Cash or Loan

As the title above suggests I am now in a situation when I have to seriously consider whether to buy my Harley in cash or using loan. The year 2010 is not really a good year to purchase anything as the world's economy is still painfully recovering. The only sensible thing to do now is just to keep my job and save as much money as I can for the rainy season (touch wood). I still hear news of retrenchment everywhere by the least expected companies. That make me feel jittery and insecure about the future of my job.

I have now decided that I should build up my cash reserve first before buying a Harley. Maybe I have to change the target model from Dyna Street Bob to Sportster Nightster. I wish I can save up fast enough. But it is not easy as it seems. Recently I made a good investment return but have to spend it all on renovation of my new apartment.

No wonder most Harley riders tend to be older and wiser people. Probably because they have waited for some time and could not buy Harley earlier due to other commitments in life.

Knucklehead Design

Last weekend HOG Dubai organised 4 days Hajjar Rally where riders rallied and stayed 2 nights near Hajjar Mountain in Ras AlKhaimah.

I didnt join because I dont have a bike and even if I got a rental one, I could not take anymore leave. But I was at Festival City to greet their return from the rally. Sharp at 4pm on Saturday 21/11/2009 almost 50 thunderous pipes literally shaken Dubai Festival City foyer. It was a sight I will never forget.

I was there purposely to take pictures and videos of Harley bikes. There were a lot of cool and beautifully designed Harleys, from baggers, bobbers, choppers and stock. The bikers were really a creative lots.

Among my favorites design were a copper coloured Crossbones and white old school design. Both have spring front fork and sprung solo seat. I am thinking very seriously now to buy Crossbones instead of Street Bob.

I also managed to talk to the owner of the old school bike and got his handphone numbers. I told him that once I got my Crossbones I will call him to get some advice and contacts for good workshops in Dubai. He was an Emirati and a very friendly and cool dude.

I have a vision now of my knucklehead bobber.

Until then the dream continues....

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 ..