| Author | Message | ||
     Rodclement |
Hello everyone, I have been enjoying my Uly very much since I got it and ride it to work pretty much every day, a 80 mile commute. Nothing is more enjoyable in my day than the time spend riding, even in the colder weather. So here I am pulling into my club and one of the members of the club (private club I manage) comes over to talk to me about the bike...he is very surprised that I am riding in this "cold" weather (60 degrees) and that I ride this far from my home every day! He is a bike owner and has 2 Harleys at home and he proceeds to tell me, with pride, how mint they are...they never seen a drop of rain...and he takes them out once a month or so for some "rides" with friends...around 30 miles each way... What's up with motorcyle owners? Why buy something that is meant to be ridden and enjoyed just to keep it in your garage? I see a clear diferecence between the owners and the riders and I honestly don;t get it...to each his own I guess...I will e riding this puppy to and from work everyday untill it snows and turns unsafe, or untill the rear wheel bearing falls off!  Rod | ||
| Buellerxt |
There are Harley riders that would put your commuting mileage to shame Rod, to SHAME(lol), and there are BMW riders, and others, who ride 1000 miles or less each year but who cares? Every manufacturer has a full gamut, or spectrum, of riders. People enjoy motorcycles for different reasons and different purposes. The important part is they enjoy them and are motorcyclists. The guy was proud of his bikes. Very cool. (Message edited by buellerxt on October 06, 2011) | ||
| Schwara |
+1 I agree completely ... although my thoughts have changed some since getting the Uly earlier this year. With past bikes I have always liked riding but now I feel a bit different. Now I truly love to ride ... any time that I can possibly pull it off. I've been traveling a lot the last few weeks and of course miss time with my family 1st, but time on the bike 2nd. This week has honestly been painful because the weather in the midwest has turned perfect. My ideal conditions and I see people everywhere out on bikes but could not pull it off for my trip because I had way too much work stuff to haul along with me. I'm rambling, I know what your saying. I had been riding so frequently, including time taking my wife out, that she finally indicated that she thought it would be fun to ride. Thus we added a second pony to the stable. Not a Buell, but a good little starter bike. She is taking a class this week to get her actual license. | ||
| Motorbike |
or until the rear wheel bearing falls off! Oh, Ok, then you will be done riding at about 7300 miles! Just kidding, hopefully yours will never fail. | ||
| Rodclement |
Hey I am not claiming my commute as a badge of honor and not saying that harley owners don't ride their bikes. I owned a Harley and I know a lot of people that basically live on it! There are bike owners and riders in every brand of motorcycle ever made, and I understand that they appreciate the act of owning one and caring for it, as much as I do riding it, just doesn't make a lot of sense to me, that's all. Just like people that spend $$$ in clothing...I guess I am more of an utilitarian kinda guy in a sense. To each their own, I didn't mean my comment as a criticizm,just an observation. Rod (Message edited by rodclement on October 06, 2011) | ||
| Tootal |
I even know a guy that still has his Harley even though he can no longer ride it. He ended up with rumitoid arthritis which took him from a tall strong tough Illinois State Trooper to something I wouldn't wish on anybody. He keeps his bike just to look at. Some like the stylin and profilin and some like to wring the snot out of them. That's what makes the world go round. It's sort of like knowledge. Will Roger's put it best. "Everybody's ignorant, just in different subjects!" He also said, "Never squat when you're wearing spurs." Words to live by!  | ||
| Pontlee77 |
Some love to clean the chrome and have a ride and clean the bike, others ride and clean the bike after some time, each one decides, how they ride and care of the bike, as long as we are happy, who cares what other people think, so: have fun and ride safe. | ||
| Sirvait |
I love "owners"......because one day they become "sellers" of near mint bikes at half the cost. 2cents | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
The owner of the gym I go to has a bright yellow Gold Wing that I never see him ride anymore. I asked him about that a week or two ago and he said he was scared to ride because people just drove too crazy for him and it was too dangerous out on the roads these days with everyone having a cell phone glued to their ear. He complained that his eye sight wasn't what it used to be and neither were his reflexes. Mind you, I'm probably about 8 years older than he is and none of his complaints and lamentations is a worry to me. During this short conversation he twice proclaimed "God Bless you for riding". I almost shot back, "Hallelujah" but held my tongue. I was sorry to hear what a sad sack limp wrist he had become. Darned near told him to change his diapers. I honestly don't think people are driving any crazier than they ever have, well except for the cell phone bs. Doesn't keep me from firing up the bike on a daily basis. (Message edited by electraglider_1997 on October 06, 2011) | ||
