Author Topic: Cross country v twin count I-40 (Read 4034 times)

CrashKLRtoConnie · « **on:** September 22, 2011, 08:39:24 PM »

I counted over 75 bikes in my 4 day 3000 mile drive from ca to florida.

3 gold wings
4 bmws
5 other non v twins

All of the rest were all v twins and most hd (~ 75 bikes in today)

Any comments on my rough sampling?

Now in Melbourne Florida

Snibbor · « **Reply #1 on:** September 22, 2011, 10:47:10 PM »

Were the HD bikes riding in a trailer

stevewfl · « **Reply #2 on:** September 22, 2011, 11:19:44 PM »

Quote from: Snibbor on September 22, 2011, 10:47:10 PM

Were the HD bikes riding in a trailer

Either that or the truck pulling the trailer

lt1 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 22, 2011, 11:40:35 PM »

Based on market share, your observations are basically correct. Lots of HD & cruiser riders actually ride their bikes, just as we do. As to the trailer thing, it shows some love of the sport to haul a bike cross-country to get out of the snow or to keep the wife happy and still be able to ride at the end of the trip.

gpzrocker · « **Reply #4 on:** September 23, 2011, 04:01:33 AM »

I rode a Road King on the highway before. Fantastic ride.

In the curves, another story. I could make it handle, but it was the rubber isolated everything that drove me nuts.

If I was going on a several state trip on interstate all the time and I had that bike available, there would be no contest. That being 'Wing and BMW also rode and considered.

redbarber · « **Reply #5 on:** September 23, 2011, 05:18:37 AM »

I think that the "I-40" in your subject line tells the most. I've never owned a Harley, but I've had a Honda Shadow and a Valkyrie Interstate before the C14. Without a doubt I can say that the Kawasaki is my favorite. I love it for the power, handling, excitement, but NOT for the comfort. If you read these forums very long, possibly the most threads are about trying to make this thing comfortable. It's not. You've got the seat debate, the handlebar debate, the grip debate, the windshield debate, and on and on.
Now, with my custom seat, my Murph's risers, my Phil's (now Murph's) wedges, and my custom angled handlebars, the Concours is STILL the least comfortable of the three most recent bikes. I'm still dreaming of highway pegs, and sometimes I wish I had lowered footpegs (but not in the twisties!).
My favorite riding is backroads and two lane state roads. My least favorite riding is superslab. From what I read here, that's a pretty common attitude. Even when I am going a long way, I find myself looking for parallel roads that I can take to get off the freeway for a couple of hours here and there.
So I think that your count probably reflects the strengths and weaknesses of the cruiser platform, as compared to sport touring bikes in particular. Those cruisers are right in their sweet spot. Steady speeds in straight lines. The reason you did not see more ST bikes is because you were on I-40 instead of US-60, or "Route 66", or any other of the more interesting roads that run E-W across the country.

Jeremy Mitchell · « **Reply #6 on:** September 23, 2011, 07:10:17 AM »

I agree with Red. But coming off a M109R my C14 is leaps and bounds ahead in comfort and performance. I have never ridden a Gold Wing or any other luxo-ship, so I haven't been spoiled to the point of wanting to have the most comfortable bike.

Like I have said before, you can call me Goldilocks and the C14 is my "just right" bowl of porridge. The C14 is like me........... jack of all trades, master of none.

SteveJ. · « **Reply #7 on:** September 24, 2011, 04:49:01 AM »

I have a '99 C-10. My most recent trip involved a Bonsai slab run to MN and back. I had two days of 850+ mi, two days of 600+ mi, discomfort was not an issue. Russell seat, ATV handlebars, good riding underwear, GenMar foot peg lowers, foot pegs on the T/O bar, Murphs' grips, hearing protection. They all contribute to not being uncomfortable. There are bikes that are probably more comfortable for other folks. This one is set up for my comfort, and it works for me. 151k miles and counting.

RIGS · « **Reply #8 on:** September 25, 2011, 04:37:15 AM »

I made the same observation....
I did I cross country run in August, RI to Denver to meet a friend then we rode to San Fran.....

I saw four C-14s and a whole bunch of cruisers.....

Lots of rented Harelys in Nevada and Utah with Europeans dressed like Pirates.....

Strawboss · « **Reply #9 on:** September 25, 2011, 10:15:23 AM »

I'll agree with lt1, market share. I see a lot of HD's everywhere, LOTS and LOTS. They sell more, therefore, more will be seen.

zsiska · « **Reply #10 on:** September 25, 2011, 02:38:30 PM »

Quote from: gpzrocker on September 23, 2011, 04:01:33 AM

I rode a Road King on the highway before. Fantastic ride.

