-
Very Active Member
HD owners educate me
I never owned a Harley and most likely neve will. I have always enjoyed visiting the dealerships and viewing the lovely steel sculptures and the other items for sale. My wife has bought a helmet and some jackets there, but that is about the extent of it.
I have two two neighbors that own them with the accompanying loud pipes. My question has to do with their preride habits. They will pull the bike out of the garage, two different owners, two different houses, then start the bikes up. They will allow them to idle for 10 to 15 minutes, then sit there throttling them up and down a few times. Is this practice necessary or just a demonstration of testosterone and machismo?
Joe
Last edited by Buckeye Bleau; 09-28-2017 at 05:59 AM.
U.S. Army Viet Nam Era Vet
2013 Spyder RT-L, Black Currant
Trunk mount dual SS flag holder
TricLed foam hand grips (awesome)
Chromed Soaring Eagle License Holder
Utopia Deluxe driver backrest
LED fender lighting
Fast Flash LED brake light
Spyder Pops LED/skid plate
-
Very Active Member
Originally Posted by Buckeye Bleau
I never owned a Harley and most likely neve will. I have always enjoyed visiting the dealerships and viewing the lovely stell sculptures and the items for sale. My wife has bought a helmet and some jackets there, but that is about the extent of it.
I have two two neighbors that own them with the accompanying loud pipes. My question ha s to do with their preside habits. They will pull the bike out of the garage, two different owners, two different houses, then start the bikes up. They will allow them to idle for 10 to 15 minutes, then sit there throttling them up and down a few times. Is this practice necessary or just a demonstration of testosterone and machismo?
Joe
Joe, that would be the latter or just not knowing what else to do with them.
2011 RTS (Sold to a very nice lady)
1998 Honda Valkyrie
2006 Mustang GT. Varooooom!
US Navy Veteran
SC Law Enforcement Boat Captain
CNC Machine Service Technician
President: Rolling Thunder SC1
Member: Disabled American Veterans, Rock Hill, SC
Member: American Legion
Experience is recognizing the same mistake every time you make it!
-
-
Active Member
-
I am a current owner of a few HD myself and I don't even understand why they do that.
I always used to say if that thing needs you to keep blipping the throttle to keep it idling give it to me and I will fix it with a screwdriver and adjust your idle and fuel mixture.
-
-
Very Active Member
Many do...
Others don't....I think it's in the manual.. had a old indian but usually did that and things fell off. but they do sound better than the sport bikers needing to hit the rev limiter as often as possible....
Gene and Ilana De Laney
Mt. Helix, California
2012 RS sm5
2012 RS sm5 , 998cc V-Twin 106hp DIY brake and park brake Classic Black
-
NOT Needed. Some like to warm up there bikes. Now to blip the throttle another story.
Sounds more like Machismo to me
-
Locating Beacon?
Funny stuff. I think it may be that blue arrow on google maps or your GPS that is the locate me now symbol. They are just letting the neighbors know where they are just Incase you forget from week to week like a locating beacon.
its no different than blipping the throttle when you come to a stop light. Days of carbs needed that to not load up but with FI in 99% of everything there is no need but just one of those cool old habits to have.
2014 Spyder RS-S SE5
Mods:
ST Limited Wheels
RT Handlebars
Ultimate Seats ST Midrider
Lidlox Helmet Lock
Show Chrome Brake Pedal Extension
Excelvan X-Grip Cell Phone Holder w/USB Charger
Much more to come......
Ryder:
6'-1" - 205lbs - 32"IS - 34"Reach
-
Old HDs with carbs might need some blipping to clear its throat. Those with EFI just like the noise. Just like those sport bikers who don't know when to shift; hitting the rev limiter in each gear. But seriously guys, how many of you pull these out of the drawer and give these a squeeze or two before using?
When life throws you curves, aim for the apex
Current stable: 09 Thruxton / 09 FZ6
Sold List: 97 Ninja500R, 03 SV650K3, 01 Ducati 750Sport Dark, 73 CB350/4, 03 F650GSA, 08 Gixxer600, 03 Gixxer600, 91 VFR750F, 09 KLX250, 06 Thruxton 900, 08 Spyder RS , 12 Street TripleR, 15 RC390, 02 VFR800, 09 KLX250S, 10 F650GS
JLohPhotos
... Motorcycles are kind of like Baskin Robbins... You're looking at 31 flavors of ice cream, don't you kind of want to know what they all taste like?...
