Why do bike guys appreciate cools cars, but not the other way around?

[bad Chad]

This certainly doesn't apply to all car guys, there are many exceptions, but it does fit a lot.  I don't have any cool cars of my own, but I know cool cars and appreciate them, and I know and have spoke to tons of "car" guys, and a good many of them don't appreciate cool bikes.

I've told many a dude how slick his Porsche, Austin Healy, Mazaratti, 67 Camaro, etc is, and then mention my interest in motorcycles, and their eyes glaze over!  I would have that thought motor-heads would appreciate most any cool motorized contraption, but I would be wrong.  Or maybe I'm wrong in thinking they are all motor-heads?

[oldbike54]

 First you need to convince me that a car , or any motor vehicle can be defined as cool .

 Dusty

[GeorgiaGuzzi]

Because unfortunately there are too many guys who buy stuff for the “image” they want to project, rather than appreciation of cool internal combustion motorvation! These people are most likely to own harleys and spout lines like “if it ain’t harley it ain’t *#%+”

[fotoguzzi]

Dusty, I've always thought these were cool, I got to drive a friends back in the day.

[oldbike54]

Dusty, I've always thought these were cool, I got to drive a friends back in the day.

 The E Type was a beautiful car , but *cool* gets tossed around like so many other terms where it has no meaning . The latest is *artisinal* , I am always interested how cool applies to anything other than a state of mind .

 Dusty

[Bulldog9]

First you need to convince me that a car , or any motor vehicle can be defined as cool .

 Dusty

Any Questions? 

[oldbike54]

Any Questions? 

 Sure , why is that cool ? It's just some sheet metal covering up a bunch of moving parts .

 Dusty

[guzzisteve]

I think most car gear heads don't get on a bike. American car gear heads usually ride HD's while Euro car guys  ride Euro bikes.

You sure come up w/some wild questons.   You working yet?

[Bulldog9]

This certainly doesn't apply to all car guys, there are many exceptions, but it does fit a lot.  I don't have any cool cars of my own, but I know cool cars and appreciate them, and I know and have spoke to tons of "car" guys, and a good many of them don't appreciate cool bikes.

I've told many a dude how slick his Porsche, Austin Healy, Mazaratti, 67 Camaro, etc is, and then mention my interest in motorcycles, and their eyes glaze over!  I would have that thought motor-heads would appreciate most any cool motorized contraption, but I would be wrong.  Or maybe I'm wrong in thinking they are all motor-heads?

I think it depends, many 'car guys' are fan boys of THEIR brand and see nothing else.

[Bulldog9]

Sure , why is that cool ? It's just some sheet metal covering up a bunch of moving parts .

 Dusty

Why is ANYTHING" cool?

[rschrum]

I think someone who built the car themselves would appreciate a nice bike more than one that just wrote a check.

[oldbike54]

Why is ANYTHING" cool?

 Well , mostly because marketing has sold things as cool . Seriously , cool is a state of mind , it can't be bought , same as class isn't something money can buy .

 Dusty

[LowRyter]

Chad, that's all backwards when you talk to the ignorant that don't ride.   A car is just a car.  (I have 'vette and still, it's just a car.)

Now bikes, they're fun and exciting in a way that no car will EVER  be.  Bikes are like being able to fly (like a bird, not in plane). 

There're cool cars.  Nice cars. Good looking cars.  Fast cars.  But they're just cars.  I'll take my EV over my 'vette for fun.  And the Bandit, Sport or Duc for even more fun. 

Cars are for driving to the gym, grocery store or to church.  Cars are just transportation but they're not about "the get there".  Cars are just a means, the bike is the journey.  Driving just isn't riding.

 

[Bulldog9]

Well , mostly because marketing has sold things as cool . Seriously , cool is a state of mind , it can't be bought , same as class isn't something money can buy .

 Dusty

Right, so the issue isn't the definition of 'cool' it's just an aphorism to describe desirable, likeable, popular unique qualities in an object.  So let me help you "Why dont car guys appreciate motorcycles" 

[betres]

My sense is that most car owners who have not owned/ridden bikes seldom have the learning experiences needed to even partially shape a concept as to what constitutes a cool bike.  I would think many folks' concept of cool includes attributes of exceptional be it design or competence etc and , at least in my case, a substantial dose of restraint.  Cool cars to me were always the Q ships, the sleepers (restraint) but the internals would reflect the competence of their owners/builders.  Where would a car owner who doesn't own/ride or hang with folks that do, get that needed background?  On the other hand the "bi-vehicle" owners likely not only have the needed experiences with both types of vehicles but they have also done a pretty darn good job of shaping a strong idea of what constitutes cool in motor cars and bikes( and to some it will be just sheet metal and to others it will be much more). Regarding the original question,  I'm pretty sure it's pretty much a function of experience rather than attitude for most folks  but then again, I think most folks are pretty good people and don't cop an attitude when it comes to marques or # of wheels.  ( well maybe not if they own a porsche :)

[Bulldog9]

Chad, that's all backwards when you talk to the ignorant that don't ride.   A car is just a car.  (I have 'vette and still, it's just a car.)

Now bikes, they're fun and exciting in a way that no car will EVER  be.  Bikes are like being able to fly (like a bird, not in plane). 

There're cool cars.  Nice cars. Good looking cars.  Fast cars.  But they're just cars.  I'll take my EV over my 'vette for fun.  And the Bandit, Sport or Duc for even more fun. 