| 7873jake |
I'm with Sirvait! And I also like having guys around like the Harley owner described in the O.P. He keeps the wheels moving in the finance office of dealerships, the parts counter guys in a job and the service department guys doing their thing. If he chooses not to ride, s'ok with me too. One less vehicle out there running around. Like Rod, I used to do the same kinda head scratching "huh?" thing often. Then I realized that those owners help keep the stores and vendors I want to shop with in business, even if they don't ride. Spend on, my well heeled bros, spend on! | ||
| Sharkguy |
To all you old farts out there still riding I salute you!  To all you young guys and twneers keep it up! Ride what you got whenever you can, you never know when things will change and you won't be able to do it anymore. I commute to work whenever I can, and try to get out every weekend for at least a few hours of riding just to air out all the crap that has been accumulating in my brain all week. I find myself refreshed when I arrive at work and more energetic when I arrive home in the evening if I ride to work rather than drive. But to each his own. I have a few bikes in the garage that don't get many miles anymore...of course that's the Ulys fault. Some day I'll let some kid get a deal on one of my "garage queens". But for now ride on! | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Sharkguy, We both be born in 1956. Fine wines age well. | ||
| Pontlee77 |
I have a myotonic (or steinert) distrophy, it doesen't afect me riding the bike, for now, so i ride and have fun, hopefully for the rest of my life, if the day comes when i cant ride the uly, maybe it will be time to think of a trike or some sort of fun vehicle, and keep the uly in the lounge as decoration.  | ||
| Sharkguy |
+1 EG,56 was a good year. I always enjoy your posts, man. Long may you ride. | ||
| Etennuly |
We both be born in 1956. Fine wines age well. You kids clean up and turn out the lights when you leave, OK?  | ||
| Rodclement |
There is no better way for me to air out from a day at work then riding home...in the morning I actually look forward to riding to work instead of being in my car listening to morning talk radio...there is just something about being out there in the world as opposed to locked in a rolling box...ride as often as possible, clean whenever possible, maintain as needed...that works for me. Rod | ||
| Pons |
"We both be born in 1956. Fine wines age well. You kids clean up and turn out the lights when you leave, OK?" Ya, old guys rule. 1951 here  | ||
| Whisperstealth |
One of my fav's: "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, But rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" | ||
| Froggy |
When will you guys stop sucking up my social security with your free Viagra? | ||
| Brucespoint |
"To all you old farts out there still riding I salute you! To all you young guys and twneers keep it up! Ride what you got whenever you can, you never know when things will change and you won't be able to do it anymore." A Salute to You Sharkguy! For Recognizing the essential Truth of Riding, and Just How precious being ABLE to Ride is! My View has always been Riding is the Next best thing to Sex... And a Whole lot more Reliable.  These days, after a lifetime as a Successful crash test dummy, sometime the bod just is too damn Sore to Alertly ride a Motorcycle Safely. So I Don't. So when I Can, Damn, it's GOOD! Long as You Can Remember yer last Grin, Life IS Worth Livin!  Be Safe, Ride in the Now. b. And yes, 56 is a Good Vintage. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Yeah, we may be dinosaurs but we are velociraptors. | ||
| Brown_e |
I work at a Harley/Buell shop and it is hard to understand the number of owners that have a bike where the #1 consideration is how nice it looks. While we all like sharp looking bikes, I thought the idea was to ride them. There will always be the fair weather rider but to put on a couple of hundred miles per year and spend the most time detailing, I don not understand. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
My ULY is never clean. I feel one of the main reasons my bike has been so reliable is because it bathes like a frenchman, rarely if ever. | ||
| Rodclement |
...or when it rains...sometimes I think people forget that bikes are made to be weather resistant and are afraid rain will ever touch their bikes! Rod | ||
| Mnrider |
OK I'll say it.They're- Posers | ||
| Hooper |
