HD admirer refuses to acknowledge my Guzzi...

[rtbickel]

Some weekends I go to an ice house attached to a Victory/custom chopper dealership frequented by everything from 1%ers to grizzled ole bikers and dentiste poseurs, ratty Urals with sidecar to six-figure customs and my Guzzis rarely fail to draw at least a few raised eyebrows and a murmured "cool".

[Guzzistajohn]

Ya gotta make the "Ape Hanger" motion before dismissing them or it doesn't count 

 Dusty

I only make the "ape hanger motion" when I'm in motion usually going the other direction

[Lannis]

I agree with that Lannis, whether you're being sarcastic or not.   

Nope, agreeing fully.   We guys can be such idiots sometimes when we combine women, motorcycles, and rivals.   It's like we go back to operating on a reptile-like spinal level ....

Not saying that the OP is an idiot, of course ... but sometimes we let things get in our way of normal reactions!!   I'm as bad as anyone ...

Lannis

[OlDogface]

Living in the heart of "Harley Country" (south central Pennsylvania) where Harleys are built and rule in numbers, my experience with Harley riders and their comments has been of respect for the Moto Guzzi. That could change tomorrow, but its been good for the past 3 years of ownership.

Me too. I live about 20 miles from York and Harley's are all over the place here. I work in a facility with 6 regular/daily riders and another 5 or so Perfect Friday riders. Only three of us ride something other than a Harley. I've heard nothing but "nice bike" and "so you traded your Honda for a Bonnie?" since adopting my Stone. This includes one gentleman who's bike has a "get-back-whip" hanging from his clutch lever.

[Tom]

"get back whips"..........

[cookiemech]

Yeah, it's funny. On a nice day (say, 70�F and sunny), all you see in SW PA is H-D. Hey, I have two of them, too . . .

Oddly enough, if it's 45�, no Harleys. Mostly BMWs (me, too).

I really don't experience any anti-whatever sentiment, even when I ride a MG to the Harley shop. Had a long conversation one day with an old-time H-D fellow up there, all pleasant and positive. And I was on the Cal Aluminium.

Some people are just insecure, and stuck on whatever motorcycle (or whatever) icon gives them reason to live. Too bad. Hondas and Vespas are nice, too.

[Rough Edge racing]

   The worst is listening to people go on and on about their new car/truck, showing every feature, describing every detail like they are trying  to sell it to me...Ya just smile   

[Huzo]

Well here in Oz I've noticed that many Harley guys will happily point out the shortcomings of their bike if alone but never in the company of another rider and most certainly not another Harley rider, the chances of hearing a dissenting comment is inversely proportional to the number of Hogs there, wallowing around the group. Also I'm pretty sure Dr Phil could explain it better, but I reckon some NOT ALL !!!.... riders use the presence of their bike to make up for some area of their life where they feel the need to fill a void. When the guy was pointing to the blank oil stained asphalt that his Harley sometimes leans all over while he was talking at the lady, it didn't really matter if the bike was there or not, because that's where his identity was and he just had to make the point in front of the nice woman. Naturally I can't say if it ended in a result for him but knowingly or otherwise that's the guts, truth is it probably did his chances no good, he needs to realise "The Wild One" was just a cheesy movie. I just can't get the image of the Cowardly Lion fro the Wizar of Oz,out of my head when he postures around saying "what's it to ya" to no one in particular.

[Huzo]

   The worst is listening to people go on and on about their new car/truck, showing every feature, describing every detail like they are trying  to sell it to me...Ya just smile   

Maybe it's elevated them to some level that they want people to know about...

[twowings]

I quit worrying about what other people think after my first Grateful Dead concert...

[Guzzistajohn]

I quit worrying about what other people think after my first Grateful Dead concert...

Before or after you got caught up in the whirling dervish of tie dye and purple blotter?

[twowings]

Simultaneously.

[LowRyter]

Some weekends I go to an ice house attached to a Victory/custom chopper dealership frequented by everything from 1%ers to grizzled ole bikers and dentiste poseurs, ratty Urals with sidecar to six-figure customs and my Guzzis rarely fail to draw at least a few raised eyebrows and a murmured "cool".

