Interesting topic. A friend on a Triumph and I attended a charity poker run sponsored by a local bike club. Since neither of us had a GPS on our bikes and nor did we want to try and follow a route taped to our gas tanks, we searched for a group that was leaving that we could follow. A friend from the host club suggested we ask a group from another club if we could tag along with them. So, we did and they agreed. When it came time to head out on the tour we realized that every member of this club was on an H-D. Thoughts similar to what have appeared in this thread ran through our minds. How slow can we go? Will we be able to hear anything when we’re done? Where can I get some pirate clothes in a hurry?
As it turned out, I was amazed at how spirited a ride it was. While I didn’t have any trouble keeping up, I was pleasantly surprised how well they could haul ass through the twisties on those Hogs. While they didn’t have stock exhausts, their rumble wasn’t annoying and was actually entertaining. When it came time for a break, they didn’t ignore us because of our “adventure gear” and, as a matter of fact, when the run was over, they invited us to join their club! So, my opinion of H-D riders was forever changed. Who would have thought?