(The ultimate test- don't laugh)

To be fair, I quite enjoy riding the Harley [1] in a completely different way than I enjoy the R1. Perversely, the R1 is far more relaxing and comfortable to ride than the Harley. The Harley is very heavy and not that manoeuvrable, it's difficult to take bends without getting your pegs down (which I've done a few times), the clutch is also very heavy and when you change gear it does so with a loud CLUNK. However, after a few miles you start to relax a bit, your legs tend to open a bit and you stop gripping the tank with your knees. You start to flow through corners rather than ride through them, unlike the R1, you must plan way ahead for any manoeuvre. This actually improves your observation skills and probably does make me a better rider on the R1. I even wave at cruiser riders because I know that they must be going through.

When I park the R1 people say "nice bike; what is it". When I park the Harley people say WOW a Harley, that's a *real* bike. Crowds gather and people even take pictures of their family and friends standing by it. The older ladies in my village all want to ride on the back, a sort of Nell's Angels in a blue rinse.

The Harley is also very, very loud if the R1 was half as loud the police would book me, but on the Harley they just wave. It's the same when you ride through villages, when the zippy sports bikes go through the villages the villagers shake their fists at them, when the Harley plods through they wave.

Why did I buy the R1, simple I had a test ride for an hour and brought it back three hours later with an empty tank and the back tyre a bit messed up. The dealer said, Sir had a good time then, bloody right I did. I also tried a Hayabusa and a 12R but I had to have the R1. I know they are common and also have a bad image but I didn't care and that's probably the true measure of love.

[1] It's a lie.