Ice house?  You live in Tejas? 

[MadMike]

In a previous life I worked in a Diner, mostly at the front register. I would chat it up with folks, especially if they were carrying a helmet.  I would receive a bunch of jabs and dings from the Gold Wing crowd on a busy Sunday. They would ask me what I rode and I would answer that my HD Roadglide is the one in the parking lot.
"A Harleeeeeee...what the hell ya ridin' that fo'...and on and on, found on the roadside.....and on and on...whats the difference between a Harley and a vacuum cleaner....and on and on."

I wanted an air cooled motorcycle with a frame mounted fairing and a radio...just happened that Harley checked off all those boxes in 2004...but this never moved the needle much in the conversation.

One time I was baited into thinking I was amongst an enthusiast. Guy says, "You're bike reminds me of my Harley"
"thats cool" I replied, "what year" thinking I was gonna break up the shift with a little moto-talk
Guy responded "I sold it and don't miss it at all" as he turned and walked away...

Some need to express their superiority by poking fun at another persons ride...it happens....it is a trait found among owners of various brands...I really didn't care... as long as they were paying customers and I was shoving their money in the till, I was happy.

[balvenie]

I can see right through this bloke. He is into that woman and sees you as a competitor. Praising the Harley is his way of putting you down.

[Muzz]

If the conversation goes the way of "why don't you have a Harley' my usual retort is "why would I have a Harley when I have a Guzzi"? If they know anything about bikes that usually silences them. If they don't, well, I can pontificate as to the myriad of reasons why I don't and would never own one.

[Tom]

"Where's your Harley?"  "Home in the garage."  "Why are riding that?"  "Because, I want to go fast today and I need a bike that handles better than my Harley."

True conversation.  Usually ends a conversation on my choice of bikes to ride.   

[Huzo]

I can see right through this bloke. He is into that woman and sees you as a competitor. Praising the Harley is his way of putting you down.

Nailed it !!!

[blackcat]

Well, Triple Jim is probably correct, that might have something to do with it.

North Jersey is basically a suburb of NY. It probably never bothered me driving there because I drove in Manhattan-Mode. 

I don't know any urban areas with a large auto driving population that doesn't have aggressive drivers. Personally, I'll take the crazy low speed(even more so due to the overwhelming amount of bicycle lanes) driving in NYC compared to the insane high speed driving in Washington, Atlanta and the NASCAR driving in parts of North Carolina. 

In regards to Harley owners or sometimes worse, the modern BMW owners. Who cares?

[BillinPA]

Some of the worst  attitudes I have encountered are with Goldwings . I used to own wings and later went on a wing ride with a close friend. I was on my Guzzi. No positive comments toward my bike. But several negative.comments. one actually said now maybe you will buy a Goldwing . I replied......I have owned three, not all that impressed. His jaw hit the floor.
I currently own Harley and Guzzi. Like what I ride and don't care what others think of it.

[lwbdriver]

Nothing against Harleys, but I sold my Harley to get my Quota. Much happier now.

[drums4money]

I think the key words were:  Pontiac Mini-Van...

That seems to be indicate the extent of his taste or knowledge...just hazarding a guess.

. . .mic drop!

that's classic.

[Air-Cooled]

I don't know any urban areas with a large auto driving population that doesn't have aggressive drivers.

As a rule, drivers in Phoenix, AZ are not aggressive.

[John Ulrich]

I've had Harley parts guys or salesman come out front to check out my Guzzis. I've had the owner of a local dealership compliment me on it. I've been to the Harley open houses and had Harley staff come over and ask me about it and comment favorably etc. etc.

Been there had that happen!   Difference between a "lifestyle rider" and a motorcycle enthusiast is their knowledge of other motorcycles.

[sdcr]

Some of the worst  attitudes I have encountered are with Goldwings . I used to own wings and later went on a wing ride with a close friend. I was on my Guzzi. No positive comments toward my bike. But several negative.comments. one actually said now maybe you will buy a Goldwing . I replied......I have owned three, not all that impressed. His jaw hit the floor.
I currently own Harley and Guzzi. Like what I ride and don't care what others think of it.

