Met a Harley guy today

[LowRyter]

Big Brother is after you Chuck. 

What do you expect riding a Commie bike?

[Chuck in Indiana]

Big Brother is after you Chuck. 

What do you expect riding a Commie bike?

Hey!  This was built after unification. 

[timmythecop]

That's strange, folks are not so friendly when I pull up on my Harley.

[Shorty]

That's strange, folks are not so friendly when I pull up on my Harley.

I'm sure they wave their hand at you after the encounter.....

[Shorty]

A recent conversation with a Harley rider. I was on my Bonneville. We were getting a fill up.  HD, "Looks like you need a bigger bike like mine."   Me, "Sounds like you need to replace your mufflers."   

[Kev m]

A recent conversation with a Harley rider. I was on my Bonneville. We were getting a fill up.  HD, "Looks like you need a bigger bike like mine."   Me, "Sounds like you need to replace your mufflers."   

Me: "aww shyte you saying this bike makes me look fat?"

[Arizona Wayne]

Hey!  This was built after unification. 

MuZ-chassis designed in Brittain, motor built in Japan, assembled in Germany.   The OTHER German motorcycle. 

[timmythecop]

Me: "aww shyte you saying this bike makes me look fat?"

I have always wondered if Harley guys believe the drivel they say, or if they just feel like they have to justify their car payment for a bike.

[Kev m]

I have always wondered if Harley guys believe the drivel they say, or if they just feel like they have to justify their car payment for a bike.

Yeah sometimes I dunno.

I mean I'm sure some do. Absolutely. Mostly insecure people I suppose.

There are idiots in all walks of life. What the old George Carlin quote, something about: just think of how dumb the average person is, now remember half the people you meet are even dumber, or something like that.

But I know a bunch who parrot some of it obviously in jest/aware of how ridiculous it sounds.

And a whole lot more who don't say anything remotely like it.

[Shorty]

Me: "aww shyte you saying this bike makes me look fat?"

I don't need no steenkeeng bike to look fat.

[Cross-tie Walker]

I've met jerks and nice people on all makes and models. I will, however, never forget a Harley guy pulling up beside me at the front of a Ferry Boat line. (Bikes can board first here). Getting off and completely ignoring me as if I was invisible.  A little while later another Harley pulled up and the guy acted like they were long lost brothers.
Like I say the world has it all, but this just stuck with me, and I concluded he just wasn't that smart.

[timmythecop]

Yes, I shouldnt generalize, but the odds of a HD type being a goof are higher. But......a few years ago I was riding NC Moonshiner 28 on my RC51. I passed a touring Harley and went on my way. I stopped at a gas station for a breather, and 15 minutes later, that same HD parked and an older bijer type guy walked directly to me. I though he was going to yell at me. I said "Sorry if I was too close when I passed". He smiled and said how much he enjoyed watching sportbikes in action and watching all the knee dragging. We talked for about 30 minutes and went our seperate ways. Good momory of sharing a break in the mountains with another motorcyclist.

[Chuck in Indiana]

MuZ-chassis designed in Brittain, motor built in Japan, assembled in Germany.   The OTHER German motorcycle. 

Don't forget the Grimeca brakes, big Paoli forks and Tarrozi clipons from Italy. :)

[Kev m]

Yes, I shouldnt generalize, but the odds of a HD type being a goof are higher. But......a few years ago I was riding NC Moonshiner 28 on my RC51. I passed a touring Harley and went on my way. I stopped at a gas station for a breather, and 15 minutes later, that same HD parked and an older bijer type guy walked directly to me. I though he was going to yell at me. I said "Sorry if I was too close when I passed". He smiled and said how much he enjoyed watching sportbikes in action and watching all the knee dragging. We talked for about 30 minutes and went our seperate ways. Good momory of sharing a break in the mountains with another motorcyclist.

Oh I hear ya, though more of my experiences have been like the latter so I might balk at the odds... Then again see the George Carlin quote.

* Shrugs *

[severely]

I've met jerks and nice people on all makes and models. I will, however, never forget a Harley guy pulling up beside me at the front of a Ferry Boat line. (Bikes can board first here). Getting off and completely ignoring me as if I was invisible.  A little while later another Harley pulled up and the guy acted like they were long lost brothers.
Like I say the world has it all, but this just stuck with me, and I concluded he just wasn't that smart.

I stopped to help a Harley guy broke down on the side of the road, had all my tools, multimeter. Walked up and asked if I could be of assistance. The guy wouldn't even talk to me. I saddled up and rode away, guess you can't help people that don't want help.

