GS5 vs. Harley...Now, the Story can be Told!!!

[XealotX]

So, yesterday I'm out on my favorite 80 mile weekend cruise and pull behind three Harley riders at a stop light...two single riders and one with a standard Harley chick on back...you know the type, think Mary in 20 years...

They were on what I would call Generic Harleys...not street rods or full dressers...sort of the Toyota Camry's of the HD world.

Anyway, they turn around, eye-ball my beloved GS, and start commenting among themselves. Not sure what they were saying due to the racket of their exhausts but it didn't seem friendly towards my bike. Not necessarily pr1ckish either...but there were eyes rolling and smirks in the direction of my ride.

To my complete and utter amazement-- when they start pulling away from the light the chick turns towards me, smiles, and waves as the riders gun their engines and take off at full throttle.



It barely required effort to keep up with them...and I'm not that great a rider. Seriously, an Amish buggy would have presented more of a challenge. Admittedly, I had to downshift (to 5th) on the straightaways, but in the curves it wasn't even close...had to hit the brakes hard a few times to keep from running them over.

It was also great fun.

It was at the next stop light about 20 miles down the road that I noticed they didn't seem to know how to ride very well. All three riders kept both legs firmly planted on the road the entire stop (as though balancing was an issue) and all three were weaving through the lane as they pulled away from the light as though throttle control was not their strong suit. I thought two of them were going to side swipe each other as they tried to get up to a stable speed without wobbling into the ditch. My guess is they either had just bought the things or (just as likely) had owned them for years but only rode about 200 miles a year.

I guess my question after the above rambling is whether a 1200CC Harley is all that much faster than a GS...assuming similarly talented riders. I used to think the Harley would have an advantage on a straight road, but now I'm not so sure. Also, why do Harley riders seem to think their bikes are faster than what they actually are? Those three yahoo's really thought they were going to leave me in their dust.

P.S.,  40 miles later when we parted company they nodded and waved as I rode off. I guess I sufficiently upheld the honor of cheap Japanese bikes everywhere.

[GSrookie500]

Haha, did anybody see the new South Park about the Harley riders? That was awesome.

I'm not really into being a diverse rider, but sometimes that's just how it is. Harley riders seem like they don't like imports, and I'm not to fond of Harley's. Maybe it's the type of people that ride them. Idk

[gregvhen]

similarly talented, on a long straight i would put my money on a harley. even with the extra weight, the engine is more than twice the size of the GS.  also, they may be new riders, but also harleys are very heavy bikes, so maybe they just had their feet planted cause of the weight, same goes for the weaving. heavy bike man. GSrs take the super light weight to grantid. im sorry i dont know how to spell granted.

[scottpA_GS]

they didn't seem to know how to ride very well. All three riders kept both legs firmly planted on the road the entire stop (as though balancing was an issue)

No, balance is not an issue... they obviously know how to ride... evidently you don't.

Its just good practice to have both feet on the ground when stopped. Both feet should also hit the ground at the same time when coming to a stop. In most states ITS THE LAW! If you don't stop and keep both feet down, you technically didn't stop!

Take the MSF, learn how to ride yourself and then feel free to comment on other peoples riding skills.

Sorry for bein a d i ck..   Just hope to make us all better riders.

[redhenracing2]

This topic particularly interests me, because for the last week or so my GS has been out of commission and I have been having to ride my father's bike. It is a Shadow 1100 (no, not technically a harley). My bike is much faster in a straight line, especially 0-60. They have the same top speed of roughly 110-115 but the GS gets there MUCH faster. I have found myself putting both feet down at lights on occasion, which is something I NEVER do on my bike. My left foot doesnt leave the shifter, EVER. Can't say anything for weaving, maybe I have better low-speed control than they did?  And the riding position hurts my back on this thing . . . and it's too loud . . . . and I look retarded wearing my sour apple green full-face helmet riding a black *and overly chromed* cruiser. . . . I want my GS back 

[annguyen1981]

they didn't seem to know how to ride very well. All three riders kept both legs firmly planted on the road the entire stop (as though balancing was an issue)

No, balance is not an issue... they obviously know how to ride... evidently you don't.

