doohickynoia l- ong answer

[Judson D. Jones]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Eric L. Green" wrote:

> > > Mind you, that doesn't make a Harley a good motorcycle for any definition > of "good" that KLR owners would understand. But as a piece of art, a > Harley is quite easy to appreciate.

Art, or kitsch?

[Richy]

I had many Japanese street bikes but I prefer Harleys to them in most cases. The acception is my 99 KLR. Its one bike that is easy to work on, fun to ride and can go anywhere you want it to.. To sum it up, its utilitarian and tough. Something anyone can appreciate. My recent Japanese Cruiser was a very nice Yamaha Venture Royale, although it really never gave me any trouble, it seems Yamaha cut corners by using sub standard plastics so cracks and rattles were the norm. OTOH my Harley Ultra had Fiberglass cases and much nicer chrome and paint and more suited to touring than the VR. I dont recommend touring bikes to anyone as once you ride one with cruise and a radio, its very difficult to go back to anything else. I use my KLR to buzz around the NJ shore and ride around on some of the trails I see in the area. Most are pretty well tamed and fun to ride on. Im a big guy and the KLR seems pretty happy even with my big butt on it. I am constantly upgrading stuff on it and cant really think of a time I didnt want to own it anymore.. Its just one of those bikes that you cant find a reason to dispose of. My next thing is the dual star guards and a trunk for it. Right now I am getting some minor stuff squared away as this one was resurrected from the dead a few months ago.. A total frame replacement took just a week of my spare time by myself. The hardest part was getting the swingarm shaft out.. Good Luck, Richy I --- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Eric L. Green" wrote:

> > Some of the Harley types are on those machines because to them

it's all

> > about American iron, and I can certainly respect that. The

others, the

> > poseur boutique crowd, are probably making up for anatomical

shortcomings,

> > or some other lack. > > To be fair, there's also a third group: those who appreciate the

Harley as

> a piece of rolling performance art, for whom neither posing nor

handling

> nor acceleration are the point, but, rather, the entire experience. > > Mind you, that doesn't make a Harley a good motorcycle for any

definition

> of "good" that KLR owners would understand. But as a piece of art, a > Harley is quite easy to appreciate. > > -E

[Eric L. Green]

>> Mind you, that doesn't make a Harley a good motorcycle for any >> definition >> of "good" that KLR owners would understand. But as a piece of art, a >> Harley is quite easy to appreciate. > > Art, or kitsch?

Early Industrial Art, specifically. As befits the primitive and uncivilized nature of the beast. Is best appreciated in a setting like this one: http://www.bristol-city.gov.uk/mus/bim.htm and is most often encountered esconced upon a trailer being towed behind a four-wheeled vehicle to the next museum or art gallery at which it is to be displayed, but is occasionally still encountered in the wild, being used (however uncomfortably) for the purpose for which it was designed oh so many decades ago. :-). But seriously, a Harley is not only a work of performance art, it is a PARTICIPATORY work of performance art, where the purchaser of the art piece then not only is allowed, but encouraged, to customize his work of art in various ways. Not that I have any desire to own one. While they may be an interesting piece of performance art, they're lousy motorcycles. But you must admit that as a piece of industrial art, it is a quite... interesting... piece. -E

[CA Stu]

> But seriously, a Harley is not only a work of performance art, it is a > PARTICIPATORY work of performance art, where the purchaser of the art > piece then not only is allowed, but encouraged, to customize his work of > art in various ways. > > Not that I have any desire to own one. While they may be an interesting > piece of performance art, they're lousy motorcycles. But you must admit > that as a piece of industrial art, it is a quite... interesting...

piece.

> > -E

Yes, but where do you put your chai tea and monocle when admiring said work of art? Cheers CA Stu

[Judson D. Jones]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Eric L. Green" wrote:

> >> Mind you, that doesn't make a Harley a good motorcycle for any > >> definition > >> of "good" that KLR owners would understand. But as a piece of art, a > >> Harley is quite easy to appreciate. > > > > Art, or kitsch? > > Early Industrial Art, specifically. As befits the primitive and > uncivilized nature of the beast. Is best appreciated in a setting like > this one: > > http://www.bristol-city.gov.uk/mus/bim.htm > > and is most often encountered esconced upon a trailer being towed behind

a

> four-wheeled vehicle to the next museum or art gallery at which it is to > be displayed, but is occasionally still encountered in the wild, being > used (however uncomfortably) for the purpose for which it was designed oh > so many decades ago. > > :-). > > But seriously, a Harley is not only a work of performance art, it is a > PARTICIPATORY work of performance art, where the purchaser of the art > piece then not only is allowed, but encouraged, to customize his work of > art in various ways. > > Not that I have any desire to own one. While they may be an interesting > piece of performance art, they're lousy motorcycles. But you must admit > that as a piece of industrial art, it is a quite... interesting... piece.

