flyingferret

A 'short' comparison. http://www.heavydutycycles.com/beltvsdrivea.htm Their is really a lot more too it depending on the situation and bike build. BUT...I would prefer not to ride a chain drive. On most sport bikes you don't have a choice, except beamer I think. BUT a shaft drive loses horsepower and torgue in the shaft linkage. I like a belt...but then again Harley's have them -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

Well, that is your opinion...but I think it might not be supported by the larger picture. I cannot speak to your friends, but that is not at all characteristic of the dozens of Harley riders I know. Buell is not harley, that is like comparing jaguar and ford, because they own them. Buell is just coming into their own anyway. Sportsters are too in my opinion, although you will find die hards. I will agree with you on the BMWs, although they are not my style at all, they are very good bikes. Harleys are about a lot of things, and a lot of people don't get it....even many that own them. But I do not think bnuild quality is an issue. Nor do I think buying American is, that is mostly a fallacy in this global economy in any market. I bought the bike because I liked it best. Period. Take any assembly off my bike and compare it to a honda. Nothing personal, my parts cost twice as much. Just like getting in a Lexus and seeing a dampered oh shit handle vs. a spring recoil one in a ford focus. It means nothing more than someone spent money to polish off the details. For me that is worth it in a bike, some people don't have the money to spend or the desire to spend it in that fashion, that is fine with me. But in the end, it comes down to what you want. Just like the chevy ford rivalry..most of it is really personal preference...neither is making lemons. So, again, I know guys with 100K on their bikes...hard core riders. I have done 1000 miles in a day on my Fat Boy. The biggest issue I have ever heard of was a cam bearing repalced under warranty. I cannot say anything like that for hondas. While good bikes for the price, I have heard plenty of bad stories regarding long term durability. Have you ever ridden a harley? Looked through some parts? Watched a service department? one caveat I will add, is that HD's chrome process can be hit and miss. I have seen a few parts that should have been better. But they were returned with no issue. -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

Look for Layer Cake, coming sooner from Guy Richey http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony/layer_cake.html -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

Trillian rocks very much. Make sure you get the latest version 3.x -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

Che was a political figure, even if he did not seek to be one per say. The shirt is a take of this shirt: http://www.thoseshirts.com/images/che.jpg It has inspired several: http://www.thoseshirts.com/ Che was marxist...hardcore. So, idealogically he is the anti-Regean, hence the shirt. I have not seen the movie...so was good naturely use a quote from boondock saints to poke at it. I don't support che, and as such don't have much interest in the journey which lead him to become a revolutionary. -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

wildblue: Huckabees may be goofy sober. I watched it impaired and thought WOW, this is 15 layers deep....man. How about: Shallow Grave - early Ewan McGregor The General - Irish mob Miller's Crossing - and any other coen film (Ladykillers, etc) Resident Evil 2, Van Helsing, Underworld were good for a just mindless action Basic - good plot twist action Still thinking Edit: oh yeah, his goffyness...search....lots of talk rumors, etc. Supposedly something more concrete this year. VSG: meh, to quote Boondock and reference your movie "Pinko Commies" http://www.thoseshirts.com/reagan.html -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

Chevelle = nasty, angry, pissed off hobbiteses music. Bothers me. I like smooth rythm, can be heavy, just not agitating. Probably makes no sense, I have no music vocab. Anyway... What I like: Sublime, Tom Petty, Ian Van Dahl - Castles, anything by Laing. Stuff the reminds me whether I like it or not: Halen - Jump, and Top of the World, etc, tandem video songs -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

When running long distances, it is important to be prepared. Out of curiousity, WHY?! Seems like a totally bizzaro slide -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

WOWOW...where to even begin. If you had Netflix, you could sign up as a friend and see all my ratings, queue, etc. I have rated around 500, and I have 60ish in queue. I can give you some idea, but you have to narrow down what you like? Recently watched recommends: I heart huckabees (watch while 'impaired') Fog of War Halo: freefall Warriors Salton Sea Shuan of the Dead Faster ... keeps going....again, waht do you like? -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

Thank you for chiming in! I have a buddy with a sporter where almost nothing is left stock. He has ridden to Sturgis from Texas multiple times. The new ones are rubber mounted and it makes a BIG difference. I forgot the c was lowered, good point...that adds up too! I still stand my as a great first bike if you don't want a full sized v twin. -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

