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Soapbox: "why did you buy a warrior?"

4K views 64 replies 58 participants last post by  waimea55  
#1 ·
OK, I have full blown mod-itis (MI). I've had it for a while, and it's nowhere near done running it's course. In the "Mods" threads I've been reading lately there seems to be the inevitable question: "Why did you buy a warrior? Why didn't you buy a Sport bike/sport tourer/chopper/etc.

My first reaction is usually "Are you kidding? Why did YOU buy a warrior?" A couple of heart beats later I realize the true meaning of the question.

Obviously, the person asking does not truly understand MI. MI isn't someone saying "I put the pipes on myself." Yes, most MI suffers have put on their own pipes, but putting on pipes dosen't mean you're MI. When you are MI, the mods just have to be done. There is no explanation, no reason, no method to the madness. Ya just gotta do it.

Less obvious, the person is a true consumer. 100 years ago, people had to make almost everything they needed to survive. 50 years ago, people could buy almost anything they needed, but quite often chose to do it themselves. Now, people are conditioned to buy everything. Need a taller lamp? Toss out the old one and head to the local home decore palace. Need a shed? Head to lowes and pick up a pre-fab kit. Since you nailed the corners together, you can tell everyone you did it your self (bonus!)

Now the question sinks in. Why did I buy a warrior? Because I wanted a hot rod. Sure there are faster bikes. Sure there are better handeling bikes. Sure there are bikes that will automaticallcy include me into huge "in crowds." HD and goldwing just to name a couple. But I want a hot rod. I want a bike that can look cool cruising, that can burn rubber for fun, that can be ridden 500 miles, just because. Do I want it to turn? Yep. You bet. For the very same reason people put mustang II front suspensions under old Novas. Do I want more power? Yep. For the same reason people put big blocks in those old novas. It's a hot rod. It's not all about what it is. It's also about what it's going to be, and what it could be.

Yeah, mine is chopped up, jacked up, and warmed up. I still say, bring on the choppers, bar hoppers, touring rigs, corner carvers, and whatever else you come up with. It's why you bought the warrior, right?
 
#29 ·
I guess I bought it because it has the most possibilities for customization. It has all the classic "old school" necessities (Air cooled, push-rod driven, single pin crank - VTwin) combined with modern upgrades (Fuel injection, 4 valves per cylinder, 2 plugs per cylinder, aluminum frame, inverted forks, mono shock suspension, LED tail light). Don't bash me, but this is the bike that Hardley should have been building 10 years ago - if they were half as good as people have been brainwashed into thinking they are. But no, they have to stick to old technology and always play catch-up to the Japs. I had the $$ to buy anything I wanted - and the Warrior was the best choice - hands down...
 
#30 ·
looks
performance
price

I got everything I wanted in a neat little inexpsensive package. I wanted something with power, but wanted it to look good. The vtx never even caught my eye. I was looking at sportbikes (900's, R1, and ducatis)when I saw this baby. I was really wanting something nobody else really had. I wanted to build a bike that had handling yet had plenty of power. well Yamaha thought it out for me and here I am. 18000 miles and not even looking back. Sportbikes are deffinitely a different arena. But when I get on my bike and I start it up, and take off man..... I love it.

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#32 ·
^^^ Oversimplified^^^

The first time I saw it... in 02, I said " that's my next bike" and never gave it another thought.

It was peculiar looking. It looked angry.
And I never gave it another thought.
I had a bike that was doing fine... and still getting paid for.
I bought the warrior for its look.
it was different from everything else... and I had NEVER seen one on the road.
Seldom see them still.

I like that as much as I like smokin' hardleys at the lights, in the curves, at the BANK.. (<LOL&gt/emoticons/emotion-5.gif
You would be amazed at the apologies people can make for owning HD's now that they realize I have the 'it' bike to beat.

("with what I put on this, I have almost 80 hp"... as if I am impressed by the number... when you subtract 18 grand and add 200 pounds... I still have the 'it' bike, straight off the showroom floor. )
And yeah... I'd like to do 190 MPH... and I know I won't on my warrior...
yet.
 
#33 ·
It was different. Didnt look like everything else. Had an aggressive stance and look. Goes like a bat out **** and corners like it is on rails. Yet I could "cruise" several hundred miles at a time on it with no problem. To me, it was several bikes rolled up into one very nice "package" that did everything well. I never get tired of riding it or the attention these things get.
 
#34 ·
When I first saw one in March of 02 at the dealer, it spoke to me. I didn't have a clue about it, so I did a little reading, but there wasn't much to read back then. No test drives either. But it looked bad ass, and had some impressive numbers, so what the ****. The first time I ever rode a Warrior was later that month, right after I signed the paperwork and road my Warrior off the lot. Almost lost the handlebars too! So it looked and acted bad ass, bonus! I was lucky this bike found me, cause I didn't have the wealth of info we have today. If it hadn't caught my attention, I might have kept walking right on the that Sileverado I was heading to.
 