Its just good practice to have both feet on the ground when stopped. Both feet should also hit the ground at the same time when coming to a stop. In most states ITS THE LAW! If you don't stop and keep both feet down, you technically didn't stop!

Take the MSF, learn how to ride yourself and then feel free to comment on other peoples riding skills.

Sorry for bein a d i ck..   Just hope to make us all better riders.

Actually, scott....  your left foot should hit the ground first.

If both feet hit the ground at the same time, that means you're not using the rear brake.  Both front and rear brakes should be used during stops.

[annguyen1981]

But I agree that BOTH feet should be on the ground while stopped.  Helps with balance.  When I'm on my dad's VStar1100, I HAVE to put both feet down.  I can't put one foot up like I normally would on the R6

[gregvhen]

they didn't seem to know how to ride very well. All three riders kept both legs firmly planted on the road the entire stop (as though balancing was an issue)

No, balance is not an issue... they obviously know how to ride... evidently you don't.

Its just good practice to have both feet on the ground when stopped. Both feet should also hit the ground at the same time when coming to a stop. In most states ITS THE LAW! If you don't stop and keep both feet down, you technically didn't stop!

Take the MSF, learn how to ride yourself and then feel free to comment on other peoples riding skills.

Sorry for bein a d i ck..   Just hope to make us all better riders.

Actually, scott....  your left foot should hit the ground first.

If both feet hit the ground at the same time, that means you're not using the rear brake.  Both front and rear brakes should be used during stops.

BUUUUUURN!!!! (micheal kelso voice from that 70s show. yea i know im alot younger then alot folks on here) 

[scottpA_GS]

they didn't seem to know how to ride very well. All three riders kept both legs firmly planted on the road the entire stop (as though balancing was an issue)

No, balance is not an issue... they obviously know how to ride... evidently you don't.

Its just good practice to have both feet on the ground when stopped. Both feet should also hit the ground at the same time when coming to a stop. In most states ITS THE LAW! If you don't stop and keep both feet down, you technically didn't stop!

Take the MSF, learn how to ride yourself and then feel free to comment on other peoples riding skills.

Sorry for bein a d i ck..   Just hope to make us all better riders.

Actually, scott....  your left foot should hit the ground first.

If both feet hit the ground at the same time, that means you're not using the rear brake.  Both front and rear brakes should be used during stops.

100% WRONG!

Check that with the MSF  

Do you drag your left foot while braking with the right? NO! you use your foot to brake if needed then when stoping BOTH feet hit the ground at the same time...

As per MSF training  

Yea Greg.. no Burn there buddy...

[XealotX]

they didn't seem to know how to ride very well. All three riders kept both legs firmly planted on the road the entire stop (as though balancing was an issue)

No, balance is not an issue... they obviously know how to ride... evidently you don't.

Its just good practice to have both feet on the ground when stopped. Both feet should also hit the ground at the same time when coming to a stop. In most states ITS THE LAW! If you don't stop and keep both feet down, you technically didn't stop!

Take the MSF, learn how to ride yourself and then feel free to comment on other peoples riding skills.

Sorry for bein a d i ck..   Just hope to make us all better riders.

Hmmm, I'm not going to debate the merits of keeping both feet on the ground at a stop--I've seen it argued for and against several times on this forum.

I can see how my original post was unclear about their foot usage however. Two of them were sort of pushing with their feet (Flintstone style) as they started creeping forward from a stop. They both kept their feet millimeters off the ground as they wobbled across the road until (I'd guess) about 30MPH. At least one of them used their foot for a major course correction as he accidentally tried to convert his ride from motorcycle to cub-cadet lawn tractor.