Well, in that case...sounds like a small bike might be ok. But I think the idea of buying bigger used might be a better one. I cannot imagine an hour on a rebel, especially if your size is what dave says. Have you ever been on a rebel? Anyway, good luck, in the metric end and used end, I am not a lot of help. but PM me if you need anything. -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

I could not agree more. But this has come a long way from the suggestion of a Rebel. If you are asking me about the Sportster in general, I think the COG is too high as well. I have had small women tell me they like their Softail better than a sportster because of more weight slung lower. BUT...if price is a point...might not be, I just assumed from the Rebel...probably bad assumption. Anyway, under the 10K cap, I would do a 700ish metric cruiser or a Sportster. Now...if all limits are off...whole new world... -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

I will agree, I would love to not shave...my neck hates it. But all the rest, man if you don't stay on top of it, stubble is worse than before...that goes for girls too -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

Despite all the blabber, an HD sportster is the best made cruiser you will buy for under 10K, PERIOD. Research the technology, research the warranty, etc. It just does not get better under the 10K for a cruiser. Sport bike is totally different story. It all comes down to personal priorities: What kind of rides will you take? Both duration and mileage. Ever want to carry another person? Extra baggage? Windshield? Etc, etc. The aftermarket community for HD is bigger than any other manufacturer. And in my opinion so is build quality and service. Does that make them better? Only if the balance is right for you. So...here is my advice if you have patience...research a bit online. Then take a saturday and go to each dealer and sit on each bike. If you can wait and demo ride them...even better (this depends on the dealer, some brands want a 'year' of experience). But at the very least know what parts go into them, and how you feel sitting on them. If you do this after riding the MSF bikes for a weekend...I guarantee you, you will notice certain things. Whatever you get, ride safe, and good to have you. -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

Well, she seems to do pretty well at answering your requests...bet she would. -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

Yeah, but you won't sell yours for 75% of what you paid either. -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

And out of 601 students he only got one fiance...Dennis would not approve, Dave. -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

Yeah, and all skydivers go in because their parachute failed to open. Your stereotype is completely wornout. Get a new one. I have 22k invested in my fatboy, not counting accessories, and have never done anything but scheduled maintenance, new rear tire, and new brake pads, in 20K miles. They are quality built solid bikes. Maybe not in the AMF years or the late 80s, but they are now. Apparenly, everyone just gets jealous and starts throwing rocks. And the new sporties actually look nice. -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

And...not to be racist at all...what is with the Asian talent? It is always in the amazing videos....like that crazy brakedancing video from Kollaboration. Somewhere some white redneck kid is going hey, hold my beer then trips over a garden hoe and ends up on America's Most Retarded. While an Asian kid is making a violin concerto while spinning dinner plates on the toes of his panda bear. -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

Did you ever see that King of the Hill Hank's son get all caught up in DDR? awesome. -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

I tried to tell you, but NO it's just a harmless little bunny rabbit. http://www.snopes.com/horrors/food/kfc.htm Seriously people, you guys can access the same internet that I do. -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

Dude, by time you finish that class you will be confident and craving the road, just like after your jumping student progress. I still remember that....it was awesome. Took me another six months to get my fat boy after that. Talk about butterflies walking out of the parking lot. -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

HEY, he is the one asking about a rebel, are you kidding???? If he was askign about a rebel, I was recommending smaller bikes. Now that i know that...HELL NO to the rebel. -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

Thanks for saving me a lot of typing Dave. -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

Once again....I strongly agree with most of the posts in here, including mine that started it DO NOT get a bike that small unless you are riding residential/campus style. For the same reasons that you would not train on a round to jump a square. The MSF course WILL start you on a 250 cc bike, your first 6 hours of riding will be on it, and you will be much more comfortable after that. Beyond that initial step you want to have a enough stability and power to ride safely. This is one step above taking a moped on a freeway. It is legal and can be done, but I would feel VERY unstable on one. Get a bike that you feelk stable on, and unless you are a much smaller than average person, that will not be a Honda Rebel. Everyone has their opinion. I have 20K miles under my belt on a Fat Boy, so obviously I have no qualms about a big bike (and yes it was my first road bike) A few questions need to be answered, mainly cruiser or sport? If cruiser I would recommend looking at the Honda Shadow, Suzuki Vulcan, or Yamaha something-star. IF you have the dough, I would recommend buying a HD Sportster 883 Custom. It can easily be a beginner and grow with you. Again, there is a lot to consider here, and engine size is really not as big as you think it is. The same way you feel under a really small canopy is the way you will feel on a really small bike....twitchy. -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.