Hi all!
When I was eight years old, I had no second thoughts about the fact that I would have a Harley when I grow-up. As grown-ups do have second thoughts, especially financial ones, this dream did not come true during the next 52 years. However, I have been lucky enough to own half a dozen motorcycles, one at a time, ranging from 50 to 1000cc. Besides countless tours in and around my native land, Turkey; I traversed the entire continent of Europe on two wheels, both ways, for making a wonderful tour of the UK, including Scotland, up to Aberdeen. This was a 22.5K kilometers (14K miles) trip. On another occasion, I traveled-over half of the continent of Europe on two wheels, both ways, for making an unforgettable tour of Germany, covering its entire periphery (West Germany at that time) with some inland excursions. This was a 15K kilometers (9.4K miles) trip. I reckon I would have enjoyed many more trips, if life had not compelled me to sell my bike. This was 22 years ago. Since then, I never owned one.
Now, however, at the age of 60; I am not only able to return to a lifestyle that embraces a motorcycle but also, I can cherish my inner child. He convinced me to buy him a brand-new Harley Davidson. I said: why not? Then, I asked: which one? It is only after the latter question that I realized I had no clue on which particular Harley model I have been dreaming of for more than five decades. All I knew was that this dream does echo with an image that was engraved on the heart of a boy in early sixties.
I listened to my inner voice. Such a memory recall session revealed that my Harley should definitely have a round, large and deep chrome headlamp between two smaller chrome lamps, from which chrome turn signal lights hang down. This triple headlamp configuration or, if considered together with the turn signal lights; this quintet of illumination represents the opulent presence of a Harley Davidson in my eight years old mind. Also definitely, my Harley should have a giant yet simple and basic clear windshield. All these should be fixed to the bike with beefy, chrome plated brackets. The transversal windshield trim (the chrome strip parallel to the ground) is a must have. The front fender with round outer edge and angular inner edge should definitely be an imposing cover over and around the white-wall front tire which is mounted on a laced wheel. Needless to say, the rims and spokes should all be chrome plated. The hard saddlebags must mimic the ones from the sixties. At this point, I don’t know why the saddlebags should rather not be leather. For some reason that has nothing to do with convenience; they must definitely be hard saddlebags in order to match the image that was embedded in my young memory. Finally, since a Harley is in question; it should definitely have a two-tone paint scheme.
The Road King Classic proved to be abundantly close to what I was looking for. As the dealer is kind enough to offer me color-matched hard saddlebags and a tallboy seat at no extra cost, I will place my solid order for a White Hot Pearl/Blue Hot Pearl RKC, next week, for delivery in January 2015. I am still trying to figure out whether this will be a present form a 60 years old man to an eight years old boy, or vice-versa. In either case, kudos to Harley Davidson for accepting to deliver the goods in 2015, based on a virtual order that was designated in 1963.
I am sure I will enjoy these forums as much as I will enjoy my new Harley.
