Motorcycle Riders?

[Emerson Dambiggins]

* It's

I don't get it - you only ride in the rain? You should try riding when it's dry some time; nice change of pace.

Nah. No fun in that!

 

[Creedmoor]

For the H-D folks out there . . .

View attachment 190076

For all the non Harley riders out there.

 

[JCSR]

I'm sitting @ Westfield Powersports shivering my ass off since I got caught in a downpour right inside Tipton County line. Brrr! The downside of riding! I haven't invested into dedicated riding gear as I usually leave it in the garage but when you having work done...

Now you have an idea of what gear you need. Plus you're making great memories together.

 

[JCSR]

Finally got everything done to my bike that I wanted to over the winter, now I just need the weather to cooperate, the waiting is miserable!

I got taller bars, better headlights, rider backrest, made a poor man's two into one exhaust, two new tires, and got some road rash from the previous owner repaired. Oh, and a friend is learning to wrap vehicles so I got a stripe.

I'm pretty stoked for this summer!!

 

[lazarus0213]

I ride a lot in Southern Indiana. Hiway 66 from Cannelton to Leavenworth is a great ride. The RC loves to turn

View attachment 75333

Those are so much fun. I’ll see if I can get pics of mine up.

 

[JettaKnight]

For all the non Harley riders out there.

View attachment 190154

It's cute that you think that's the type of woman attracted to Harvey Diddleson motorcycles.

 

[lazarus0213]

I have a few currently. Two live in the house in my front room. The third I ride. It’s a cbr954rr. Has aftermarket repsol plastics. The others are an rc51 and an erion bros cbr929rr. Pics to come when I get home.

 

[JCSR]

Real life Harley chick. Uses panties for a bike cover.

 

[Creedmoor]

Real life Harley chick. Uses panties for a bike cover.


View attachment 190164

Thats a Goldwing passenger, if she was on the back of a Harley she would have 27 rings on her fingers and full tilt Harley Davidson clothes on.

 

[JettaKnight]

Thats a Goldwing passenger, if she was on the back of a Harley she would have 27 rings on her fingers and full tilt Harley Davidson clothes on.

True, HD is an apparel company that occasional makes a few bikes.

 

[Creedmoor]

True, HD is an apparel company that occasional makes a few bikes.

And those bikes have been cool now for 103 years, thats a lot of tee shirts.
Every good American should ride American, its Harley Davidson, Motus, Rocon or a American Gold Wing.


Oh my bad, Honda closed the US Marysville plant in 05,
Maybe they should have sold discount apparel?

 

[melensdad]

 

[JettaKnight]

And those bikes have been cool now for 103 years, thats a lot of tee shirts.
Every good American should ride American, its Harley Davidson, Motus, Rocon or a American Gold Wing.


Oh my bad, Honda closed the US Marysville plant in 05,
Maybe they should have sold discount apparel?

it's all just good humor. Who cares what others ride, so long as they ride.

And welcome to INGO.

 

[melensdad]

it's all just good humor. Who cares what others ride, so long as they ride.

And welcome to INGO.

Yup!

It is not like we are arguing about 9mm vs 45acp

 

[JettaKnight]

Yup!

It is not like we are arguing about 9mm vs 45acp

don't you dare say anything bad about my soul stealin' .45!

 

[Creedmoor]

it's all just good humor. Who cares what others ride, so long as they ride.

And welcome to INGO.

Exactly. Wear your gear.
Thank you.

 

[JettaKnight]

Exactly. Wear your gear.
Thank you.

ATGATT.

 

[melensdad]

don't you dare say anything bad about my soul stealin' .45!

38 Super steals souls
45 ACP destroys them

 

[Gingerbeardman]

As soon as I learn how to do that I'll hook you up! It's just an Indian Chieftain dark horse, coming soon to a watering hole parking lot near you!

 

[paddling_man]

And those bikes have been cool now for 103 years, thats a lot of tee shirts.
Every good American should ride American, its Harley Davidson, Motus, Rocon or a American Gold Wing.


