HD owners educate me

[ofdave]

had two Harleys, a Softtail Classic and a Road King.
Neither one needed to warm up for more than a minute or two. Then driven slowly for a few min. to get it warm.
20W 50 oil in the engine and 75-90 gear oil in the trans, never had an issue.
15 minute warm-ups are probably more like 5, they're just so darn loud it seems longer. The engine would be very near overheating if it idled for 15 min.
Blipping is a throwback to when bikes (not only Harleys) didn't idle well and a quick blip kept them going.
The practice today likely has nothing to do with that, it's just because the rider thinks he/she has to and it's cool.

 

[Maddoggie501]

had two Harleys, a Softtail Classic and a Road King.
Neither one needed to warm up for more than a minute or two. Then driven slowly for a few min. to get it warm.
20W 50 oil in the engine and 75-90 gear oil in the trans, never had an issue.
15 minute warm-ups are probably more like 5, they're just so darn loud it seems longer. The engine would be very near overheating if it idled for 15 min.
Blipping is a throwback to when bikes (not only Harleys) didn't idle well and a quick blip kept them going.
The practice today likely has nothing to do with that, it's just because the rider thinks he/she has to and it's cool.

Correct. The blipping was to keep the older bikes running. The new ones are fuel injected and do not need any blipping. A short warm up, while i put on my jacket and helmet, and ride away.

 

[subdude17349]

The blipping when letting out the clutch on older bikes (all of them, not just HD) did indeed clear the carb a bit so it wouldn't stall. Totally unnecessary these days.

But, I have a buddy who does it from every stop on his 17 HD FLQRPLSMFT. I have a great time asking him when HD is finally going to go with fuel injection so he can stop that annoying blipping. :roflblack:

 

[Sccar]

So much love for HD riders

I don’t have to warm up my HD any more than my spyder. I use to have to let my V-Star warm for a while especially in the cold.

 

[ARNIE R]

Scenario...

Traffic lite....

Side by side...or, behind me....

First throttle blip, loud.....

Second throttle blip, louder and longer...

Third throttle blip, can't hear myself think.....

Fourth one, Geez, can't the lite just turn green and let this guy go ahead......?ray:

 

[melodys39]

When I met my husband, he owned a HD, and I rode on the back with him for about 5 years. Then I found scooters, and went from a small scooter, to a medium size, then a large one.

My scooter club always loved that he rode sweep with us, and the loud pipes kept the cagers off our butts.

He loved his loud pipes, and it is a 'Harley' thing. But he wasn't one to sit and rev the throttle over and over. That is not a 'Harley' thing, but a show of testosterone ☺

When my husband passed away almost a year ago, we buried his favorite belt buckle with him, which read 'Live Free, Ride Free'. Now I see Spyder memorabilia that reads ' Live Free, Ryde Free'. He would have loved that :f_spider:

P.S. As you can see, my avatar is HD. It will forever be a part of my life :doorag:

 

[classicvw]

Correct. The blipping was to keep the older bikes running. The new ones are fuel injected and do not need any blipping. A short warm up, while i put on my jacket and helmet, and ride away.

Maybe it's so the HD rider can keep the fillings in his teeth from vibrating out? I always laugh my butt off when I'm stopped next to a HD at a traffic light and you can't even read the license plate because it's a vibrating blur. That can't be comfortable if its transmitted to the rider.

 

[ofdave]

Maybe it's so the HD rider can keep the fillings in his teeth from vibrating out? I always laugh my butt off when I'm stopped next to a HD at a traffic light and you can't even read the license plate because it's a vibrating blur. That can't be comfortable if its transmitted to the rider.

that vibration is on the rubber mounted engines
above 1500 rpm or so when riding it is not felt by the rider

 

[Lew L]

Street Vibrations

Reno has Street Vibrations!!!! Thousands of bikes in town. 2 fatalities so far. My bikes stay in the garage this weekend.

Kaos

 

[Maddoggie501]

that vibration is on the rubber mounted engine

above 1500 rpm or so when riding it is not felt by the rider

I just purchased a 2018 Softail Slim with the 107 motor. It has dual counter balancers. Nothing shakes at idle.

 

[Bob Denman]

I find it interesting that denigrating Harleys and their owners in here is okay...

But watch us get out tails in knots, when someone tells us to "Get a real bike!" :roflblack:

 

[WileyTweety]

Harley and Spyder owner

I find it interesting that denigrating Harleys and their owners in here is okay...

But watch us get out tails in knots, when someone tells us to "Get a real bike!" :roflblack:

Owned Japanese Crotch Rockets most of my younger years. Always said that Harleys were for Old Farts who couldn't handle the speed. After a couple of bad crashes, thought I'd better get a slower bike and not kill myself. Now consider me an Old Fart with a Harley VRod. Got highsided and broke my wrist in two places. Wife said that I was getting too old to be riding something meant to fall over. Resisted getting or even thinking about a Trike till saw one in office garage. Test rode one in Seattle which changed my mind as it was still a blast to ride - even on 3 wheels. Mulled it over for a few months and decided to give in to the "boss" and look for a Spyder. Went back to Seattle and test rode the F3s and was sold. Now waiting for the ship transporting bike to land.

As for blipping the throttle, for me a matter of habit. Love the sound of the rumble as all my bikes were piped and loud. Harleys are a bit loud but I still have fun taking the grandson out and setting off car alarms in the parking lot! He thinks its a blast too! Guess it's my way of fighting the "Old Fart" label!!! Wondering if the Spyder will be able to do that too.

 

[Bob Denman]

:shocked: You probably DO have to grow old... :banghead:
But nobody ever told me, that growing up was mandatory!! :thumbup:

 

[flaggerphil]

Compensation.

 

[ofdave]

I just purchased a 2018 Softail Slim with the 107 motor. It has dual counter balancers. Nothing shakes at idle.

my '04 Softtail didn't shake at idle either.
Softtails are not rubber mounted.

 

[Bob Denman]

Compensation.

For what? :roflblack: