Just about said something to "Got Harley" guy.

[tatu]

Id like to think that reasonable riders with a half a brain will realize that riding is a beautiful thing regardless of brand.

It's the posers and wannabes that give the rest of them the bad name.

I think you nailed it right there, It is the bad, snotty contemptuous attitude displayed to other forms of life on two wheels that I can't stomach.

Round our way in UK they sit on Hernebay seafront all dressed up scowling at everybody.

 

[old_skool]

I think you find clicks in any select group who think they are above everyone else, I've also noticed a group of Goldwing club riders or a group of Beemer riders act the same way, no offense Steve(for the goldwing comment), people are azzhats, not bikes.

 

[Steve]

I think you find clicks in any select group who think they are above everyone else, I've also noticed a group of Goldwing club riders or a group of Beemer riders act the same way, no offense Steve(for the goldwing comment), people are azzhats, not bikes.

I have noticed that in my travels. When I get to a new area on a work assignment, the first thing I do is look for GSR members to "victimize" on the weekends, then I look for the nearest GoldWing chapter. If their monthly meeting fits in with my schedule I try to go and meet them, especially if I have one of my bikes with me.

Of course, with the Wing, there is absolutely no problem with acceptance, but when I take my 850, they first look at this "stranger" that is approaching on a non-Wing to see who it might be. I introduce myself and say that I am also a Wing member, and even show them pictures of what I have. They all realize that a Wing is not the only bike out there, and most have no problem with a "foreigner" in their midst (the GS, not me ). It is amusing to see how many of them say "I used to have one like that", then continue on with some other memories of the bike. It also helps that my bike is quiet (not quite as quiet as a Wing, though) and has a CB radio so I can communicate with them on our ride.

On our annual trip to West Virginia, we have had several non-Wings join our group. Over the years, several GSers have gone, including TCK, Dogma and Simon & Deb Keuther from Australia. We have also had several Harleys, BMWs and several other bikes. All were there for some enjoyable riding, not to be snobbish about any other bikes.

.

 

[JEEPRUSTY]

If you want to really see an angry HD guy look to one who got caught in the rain.
Cruiser poseurs extraordinaire.

 

[FLHGSRay]

I think it's hilarious that some people assume that just because they're on a bike, that other riders would automatically find them interesting. Maybe you're being ignored because the guy simply didn't find you interesting, instead of because of the bike you're riding. Funny story, though. A friend and his wife were out on his GW and came up to a group waiting for the ferry. He said it was 2 dozen of the hairiest, ugliest, smelliest bikers he'd ever seen, and for about 3 seconds he thought, "these Harley guys are gonna give me trouble for the bike I'm on". Then he saw they were all on Kawasaki V-twins. Said they were the nicest bunch of guys ever.

 

[850 Combat]

Shosw Showa fork guys won't talk to the Kabaya fork guys.

 

[FLHGSRay]

If you want to really see an angry HD guy look to one who got caught in the rain.
Cruiser poseurs extraordinaire.

I have been caught in the rain many, many times on my HD.

 

[SqDancerLynn1]

I got a surprise from a neighbor.. I asked him about his Yamaha V star.. He said most people don't know the difference and ask about his HD

 

[Guest]

I have been caught in the rain many, many times on my HD.

Yeah but did you get angry?

 

[eil]

I don't knock Harley bikes since I've never ridden one (plus they're just not my style), but I have to give credit to the company for having one of the most successful corporate branding/marketing strategies in the world.

The sheer range of HD-branded merchandise that you can buy is amazing. Second only to Disney, maybe? Every so often I see a "Harley-Davidson Edition" Ford pickup truck... to me that just takes the cake as far as bizarre cross-branding agreements go.

 

[bluewool]

I just don't understand what people have against lemmings.
Anyway, those are not real lemmings. They're disney lemmings. A ficticous fanciful ideal creation. Like pirates of the Caribbean or Michigan..

