what's the attraction??

[xllent01]

Yep your a rebel..

[semjpm]

I grew up in NYC and when I was about 5 or 6 there were a pair of Hydra-glides that would park in front of the apartment house (One of the guys was dating the superintendents daughter). Full dress types with bags and those half canvas windshields. I was fascinated with the bikes and would wait hours for them to leave so that I could hear the bikes start and drive off. Nice guys and they always put on a bit of a show for the kids. Flash forward 10 years or so and I finally got a used 1960 sportster. Sold that when I went in the army and bought a new 1972 XLCH with my mustering out pay. Still have it as a reserve bike and I fully restored it a few years ago. Not a bad investment when you have a motor vehicle for 40 years and it could still be a daily driver!

SEMJPM

[Ireeman]

I like 2 wheels and engines, put a Wankel in it, some handle bars i will give it a try.

My favorite is still the RG 500 Gamma. Square four 2 stroke madness.

[wandrur]

My Dad's had this since '65 (I was born in '78...so it's been around my entire life):



Kinda drew me to the model.

[Sturge]

Originally Posted by xllent01

So Yeah, I've always thought these bikes were cool sounding and a huge part of American culture..it's just the new hipsters (POSERS) I can't stand..

Around here, the "hipsters" who ride, ride cafe racer'd vintage japanese bikes, little '60's italian ones, or scooters (vespas, etc.). The few who are more serious about it are into triumphs (nothing wrong with that...). Harleys are considered very un-hipster in these parts, generally. Those sheep get on my nerves anyway, mustache wax and all.

As for me, a Sporty was probably the first motorcycle I saw, or one of the two first, at any rate. My dad had a '73 1000, as well as a '72 Yamaha XS650 he bought new, when I was little. He'd ride me around the neighborhood when I was a year old or so, and its been in my blood ever since. I always wanted a Sporty because of that. Never been into the "lifestyle" marketing, at all...that almost turned me off them, but I don't have to participate in the costume party, anyway.

[lostNdallas]

Originally Posted by xllent01

Yep your a rebel..

I almost bought a Rebel in 87 because they were dirt cheap but I was in the Navy and had a 64.5 Mustang convertible, 55 Buick Tourback sedan, 74 LeMans with a chevy 400, and a 78 Nissan 210 wagon. The last thing I needed was another vehicle to shuffle around.

[sportsterdoc]

Originally Posted by Sturge

...Never been into the "lifestyle" marketing, at all...that almost turned me off them, but I don't have to participate in the costume party, anyway.

Amen to that

[keys]

I have a lot of family that lives in the Lakes Region in New Hampshire. Ever since I was little I loved watching the bikes cruise through the area on their way to Laconia Bike Week in the summer. I was (and still am) the only one in my family that loved watching that sleepy little area get overrun by motorcycles for a week. Everybody else in my family thought it was a huge hassle. Not me, I loved it. I remember being around 8 years old saying to myself "I'm going to get one of those someday". And I finally did, about 25 years later...

[sportymike02]

when i was a kid(late 1960's & 70's) my sister & I used to get picked up from school on the last day & the family would head to upstate NY to visit my Dad's side of the family. Several years our trip coincided with Laconia. Dozens of bikes headed up the NY state thruway...hooked

[Ireeman]

Everybody else in my family thought it was a huge hassle. Not me, I loved it. I remember being around 8 years old saying to myself "I'm going to get one of those someday".

Everyone out in their lawn chairs waving...it's great.