF-R1](http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelhome/6/0/home.aspx) or [YZF-R6](http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelhome/8/0/home.aspx) ?
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### Author:  [@Meaty\_Beaty\_Big\_and\_Bouncy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meaty_Beaty_Big_and_Bouncy)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2005, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-does-it-ladies-im-buying-a-motorcycle/316525/35 "2005-08-11T12:33:03Z")
> [@astro](#):
>
> How are Harley’s quality wise vs the Japanese and German bikes at this point?
Harley has a very good quality control program. I wouldn’t know about Japanese or German bikes. **Euthanasiast** is right though, it’s not surprising to see a 20 year-old Harley with 100,000 miles on it with a five figure selling price .
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### Author:  [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2005, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-does-it-ladies-im-buying-a-motorcycle/316525/36 "2005-08-11T13:00:07Z")
> [@twickster](#):
>
> Do not, under any circumstances, get a Harley.
>
> The _only_ thing Harley says is “periodontist with a midlife crisis.”
>
> That’s one pretty BMW, though.
My brother has bought TWO Harleys. And has them both. I started wondering what the hell he was thinking when he bought the first one so I started checking into it when he bought the second.
I started looking around at prices, and wondered what I would do. I came up with option b. The very bike the OP mentions.
And it’s around $6000 less than my bro’s last Harley.
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### Author:  [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2005, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-does-it-ladies-im-buying-a-motorcycle/316525/37 "2005-08-11T13:44:08Z")
Y’all are acting like “thinking about resale value” and “periodontist in a midlife crisis” are mutually exclusive. _Au contraire, mes amis!_
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### Author:  [@Meaty\_Beaty\_Big\_and\_Bouncy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meaty_Beaty_Big_and_Bouncy)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2005, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-does-it-ladies-im-buying-a-motorcycle/316525/38 "2005-08-11T13:49:32Z")
> [@enipla](#):
>
> My brother has bought TWO Harleys. And has them both. I started wondering what the hell he was thinking when he bought the first one so I started checking into it when he bought the second.
>
> I started looking around at prices, and wondered what I would do. I came up with option b. The very bike the OP mentions.
>
> **And it’s around $6000 less than my bro’s last Harley**.
I’d have to see a gun before I spent $17,500 on a motorcycle, I did not pay that for either of mine. Is your brother a periodontist?
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### Author:  [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2005, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-does-it-ladies-im-buying-a-motorcycle/316525/39 "2005-08-11T14:04:06Z")
Actually I was a bit harsh. HD has come a long way since the AMC days.
I bet the re-sale value is very good. Seems to be good for BMW as well.
One thing about the v-twin design. The rear cylinder does get hotter, so the engine isn’t as balanced. And that cylinder is right under the front of the seat.
I bought an old Yamaha XS650 for $200 a few years ago. Mostly out of nostalgia. Most of it came in boxes. When I finally got it running, I realized that I had grown quite a bit (I’m now 6’4” and 210lbs). It’s just too small for me. And irony of irony, it weighs more than my brothers first (recent) motorcycle a HD 1200 sporty (something like that, its pretty bare bones).
Oh well, it was fun to work on.
I would buy something I’m comfortable on and with. If you’re not, the end result will be that you don’t ride it as much. So, without riding any of them, I tend to lean towards the BMW.
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### Author:  [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2005, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-does-it-ladies-im-buying-a-motorcycle/316525/40 "2005-08-11T14:05:58Z")
Oh so we’re showing off our steeds now?
Here is my [daily driver and trackday bike](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y23/scotdor/memido2small.jpg)
And this is my [vintage lady-killer](http://dorjan.fotopages.com/?entry=478691)😃
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