Why Baggers - Are We Getting Old?

[tguil]

I'm 66 and still haven't come of age for a bagger. I ride close to home and tour on either my 1995 Sportster 1200 or my 2002 Super Glide. Some of us just never grow up.

However I've been thinkin' a bit about renting a Road Glide for an upcoming trip south to Texas. Senility setting in? Maybe sensibility?

Tom

[osun061]

Originally Posted by tguil

I'm 66 and still haven't come of age for a bagger. I ride close to home and tour on either my 1995 Sportster 1200 or my 2002 Super Glide. Some of us just never grow up.

However I've been thinkin' a bit about renting a Road Glide for an upcoming trip south to Texas. Senility setting in? Maybe sensibility?

Tom

I have done that very thing the last 4 or 5 years. Fly over to different places like southern Ca.and Oregon and rent from EagleRider with much success.
I always rent an Electra Glide Classic and that affords me plenty of storage and comfort.
I hope to do the Bear Tooth Highway this year and maybe an upstate New York trip if things work out.

Terry

[unclepsycho]

texas 321
Wow! 7 spinal surguries! ouch, after just 1 back sugury, I can even imagine riding after 7. Just shows how the love of bikes can help. I feel great after a long day of riding. No back-rest for me, it seems to make things worse. glad it works for you.

Why Baggers?
A couple years back, I was planning a road trip with a buddy and I was on my BMC. It is a softail, but only about 1" of suspension and a rock hard seat. Before the long road trip, and over a 3-day weekend I would take off and ride all day to find my limits. which was over 300 miles a day, I got foot-peg extenders and that seemed to be the trick to get me and the bike fit for long trips.

Then the next year, the wife wanted to go, and I had gotten the 06 Ultra Classic by then. We made the same basic route as the year before, visiting family along the way. The Ultra needed nothing but gas to get it ready for a long road trip.

the comparison between the two bikes on long trips was obvious... the Ultra wins every time. ya know...heated grips, radio, big plush seats....

the BMC trip (my buddy rode a rigid with ape's and loud pipes)could be described as "hardcore" mean ole biker style, road trip... sleeping on the ground, eatin' at all the greasy spoon's...etc.. Sure was fun tho. When people saw the two of us rolling into small towns, women and children would run... ha!

Then the Ultra Road trip was pure comfort all the way, seems like the view from the bike is more enjoyable when you know you aint gonna suffer at the end of the day.

Oh, I aint "old" yet, am closing in on the 50 milestone.

[Bikerdude]

I bought my Ultra from the widow of a good friend of mine. We were HOG members and had ridden many miles together, them on their 99 Ultra and me on my 85 Ironhead. 6 months after he passed away, his wife decided to sell the bike and I bought it. I was 55 years old and very much ready for a "easier" ride. That is what I got too. Love this Ultra to the MAX! Never had I ever had a stereo radio or cruise control, and I certainly do appreciate them a great deal, tho I use my Ipod more than the radio. When I was younger I loved what I rode then, and I love what I ride now. Some things just never change...

[bigjames19]

Baggers are convenient cool looking and my roadking is a hot rod also!

[ripcordell]

Originally Posted by JayDee

I notice most bagger riders are older and many of them have a lot of years under their belts. I have atheory that as we get older we are more likely to own and ride a bagger to carry all our crap comfortably.

Others agree or think I'm nuts?

As a long time Harley fan and rider, I have had shovelheads and baggers. Baggers are typically more comfortable on touring rides and my posterior as I have gotten older enjoys that comfort. Ha...Ha...

Since you like baggers, you might be interested in my latest country song which is a tribute to Harley riders. "Ride My Harley Ride" brings back the thrill of a cross country ride. You can listen to a clip on my website - Rip Cordell - Ride My Harley Ride by Rip Cordell.

Rip Cordell
Traditional country musician and songwriter

PS: I am donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this song to the Wounded Warrior Project (Wounded Warrior Project - Home).

[alto]

First, I am a geezer. Don't know how that happened. 20 minutes ago, I was 25. Now, 59. Even when I was young, I've Always wanted a full dresser. We rode jap bikes for several years, then, an '83 Harley Roadster. All that time, I wanted an Ultra type. Almost bought one new in '80..I just couldn't flat foot ( 5'7...29" inseam). I put it out of my mind until I stopped, last summer, to just 'look' at a used 01 Ultra..Sitting in the seat, flat-footing, I took the 'for sale' sign off, called the owner's number, and stayed right there until he came. I was , finally, going to get my dream bike. I almost put it up for sale after the first ride. The stops found me quite unstable. Those last few feet of a stop were tough. 'Ride like a Pro' video really helped me to 'unlearn' what always came natural with the smaller rides. A few changes in the way I come to a stop and, my dream bike and I got to like each other.

[09 Classicman]

After a couple of 500 mile days last summer on our Sporty the wife and I concluded the obvious...We need a bigger bike! We did the long rides on the little bike and were still able to walk, sort of, but we like to put on too many miles to do it on anything less than a big bike. We pick up our 09 Classic Saturday and already have a 300 mile loop loosely planned for Sunday. We are giddy as school girls in anticipation!

[tommyglide]

Classicman,a RK Classic or an EG Classic?

[clif02]

I bought my 01 Electra Glide by chance. I started riding on a german Bike my Dad picked up somewhere..a Kreidler Florett or something like that. Progressed to a 69 Honda 350, then a 450, then a 750/4. Then with a growing family on Army pay I stopped riding from 78 to 85. Bought a new Sporty, then another. All I ever had the cash for was a Sportster and not knowing any better I was real happy with my 1200C. A buddy I work with offered me his 01 Glide in 04 for 14k and it only had about 4,300 miles on it. Too good a deal to pass up so I bought it. Wife loved it right off. It took me a while to feel the same. Now we travel, ride every chance we get and enjoy it for all the same reasons everyone here states. love the storage and comfort. Ya'll ride safe. Clif