[Island Rider]

(And no, he was not flirting, with my jacket, riding pants, helmet & gloves you can not tell if I’m female or male)

FYI - You have no idea how visual men are. We can tell. Once walking on the beach a person came out from behind a dune and starting walking towards us from a LONG way off. One of the women in our group said "Is that a man or woman" and all the guys were 100% sure the person was female and all the women were 100% sure they had no idea. Imagine that our eyes work like 10 times better than normal when looking for a girl!
She was a she.

[JessHerbst]

You know they devised a balance shaft or some such, made a smooth(ish) Harley, and got endless complaints. They know their market and it isn't you

My brother owned a Road King. He repeatedly told me it smoothed out at speed so I went for a pillion ride with him. It never smoothed out.

[StefArmstg]

So, is it the bikes or the lifestyle that offends?  Would a Harley be acceptable (for someone else) if they wore an Aerostich suit?

I don't see much difference between a giant Harley and a Gold Wing.  They're both too big to be fun on a twisty road. 

[Brian10x]

Big difference. A Goldwing is near perfection on 2 wheels. Smooth, powerful, ultra-reliable. Refined to a razor's edge.

A Roadking is the polar opposite.

[jackthebiker]

Has any one of you ridden a Harley built in the last 10 years? They are smoother than my W800, and I am betting a Royal Enfield.

[jackthebiker]

Big difference. A Goldwing is near perfection on 2 wheels. Smooth, powerful, ultra-reliable. Refined to a razor's edge.

A Roadking is the polar opposite.

I traded my 2018 Honda Gold Wing Tour in on a 2019 Road King after I put over 17,000 miles on it. My wife liked riding on the Road King better, so did I.

[Brian10x]

It takes a herculean effort to make such an uneven firing engine, inherently designed to shake itself apart, to run smooth. Lots of rubber. Lots of locktite.  I applaud the effort.

[jackthebiker]

My brother owned a Road King. He repeatedly told me it smoothed out at speed so I went for a pillion ride with him. It never smoothed out.

Let me guess, this was 20 years ago and it was older than that.

[Island Rider]

My brother owned a Road King. He repeatedly told me it smoothed out at speed so I went for a pillion ride with him. It never smoothed out.

They can be quite different between models, years, and different bikes. The 94 Dyna my son dragged home vibrates so much I am waiting for the various parts to fly off in different directions. He insisted "they all do that" so I took his friend's Fatboy out and it vibrated way less, but still more than a RE.
Speaking of, don't forget you are comparing nearly-new bikes to bikes that are decades old with a lot miles and a lot of worn-out rubber.

[JessHerbst]

Let me guess, this was 20 years ago and it was older than that.

Somewhere in the late 2000s. Bike was nee at the time.
 Regardless of the bike, he believed it was smooth, it was not.

[12many]

All this bantering back and forth about  vibration etc some of you guys are either spoiled, simply soft or maybe like to be Cadillac pampered when riding a motorcycle! It’s too bad RE doesn’t put kickstart on their bikes anymore. That sure would Separate the men from the rosy palmed caleoused thumb types out there that’s for sure! 

Joking

There’s a bike out there for everyone.

[Island Rider]

Somewhere in the late 2000s. Bike was nee at the time.
 Regardless of the bike, he believed it was smooth, it was not.

Well if he likes it, then it is fine for him

[AzCal Retred]

Vibration sensitivity is extremely subjective. I've had Gold Wing riders whine about vibration. To me my ES350 is dead smooth. As long as I don't have to pay for it, this is Amurrika, ride what you like.

[Racer57]

I don't see much difference between a giant Harley and a Gold Wing.  They're both too big to be fun on a twisty road.

Wanna bet ?    Tail of the Dragon. 318 curves in 11 miles.  I had my mufflers dragging. Never left 2nd gear. Came out of curve WFO and used decomp to slow down.

[JessHerbst]

Wanna bet ?    Tail of the Dragon. 318 curves in 11 miles.  I had my mufflers dragging. Never left 2nd gear. Came out of curve WFO and used decomp to slow down.

Its not the speed or number of curves, its the feel of the machine between your legs.