Tractor repairs are a breeze. Try working on a motorcycle to prove the point

   / Tractor repairs are a breeze. Try working on a motorcycle to prove the point #41  
What year(s) are you referring? Triumph website lists current Bonnie as liquid cooled.

Y'know, maybe they are liquid cooled. I was talking about modern-ish ones. I've never owned one but ridden a couple. Just seemed like a nice no-frills standard bike.
 
   / Tractor repairs are a breeze. Try working on a motorcycle to prove the point
  • Thread Starter
#42  
You guys are riding the wrong motorcycles. I can tear my CR125 down to the frame, change the filter, oil, sprockets and chain, wheel and linkage bearings, and put it back together in one of your Goldwing oil changes...
Contrarily, an oil change is the one quick thing that can be done. Remove 3 screws to remove the lower cowling to expose the oil filter so it can be removed with one bolt (or screw on replacement depending on the model year), remove the drain plug while motorcycle is setting on center stand. Pop off the right hand side cover exposing the dip stick and filler cap. Only tools needed is a phillips head screwdriver and socket for the drain plug. If engine is hot and doesn't require a warm up, a 10 minute job at most. I guess since this is a frequent maintenance job, the Honda engineers made it simple and easy to do unlike some of the more time consuming tasks that are rarely needed.
 
   / Tractor repairs are a breeze. Try working on a motorcycle to prove the point
  • Thread Starter
#43  
After telling my neighbor about my 3 hour air filter change, he suggested that I get a Harley like his and only take 5 minutes to change the air filter. While they are easier to access components, I just cant get past the engine shaking itself to death all the time and the handle bar vibrates so much that after a 20 mile ride, my hands are numb.
 
   / Tractor repairs are a breeze. Try working on a motorcycle to prove the point #44  
Very true, but try riding your CR coast-to-coast and see how yer butt feels after one day.:laughing:

Also true, but try riding your Goldwing 20 miles through New England woods and see how everything except your butt feels!:laughing:
 
   / Tractor repairs are a breeze. Try working on a motorcycle to prove the point #45  
Y'know, maybe they are liquid cooled. I was talking about modern-ish ones. I've never owned one but ridden a couple. Just seemed like a nice no-frills standard bike.
The newer ones are liquid cooled and fuel injection.
They are made to look air cooled for that retro look.
 
   / Tractor repairs are a breeze. Try working on a motorcycle to prove the point #46  
After telling my neighbor about my 3 hour air filter change, he suggested that I get a Harley like his and only take 5 minutes to change the air filter. While they are easier to access components, I just cant get past the engine shaking itself to death all the time and the handle bar vibrates so much that after a 20 mile ride, my hands are numb.

Apparently, you haven't ridden a Harley in a looong time. The touring & Dyna line have been rubber mounted for decades. True, they vibrate at idle, but are smooth on the road. The Sportster & Softail are now counter balanced, and are smooth also. The 180 degree flat Goldwing engine is naturally balanced. My '79 flat 4 Wing was butter smooth, but my 2015 Harley Roadglide just eats up the highway. Vibration is a nonissue.
 
   / Tractor repairs are a breeze. Try working on a motorcycle to prove the point
  • Thread Starter
#47  
Apparently, you haven't ridden a Harley in a looong time. The touring & Dyna line have been rubber mounted for decades. True, they vibrate at idle, but are smooth on the road. The Sportster & Softail are now counter balanced, and are smooth also. The 180 degree flat Goldwing engine is naturally balanced. My '79 flat 4 Wing was butter smooth, but my 2015 Harley Roadglide just eats up the highway. Vibration is a nonissue.
Actually it was a 2012 and rubber mounts or not, it still shakes. You cant even identify an object in your mirrors when the machine is idling. That shaking while idling translates to a high frequency shake at road speed which makes my hands tingle when I stop. Rubber mounts did take out much of the shaking, but you can still feel it especially when you are used to riding a bike without any vibration. Anti-vibration gloves are a must for riding a Harley and cruise control allows you to take your hand off the grips for some relaxing from the vibration at times.
I don't deny that the Harley's look good rolling down the highway, but I have to request to my Harley riding buddies that they let me crank my Wing up first so that I can tell when it starts other than watching the tach. It is so smooth and quiet that when those Harley bikes are running nearby, I cant feel or hear my Wing running.
 
   / Tractor repairs are a breeze. Try working on a motorcycle to prove the point #48  
Probably one of the finest engines Honda has ever made.
Like owning a 13 hp GX390, there just isn't anything higher quality out there.

I only get this though reading but I understand Harley has come a long way in NVH, but
particularly for the loud or nonexistent muffler crowd, why bother with any improvements? That shaking must tire
you out after awhile.

The Honda engine is utter refinement, What about if you want something equally reliable but more aggressive?
Like the sound of the hemi in my truck....rumbly but not loud.
Not too big, not too heavy either. Room for two seniors.

A British twin would do it, as suggested before. I want to hear the engine, not feel it.
That is perhaps a niche market that Harley doesn't worry about.
Lots of fancy Italian high performance bike motors out there too, but
no way reliability isn't going to suffer there. And parts...made of unobtanium

It's only the weight of the batteries that is keeping electric power out of road bikes I believe.
Once they conquer that, adjusting valve lap is going to be something you see in a museum or old time power shows.
And electric is remarkably reliable. But no nice noise...one could always build in fake gear shifts and synthesize whatever
engine sound they liked the best. Now hearing a small block on Magnaflows going by you when all you see is a geezer on
a big electric bike, that will get some smiles.
 
   / Tractor repairs are a breeze. Try working on a motorcycle to prove the point #49  
Probably one of the finest engines Honda has ever made.
Like owning a 13 hp GX390, there just isn't anything higher quality out there.
Now hearing a small block on Magnaflows going by you when all you see is a geezer on
a big electric bike, that will get some smiles.

Got it! A honda VFR or magna with the V-4. Ever hear one of those with an aftermarket exhaust? Sounds like a small block Chevy. Great sound, no vibes, and reliable as a stone axe.

I love my VFR, but it has stock pipes.
 
   / Tractor repairs are a breeze. Try working on a motorcycle to prove the point #50  
Got it! A honda VFR or magna with the V-4. Ever hear one of those with an aftermarket exhaust? Sounds like a small block Chevy. Great sound, no vibes, and reliable as a stone axe.

I love my VFR, but it has stock pipes.

My V4 Yamaha Royal Star Venture was in the same category.
 

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