-
Perhaps it's just the Mating Call of morons...
-
Originally Posted by cmbspyderrss
Its no different than blipping the throttle when you come to a stop light. Days of carbs needed that to not load up but with FI in 99% of everything there is no need but just one of those cool old habits to have.
Hmmm. You're right. On my carbureted VStar I do blip the throttle at lights and other stops. But, it's not to hear the engine roar because mine is pretty quiet.
2014 RTL Platinum
-
Hardley-Davidson: Turning gasoline into noise for over 100 years.
-
-
Free Thinking Member
Originally Posted by Buckeye Bleau
I have two two neighbors that own them with the accompanying loud pipes. My question ha s to do with their preside habits. They will pull the bike out of the garage, two different owners, two different houses, then start the bikes up. They will allow them to idle for 10 to 15 minutes, then sit there throttling them up and down a few times. Is this practice necessary or just a demonstration of testosterone and machismo?
Joe
Not sure why they let them idle for 15 minutes, but this is why they throttle them up and down.
Originally Posted by Bob Denman
Perhaps it's just the Mating Call of morons...
Well color me a moron. Everything I have has an aftermarket exhaust (except my sleds. That pipe dumps out down by my right foot, the noise can be excruciating). I love the sound of unbridled HP and it just is not the same with a quiet exhaust. In fact I just love loud stuff. I watch my movies loud, listen to loud music, love to shoot my guns and blow stuff up (boom boom, exploding targets anyone). I am the neighbor from hell.
-
-
Very Active Member
The way I understand it is a HD with a carb doesn't pull quite enough air/fuel mixture at idle and that gives it the potato noise with an occasional miss.
Blipping the throttle before taking off insures that the bike doesn't stall. Yes, I did experience this with both my HD's.
Once HD put the EFI on the bikes, this problem disappeared. No need to blip the gas anymore. Just a macho thing IMO.
AKA Jud Smales, Four Year Spyder Ryder!
"Quando Omni Flunkus, Moritati"
The Critter 2016 RT-S
Cat Bypass from Lamonster
BajaRon Sway Bar
Hella dual horns with relay
BRP Hitch with trailer module
Foam Grips
Adjustable Air Deflectors
Driver & Passenger Gel Pads in Seat
Shorty antenna
Ultraguard half cover
Gremlin bell from my son
Break Stripe Kit from Wrap My Spyder
-
Very Active Member
Now that you folks mention it....
I have some HD's in my quiet woodsy neighborhood. They do start them, run them for about 10 minutes, and frequently blip the throttle to impress the neighborhood with their "potatoe, potatoe (copywrited by HD)" sound. Never thought about it--but like the answers so far.
Same with the packs of sport bikes. They whizz by on the Glenn Highway (about two miles as the crow flies) sounding like a pack of attacking Zeros or Messerschmidt dive bombers--and sometimes at 1:00 AM. Once in awhile they get caught by the police and a ticket party takes place. Most of these guys are military--so I let them have their fun.
Driving through my neighborhood--I get polite waves and nods from most of the neighbors. Even the Vulcan has a quiet pleasant sound--to me anyway. I think I like that better.
Currently Owned: 2019 F3 Limited, 2020 F3 Limited: SOLD BOTH LIMITEDS in October of 2023.
Previously : 2008 GS-SM5 (silver), 2009 RS-SE5 (red), 2010 RT-S Premier Editon #474 (black) 2011 RT A&C SE5 (magnesium) 2014 RTS-SE6 (yellow)
MY FINAL TALLY: 7 Spyders, 15 years, 205,500 miles
IT HAS BEEN A LONG, WONDERFUL, AND FUN RIDE.
-
Originally Posted by SteveLaoyster
The way I understand it is a HD with a carb doesn't pull quite enough air/fuel mixture at idle and that gives it the potato noise with an occasional miss.
Blipping the throttle before taking off insures that the bike doesn't stall. Yes, I did experience this with both my HD's.
Once HD put the EFI on the bikes, this problem disappeared. No need to blip the gas anymore. Just a macho thing IMO.
Nope, not the carbs. If you listen to EFI'd HD's they still have that potato-potato exhaust note. It is the crankshaft degree that fires one cylinder shortly after the first then the ensuing longer pause before the next stroke that makes that sound. Honda tried copying it some years ago with one of their twins and Hardley sued claiming that the sound was copyrighted.
However, some older carburetor HD owners would purposely set their idle speeds very low so that throttle blipping was required to keep the bikes running.
-
Very Active Member
Originally Posted by RinconRyder
Nope, not the carbs. If you listen to EFI'd HD's they still have that potato-potato exhaust note. It is the crankshaft degree that fires one cylinder shortly after the first then the ensuing longer pause before the next stroke that makes that sound. Honda tried copying it some years ago with one of their twins and Hardley sued claiming that the sound was copyrighted.
However, some older carburetor HD owners would purposely set their idle speeds very low so that throttle blipping was required to keep the bikes running.
Sorry if I wasn't clear but I meant that the miss & stalling problem is gone since putting EFI on but the potato sound is still there.
AKA Jud Smales, Four Year Spyder Ryder!
"Quando Omni Flunkus, Moritati"
The Critter 2016 RT-S
Cat Bypass from Lamonster
BajaRon Sway Bar
Hella dual horns with relay
BRP Hitch with trailer module
Foam Grips
Adjustable Air Deflectors
Driver & Passenger Gel Pads in Seat
Shorty antenna
Ultraguard half cover
Gremlin bell from my son
Break Stripe Kit from Wrap My Spyder
-
Very Active Member
So if I inderstand this correctly, my neighbor with a relatively recent model HD does not need to start his bike right beside my sunroom and let it idle for 15 minutes. Correct?
The other take regarding rolling on the throttle before launching, is just his adrenal glands emptying out into his blood stream?
Joe
U.S. Army Viet Nam Era Vet
2013 Spyder RT-L, Black Currant
Trunk mount dual SS flag holder
TricLed foam hand grips (awesome)
Chromed Soaring Eagle License Holder
Utopia Deluxe driver backrest
LED fender lighting
Fast Flash LED brake light
Spyder Pops LED/skid plate
-
Yup... next time he does it: walk up, shut it off, pull the key, and give it a toss across his yard!
-
Very Active Member
2014 Copper RTS
Tri-Axis bars, CB, BajaRon sway bar & shock adjusters, SpyderPop's Bumpskid, NBV peg brackets, LED headlights and modulator, Wolo trumpet air horns, trailer hitch, custom trailer harness, high mount turn signals, Custom Dynamics brake light, LED turn signal lights on mirrors, LED strip light for a dash light, garage door opener, LED lights in frunk, trunk, and saddlebags, RAM mounts and cradles for tablet (for GPS) and phone (for music), and Smooth Spyder belt tensioner.
-
Very Active Member
AKA Jud Smales, Four Year Spyder Ryder!
"Quando Omni Flunkus, Moritati"
The Critter 2016 RT-S
Cat Bypass from Lamonster
BajaRon Sway Bar
Hella dual horns with relay
BRP Hitch with trailer module
Foam Grips
Adjustable Air Deflectors
Driver & Passenger Gel Pads in Seat
Shorty antenna
Ultraguard half cover
Gremlin bell from my son
Break Stripe Kit from Wrap My Spyder
-
MOgang Member
I have a carby HD. The blip is done before taking off from a stop so it doesn't stall. That has already been discussed here.
In the carburetor days, you had to warm the engine up before riding or you'll have a cranky, stuttering ride. At least that's how my Evo acts.
Why someone with an EFI feels the need to warm his HD up? He has carburetor envy!
Joy
Very Happy Ryder... '09 Phantom and a '15 F3-S
If you don't slow down, they can't catch you..
If you don't give up, they can't win.
What a long strange journey its been.
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
-
Forum Rules
|