Street Bob v Crossbones

I don't know what got into me lately. Since my first demo ride of Street Bob the other day, suddenly I have this thought about softail Crossbones. My vision of a Street Bob is that I will customise it to look like a retro bobber with sprung solo seat, ape hanger, chunky front tire, springer front fork and bobbed rear fender. I realised now that half of the things that I want for a bobber look is already come in stock for the Crossbones model.

So I figured instead of paying more to customise the Street Bob to look like an Old Skool bobber, why dont I just buy a Crossbones where the most I need to modify is the rear fender.

But I am not comfortable in changing decision just like this. I need to think the pro and cons between these two great models. I have been dreaming about Street Bob for queit some times now and changing that dream should take a slighly more time to justify it.

So I probably may not buy Street Bob now. Well, we will see.






Pictures scooped from the WWW.

Street Bob Demo Ride

Yesterday marked my first ride of FXDB Street Bob. I got the idea while browsing HD-UAE website and since I got a motorcycle licence already, why not.

I arrived at the dealership around 11.00 am. I met with the Sale Representative Mohammed Rizal Rahmat who is a Malay from Singapore. It was nice talking about bikes in 'rojak' English-Malay language. It felt like a morning chat with a new friend in downtown KL. He he

Rizal helped me with the booking a week earlier. However the renter of the Street Bob was late in returning the bike and I waited for about 35 minutes in the showroom. But it was fine as I was not rushing to go to anywhere. In fact the waiting cost me AED285 when I made a snap purchase of a tri-fold HD biker's wallet with chain. I couldn't resist the smell of a genuine leather.

I just cannot describe the feeling of my brief ride with a Street Bob. It was like going out with a date for the first time. I became speechless. I brought a camera to shoot some pics and video of my first ride but I didnt do anything except riding. I couldnt let go of her for a second. The sound, vibration, torque and build of the bike make all my thoughts and passions about her to be clearer and more sensible now.

I've got to own this bike !!

Classic Bobber

Ever since I planned to buy Street Bob, I just can't get my mind off from any picture of cool bobber available in the internet. A Classic Bobber style is a tribute to the WWII veterans who removed all frills and left the Harley on its bare essentials. To my eyes, the main features are the use of spring seat and absence of front fender.

Check out pictures of the bobber below with a wide beach bar instead of ape hanger. Very cool ehh !

Classic desert military style !!

Images courtesy of http://brassballsbobbers.com/

I found a Sample !

When I wrote my last post about the new name for my bike "Desert Bobber" I actually had thought someone somewhere out there must have had a similar idea and done it already. In fact I did google for any picture of it if it made it through the world wide web, especially the Youtube.

Today, I found it ! I was "youtubing" for a sound of street bob with big shot and I found this video. Marvellous !





Enjoy..

The Rise of Desert Bobber !

At the time of writing this post I really wanted to jump and scream yahoooo !! Yes, because I passed my riding test today !!

It was not easy at all. After a break of about 3 weeks I found it hard to balance my body on the bike to do the number 8 figure and to memorise all the riding tips on the road. But I gave my best shot and I made it.

At first I thought I was going to fail. The test was conducted on a group of 3 riders. I was the last rider and right behind me was the examiner's car. When my group went off from the centre, the first rider rode so fast and made me looked really riding very slow. I could ride faster and catch up with him but such move would make me clumsy and forget all the signalling details. So I decided to maintain regular speed at 60 - 65 km/h. However after a turning to a straight road back to the centre the examiner's car overtook my bike. I was worried that was a sign that he didn't care about my riding anymore because I have failed.

When I got back in the centre my instructor remarked that I rode very slow. My fellow rider in the group also commented the same. I almost believed that I was going to fail.

Tonight I am going to celebrate with my wife. Now it is a matter of money to acquire my first Harley bike. But already I had a name for the bike.

It will be named a Desert Bobber !! Hot...hot ..

Waiting

Despite my advance call on EDI not to fix any test during my vacation, I received sms text on Thursday 17 September 2009 informing about my test date on 24 September 2009. I just didn't know how to say to these peoples. They never listen or use their heads. I called up EDI to complain about the test date and they replied that my call was too late since RTA office worked half day that day. So they could only relay my complaint to RTA on the next business day which was the test date itself. According to the RTA policy any postponement must be informed to them at least 3 days in advance. I was furious to think that RTA may fail me just because I will not turn up on the test date. It was ridiculous ! However I tried to calm down and not to let thing bother me so much during my vacation. As a matter of fact I managed to do so. Completely forgot about the test date when I was travelling in Edinburgh, London and Paris.

Today I called up EDI to follow up on this matter. Thank god, they told me RTA didn't fail me for failure to turn up but is processing my request for a new test date. Just now I received a call from EDI to confirm my new test date will be on the upcoming Thursday 1 October 2009.

So this is it. Hope this one will go through smoothly like lubricant on a piston.

Until then I imagined this:

Note: the above is somebody's street bob I copied from somewhere in world wide web. Any credit goes to the owner, of course.

Test of Perfection

Now I have finished 4 Friday classes. I feel more confident with my riding skills and traffic handling. I can do the figure 8 smoothly. I have memorised the test routes. I don't feel hesitate anymore whilst riding on the road. So my instructor told me that I am now ready and all set for the final test.

Last Friday I attended an assessment test conducted by my instructor. He passed me through with a few remarks on my mistake and things which I need to be careful. I looked at his comments and told him that I thought I have done exactly what he taught me.

He replied, "yes you have done everything correct. But my dear, you need to be perfect !".

I am waiting for a call from the driving centre on my date for the final test. It will be a big day for me. I have to perform. I will be tested on my skills and judgment.

It will be the test of perfection.