I don’t think you need to go that far back. W216 didn’t have that melted blob look.

I took my MSF training (and graduated) at Scottsdale HD’s course, capably led by an Team Arizona MSF female trainer, and never once did they try to sell me on any HD products, including bikes. The dealership did provide lunch and two sales ladies from the metric side of Bob Parsons’ dealership strip did offer discount…

You’re math is off one decimal point. Figure an ocean view or beach proximity home in OC is assessed at $3.5M. That’s $25K annual property taxes. The Federal SALT deduction elimination is really starting to bite folks along the coastline here in California.

What’s also gratifying is this monster is pure “form follows function”. Not only its size, but its sheer mechanical complexity is simply jaw-dropping. No styling or fairings anywhere - just pure, unadulterated traction.

The Emperor has one already, thank you:

$35K is her annual California property taxes if she lives by the ocean in OC.

Memories of Pat Metheny’s “Last Train Home” come shooshing back.

My M156 is pretty bare compared with most modern engines. And look! A dispstick! Plus all the fluid fills are readily accessible.

S-64 Dipping in SoCal

Trump isn’t entirely clueless. An Erickson S-64 would have been perfect given the proximity to the Seine for a dip-and-drop. And to all you guys that think the entire tank is summarily dumped on the fire (a “salvo” dump), the tank dump rates are computer controlled up to 8 levels. IIRC, they also can use a water canon.

Boy, it’s obvious you guys aren’t pilots. The trim system on the 737 is an oddity today since it retains MANUAL trim wheels that blatantly spin whenever commanded trim is in motion. You can grab the spinning wheel and override the rather limited trim motor. At the same time, you reach for the trim disconnect…

Martin Baker Tie Club

I recommend Tesla merge with Harley Davidson, thereby creating a harmonic convergence of irrational hate causing everybody’s head to explode.

Throttle response is superior for NA.  None of that “rubber-band” effect, even in the best boosted engines.

Last of a kind, unfortunately,

With a six-speed stick, too?

Isn’t BMW really forced into building the V-12, since it’s the sole engine for Rolls Royce?

In beautiful El Segundo?

Stock pipes on my 2014 V-Rod:

The V-Rod lasted 15 years in various incarnations.  Not a bad run for the “Thinking Man’s Harley”.