New season of Bike Shows

So, there's a new season of bike shows fast approaching, and dammit this year, I'm going to make it to one. Ended up working last year when the international motorcycle show rolled through the Georgia Congress Center, so I didn't get a chance to make it out.

Here's a new thought- I went with a buddy a while back to a Harley dealership. He was wanting to check out a Wide Glide- pretty sweet looking ride, and I asked about the dark custom book. Is that thing still around? The salesgirl said she didn't know what I was talking about, so of course I wasn't quite "up to snuff" with her way of selling the damn bike, but there was so much that went around two years ago about the thing that I was wondering if it even still exists. Anyway, enough of that.

Turns out Yamaha's got a new ride coming out for 2012, an ultra-limited edition Raider variant, the Raider SCL. Looks pretty good from here behind the keyboard! It's got a slick custom paint job and apparently will be limited to a production run of just 500 units. Limited, indeed! I'm not sure it's worth $19,000, but hey, to each their own, right?

The 2012 Lineup

Ok, so I've been away for a while- 2011 was a messed up year, all in all, but for 2012, we're gonna get right down to it, and I'm going to look at some bikes. Dammit, that's all there is to it. So, what're you riding this year? Harley? Sport bike? what've you got? I'm still on the Suzy- 2003 Anniversary edition Suzuki Volusia. It's a good bike, but I haven't had much time to spend on it this year. Which brings up a point. Do you ride by yourself? Or with others? I spent most of my riding time up in Ohio with my brother and Dad. Now, down here in good 'ol GA, there's no one, and I find myself riding a lot less then I used to. Hell, I've got a nearly ten year old bike now with less than 12k on the odometer! Sucker's still pristine! That's not to say that I've been totally out of it. I did Deal's gap, and occasionally take the long way home, but the ride just seems better when there's family to share it with, wouldn't you say?

The 2010 Harley Davidson Road King Classic

How appropriate that this new venture should begin with what is quite possibly one of the best looking Harleys on the market today, and one of my personal favorites. So, what is the 2010 Harley Davidson Road King Classic? You can't sum it up in A splash of chrome trim, maybe a few different color choices, but For many riders of past Harley Davidson Road King Classics, the question isn’t about the tangible aspects of the Road King Classic, but the feeling you get when you're riding one. The 2010 Harley Davidson Road King Classic features the same Air cooled 96 cubic inch engine as last year, rated at the same power, and features a host of touring options and standard features, as well as enough accessories to make even the most dedicated customizer’s head spin. On first glance, it’s the bags. The 2010 Harley Davidson Road King Classic is outfitted with leather bags rather than color-keyed hard bags. Then you realize what it is: It’s the feel of the bike more than anything else, like twins who’ve dyed their hair different colors. You know they aren’t that different, there’s just something…

The 2010 Harley Davidson Road King Classic is powered by the same Air-cooled Twin cam 96 engine used effectively throughout the Harley Davidson lineup for this model year. It produces as much as a rated 92.6 lb/ft of torque at 3,500 RPM, just right for freeway riding when you just might find the need to pass quickly or remove yourself from a bad situation in a hurry. Fed with Harley’s electronic sequential port fuel injection system, the 2010 Harley Davidson Road King Classic attains fuel economy of 35 miles per gallon in the city, and 54 miles per gallon highway. Assisting with these numbers is Harley’s six-speed transmission, which for 2010 is fitted with a helical cut fifth gear designed to improve transmission sound. Braking is handled with 32mm, four piston fixed front and rear brakes, and optional on the 2010 Harley Davidson Road King Classic are ABS brake systems.

Priced from $17,999, the 2010 Harley Davidson Road King Classic can be had in any of six colors, with Vivid Black being the color of the base MSRP. Choosing Brilliant Silver Pearl, Flame Blue Pearl, or Red Hot Sunglo will add $405 to your sticker price, and you’ll pay $18,819 if you choose either of the two custom colors, two-tone Merlot Sunglo / Cherry Red Sunglo or two-tone White Ice pearl / Black Ice Pearl. If you’re in the mood to really go all out, though, The 2010 Harley Davidson Road King Classic can be fitted with a paint matched sidecar (just in case you want to take both twins with you when you go.)

Welcome to A biker's needs

There's a hell of a lot of information out there for riders- some of it more useful than other. There are products out there that can help us out, some that are nothing but bullshit, and some are bullshit that isn't too bad anyway. I'll try to comb through it for you. I'll give you some reviews of new bikes as they become available, starting with some of the new Harley models for this year. Thing is, here you'll find no difference between riding a Harley and riding a Honda, because dammit, it's all riding, regardless of what you spent on it or where the damn thing was built. If that's a problem for you, than go ahead and move on, because this writer feels that the new Yamaha Vmax is quite possibly the baddest bike that ever lived, while the Harley Softail Deluxe is about as smooth as a ride can get. This is about OUR needs, the customs that define our lifestyle, the rides we long to try. Let's get to it.