A Milwaukee Month

It all started when I needed to get a rear tyre for the Beemer. I was just starting with a new client so spare time to make the trek to Pablo's in Oakleigh during business hours was next to non-existent. Given the Harley was freshly serviced and sporting new rubber I decided that I would commit to a month of riding the Harley.

2 years and 60K on the beemer had spoiled me, I had forgotten just how taxing my ride can be. Especially as the new client is based in docklands meaning my commute is 86km door to door. A nice cold snap came in after a week or solid rain so its fair to say I experienced all conditions.

The lack of bark busters and heated grips was the main decider. There were several mornings where the ambient temp at home was zero degrees or lower, most times I would warm my clutch hand (It gets colder because you grab the lever more) on the cylinder head but when you mix in some Yarra Ranges fog the cold would take several hours to leave my hands.

On the wet week (where I changed my socks and jocks 4 out of 5 days) I was remarkably impressed by the grip my new Avon Cobras gave me. Never once did they feel skittish even when getting on the throttle taking off uphill at the lights or coming out of slippery corners in the state forest.


I thought I would miss the gear shift assist pro but swapping cogs on the Harley is enjoyable.


Nothing beats being on a Harley rolling on the throttle. You can give it a squirt and not be 50 over the limit. Giving the Beemer a squirt results in license loss quick fast.

Of all the features the Beemer has it was actually the luggage I missed the most. This time of year calls for 2 pairs of gloves because its zero on the way in and 15-20 on the way home. Carrying gloves, sunglasses and maybe shedding a layer for the home journey are just effortless when you have the bottomless pit of a top box. I also transporting my work laptop more often with this client and on the Harley I had to use a back pack.

That sucked.

Having to stop for fuel every other day also got old. I tend to fill the beemer on a Monday then again on a Thursday which covers me for the 1000km of commuting and whatever weekend riding I do. The Harley gets 320km from a tank meaning I have to fill it on every 4 commute. The Beemer nudges 600 (or more, I've never ran out) meaning 1 stop per week vs........ like 15? (My math is solid yo!)


I also didn't realise how good the ride height of the Beemer is in traffic until I hopped back on it. I can easily see over my normal height car roofs.

As I write this after 5 days straight on the beemer my "not missing the Harley" feels have actually subsided and I was tempted to ride it today but opted not to mainly because its casual Friday and it was raining so I need to carry a second pair of shoes.

Having the two bikes really is a good match especially because one excels in Summer and the other Winter. It's also got me thinking what my ultimate Harley build would be. Stay tuned on that one.