[Traveling Tall]

Ok, so I ride a Harley and I'm in my 40's. My Dad rides a Harley and he's in his 70's. He has an Ultra, I have a Street Glide. He has a cup holder on his bike, I said it messes up the look. On long Road trips,he's kicked back sipping Sweet Tea, I'm dying of thirst. He has a Tall Wind Shield, I prefer the low look. He has a backrest. I say it makes it look like an Old Mans Bike. He has been riding for 50 Years, I've been riding for 20 Years. I know that everything he's suggesting would make it more comfortable but I'm just not ready to trade in Cool for Comfort quite yet.
At this stage in my life, I'm OK with 70% Cool and 30% Comfort.

What is your Percentage of Cool and Comfort?

 

[FlipFlop]

Never cared for the backrest personally. Each bike is different on how it works out but for me is is about function and safety and comfort. Can't say much on the cool factor because when you get a good fuctional bike it is just cool period.

 

[Traveling Tall]

What do you ride?

 

[FlipFlop]

Right now an Oldwing a 1977 GL1000, before that a 2012 CBR250, before that a 1997 Blackbird. All over the board on types but predominantly sport.

 

[Stablefull]

I spent my whole adult life envisioning myself on the perfect sport bike. Once I bought one, I learned that I am too cool for that. Now I have come to believe that a slow, easygoing standard is the coolest thing on the road

 

[GSRICK]

Something to think about from the Evel Knievel thread. The Fonz looked cool leaning against his bikes, but he couldn't ride. Don't worry about what other people think is cool, learn from your father. Comfort is much better than cool if you do anything more than bar hopping with your bike. If bar hopping is your thing then hurry up and get then lean away, Aaaaaaaaaaaaay!:thumbsup:

 

[DGS65]

When I was in my 20s I was looking at bikes and really liked the Goldwing but my wife said that it was a fat old mans bike so I bought a Vulcan and really like it for years. Fast forward 25 years and now I have a Valkyrie (for those that don't know this is a sport version of a Goldwing) I have been looking to add a trunk to my bike there is no cool factor in a trunk it would just be nice to have a place to put my helmet someplace safe and dry when I get somewhere. I also hope to bring my wife for some longer rides and she doesn't know how to pack light! I guess this makes me a fat old man at this point and frankly this is somewhat true

 

[GatorJoe]

Way Back when can remember when Electric Start, Windshield, and Saddlebags were Not Cool .. Now have them all and don't care what others think ..

 

[hogcowboy]

At some point in your life you just don't care what others think about you. It might be when you are finally mature. Not really sure there but I hit that point so long ago that I can't remember when it was or what I thought cool was then. I did hold off on the back rest. Figured with my bad back it would be just one more thing to bother the back. Had nothing to do with being cool. But I should have added one many years ago. There are so many other things more important than being cool though. Once you realize that, then you are cool. JMHO :wink2:

 

[Juan_Banjovy]

What is your Percentage of Cool and Comfort? Mine's 0 and 100% but I'm 61.

 

[Lurch77]

Being "cool" typically means sacrificing yourself just to impress others. Frankly, I don't give a **** what others think of me. To be blunt. My only concern in the context of others is that they don't think I'm a gross person. So I bathe and such. But I don't care what they think of the bike I ride, car I drive, clothes I wear, etc.

I'm 40 years old. I have several bikes, my main ride is an Ultra Classic. I have a backrest on it, and I have a tall windshield. I'm a very tall guy, and I'd rather be comfortable than try to impress other people. The bike came with a short windshield that looked cool, but I actually ride distance, and that short shield was miserable to sit behind.

I remember as a teen, I said I'd never dress or act like my dad. Fast forward 20 years and I get it now. I know why he's the way he is.

 

[Offcenter]

I ride a '99 Goldwing with EVERYTHING!
And as far as I'm concerned, I "AM" COOL!
And I don't care what others think.
I rack up the miles while they are leaning on their bikes being "cool" like the fonz. LOL!!
I have a backrest, two way radio, cruise control, stereo, GPS, and a big trunk and saddlebags to carry my soft side ice chest with cold drinks, as well as a place for extra clothes and rain gear.
AND!!! my bike is QUIET!!!
I don't need a loud exhaust that screams "LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME!!!"
And I certainly don't need a pirate outfit with a "doo rag" wrapped around my head and big scruffy beard to make me look tough!
Damned right I'm cool!!