Cars are for driving to the gym, grocery store or to church.  Cars are just transportation but they're not about "the get there".  Cars are just a means, the bike is the journey.  Driving just isn't riding.

 

Not MY cool car  (pic'd above)  It is as much fun, as addicting and joyful enriching blast to drive experience as my favorite motorcycle. Best part is I rebuilt it from the ground up. Same is true for many unique, classic, high performance, ect. cars.   But I get your point, unless you are taking about mini vans....  My buddy raves about his Minivan all the time.... I ask him if he wears pink panties too.... 

[bad Chad]

Thanks it Bulldog.     Truth be told, some of them aren't really what I consider to be "cool", but at least there not completely pedestrian cages.   I guess I just set myself up thinking that perhaps since this guy thinks enough to drive something different from the usual pack of late model boredom, maybe he might get the allure of Italian motorcycles.  Mostly they don't.

[Bulldog9]

Thanks it Bulldog.     Truth be told, some of them aren't really what I consider to be "cool", but at least there not completely pedestrian cages.   I guess I just set myself up thinking that perhaps since this guy thinks enough to drive something different from the usual pack of late model boredom, maybe he might get the allure of Italian motorcycles.  Mostly they don't.

I think TRUE motor heads and enthusiasts appreciate and enjoy any and all motorized vehicles. And let's face it, character and politeness kinda prompts (at least me) to show equal respect. But truth be told, most are 'fan boys'  I see the same from the crotch rocket, Harley, BMW, Jeeper crowd when it comes to bikes... Cars are just another degree of separation. I will say that most of my friends who are into cars or bikes have genuine appreciation for both, even if they just have a foot in one world.....  I'm obsessed, and if I had the means, I'd give Jay Leno a run for his money on collection size.

[rschrum]

Yup, I like em all, from a Farmall H to a Piper cub.

[LowRyter]

Not MY cool car  (pic'd above)  It is as much fun, as addicting and joyful enriching blast to drive experience as my favorite motorcycle. Best part is I rebuilt it from the ground up. Same is true for many unique, classic, high performance, ect. cars.   But I get your point, unless you are taking about mini vans....  My buddy raves about his Minivan all the time.... I ask him if he wears pink panties too.... 

912?  A nice car, won't kill you like a 911.  I drove one and liked it.  Still just a car.

[LowRyter]

Certainly I'd like an open top 2 seater, a Duetto, Fairlady, Big Healy, Triumph 4A.  But it would be like a Norton, 650 Brit or Superhawk.  More a nostalgia trip than a thrill trip?  I'd rather take a good run on a thrilling bike.  I don't think a Miata would do it since I can take the top off the 'vette and it still isn't  a bike.

[twowheeladdict]

I love bikes.

I like 2 seat sports cars.

I use Trucks.


All the rest are just cages.

[80CX100]

I would have that thought motor-heads would appreciate most any cool motorized contraption, but I would be wrong.  Or maybe I'm wrong in thinking they are all motor-heads?

I used to think that all car & bike guys were gear heads, but over the years I've come to realize not so much.

I ride solo, but over the winter, I usually get together with a social sport touring group a couple of times to help with the PMS(Parked Motorcycle Syndrome); there are usually 15-20 riders there and I'm lucky if there are 1-2 other gear heads really into talking about machines.

I find even some of the most enthusiastic riders, really aren't into the whole mechanical mystique thing, it's more the riding and social culture that they're into, car guys same thing, fwiw.

I feel a kinship with gearheads, I can talk for hours with them,no matter what they're into, tractors, snowmobiles, 4 X 4's, hot rods, dirt or street bike riders I don't care; and I find other gear heads similar, they don't care either. jmho

Kelly

[Turin]

I appreciate anything with an engine and wheels that is attractive/highly stylized or was built for performance, and usually older.
 

[Bulldog9]

912?  A nice car, won't kill you like a 911.  I drove one and liked it.  Still just a car.

The voice of experience.... 'I drove one once'

[LowRyter]

The voice of experience.... 'I drove one once'

Well I do regret not buying it.  But I had no use (or room) for an old car for the nostalgia content but I understand the attraction.

[wirespokes]

 Alejandro de Tomaso was a car guy and look what he did for us. Maybe he was into bikes too since he did own a few brands, but he sure didn't know them.

As for car guys not being into bikes - I'd never given it any thought. Maybe they're just too dangerous?

[harry h]

Chad, that's all backwards when you talk to the ignorant that don't ride.   A car is just a car.  (I have 'vette and still, it's just a car.)

Now bikes, they're fun and exciting in a way that no car will EVER  be.  Bikes are like being able to fly (like a bird, not in plane). 

There're cool cars.  Nice cars. Good looking cars.  Fast cars.  But they're just cars.  I'll take my EV over my 'vette for fun.  And the Bandit, Sport or Duc for even more fun. 

Cars are for driving to the gym, grocery store or to church.  Cars are just transportation but they're not about "the get there".  Cars are just a means, the bike is the journey.  Driving just isn't riding.

 

Well I don't know which vette you have buy mine puts a smile on my face just like my bikes do. 

Harry

[John A]

If a car guy doesn’t ride he is just ignorant on bikes and no amount of explaining will get past what I think may be the feeling of intimidation.

[LowRyter]

Harry, I have an 08 C6 with stick.  I drive it every dry day.  Great car.  But it's still just a car.  Most fun of any car I've owned. 

For a thrill, I'll take a bike.