LT = Buick ??

[bob_menton]

I have a good friend, a long-time motorcyclist and big airhead fan, who knows the bikes I own. As I've been primarily riding the new GT, he noticed this and said to me, "If you took that new GT and your '69 R60US and parked them both on the main road in Brevard, NC, I'll bet the R60 will get lots more notice than the GT." I agreed but then said, "I've gotten lots more 'nice bike' comments from strangers about the GT than I ever did with the LT". To which he said, "Sure - the GT looks like a motorcycle - the LT looks like a Buick."

Oooooh - that hurt. I think the LT is a good looking big bike, but around this part of SC the public sure likes the looks of the GT more than the LT.

- Bob

[motorman587]

What does your friend ride???

[dmatson]

It does, like in the 60's when the Buick Riveria first came out. It was big and held more people than a sports car but man was it great looking! Just like the LT.

[ljjohns]

I shared this with my o3LTC and 98 aspirated Regal GS who were chatting out in the garage and they both just chuckled...

[bob_menton]

What does your friend ride???
A BMW airhead ratbike/cafe racer and a Royal Enfield Bullet (he and a buddy rode their Bullets from SC to the AMA Mid-Ohio Vintage Rally a few months ago). He has raced airhead BMWs in AHRMA racing. His wife rides a Harley Heritage Classic. He was the chief builder of Fred Zust's "L'il Red Bike", the BMW airhead Ace Cafe racer that made the bike magazines a few years ago. He can rebuild an airhead Beemer or a Harley in his sleep.

- Bob

[rando]

To me, the LT is unique. Nothing that appears like a "traditional" motorcycle. You can't see the motor, unless you know exactly where to look. It looks like something George Jetson would ride. And that's what I like about it. Even with the somewhat tired design (update please?), it's still futuristic. I have people come up to me that tell me they "dream" of owning an LT. I have people say it's the "cadillac" of bikes, to which I reply, "No, it's a BMW". In my world, a Caddy is nice, but it wallows instead of handling and the BMW is way too sporting to be a Caddy....

So tell your friend it's a Caddy, not a buick.....: )

Randy

[patrick2000]

"I'll bet the R60 will get lots more notice than the GT."
- Bob

Bob,

Do not allow your friend to reduce motorcycling to a spectator sport. It's how the bike goes down the road, stops, turns and all the other tangible and intangible attributes that make it what it is. Styling is just one small piece of the pie.

[dshealey]

The Gold Wing is a Buick, the Lt is a BMW 740.

[motoguy128]

An observation from a non-LT rider... but long time admirer.

I was at a BMW Rally recently and the LT was referred to as a "Light Truck". It was considered universally comfortable, and good for towing trailers. More than 1 LT there was towing a pop-up camper.

On the other hand, one tall, larger rider in his mid 30's had an LT because nothing else was big enough, yet still cornered well. He regularly left trails of sparks form his centerstand on more spirited rides.

I always thought it looked a little more like an alien spacecraft. With the long swooping bars and curves of the sidecases.

[Retread]

I've only had my LT for about a month, but I've had more compliments than any other bike I've ever owned. It's got a very unique look that draws the eye.

I had a couple ask several questions just yesterday in the Costco lot. Both looked just about ready to drool over the bike.

I think the LT draws attention the way the older Jags do. You just don't see them every day and they don't look like anything else.

Oh by the way, it handles more like the old Jags than a Buick as well.

[gpolakow]

The LT looks like a Buick like a freight train looks like a rubber duck. I don't know what Buicks your friend has been looking at, but they aren't the ones I see everyday. It's not that the LT doesn't look like a motorcycle, it's just that it doesn't look like every other motorcycle.

[jayjacobson]

...."Sure - the GT looks like a motorcycle - the LT looks like a Buick...."
A Ferrari also looks like a Buick! :rolleyes: But, then again, the priest said to stop when my vision started to blur--so I did!

[OneShot]

Have any of you heard people ask why is your front tire so small?
One man asked last month and another asked the other day.
I never thought about it. All I know is my LT has a 17" wheel, that's respectable.

Not knowing why, I think they felt the tire looks small because it's kind of compacted into the front opening of the bike, I guess. GW's and HD's touring bikes' front wheels are out further in front of the bikes. And neither of those two bikes handle like a sport bike.

This next comment has made me step back. "Your bike looks like a huge scooter"
So I'm thinking, how hard is it to dispose of a body on such short notice? What a vucking-moron.

What questions have you been asked? :rolleyes:

[jayjacobson]

Have any of you heard people ask why is your front tire so small?
One man asked last month and another asked the other day.
I never thought about it. All I know is my LT has a 17" wheel, that's respectable.

Not knowing why, I think they felt the tire looks small because it's kind of compacted into the front opening of the bike, I guess. GW's and HD's touring bikes' front wheels are out further in front of the bikes. And neither of those two bikes handle like a sport bike.

This next comment has made me step back. "Your bike looks like a huge scooter"
So I'm thinking, how hard is it to dispose of a body on such short notice? What a vucking-moron.

What questions have you been asked? :rolleyes:
Uuuummmmmmmm a Bergman 650 looks like a large scooter--because it is!
An LT looks like a Buick, remember?