She rides the Harley?

[nolan]

I ride a 2003 Kawasaki Nomad. My wife rides a 2004 Harley Road King. I don't know why it is but when people find out that she is the one riding the Harley, people think that is really strange. They think that I should be the one riding the Harley and she should be riding the Kawasaki.

I have owned two Harleys in my lifetime. Also before that 4 Hondas. I sold my Harley to get a Nomad. The wife was going to also because the cost was so much less, but after I had owned the Nomad for a year she decided to stay with Harley. Didn't like the clam style saddlebags, the have to stand on your head to check the oil. After 5 years of ownership, I do agree with her and dislike the saddlebags and oil site glass. Might go back to a Harley some day, unless Kawasaki does some changes or another brand comes out with a motorcycle I like with top opening saddlebags.

But I still find it humorous that people think I should be the one riding the Harley over the Kawasaki.

[ponch]

There's always a Vulcan 2000. I considered one, but the bags on the LT were not big enough for my laptop, and they don't seal. Sometimes I still get jonesing for one, but then I would take a beating on the Nomad and is it really worth it? Check this out, it's more HD than HD: http://www.rolfshemsida.se/blandade%...er/ready14.jpg

[dantama]

I agree on the oil sight glass, but I think the Nomad bags are the best looking bags on the market. I do like the Harley RK Classic bags, but hate the boxy RK hard bags :)

I also like the side opening part. I have some tools in a bag in the bottom of my bag. If I have other things in my bag, I can still reach in and pull out the tools, without unloading everything on top of it.

When I tour, I love the soft liners that I can just grab and take out, rather than lift a load of clothes etc out the top.

Yeah, that green VN2K Nomad clone bike is just the cat's meow isn't it? If you could get true dualies, a chrome radiator cover,and the chrome dresser covers on the front brakes, HOLY MOLEY! I think I'd sell my children into slavery to own one.

As for the Nomad, the bags have their pluses and minuses, but they're very stylish and overall you just can't beat the value of a Nomad.

If people comment about the RK/Nomad thing, just remind them that the Nomad is more of a man's bike because it's bigger and heavier that a Road King. (Which would make sense unless your wife is bigger and heavier than you, in which case I wouldn't mention it!)

Finally, if you gotta have top opening bags the Corbin Beetle Bags are pretty nice. Not all boxy like an Electraglide or a Road King.

[ponch]

If you go through Rolf's site, you'll see he fabbed the bags, tour pak and trailer himself. The bags use kawasaki doors, bit they are twice as wide. He also fabbed most of the brackets, and the hitch too. The guy is very talented. You'll also see a CB-750 on the site where he did a concours restoration. It looks brand new. I don't think anyone makes bagger duals for the 2000, but I guess he could if he wanted to.

Originally Posted by caddmannq

Yeah, that green VN2K Nomad clone bike is just the cat's meow isn't it? If you could get true dualies, a chrome radiator cover,and the chrome dresser covers on the front brakes, HOLY MOLEY! I think I'd sell my children into slavery to own one.

As for the Nomad, the bags have their pluses and minuses, but they're very stylish and overall you just can't beat the value of a Nomad.

If people comment about the RK/Nomad thing, just remind them that the Nomad is more of a man's bike because it's bigger and heavier that a Road King. (Which would make sense unless your wife is bigger and heavier than you, in which case I wouldn't mention it!)

Finally, if you gotta have top opening bags the Corbin Beetle Bags are pretty nice. Not all boxy like an Electraglide or a Road King.

[unwind2]

I agree with Dan. I like the side opening bags and I also use the liners to carry cloths in the motel and/or tent.

To me digging through a top loading bag trying to find something would be more trouble. The Nomad liner bags unzip at the top and on the side...incase you want to get into the the inner bag without taking it all the way out. Also there are the straps built inside the hard bag to keep stuff from falling over or out the bag when opened.

