 So it's true what I've heard about Harleys
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 42
Greenhorn
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OP
Greenhorn
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 42 |
Quick little story...
Being a marine I have to go through a couple courses to be able to ride on base. One is the Basic Rider Course (equivalent to a basic MSF course) and the other is the Experienced Rider Course. I took the BRC on my America, but almost everyone else had little Comet trainer bikes. When I got to the ERC, however, it was my triumph and 12 Harleys going through. I had read a lot about Harleys and other bikes before I ultimately decided to buy my America. It seems like everyone on base rides a Harley, but from what I had heard and read they weren't the most reliable of bikes. Plus, who wants to look like everyone else anyway. Anyway, my suspicions and others comments were confirmed when two of the Harleys in the ERC class went down and were unable to complete the course for various reasons. Kinda funny (for me anyway, sitting on a functional motorcycle).
2012 America
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Re: So it's true what I've heard about Harleys
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
What did you think of the ERC? I've signed up for it a few times but it's never in my town and every time I've gotten sick or something else came up. Next weekend is the 10th anniversary of my basic MSF course. When you said the bikes went down I thought you meant the rider dropped them. 
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 Re: So it's true what I've heard about Harleys
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 42
Greenhorn
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OP
Greenhorn
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 42 |
Yea sorry about the confusion. I meant they ceased to function at their intended purpose  . As for the ERC, in my experience it was a rushed BRC. We didn't do all the exercises and the only thing I can remember being added was a one handed weave drill. The tests were the same, both the skills test and the written test.
2012 America
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Re: So it's true what I've heard about Harleys
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Well, that's a bummer. Still it would be fun to show up on the Rocket. 
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Re: So it's true what I've heard about Harleys
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 42
Greenhorn
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OP
Greenhorn
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 42 |
Yea, I imagine. I am far from an expert on the bike, but the idea of taking the Rocket through some of those limited space manuevers makes me cringe. Of course, I don't know how it handles (I have heard well) or how big it really is (never even sat on one), but 2300cc doing figure eights in that box intimidates the crap out of me. Still, probably easier than the guys who show up with 20 inch apes  . One of the guys had his rubbermounted and quick stops were especially fun for him. I thought he was going to smash his face.
2012 America
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Re: So it's true what I've heard about Harleys
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
It's actually quite maneuverable. Still practicing though. Scraping footboards more and more.
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Re: So it's true what I've heard about Harleys
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,727 Likes: 5
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,727 Likes: 5 |
Quote:
Plus, who wants to look like everyone else anyway....
says the Marine that wears a uniform like everyone else
sorry, I just found that to be kind of funny
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: So it's true what I've heard about Harleys
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Well, if I was a marine who rides a Triumph being compared to the sheeple riding Harleys, I'd probably punch you in the head.
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Re: So it's true what I've heard about Harleys
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,727 Likes: 5
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,727 Likes: 5 |
oh no, me getting punched in the head... again... 
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: So it's true what I've heard about Harleys
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Quote:
oh no, me getting punched in the head... again...
You're probably used to that by now. 
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Re: So it's true what I've heard about Harleys
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 42
Greenhorn
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OP
Greenhorn
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 42 |
Well I figure if my uniform and haircut and shave etc have to look like everyone else then I could break the mold and stand out a little on the way to work. I have not yet run into another marine on base that owns a triumph (though I'm sure they exist) and I get a kick out of it when people ask me about or compliment the America. I had no knowledge really about motorcycles before buying and I'm really lucky to have fallen into such an awesome bike and an awesome community of riders. And to think, all that for half the price of looking like everyone else 
2012 America
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Re: So it's true what I've heard about Harleys
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6 |
Ya done good, Andrew!
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: So it's true what I've heard about Harleys
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,425
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,425 |
At least now the NEX carries motorcycle stuff. At least the gloves helmet and smaller stuff and the nice milspec icon vest. was sooo happy to buy one instead of the crappy construction mesh. I actually bought the Icon as soon as it was out b4 the base started carring them. As MC cruiser said at the time " The coolest in uncool gear" I still use mine when its foggy out.
Mal: "Y'all see the man hanging out of the spaceship with the really big gun?{ref, Jayne} Man's lookin' to kill some folk. So really, it's his will y'all should worry about thwarting."
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Re: So it's true what I've heard about Harleys
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,382
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,382 |
Andrew welcome to the stand out crowd! I would also love to see the good Friar ride that Rocket on a slow speed course.
'06 TBA - Black, AI and Snorkel removed, K&N Drop In, Gutted Stock Pipes, 145/42, 2 turns out.
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Re: So it's true what I've heard about Harleys
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 117
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 117 |
Andrew,
Did they make you take the course in addition to taking the MSF course? I was excused from taking any of the courses when I provided my MSF training card. Never had to take any additional courses.
Props on riding the Triumph. All I see on base are soldiers on rice burners getting tickets for wreckless driving.
2005 Green America
Fishtail Exhaust, Whitewalls, ISO Grips, Light bar with Relo Turnsignals
"...To them, I'm just a screaming ball of noise."
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Re: So it's true what I've heard about Harleys
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 749
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 749 |
Andrew, Marines in NC with Triumphs do exist. My buddy who is temporarily taking a course on the west coast is stationed in N.C. While he was up in my neck of the woods, I let him take my America out for a spin, he loved it so much he ended up buying one. He owns a 2008 White/Blue America. He just got back from Afghanistan in March and then had to leave for the west coast so his scooter is still in storage. He’s due back in NC in July so you might see him cruising around down there….. 
"It's a hundred and six miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses."
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Re: So it's true what I've heard about Harleys
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 42
Greenhorn
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OP
Greenhorn
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 42 |
Quote:
Andrew,
Did they make you take the course in addition to taking the MSF course? I was excused from taking any of the courses when I provided my MSF training card. Never had to take any additional courses.
Yeah I am not sure if it's all services or just the marines but we have to take the basic course to get a decal and then within 6 months to keep it current we have to take the experienced course. After that, it's the ERC every three years.
Every battalion has a motorcycle club/organization that has monthly meetings and rides. My battalion went on one last month that I didn't attend. One of the guys was coming around a curve and scraped his crash bars. He was a new guy like myself and I guess it put a scare in him, because he straightened his bike up too fast and ended up in a ditch. Luckily he was ok, but I guess another batallion was taking the same route that day. When there first 6 riders came around the corner way too fast and saw the police car on the side of the road they all last control. Pretty messy from what I have been told, guys were in the tree line with a lot of broken bones.
2012 America
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Re: So it's true what I've heard about Harleys
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 155
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 155 |
Quote:
Andrew,
Props on riding the Triumph. All I see on base are soldiers on rice burners getting tickets for wreckless driving.
I had a wreck on my Yamaha 305 many years ago that broke my left shoulder loose and might just kill me if it happened today, so I hope to finish out my years on the America with "wreckless" driving. 
Phil in Northwest Arkansas
04 America, Black, Corbin seat, TORs, no AI, 34K
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