Oh my bad, Honda closed the US Marysville plant in 05,
Maybe they should have sold discount apparel?

I have a FLHRC and a BMW RT. I have had at least one of about every other Japanese brand and multiples of some brands like Honda.

Why do I own the two bikes I have? They fill a purpose: touring & sport touring with both being 44 mile daily round trip commuters much of the year. I stick with these two for now because HD and BMW are a bit unique in that parts are rarely obsoleted out and if you can actually turn a wrench, you can keep them running forever. As an example, one of my more recent bikes - a Suzuki DL1000 VStrom - had obsolete parts at only 8 years old. That is BS, throwaway-society garbage. I'm not interested in searching Ebay for NOS parts for a bike that I may ride cross-country.

Why do HD riders suffer the brunt of ribbing from non-HD riders? I have a theory... remember that first bike you owned? It was exhilarating. You were proud. You felt free! And then, you walked into a gas station to grab a soda. The old, toothless clerk noticed riding clothes. Here comes the question: "Oh?! Do you have a Harley?" You proudly and innocently answer - if it is the first time you've gotten the question - "No, I have a ___________." The immediate response from the non-riding, non-experienced clerk is a sad, "Oh... should have bought a Harley." That kills the enthusiasm and so many then feel the need to justify their decision. After you've heard the question and crestfallen response from a person who knows nothing about bikes anyway, it gets old.

So, two camps begin to emerge: those who eventually bought a HD later and those who didn't. If you bought a HD later then I applaud you if the reason was because it was the best suited machine for your purpose. If you bought it for Village Pantry cred, to only wear HD branded gear and pose as a "real biker," then that person bought a lifestyle/image - not a bike. One sees the same thing with Apple, Duluth Trading, and... BMW GS / Other Adventure Bike riders who never leave pavement. The person bought an image. Starbucks and the GS is a constant meme and I weary of memes. I like to ride.

For those that experienced that same convenient-store/stranger response and never bought a HD, then there exists a tendency to be catty about how their bike choice is "just as good or better" than HD. The ribbing begins. The ribbing is actually pretty easy since so many folks DO buy HD just to dress the pirate-part, brand every vehicle and piece of clothing with HD and do the Harley Owner Group slow-mo parades. Again you can replace HD with Adventure bikes and end up with the same costumes/branding/image-buy-in. The same thing occurs with the self-justification speeches of scooter riders and those with scooter-levels of HP/Torque: "nothing is needed beyond 500cc and 50 hp."

I love my Road King. It is a great touring bike with a classic style but with modern ABS/Fuel Injection/Electronic Ignition & Fuel Management/Cruise Control. It has huge aftermarket support and OEM parts support. I was also considering a Triumph T120 & BMW RNineT at the time. I bought the Road King in spite of and not because of the HD Rider community, branding, and HOG groups. The bike just ticked the boxes. Next bike will be a Indian FTR, BMW RNineT or Triumph Speed Twin.

Buying a bike is both parts emotional and practical in the decision making process. The ribbing can go too far since the subject is emotional for so many. I intentionally don't rib those that buy goofy-looking asian cruiseresque/chopperesque bikes that parrots HD and look like they came out of a cartoon. I love 80s standard and sport Japanese bikes. The 80s (and often later) cruiser Japanese bikes were not to my taste. I did have a 2nd Gen edit: 3rd Gen V-4 Magna but that was more like a Ducati Monster than an attempt to look like something else for the sake of parroting an image.

The most unkind group I've seen is the BMW MOA members who seem to HATE anything HD for - in my opinion - the reasons stated above. They - in turn - are most like HD image folks for their brand allegiance and elitism with so many (GS) who never leave pavement. The BMW Airhead guys - on the other hand - are fantastic.

My best friend and riding partner grew up in Oconowomoc, WI. His Dad owned a HD dealership, They were a shop race sponsor of Willie G's son. This same friend owns three HD, a BMW and is looking at a Triumph Scrambler XE for the next bike.

Ride what ya like - it is your passion, I hope. Remember it is likely the other guy's passion as well and don't crap on his/her enthusiasm.

/Rant