[Tom]

Had the same type experience near my home.  The rider just looked at me.  I flipped him the bird after he ignored me and went home. 

[Chuck in Indiana]

I was in Utah, heading West. It was during Sturgis, and there had been a steady stream of hawgs headed east. Saw a guy on the side of the road with a red flag out. Wondered if that flag was included in the tool kit?
Turned around and asked if he needed help. He said, "naw.. got a flat bed coming. You're the only guy that has stopped, though." He seemed content, so I didn't tell him I could fix that flat..

[twowheeladdict]

Yes, I shouldnt generalize, but the odds of a HD type being a goof are higher. But......a few years ago I was riding NC Moonshiner 28 on my RC51. I passed a touring Harley and went on my way. I stopped at a gas station for a breather, and 15 minutes later, that same HD parked and an older bijer type guy walked directly to me. I though he was going to yell at me. I said "Sorry if I was too close when I passed". He smiled and said how much he enjoyed watching sportbikes in action and watching all the knee dragging. We talked for about 30 minutes and went our seperate ways. Good momory of sharing a break in the mountains with another motorcyclist.

I always wonder how the curvy road novices on the sport bikes feel when I pass them mid curve on my 900 lb Road Glide Ultra.   

[timmythecop]

I always wonder how the curvy road novices on the sport bikes feel when I pass them mid curve on my 900 lb Road Glide Ultra.   

I will never forget passing a GSXR750, pegs on the deck, on Summit Point Road on my 92 Superglide.

[Guzzi Gal]

Hi again, Tom..
Sorry for not recognizing you..it's my lot in life. The place that stores faces and places in your brain took a pretty good hit when I was a kid. I get to meet people over and over.
Yep, another nice guy on a Harley.

I'm right there with you Chuck in Indiana.  Prosopagnosia is an old friend I wish I could forget.   

[Tom H]

I stopped to help a Harley guy broke down on the side of the road, had all my tools, multimeter. Walked up and asked if I could be of assistance. The guy wouldn't even talk to me. I saddled up and rode away, guess you can't help people that don't want help.

Many moons ago on my Guzzi, I did the same on a lonely stretch of hwy and he was on a off ramp that he could barely be seen. He was nice, tried to find a part for his bike in a town about 10 miles away. Did the round trip a few times until it was decided that it could not be fixed without the correct part. I finally called a friend of his on a pay phone with a phrase that only they would know and then told the broke down guy that his buddy was on the way. We were heading to a get together and he offered my $40 for my trouble. I declined, he insisted. He said he couldn't spend it there, he said you might as well have some fun.

I was in Utah, heading West. It was during Sturgis, and there had been a steady stream of hawgs headed east. Saw a guy on the side of the road with a red flag out. Wondered if that flag was included in the tool kit?
Turned around and asked if he needed help. He said, "naw.. got a flat bed coming. You're the only guy that has stopped, though." He seemed content, so I didn't tell him I could fix that flat..

Good that you stopped just in case. You know that old saying about carrying tools. I don't need tools, just the Gold Card and a cell phone will do! I carry tools myself as well as the card and a phone!

Tom

[redrider90]

I  have seen my share of arrogant riders on European  and Japanese bikes.....

It's in the 1980's; don't really remember the year but it was after Ducati had turned the corner and was building their new successful line of sport bikes.  I am at a Ducati rally in Dahlonega GA. I was on my 73/750GT Duck. My bike wasn't pretty but it ran well and was no rat bike. I was poor  so I painted the original Conti's black and the I painted the fiberglass tank yellow. I wasn't trying to make it a sport I just picked yellow. I did OK from a spray can but it wasn't concours for sure.  A lot of guys trailered their queens in. Overall I never had been around a bigger bunch of snobs than those guys. Many wouldn't even talk to me. I can only assume that my bike didn't sparkle like theirs did. Of course nothing much sparkled that weekend as it was raining all the time. But as much I find HD riders in my area in NC rather unfriendly I have never been around a group like these Ducati riders. The weather sucked but these guys sucked even more. After riding up in the rain on Friday and sleeping all night in the rain and a breakfast punctuated by rain, I packed up and went home. 