 

[retcol]

I hate getting caught in the rain on any of my bikes, just messes them up really bad and takes forever to get them back clean again. Of course, not to mention the danger from the fools in the cars who don't slow down on the wet streets. I like to ride with anybody on 2 wheels, the make and model doesn't matter. Bikes are bikes and bikers are bikers, regardless of what they are riding, in my humble opinion.

 

[Guest]

Harley tried to trademark the exhaust note of their bikes back in the 80's. Was more or less an effort to put the skids on Jap V-Twins coming out that time. Didn't work.

I agree with Steve and his comments, it's not what you ride but who rides it. I've had more Harley riders stop to ask me if I needed help then any other rider out there. Most are everyday riders like us, then you have the "others". I've had the older Harley riders come up to my 750 and say wow I had one like that!. Other Jap riders or who ever most times just turn up their nose to an older bike cuz it doesn't have all the bells, whistles and or go fast goodies. Who cares. I ride what I ride and don't carry an attitude when I do ride, unless yer a cager LMAO. Anyways. what matters is is that you ride.

 

[Guest]

Didn't work.

Yeah it did, sorta. It's why Honda changed from a single pin crank on their Shadow Aero from 1999 to 2000. Same bike, but didnt sound the same.

That was then and this is now. I really dont think Harley cares one way or the other anymore. That, or they dont feel like it's worth the trouble anymore cause the new(er) Yamaha Roadstar sure sounds just like a HD twin.

 

[1_v8_merc]

If you wanna **** off a Harley rider, just kickstart your bike, by hand, once....then ride off.

 

[tkent02]

If you wanna **** off a Harley rider, just kickstart your bike, by hand, once....then ride off.

With one or two fingers.

If you don't have a kick start, start you bike with a flick of the fingernail on the button. Same effect.

Usually it makes them say something about Jap Crap and getting a real bike as you ride away.

 

[Redman]

.....
Usually it makes them say something about Jap Crap and getting a real bike as you ride away.

QUote that I recall recieving:

"Sounds like my grandma's sewing machine."

.

 

[tkent02]

Some guy last year was telling me I should have bought a Harley because my BMW only had about 80,000 miles on it. WTF?? I told him, "Sorry I don't like riding slow all that much."

 

[Guest]

The guys who have been riding all their lives are pretty sociable and have some great stories and willing to help any riding brother out.

That's what I've noticed, too.

Some go off cliffs, though, 'cause they don't make the turn (the adventurous ones!). The large groups of "lemmings" usually stay on the straight roads....

Incident Number: 12900641 Incident Date/Time: 7/6/2012 9:36:00 AM
MSP District: 2900 Incident Contact: MN STATE PATROL DISTRICT 2900 - (218) 846-8260
Number of Individuals: 1
Number of Vehicles: 1

Location: I 94 Road Type: BLACK TOP
Milepost: 97 Road Condition: DRY
County: DOUGLAS Number of Lanes: 4
Crash Type: RAN OFF ROAD Divided/Undivided: DIVIDED ROADWAY
Incident Classification: PERSONAL INJURY Hazardous Material: NOT PRESENT

Assisting Agencies:


Person 1: DALLMAN, KENNETH L , 66 , OF EXCELSIOR MN , DRIVER OF VEH 1 , Phys. Cond. : INJURY - NON LIFE THREATENING


Vehicle 1:
2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROADSTER


IncidentDescription: V#1 ENTERED THE LATOKA REST AREA AND DROVE THROUGH THE SEMI PARKING AREA ATTEMPTING TO EXIT BACK ONTO THE INTERSTATE. MISSED A CURVE, LAYING THE BIKE ON ITS SIDE. DRIVER TRANSPORTED BY NORTH MEMORIAL AMBULANCE.

 

[Chrkut]

Not a Harley, but while parking in an area on my college where there were a load of cycles, a kid on a Ducati was talking to me about the 450L. I thought the kid was going to be stuck up, because of his new bike, but was actually really cool.