What’s the manliest bike you owned?

Gary856

Gary856

Are we having fun yet?
Manliest means physically heaviest, longest and largest, like in the 800 lbs range and above.

I’m curious about owning a Gold Wing or a Valkyrie-sized bike for long distance rides, but the thought of taking hairpin turns on steep roads on those beasts makes me nervous. Like, can bikes this long, heavy and low make the turn in my own lane, or will I have to go wide into the oncoming lane? What’s your experience with them heavy and cumbersome looking bikes?
 
N

NoTraffic

Well-known member
I have no 800lb bike but the RT I have with the three cases is plenty to work with. Once you get going, it's no problem. The only drawback is that the heavier bikes are so smooth and stable that after you ride for an hour, you sometimes forgot that it only has two wheels. I caught myself offguard with late emergency braking or coming to a quick standstill that I have to put my feet down to hold the bike up. Other items to consider is how you're going to throw a u-turn on a hill or how you're going to walk your bike out if you park head first down a slope with no reverse (unless it's a goldwing)
 
mrmarklin

mrmarklin

Well-known member
Gary856 said:
Manliest means physically heaviest, longest and largest, like in the 800 lbs range and above.

I’m curious about owning a Gold Wing or a Valkyrie-sized bike for long distance rides, but the thought of taking hairpin turns on steep roads on those beasts makes me nervous. Like, can bikes this long, heavy and low make the turn in my own lane, or will I have to go wide into the oncoming lane? What’s your experience with them heavy and cumbersome looking bikes?
Click to expand...

I own a Harley Softail that weighs about 825 pounds. It is built with a low suspension. Other than not being able to lean very far over in turns, it handles very well. I've never had a problem with tight turns, but that is a skill thing. You gotta keep on the throttle. All the tip overs I've seen in these situations is not maintaining enough momentum.

At speed, you don't notice the weight at all.

I had a Goldwing in another life, and other than having a better lean angle, it was about the same.
 
PaleHorse

PaleHorse

Well-known member
2016 Harley-Davidson Road King Specs:
Engine: High Output Twin Cam 103
Displacement: 103 cubic inches (1690cc)
Fuel system: Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection
Front tire: Dunlop D408F BW 130/80B17 65H
Rear tire: Dunlop D407T BW 180/65B16 81H
Wheels: Impeller cast aluminum
Right lean angle: 32 degrees
Left angle: 32.1 degrees
Length: 96.5 inches
Seat height (laden): 26.7 inches
Seat height (unladen): 28.2 inches
Ground clearance: 5.3 inches
Fork angle: 29.25 degrees
Trail: 6.7 inches
Wheelbase: 64 inches
Weight (as shipped): 779 pounds
Fuel capacity: 6 gallons

Heaviest bike I have. Hardest part about riding it is tight turns with a passenger. It actually handles and turned really easy for a heavy bike.
 
bigpoppa

bigpoppa

Well-known member
I rode a Victory Cross Country Tour for over a year. As mentioned already, yes the big bikes can do tight U-turns, it just takes practice (and overcoming the fear of dropping the big beasts).

There are YouTube videos of Victory Cross Country demos with a lot of low speed tight maneuvering. The main difference between the regular Cross Country and the Cross Country Tour is the addition of the top case, other than that they shared the same platform so what you see in the videos can be done with the touring version as well.
 
cheez

cheez

Master Of The Darkside
My VTX1800 carves canyons with ease. I do gymkhana on it on occasion, car tire and all. It can take some manhandling but I get it done.

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orbframe

orbframe

༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ
+1 on all the cruiser posts.. street glide special plus my 190 lbs and my (redacted) lb wife, and the extra shit she wants to bring in the saddle bags, and we’re well over 1200lbs
 
OaklandF4i

OaklandF4i

Darwin's exception
My ST1100 is over 700lbs with fuel. When moving it is actually reasonably nimble. I ride it over the Hopland Grade on a regular basis and it can be ridden in sporting manner without much if any drama. You dont have to back off that much... and thats what surprised me most about riding it. If you ride a sportbike at 8 or 9 tenths... you ride the ST at 7 or 8 tenths street pace. I havent ridden a modern Goldwing, but I imagine the modern ST1300 isnt much different, only better I assume.

Where it is still catching me and I am very cautious are the slow speed maneuvers or splitting very slowly over uneven pavement.

Just the opposite is the Dyna Wide Glide I ride every summer (brother inlaws buddy bike.) Its so low, I dont feel the weight going slow..... but you dont want to ride it over a 6 or 7 tenth pace on anything twisty (just my comfort level on it.)
 
a1scoot

a1scoot

Hardcore
Without a doubt the manliest bike I have ever owned was
my 1984 Honda CR 500......
But as far as street bike are concerned my daily rider and long distance
king...my 2013 Honda F6B (Goldwing)
a1scoot:afm199
 
CDONA

CDONA

Home of Vortex tuning
I test rode a Boss Hoss, basic 350 chevy/powerglide @ Laughlin.
Last free year, started charging $50 following year.
I climbed off my hyper to give this beast a go, , ,

Shall I say,

Two different beasts here.
 
CDONA

CDONA

Home of Vortex tuning
As to "manly", I would consider my '69 XLCH.

Equipped from the factory this year with all 4 "P" cams, tillotsen carb, and the magneto.
All started with the kickstarter, but as anyone would know that lived with one of these beasts, the kick starter ratchet sometimes slips when you get full weight on it. Full stroke, full weight, no resistance.You drop, and catch the right shock mount into your right inside thigh. Very rare that this bruise ever heals because it reapplies the trauma about once every week and a half.
 
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