New MO Poll/Survey

I'll take a dissenting opinion.



I don't like the looks at all. I think they grafted the @ss of a 919 onto a flat tracker frame, so you get the UJM look without the benefit of a monoshock rear suspension...



What's up with the peanut tank?! If you're gonna go cafe, then go cafe. Don't paint the tank, just clearcoat it. Alloy please.



Those pipes have got to go. Shorten them, swing 'em lower. I know, I know, EPA BS.



BTW, a buddy of mine's wife got a new Sporty just this year. Nice bike; I could own one, if I could stand the seating position. But my point: They were up doing the three passes in the Yosemite area in late summer, and the week after they got back we went for a short jaunt up the coast. At a light, I said to Mike, "Hey, you've got a hole in your belt, Mike!"



Sure enough, two pieces of obsidian from central CA had punctured the drive belt and were sitting in the middle(not near the edge, thankfully) of the belt.



HD told him it didn't need replacing unless the tears were in the edge of the belt. He replaced it anyway.



And so, a belt that should last 100k miles was toast at 6k.



I'll never buy a belt drive bike.

If it is successful in Europe, which I believe it will be (in a modest way), I think they'll bring it here, where it will mostly cannibalize other the Sportster model sales. Still, they'll be selling bikes.



Personally, I like it, although I would stick with my 2005 XL 1200 C, because I prefer the riding position. I LIKE the fact that the Custom is a cruiser, that it doesn't weigh 800 lbs, has big torque, and is pretty agile (for a cruiser). I also like the minimal maintennance of hydraulic valves and belt drive, and the exceptional fit and finish.



In fact, though, what I like most about it is the simplicity of the concept -- it's a "pure, basic motorcyle". Put another way, it's the Harley theme stripped to its essence, modern in exection but faithful to that original, still classic design.



What I DON't care about is that it's not a high-performance bike in the modern sense: it's fun to ride slow, and that's how I usually ride it.



While I am least interested in race replica sportbikes, I do appreciate non-HD iron a lot, and have experience with some of it: I currently own a BMW R1150R (great do-it-all bike), a Buell M2 Cyclone, and a Kawsaki 1500 Nomad Fi, as well as the Sportster.



They're all good, and they're all different.



Amen.