I'll take my chances learning how to come to a stop with two feet, one foot, or even no feet (momentarily) depending on the needs of the situation.

[scottpA_GS]

Yea.. where did you see that debated on here??

 
Both feet down when stoped is not a discussion. There is no reason to not have both feet down.

How would you benefit from having a foot on the peg??

When stoped you should (1) Be in 1st gear (2) have BOTH feet on the gound 

[XealotX]

Yea.. where did you see that debated on here??

I don't remember where and I'm too lazy to look it up...but it was usually in posts about shorter riders learning to ride without having to lower their bikes.

No need to suggest I'm a liar.

[scottpA_GS]

Ooo OK now Im callin you a liar...

My only intent here was to make sure other riders dont get the wrong idea of how you should be positioned when stopped.

BOTH FEET ON THE GROUND!

Show me a reason not to  

AS far as being too short to put both feet down... yea, thats UNSAFE! and if you cant put em both down... Park your bike and resolve the issue or get another bike.

I should have noticed the "free wladziu" in your sig.. and knew I was in for it...

[annguyen1981]

My MSF instructors (both BRC and ERC) have taught me that when stopping, the left should come down first when the bike stops. THEN the right foot.

We'd actually get points deducted if we put both feet down at the same time 'cause that meant that the rear wasn't being used.

[scottpA_GS]

 Im seeing that in my searches... Thats not what I was taught in  MSF training. If you are putting any feet down you should already be stopped... so why Left foot first?

I see posts saying its so you can cover the rear brake?? However you never put any foot down unless stopped... so.. if stopped why keep one foot on?

That said... I am focusing on "when stopped" not while stoping... so.. Both feet down!   Show me what good would come from having one foot on the brake while at a light?

Guess I was taught wrong.. All you one footed riders gohead w. your bad selvs 

[XealotX]

  I should have noticed the "free wladziu" in your sig.. and knew I was in for it...

"free wladziu" has been in my sig for months yet I have somehow refrained from accusing complete strangers of not knowing how to ride all this time.

It's a joke.

That said... I am focusing on "when stopped" not while stoping... so.. Both feet down!   Show me what good would come from having one foot on the brake while at a light?

When stopped while going uphill I prefer to hold the rear brake while keeping my right hand ready at the throttle in case I need to leave quickly...in case a car coming from behind fails to stop, etc. There were no hills in my MSF course so they didn't mention this but it "feels" safer to me.

[scottpA_GS]

 I should have noticed the "free wladziu" in your sig.. and knew I was in for it...

"free wladziu" has been in my sig for months yet I have somehow refrained from accusing complete strangers of not knowing how to ride all this time.

Dude... Your whole post was accusing complete strangers of not knowing how to ride


Now there is a BURN for ya Greg   



Im not tryin to start a fight... I love all you guys!   

[black and silver twin]

a 1200 Harley makes around 80hp, 30 more than the GS, but it weighs 700-900 pounds. the gs500f weighs 430ish with a full tank of gas plus has an extra gear. there is no way a Harley is gonna keep up with a GS after 15mph (harleys have twice the torque of the mighty GS   ). my dads 930 pound GL1800 120hp v6 goldwing will not touch my modified gs500f untill 70mph.

[XealotX]

  I should have noticed the "free wladziu" in your sig.. and knew I was in for it...

"free wladziu" has been in my sig for months yet I have somehow refrained from accusing complete strangers of not knowing how to ride all this time.

Dude... Your whole post was accusing complete strangers of not knowing how to ride

If "those" complete strangers decide to join this forum then I would make it a point to be civil to them...

Good point though...

[black and silver twin]

also a harleys top speed is around 110-120 indicated, similar to stock gs500. the gl1800 top speed is 140 something (my dad is not willing to exceed that on a goldwing)

so, harley vs. gs500? gs500 will win just about every contest assuming both riders are of equal skill.