Interesting, as an anecdote, several years ago I brought my 1997 Sport 1100 to a Goldwing Specialist shop, to get state inspection.  There were  a few Goldwing owners mulling around while their bikes were getting service. A few gathered around the Sport, making comments like, " must be a very uncomfortable crotch rocket" and " your going to develop back problems riding that contraption, btw, who makes Moto Guzzi?".  Attempts to explain that the Sport is actually a pretty comfortable ride, and it is not actually a " crotch rocket" just fell on deaf ears, and rolling eyes. I complemented their choice of rides, but it did leave me with the impression that  some Goldwing riders are somewhat closed minded to other brands/ bikes.

[Red Dog]

Over the years:
Loop frame days: "What the hell is that"?  "Engines in wrong"!  "That the one with flywheel hanging off the side"?  "Ain't American Ain't Shit"!

850T days: "How fast will that go"? "Who makes it"? "Not very comfortable is it"?  "I guess it's okay for around town".  "Wanna race"?

Mille GT:  Ignored by everyone unless they are into retro.  Some will ask how fast it goes.

Jackal: Double take then ask is it a: Honda, Ducati, Harley, Custom Build, BMW........ or "I knew a guy that had one........."

Griso Carc: Does not matter what they ride or even if they ride always gets compliments.

C1400 days: "Damn, Thats a nice bike"!  "Damn, When did Harley start making that"?  "Is that the new Valkyrie"?  "WTF is that"?  "BMW, right"

Honestly I have only gotten serious bull from a few HD owners. 
Usually I just name a place a few hundred miles away & tell them I'm heading there for lunch or dinner & I'd be honored to treat them if they want to come along.  In 40+ years of riding I have not bought one meal.

[pat80flh]

Shoot, I've taken crap from harley riders when on my Shovel.

"When are you going to buy a real bike and stop riding that antique?"

"You should stop riding that, it should be restored and parked."

One day a caravan of bikes pulled up at the gas station I used to work at. The old Shovel was parked under a tree in my personal spot. One rider exclaimed , "Look an old Knuckle",  he was crestfallen when he got closer, and admonished me to "take better care of your bike, it's so ratty looking I thought it was 50 years older than it is."

I've dealership parts people laugh in my face, and refuse to even open the catalog, "We don't stock anything for that."


I  have been going on the same poker run every year since '91, put on by an independent shop, whose owner I am acquainted  with. I am a lone wolf rider, dislike crowds and packs of bikes(this run is very loose/non formation/non parade) . I don't hear anything negative when I'm riding either my BMW or my Bassa, (I am also kind of scary looking), and more than one compliment.

  Most "real" bikers I know respect anyone who seriously rides.

 I too stopped caring what others thought of me since the second grade(I was a scary looking kid, too), and that was a few years before my first Grateful Dead concert.

[Tom]

As a rule, drivers in Phoenix, AZ are not aggressive.

You never drove a cab in that town.    Former Yellow Cab owner/operator here.  If you weren't aggressive, you didn't make money.  Generally, speaking you're right. 

[oldbike54]

 While waiting on the group that was making the Batfish run in Muskogee today , met a couple of very nice HD riders in the parking lot of the museum . One of them asked how I liked my Guzzi , and mentioned that he had owned an Ambassador back in the day . Said it was his favorite motorcycle , ever  Lowryter arrived on his Greenie , they both ooohhhed and ahhhed over it .

 Dusty

[Huzo]

Yep we've all got dozens of examples, just change the place and the circumstances and it's the same story. I wonder if the more interesting question is WHY they refuse to acknowledge more so than do we care. Harley riders seem to need to maintain a certain simmering "rage" when dragging their knuckles around in public and feel that they must act borderline (at best) anti social. It's answering the question that nobody asked so they can then dispute your view, they are different when alone. I reckon it's similar to bumping into your ex wife alone versus when you are with your partner who you replaced her with, you just have to act differently.(.and get them apart as soon as you can)