 

[Critter]

TT you will get there. It's not the first time your dad has been right, and it won't be the last.

 

[Traveling Tall]

My Dad being right.

TT you will get there. It's not the first time your dad has been right, and it won't be the last.

Amen!

 

[GarrXL]

I ride an 81 Honda CB750 C myself so I kinda have both in terms of comfort and cool. There are features that after riding for a while I would love to have... Larger windshield, deeper seat, a cupholder for my morning coffee lol. Being 30 myself and working construction I'm beginning to lean more toward the comfort and functionality because my back doesn't care about cool ? lol.

 

[Unkle Krusty]

When I stop to pay at the ferry ticket booth, the ticket person will say $45- please. Then I show them my old fart gold card, and they say $28- please. That is cool.

UK

 

[Tobacco Road]

Being cool is not an attitude, it is not how you dress nor how you dress you ride. It's a state of mind. Being original is always worth more than a copy.

 

[Porky]

I am the coolest person I know:71baldboy:

When you have ridden 1,000 mile days across the deserts of Ca, AZ and NM on your way to the Sturgis, SD rally in the first week of August, believe me. you want as much comfort as you can get and being COOL is much more important than looking COOL.:grin: Average temps hovering at 105 plus almost anywhere in the area points out the importance of good ergonomics for the long haul.

Young or OLD like me, heat and dehydration takes it's dangerous toll. We almost lost a young Lady to heat stroke on the way back from Medford, Oregon and South through Bakersfield, CA when the entire ride was 115 degrees!

If you think you look COOL on a 2x4, hard Bobber seat, by all means go for it. Believe me your tastes will change sooner than later.:smile_big:

Bye the way, your young 'Hottie' girlfriend really doesn't enjoy looking cool riding down the road setting on a narrow and hard 'P PAD' excuse for a passenger seat on your cool ride:surprise:

I'll at this point sacrifice 99% of my abundance of cool for comfort when I ride:smile_big:

Sam:nerd:

 

[DE Nichols]

I am the coolest person I know:71baldboy:Young or OLD like me, heat and dehydration takes it's dangerous toll. We almost lost a young Lady to heat stroke on the way back from Medford, Oregon and South through Bakersfield, CA when the entire ride was 115 degrees!

If you think you look COOL on a 2x4, hard Bobber seat, by all means go for it. Believe me your tastes will change sooner than later.:smile_big:

Sam:nerd:

Wow. Yeah. I rode up and down most of California in a few days. On the third day it was extra hot in the afternoon. I was passing out I was so hot. I drank plenty. That wasn't a problem, the problem was that it was just too hot.

I knew in that state, I just had to take a nap, cool off, and let the heat of the day let up a little.

I literally laid down behind a bush and took a nap...and the bush definitely didn't keep people from seeing me, but it was helpful "in theory". At least at that heat level even the insects were on a break, lol.

At that moment I felt 0% cool and 100% practical.

And yeah, my 2017 Yamaha WR250R dual sport looks so incredibly awesome but it lacks every comfort including it's awful seat! I've wanted to replace it for 2 years now, but instead I keep up with tires, oil changes, chain lubing, new chain, etc. I'll get there, and while it looking nice would be good, the new seat must be comfortable first!

Back rest? Now you're just making me sleepy, lol. I huge back pack filled just right, when leaned back on gives my back rest just fine. For more daily trips, I have a bag strapped on the back combined with a more normal sized backpack which also allows me to lean back and rest my back. The "extra" bag would normally fit in the backpack, but drinks are heavy and I love not having them carried on my back. The rain gear keeps drinks cold for a while (insulation), and it has a tire inflation/goop can (this last bit would not fit in the backpack if I have my school books).

 

[DE Nichols]

Being cool is not an attitude, it is not how you dress nor how you dress you ride. It's a state of mind. Being original is always worth more than a copy.

I have learned to be my own way to the point that it has made enemies.

Maybe that's not cool, but if you can't respect yourself what shot do you have from a stranger?