In the curves, another story.

I agree. My Vstar 1100 is great on the highway (mostly riding to and from work). But once I hit anything curvy, I am very uncomfortable. I start to feel like a beginning rider again. Not seat or handlebar wise, but leaning it and having the bike stick to teh road as well as the Concours. It just feels like it is going to slide ride out from under me. And I don't feel like I can whip it around as well. Might just be me being crazy (so I have been told by my best friend who is a motorcop and rides an HD Electra Glide at work and personally).

MrPepsi · « **Reply #11 on:** September 25, 2011, 02:40:47 PM »

Does BMW make a V twin?

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #12 on:** September 25, 2011, 03:05:42 PM »

Here are just a few....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-twin_engine

BMW F800S

GeeBeav · « **Reply #13 on:** September 25, 2011, 03:31:56 PM »

Quote from: MrPepsi on September 25, 2011, 02:40:47 PM

Does BMW make a V twin?

no

Quote from: VirginiaJim on September 25, 2011, 03:05:42 PM

BMW F800S

parallel twin

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #14 on:** September 25, 2011, 04:12:26 PM »

Tell these guys then....

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/newsandupdates/bmw_f800s_vtwin_motorcycle/index.html

My bad. The article says Vertical Twin. I imagine that means parallel? So much for search engines and website names....

gPink · « **Reply #15 on:** September 25, 2011, 04:39:33 PM »

Roadhound · « **Reply #16 on:** September 27, 2011, 10:06:00 AM »

Just returned from a 5 week 13,000+ mile road trip. My observations Harleys actually out on the road touring outnumber all other brands of bikes combined by around 5 to 1 easily. Most of my miles were on 2 lane roads, the Harleys were there in even larger numbers than I observed on the interstates.

CrashKLRtoConnie · « **Reply #17 on:** September 27, 2011, 03:45:57 PM »

So... Does the smaller width of the v twin allow more riders to ride .. Compared with the Connie?

I often sit on many v twins at the IMCS and they all seem too short but the width feels fine...

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #18 on:** September 28, 2011, 05:22:43 AM »

I don't know if it's a matter of width but typically the seat height on those bikes is lower to the ground which expands the rider population. The big thing is that when people think MC, they think HD or cruiser. It's the mindset. It's like when people think desktop they think MS for the OS for the most part.

When I first started riding, it was by chance that I went with Honda. If they guy selling me the bike would have had a used cheap HD, I'd probably be on that brand now.

I wasn't thinking brand at the time I started riding. Didn't even occur to me. I only started riding 15 years ago so I wasn't partial to one brand or the other. What started me to riding was the fellowship on the road, not the brand.

In my area of VA, the cruisers outnumber the other brands by a significant amount. They ride more than me and that's in all kinds of weather. The sales of those bikes across the country is just higher than ours.

redbarber · « **Reply #19 on:** October 02, 2011, 06:49:09 AM »

A new harley street-yacht can be a wonderful bike to ride on the interstates. I have tons of Harley riding friends, and I agree that they are the most enjoyable way to cruise while not losing the fact that you are riding a motorcycle. (Sorry GoldWingers). My problem is the irony that the machine that had come to define "rugged individualism", now pretty much creates a "sheep following the flock" scenerio. Several of my friends work in the computer industry, as I do. By day, they're wearing khakis and a polo shirt. Saturday, they have leather, fringes, patches, pins, a sleeveless shirt, beanie helmet and maybe even a fake ponytail. Of course fingerless gloves, and skulls everywhere! They are riding in the twisties, trying to make that low ground clearance work for them... and pretty much failing. If they have to choose between ABS and the genuine H-D chrome oil fill cap, they keep that cap well polished! The really funny part is, they get nervous around "real" bikers. Many live in fear of the "Wild Hogs" scenerio where they are confronted by a real outlaw biker club. I'm not saying they wouldn't have my back if I was getting beat up, they definitely would be there for me... calling 911 from their smart phones.
Many of my Harley riding friends traded in much better bikes for what they like to do, but just had to have the Harley image. I know there are posers in every segment, but 85% of ALL motorcycle riding posers are riding V-twin cruisers. Just my rant.

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In my 4 day cage trip from cal to florida almost all are v twins .... Why?

Author Topic: Cross country v twin count I-40 (Read 4034 times)