#37 ·
Did the research,wanted more power than my 650 classic had.Went to my local dealer,traded for a 2005 haven't regreted the decision one bit,love the rsw.[/emoticons/emotion-2.gif][/emoticons/emotion-2.gif][/emoticons/emotion-2.gif][/emoticons/emotion-2.gif][/emoticons/emotion-2.gif][/emoticons/emotion-2.gif][/emoticons/emotion-2.gif][/emoticons/emotion-2.gif][/emoticons/emotion-2.gif][/emoticons/emotion-2.gif][/emoticons/emotion-2.gif][/emoticons/emotion-2.gif]
 
#42 ·
In 2004 I was looking at a V-Rod, because it was different. When someone rode a warrior into the parking lot all dirty from riding all day. Even among all those shiny new bikes my first two thoughts where. What is it? I want one. When I found out went straight to the local Yamaha dealer and bought the only one they had. 2002 Indigo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
#44 ·
quote:Originally posted by albieg

1) It isn't a Harley. I don't have anything against HD. But *everyone* seems to be riding one these days.
2) It ain't trying to be a Harley. I got the Midnight. Now I'm anti-chrome.
It is it's own thing. You all get it.


You mean there's more than one of us!!! [/emoticons/emotion-5.gif]
 
#46 ·
I bought the Midnight Warrior because of a magic carpet ride.

I am a big boy - 260# and about 5'10. I was riding a 535 Virago. Wife told me one day after driving our Jeep behind me on the bike that I needed a new bike - a bigger one so that it did not look like I was floating in air. She said from 2 car lengths behind I looked like I was floating on a magic carpet because you could not see the bike. I was oblivious - I just loved riding - even on the Virago.

All I knew was I wanted a cruiser. Went to a Honda/Yami dealer and was looking around. Then I saw this all blacked out low big cruiser. Did not know what it was. I sat on it and loved it. Got the name of it and left. Went to HD and could not afford anything there. I got to thinking more about that Midnight Warrior and I then started reading up on it here at rswarrior.com. Also read some reviews of it. The next day I took the wife to see it. She liked it as well. I then began the pricing research. I got the price to where I wanted and also got the billet accessories I like on it. 3.75% at the Credit Union was all I needed to seal the deal. I am SOOO happy and I am only 120 miles in. All because of a magic carpet ride.

No mods yet - still in the deer in headlights phase of owing a NEW bike.
 
#47 ·
quote:sangathor Posted - 06/29/2005 : 11:22:40 PM
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quote:
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Originally posted by xharleyrdr

I like to play a game called doctor,I like to crash it and put it all back together again how about you.

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That's how I do most of my mods. Why else would I have painted my bike twice already, and counting??

I've done a bit of that myself. [/emoticons/emotion-4.gif]
 
#48 ·
quote:Originally posted by dontcare1357

quote:sangathor Posted - 06/29/2005 : 11:22:40 PM
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quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by xharleyrdr

I like to play a game called doctor,I like to crash it and put it all back together again how about you.

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That's how I do most of my mods. Why else would I have painted my bike twice already, and counting??

I've done a bit of that myself. [/emoticons/emotion-4.gif]


I guess you could call me a medic then.[/emoticons/emotion-5.gif]
 
#49 ·
quote:Originally posted by dontcare1357

I've done a bit of that myself. [/emoticons/emotion-4.gif]



That's called IIM, or Impact Induced Modifications. A very different, but just as costly, and usually a more painful, affliction. [/emoticons/emotion-2.gif] But to have MI and IIM, your are truly screwed, Billy. [/emoticons/emotion-5.gif]
 
#51 ·
I bought the Warrior to slow my butt down [/emoticons/emotion-4.gif]

I came off sport/performance bikes, and found myself losing all self control. I was doing some pretty insane things on public roads. Also bought it for my Wife. She was stressing about the speed bikes.

I decided a cruiser would be a good compromise. After shopping around and researching, I narrowed it down to a V-Max or an RSW. I had never owned a big V-Twin. I also felt the RSW would be a more kicked back ride. The Max was nearly as expensive and OLD .

What have I found? The Warrior is what I was looking for. I can still get my "perception" of speed. Now, I'm only going Crazy fast instead of Insanely fast [/emoticons/emotion-4.gif] . The Warrior has the looks, the sound, and the kicked back attitude when I wanna just relax. It also has big torque, a decent chassis, and pretty good ground clearance (in class); for when I want to play some. I love the style, too. The mix of old tech (air cooling, pushrods, etc), with modern (suspension, fuel injection); is just too cool IMO.