The Goldwing has side opening bags and so does my guzzi. Maybe we're just used to them. Just as some started out and got used to top opening. :-/

As far as folks thinking you are the one on the Harley...it's probably always going to be that way. When we're out riding folks always assume (which in this case is true) that my hubie is the one riding the Goldwing. Also, I've been out by myself, stopped for gas and have men walk up look at the bike and say something like 'you and your husband out for a ride'. They just assume he's inside paying for the gas and I'm riding pillion. I usually just smile and say 'No he's not with me today.'

Some of my lady friends drive Harley Road Kings, some Goldwings some 1100cc or 800 cc bikes...just like guys we ride all sizes and makes. Funny stereotyping we all do with one thing or another. ;)

[flightdoc]

Male mentallity.One of the locations I teach at is a Harley dealership.....extremely busy place would be an understatement. At lunch I eat right out front and watch the "show" All those boys riding harleys are all dressed alike. All act the same. All talk the same. Not much in the way of indivialism going on there. Imagine what alot of them think about women. That may be one answer to the comments you've recieved.

YOU ride the Nomad and SHE rides the Harley?.....YOU clearly wear the pants ......J/K

[macmac]

I love the side door bags, no rain hunting, and I do use liners... That makes instant grab and go.

The oil site is a no brainer if you ask me. I grab the ft brake and lean the engine guard on my knee. I do it one handed...

[MarkG]

I'm going to suggest the classic misdirect. She likes the attention, unique difference, and the conversation starter. If she switched, you would just be two more anonymous bike riders amongst the crowd. This way, you get noticed rather than ignored. If it hadn't been for the bags, she would have found something else. Besides she is probably comfortable with the HD, go with the flow.

Originally Posted by ponch

There's always a Vulcan 2000. I considered one, but the bags on the LT were not big enough for my laptop, and they don't seal. Sometimes I still get jonesing for one, but then I would take a beating on the Nomad and is it really worth it? Check this out, it's more HD than HD: http://www.rolfshemsida.se/blandade%...er/ready14.jpg

Holy Shnittzle... Rolf is my new hero ! ! ! !
Nico YOUR OUT ! ! ! !

[caddman11]

I ride a Nomad and my wife also rides a Harley. Offered to change her bike out and she almost killed me. She likes her Harley.

[nolan]

Originally Posted by caddman11

I ride a Nomad and my wife also rides a Harley. Offered to change her bike out and she almost killed me. She likes her Harley.

We have switched motorcycles before. The little windshield, gas tank and thunky tranny took some getting use to but otherwise I liked hers. She didn't like the clutch feel and the front end felt weird on the Nomad, but otherwise thought it was okay. But not interested in one as I wrote about before.

The gas tank is interesting because both motorcycles hold 5 gallons, but it is smaller in size on the Harley. Her Harley gets better gas mileage then the Nomad too. She is always giving me a hard time about that.

Originally Posted by Nolan

.... the front end felt weird on the Nomad...

That weird feeling goes away when you hit 100 MPH. Then it's solid as a rock.
...Right about the same time you'd be wishing for more rake on the Harley.

At 3 MPH the Harley is solid and the Nomad wants to wander.

That's OK. I avoid parades anyway.

[unwind2]

Originally Posted by caddmannq

That weird feeling goes away when you hit 100 MPH. Then it's solid as a rock.
...Right about the same time you'd be wishing for more rake on the Harley.

At 3 MPH the Harley is solid and the Nomad wants to wander.


That's OK. I avoid parades anyway.

LOL - You know you have tempted me to bring up something I have wondered about the Ride Like A Pro videos. I've wanted to ask this but did not want anybody to think I was belittling their demos. Yes they are good but I could not help but notice on all the youtube videos the four of them are always on the same Harley's. I figured they're slow/tight maneuver friendly related to rake/trail etc.. just wondered. So the Harleys they use are more friendly for slow maneuvering but then on your haul down the road do they lose some comfort? And highway handling? I know this may all be subjective but I think I read in an article once..advantage/disadvantage of longer vs shorter rake/trails and it is as you have said (I think) shorter rake better parking lot stability.....longer rake better hwy stability...is that right?

Before anybody goes there. Yes I have some of their DVDs and yes Jerry will get on a different bike once in a while just to demo a different bike. The videos are very informative and good to watch and practice. Like I said I just wondered.