I use the term "wanna-be" almost every day. Friends call me and ask what's up. If I have to say "I'm busy" I always end with "But I wanna-be riding".

Almost bought one but glad I didn't. Someone here mentioned the Harley image, here's a short but true story I have to share.

I recently went to a house and the owner met me at the front door. He was dressed in a black H-D long sleeve T-shirt with the flames on the sleeves, H-D boots, had a H-D biker wallet on a chain in his jean back pocket. He had a 6" foo-man-choo and shaved his head. I was thinking this was a hard core biker guy. His house was full of H-D stuff, pins, pics etc etc. Ya get the picture?!
It turns out he didn't have a bike at all, never did but had failed his drivers test twice.
We talked about the "image", I counldn't help but laugh. He thought I must be a "Peter Fonda type"..."just a free spirit"...."riding just to ride". He then said I was wierd for NOT wanting a H-D!!!

This guy made my week!!!!

oh ya he wasn't gay either

Now my feelings are hurt. I love my venture as my touring bike. Sure harley has a CD but everyone is using MP3 or IPODs anyway like I do. I have a CD changer. To me fuel injection is not a biggie. Since harley went to fuel injection they no longer sound like harleys. My carb road* sounds more like a harley than a new harley does. When I looked at touring bikes, I looked at Goldwing, and Electra glide Ultra classic. No offense, the gold wing is a fine bike but looks like a plastic scooter to me. I also would have had to shell out 3000+ more to own one. To have an ultra classic, which I loved the looks of, would have been 10,000 more. Besides neither of the others has a 5 year unlimited milage guarantee. I'll spend the extra money on accessories.

No secret here, just not enough cash flow!! If they weren't priced so ridiculously high, I'd love to have a Springer Softtail... except without all the fringe!! Or the one they came out with a couple of years ago. Can't remember the model name, but it's basically the Springer Softtail, but "blacked out" instead of chrome, and released in "limited" numbers. Had/has a very retro look about it.

Ya have to admit; HD is vastly improved over what it was 15-20 years ago. And ya can't even compare it ( "the motor company" ) to what it was during the nightmare years of AMF ownership....

In The Wind,
Aaron

I recently purchased a beautiful 2003 Ultra - 100th anniversary edition. It is a good touring bike.....very comfortable, fuel injected and the air suspension makes a big difference on long trips. My wife really loves the back seat, which is like a recliner.

Most of the people I ride with drive a H-D Road King or Electra Glide and they kept asking me when I was going to sell my Roadstar now that I had a H-D. This made me hot and I told them there was NO WAY I was going to part with my Roadstar, which really surprised them.

The Ultra and the Roadstar are two completely different bikes I am a proud owner of them both. They both have their good points and faults too.

I know it has been said before.....the most important thing is riding!

Smooth wrote:
The Ultra and the Roadstar are two completely different bikes I am a proud owner of them both.

Well said

Not really. I'm like Big Bear in the sense of I just want to ride. I really can't justify the expense of a supposed upgrade. Like all bikes, we all seem to personalize our bikes from mild to wild.
I did get some kidding from some HD guys at work asking me when am I going to get a real bike.... I wasn't bothered by this. I am not an image oriented person anyway.

rdunbar123 wrote:
Now my feelings are hurt. I love my venture as my touring bike. Sure harley has a CD but everyone is using MP3 or IPODs anyway like I do. I have a CD changer. To me fuel injection is not a biggie. Since harley went to fuel injection they no longer sound like harleys. My carb road* sounds more like a harley than a new harley does. When I looked at touring bikes, I looked at Goldwing, and Electra glide Ultra classic. No offense, the gold wing is a fine bike but looks like a plastic scooter to me. I also would have had to shell out 3000+ more to own one. To have an ultra classic, which I loved the looks of, would have been 10,000 more. Besides neither of the others has a 5 year unlimited milage guarantee. I'll spend the extra money on accessories.

No offense intended.

Hey Smooth since you own both post a picture with them facing each other so that people can see how much they really are alike.

StarCruiser06 wrote:
...I hanker for something like an old Indian "Chief"... You know... a "real" one...

Well, I gotta be more careful about what I wish for...
I found it today...
Now, if the ticket wins...
Well, here it is...