[twowings]

Last summer on my way to the Wisconsin Rally, I stopped on a brutally hot Kansas day just south of St. Joe when I saw a couple of ADV riders broken down at a busy highway intersection....tur ns out I had just the tools they needed plus an umbrella for a sunshade...after 40 minutes or so, all was good...BUT in that time, at least 25-30 Harley riders, solo and in small groups, passed us by without so much as a wave or "Can we help?"...two fellas in a Chevy 1/2T who claimed to be bikers DID stop to offer help/transportation but the actual riders couldn't be bothered...turns out the 2 guys I helped were KC motorcycle officers in real life and were as suprised as me that no one HD-mounted bothered to check on stranded fellow riders...just sayin' 

[Shorty]

I bought a new Sportster in about 93 from C&C in Tulsa. Got to know the owner. He told me one time he was heading to Sturgis. It was about a week early. I asked him why so early. He told me he was taking the Company truck, mostly filled with Tshirts for sale at his booth. "Yeah?" "Well, I get there early, then stay about 3 days after the event." "Why?" "Do you realise how many broke-dick Harleys there are between Tulsa and Sturgis? I can't just roll past them in my truck with my name all over the side!" 

[Darren Williams]

Hello. Um... my name is Darren and, um, I um... ride a BMW.

[timmythecop]

Please dont confuse my irritation for some of the HD clueless as a hatred for HD or the better of their owners.  I have had many Harleys and I ride one at work. We shouldn't classify people, but we do. If I had to be typed, I guess I am a VFR guy.

1992. Brand new Harley, free work helmet

[twowheeladdict]

Please dont confuse my irritation for some of the HD clueless as a hatred for HD or the better of their owners.  I have had many Harleys and I ride one at work. We shouldn't classify people, but we do. If I had to be typed, I guess I am a VFR guy.

1992. Brand new Harley, free work helmet

I have owned and tried so many different bikes over the years.  My wants, needs, tastes, abilities, physical condition, etc. have evolved / changed over the years. 

My first street bike was a silver '77 Yamaha XS 750 triple with every touring accessory available from Yamaha plus king/queen seat, pull back handlebars, highway pegs, etc.  I would love to have a modern version of that bike today.  A bike that can be turned into a full tourer or stripped down for local riding.  There is no bike made today with a removable frame mounted fairing.  I think that bike is why I am attracted to the Moto Guzzi V7 line.  I loved having that shaft drive on a standard bike. 















I found that I also enjoy twin engines more than I-4 engines.  Triples are the compromise engine configuration.

[Lannis]

Please dont confuse my irritation for some of the HD clueless as a hatred for HD or the better of their owners.  I have had many Harleys and I ride one at work. We shouldn't classify people, but we do.

But you sort of have to "classify" people in order to be able to do your job, don't you?

We always say we don't, or we shouldn't, but we do it every day.   As long as our approach is based on experience and not just bigotry, and as long as we're ready to treat people right, there's nothing wrong with that ....

1.   I've owned 3 Harley-Davidsons and enjoyed them all.
2.   I know some folks that ride HDs, and they ride WAY more miles than I do.   And more skillfully than I do.
3.   I know that some modern HDs are as reliable as any bike made, and handle and "go" very well compared to other bikes of the same genre.

However, I DO notice that very many (a majority) of riders of HDs and HD-clones (I don't discriminate) are "into" motorcycles for reasons completely different from my reasons, and I have no more in common with them than I do drivers of hot-rods.    And I do find the behavior of many of these folks obnoxious and not something I want to be associated with.   And I don't notice that same discrepancy associated with any other "brand" of bike.    It's a real thing, not just a notion of mine.

Shared by many, apparently!

Lannis

[stonelover]

I have owned H-D, Indian, Ducati, Triumph, Suzuki, Binelli, BMW, Honda, BSA, Yamaha & Moto Guzzi motorcycles.  I do not believe that my character or actions have varied depending on my current ride.  There are "goodies" & "baddies" on any given make.  Stick with the winners!

[twowheeladdict]

I have owned H-D, Indian, Ducati, Triumph, Suzuki, Binelli, BMW, Honda, BSA, Yamaha & Moto Guzzi motorcycles.  I do not believe that my character or actions have varied depending on my current ride.  There are "goodies" & "baddies" on any given make.  Stick with the winners!

So true. 

I remember when Harley Davidson riders, and riders in general were associated with living on the edges of society.  People left the sidewalk when bikers rolled into town.  Now, when I am on my Harleys I get a lot of waves from the locals on the sidewalks and oncoming cars.  Way more than if I am on a sport bike, adventure bike, etc.

Harleys are definitely mainstream now and that does piss off many hard core riders of all brands.