Every once in a while, perhaps, in the case of a nice bobber or well-executed chopper. But more often on a par with Hummel figurines, or more aptly, Elvis on black velvet. My eyes glaze over.

[mr_jor]

Shouldn't we all joining in a chorus of Kumbaya with other motorcyclist, as opposed to the constant ridiculing of everyone else's choice of machines? Bottom line, who cares what others ride. If you don't like it, vote with your pocket change and don't buy one. Forgive me, I just spent a week with my brother-in-law that rides a VTX and heard all the stories about how all the other bikes suck. Ride what you enjoy, and forget everyone else. Motorcycles are toys, nothing more and nothing less. You buy them for the simple pleasure of having them. J. P.S. I own a KLR and a Softail, and just got rid of a Nighthawk. I enjoy riding all of them, for different reasons.

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "CA Stu" wrote: > > But seriously, a Harley is not only a work of performance art, it is a > > PARTICIPATORY work of performance art, where the purchaser of the art > > piece then not only is allowed, but encouraged, to customize his work of > > art in various ways. > > > > Not that I have any desire to own one. While they may be an interesting > > piece of performance art, they're lousy motorcycles. But you must admit > > that as a piece of industrial art, it is a quite... interesting... > piece. > > > > -E > > Yes, but where do you put your chai tea and monocle when admiring said > work of art? > > Cheers > CA Stu

[CA Stu]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "mr_jor" wrote:

> Shouldn't we all joining in a chorus of Kumbaya with other > motorcyclist, as opposed to the constant ridiculing of everyone > else's choice of machines? >

Nahh, we should be joining in a chorus of "KLR Uber Alles" with our KLR brethren.

> Bottom line, who cares what others ride. If you don't like it, vote > with your pocket change and don't buy one. >

Or even better, make fun of the woosies that own other brands and are dumb enough to actually like them. Morons!

> Forgive me, I just spent a week with my brother-in-law that rides a > VTX and heard all the stories about how all the other bikes suck.

Obviously delusional. Brothers-in-law are usually idiots, anyway. I have 2 of them.

> Ride what you enjoy, and forget everyone else. Motorcycles are toys, > nothing more and nothing less. You buy them for the simple pleasure > of having them. >

Well, not really. I use my bikes for transportation, at least a couple of days per week, and I bought them for the simple pleasure of riding them.

> J. > > P.S. I own a KLR and a Softail, and just got rid of a Nighthawk. I > enjoy riding all of them, for different reasons. >

Get rid of your Softail and I'll forgive you. Thanks CA Stu A13 A14 PS this whole thread was in jest. I'm sure all of us like other bikes too, but you have to admit KLRs are the best all around bike. Commuting, canyon carving, trail riding, adventure touring, the KLR can do it all. Viva la KLR!! Ay yi yiiii!!

[Devon]

mr_jor@... wrote:

>Motorcycles are toys, >nothing more and nothing less. >

Only in the US do people think this way. That's how the insurance companies can get away with denying people coverage of injuries related to a motorcycle accident. Motorcycling is a "leisure" activity. People ride to work by themselves in an SUV that gets 12mpg, but commuting to work on my 40mpg KLR (that also doesn't require a full parking spot and can slip through traffic) is a "leisure activity"? How expensive does gasoline need to get before motorcycles aren't toys anymore? Devon

[matteeanne@yahoo.com]

Yep, the point has been made before, if we all rode bikes there would never be another traffic jam, and the Oil Barons would die over night.. --- Devon wrote:

> > > mr_jor@... wrote: > > >Motorcycles are toys, > >nothing more and nothing less. > > > Only in the US do people think this way. That's how > the insurance > companies can get away with denying people coverage > of injuries related > to a motorcycle accident. Motorcycling is a > "leisure" activity. > > People ride to work by themselves in an SUV that > gets 12mpg, but > commuting to work on my 40mpg KLR (that also doesn't > require a full > parking spot and can slip through traffic) is a > "leisure activity"? > > How expensive does gasoline need to get before > motorcycles aren't toys > anymore? > > Devon > > > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at > www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ courtesy of Chris > Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > > >

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[Arden Kysely]

Seems like as good a place as any to remind everyone that Wednesday, July 21 is Ride to Work Day. See www.ridetowork.org for details, tell your friends. Let's flood the road with bikes. As my T-shirt says, "Work to Ride, Ride to Work". __Arden

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, Devon wrote: > People ride to work by themselves in an SUV that gets 12mpg, but > commuting to work on my 40mpg KLR (that also doesn't require a full > parking spot and can slip through traffic) is a "leisure activity"? > > How expensive does gasoline need to get before motorcycles aren't toys > anymore? > > Devon