Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) New flat

There are a few well known sayings that rings very true about Harleys...'if I had to explain, you wouldn't understand' and 'things are different on a Harley'. Both Goldwings and BMWs are excellent touring bikes without question.
The V twin in the M3W is not a Harley engine it's an SS engine that IMHO has possibly been used inappropriately or without adequate development in its application in the M3W. Harleys eg don't have problems with rear sprocket breaking up, main oil seals etc.

And for many the Harley V2 vibration/feel is a attribute that many riders want, eg as the engine in the softail models is bolted directly to the frame to accentuate the feel.

Horse for courses

kind regards

I tended to prefer sportier bikes when I was young, and never got around to owning a touring bike. But I always had a hankering for a Honda ST1100 Pan European, they seemed to me to be the ideal formulation. Never actually got around to riding one, though.

Horses for courses is the thing when it comes to long distance touring.
HD may fit excellent to straight US road cruising while riding endless Dragon Tail type mountain roads and crossing central Europe needs different bikes. I enjoyed 500 mile per day mountain road trips on different Wings, working off the footpegs. Mountain passes, one after the other. Getting into the flow of driving bending roads. And always having a smile for the HD poser groups when we left them behind riding up and down the mountains. Some 3000 to 7000 miles a year for many seasons. That was fun.
When I recognized I was pushing the limits once or twice too often in my later years I gave up biking. Now I'm Mogging.

I had one of those. Totally reliable motorway and A road mile muncher, but a big lump of a thing that was a pain on a B or C road. Under the plastics, which werent well made, it rusted like a Datsun. That said, I bet its still running somewhere now. And it was my wife's favourite bike.

Not all HD Drivers are posers, HOG Members or so. There are enough Harley riders who only enjoy a rustic, classic and extremely durable motorcycle. Without leather vests and other clothes with Harley insignia.

+1 on that
I have 120,000 miles experience on all sorts of roads on Harley Davidsons and don't feel the need to sneer at anyone else's choice of motorcycle.

Controversial choice in the UK nowadays......

Just seen this Tim. I was considering a Pan when I bought the Beemer, the choice was made when I saw a couple of bike police officers parked up and went for a chat. I asked what they preferred and both said the Pan destroys distance but gives you zero feedback, one said you just sit on it and press go like an arcade game, it’s faultless and runs all day and night but gives you nothing. Both had ridden tens of thousands of miles on both bikes and were unanimous in saying the Beemer is the sort of bike you walk away from at the end of a shift, stop and turn and smile. One guy said you want to pat it and say thanks ;-).

Decision made! No regrets

BR
Colin

Very Nice bike to drive

The R18 looks terrific - and more stable, I suspect, than the Rocket. I feel quite tempted!