| Author |
Message |
    
Lorazepam
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 11:13 am: | 
|
I have never really worried about the whole HD poser thing. I have found other bikes that do what I want better than HD, and rode them. Never cared about what folks said. I have come from BMW to the Buell, the attitudes on BMW can be worse than those on HD. I ignored those folks too.
I hope the Uly works out to be a great bike. If not, I will go to something else. |
Chadhargis
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 11:49 am: |
|
Riding is not about performance to everyone. It's about how it makes them feel. To some, it is about the image, be it a 1000cc race replica or a HD cruiser. I've seen many squids posing next to their gixxers and 'busas. How are they any different from the HD crowd? They can't ride for crap, and while they may pay less for their bikes, they pay about $2500 a year for insurance so they will look good doing wheelies and burnouts in the parking lot of the local bar.
Riding is many things to many people. I prefer to get out of town and away from people when I ride. I don't like riding with big groups, and I don't care for the male ego pissing contest that usually accompanies a group ride of sportbikes.
BUT...that being said. If that's your bag, then enjoy it. If shining the chrome on your Harley makes you happy, then do it. It's no more ridiculous than buying your wife or significant other a hugely expensive piece of jewelry.
The "Harley" image (which also encompasses the metric cruiser crowd too) has never been my scene, but I don't judge the people because of it. I teach MSF courses, and I've had the privledge of teaching with lots of the typical "Harley" types. Long hair, tattoos, foul stickers on their helmet, black leather from head to toe, etc. You know what I found out...they are really nice folks. Just because they don't look like me, or act like me, doesn't make them bad people. Most of the HD folks I teach with have been riding for years. Dirtbikes, sportbikes, cruisers, tourers, etc. They have hundreds of thousands of miles under their butts, and have reached a point where they want to slow down and "smell the roses" so to speak.
I know there are some riders out there that can't ride, don't ride, or seem more interested in telling people about their "bad ass" bike. But they aren't limited to HDs. In fact, I find it MUCH more irritating to see a 16, 17, or 18 year old on a race replica sportbike, especially if they are doing stunts on public roads. A guy polishing his bike and enjoying the shiny chrome seldom gets killed doing it and makes ALL of us look bad in the process.
In the imortal words of Sgt. Hulka from "Stripes"....."Ease up Frances." |
Grimace308
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 12:47 pm: |
|
before you get too sanctimonious, it was "lighten up, francis". :P
im against anyone whos behavior reflects negatively on the sport and decent riders everywhere. the double standard i see is that its ok to mock the squids, but the moment someone denigrates the lemmings(harleys), all hell breaks loose. |
Blake
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 01:50 pm: |
|
Some days it is awfully nice to stretch out on a big cruiser and eat up the miles.
Harley-Davidson motorcycles are some of the best on the planet. The level of quality and finish is incomparable.
I'd own some if I were wealthy. The Road King is one of my favorites. Whenever I see hate directed at HD motorcycles, I wonder if the perveyor of said hate has ever spent any time actually riding a modern Harley. They are really great bikes if you use them in the manner they were intended to be used.
Bigotry and hate are ugly things, even just if aimed at motorcycles. Suggest we look to more positive commentary. |
Stevenknapp
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 01:56 pm: |
|
Two wheels good.
Different bikes for different people, different rides, and different styles of riding. |
Chadhargis
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 02:03 pm: |
|
"before you get too sanctimonious, it was "lighten up, francis". :P "
I stand corrected.  |
Dr_greg
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 02:47 pm: |
|
Amen to what Chadhargis said. I come from a V-Twin sportbike background (still own Aprilia & Ducati) and I never thought I'd be riding anything having any connection to the "motor company." But never say never. I also have a great H-D/Buell dealer. Love the Ulysses.
One thing I have noticed: as I ride around the more remote parts of New Mexico, I see more Harleys on the road than anything else---those H-D folks (who generally ARE nice people) seem to get in the miles. Can't slam that. |
Bross
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 04:30 pm: |
|
Well said blake and chadhargis. I love the fact that I can pretty much rent a Harley anywhere I go in North America and have done so the last three vacations I took. Granted the FatBoy wasn't the best bike trying to hustle up the Palms to Pines Highway out of Palm Springs, but it was a sweet ride cruising through Joshua Tree! Like you said "use them in the manner they were intended". And hey, last time I checked, Harley's came with two wheels, a motor and a throttle and that's all you need to have fun.
And cyg, I really don't understand why you would post someone else's inflamatory comments as your own instead of just posting a link to the original author. |
Chadhargis
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 05:53 pm: |
|
Yep...2 wheels and a motor.
Even THIS is fun: |
Chadhargis
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 05:55 pm: |
|
 |
|