I'm baffled by this too, especially the frequent references in the local (DC/MD/VA) bike rags to "the riding season". March issue: "As we get ready for the riding season to crank up, we should start thinking about the steps needed to get our bikes dusted off, spruced up, and properly prepped for a problem-free season." Or, in September: "Well, as another riding season comes to an end, we should start thinking about the steps needed to get our bikes properly prepped and stored until next year." And this is the Mid-Atlantic I'm talking about! It drives me nuts, and reinforces the belief among many that you have to store your bike between October and March! Seems to me, it's a few things: first and foremost, a lack of imagination. Some of these folks just have never considered that they CAN ride almost year-round if they did some research on warmer riding clothes, a full-face helmet, and heated equipment (clothes, seat, grips, etc.). I don't think I'm going to far out on a limb to say that many of these folks don't consider it because they haven't thought about getting over the concept of wearing overpants, nylon gear, or a full-face helmet. I just don't think they're willing to do that because they think they'll look funny, or the ATGATT doesn't go with their bike (believe me, I get looks as I roll up on my dirty black H-D Street Bob all ATGATT and wearing a neon vest). Second, I just think there are people who fear discomfort so much that they avoid any potential for it. These folks don't go camping after September, either. Again, if they had the gear, they could. Third, no one has helped them get over these hurdles. Peer pressure is strong in the bike world. It seems like most of the dudes riding BMWs, dual-sports, and sport-tourers wear more gear than cruiser folks...it seems to be an encouraged part of that culture. Sport riders have their own "approved" level of gear and apparel. It took me awhile to get over myself and go ATGATT on my Harley. Would I rather wear just jeans, a jacket, gloves, and a half-helmet? You bet, but I once hit a deer while wearing all the gear (on the Buell), and came out okay. I don't want to think what I would have looked like with just minimal gear. Your riding skills - along with the technology on the bike and the gear on your body - are just about the only things you can control in order to keep you safe on the road. I can't imagine going for months without riding, just from a "rustiness" standpoint. And, like someone else said, his shiny bikes might be a major investment for him - his babies - and he doesn't want anything to happen to them, perhaps envisioning riding them 20-30 years from now. Oh, and a fourth: yeah, deer season is picking up.  Ramble off  ...and ramble on (it's finally going to be a nice weekend here!) (Message edited by Hooper on October 07, 2011) | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I was teaching a BRC at Offutt AFB last week and this guy comes up and was gaga over my fellow instructor's Victory bike. It was shining and all cruiser-like. Then he came over to my bike and all he could say was "Looks like you've had that bike awhile". My great comeback to that was ...Yup. | ||
| Tiltcylinder |
I always laugh when the counter person at my local independent says "Wow you put a lot of miles on this bike". My response is 'wait 'till I bring in the other two and then add 'em up!' They do my state inspections, (keeping track of the miles on their 'pewter) and send me a reminder postcard when they're coming due (good buisness practice), while I get to shop for farkles for the Harley. I've worked on lots of bikes for people who don't really 'ride'. You know, 2002 bikes with 4,000 miles. They like to say they have a bike and go out a couple of times year for lunch with freinds and maybe a charity ride or two. Life gets in the way.... I often invite them for the weekend rides and they can't or won't come. These are the same folks who used to be up for 10 day odessey to nowhwere. I don't ride every day. But I usually won't bother to even start a bike if the ride is less than 100 miles. The Blast goes out for the "I just gotta go for a quick blast" runs, because it'll make me grin. My early sunday morning 'mental wellness' ride is a 100 mile loop that seems to end ever so quickly. This weekend is going to be 1,500 miles of county roads in NY, CT, MA, VT and NH. 'They' say we'll be luck to see 30,000 sunrises... I'd like at least ten percent of those to be from the saddle of my bikes. | ||
| Rodclement |
I love the owners since my 2006 Uly was bought from one with only 4K miles on it...a month and a half ago! I tought it was funny when I registered the bike with my insurance company and the girl told me to let them know when the bike goes into storage for the season so they can suspend the insurance until the riding season starts again...! For one, I did not know you could do that...second...I never knew the riding season ended as a rule! I asked her what the usual "off season" was and she told em that for my area, NJ, most people drop coverage from October to March... Rod | ||
| Fordhotline |
That funny Rod. Had the same thing said to me here in Mass. They called me in Nov and asked about dropping my insurance. I said I just rode it into work. There are bikers and motorcycle owners. Bikers live to ride and would rather be on two wheels whenever possible. They come from all makes, Harleys, Beemers, and metrics. I don't start waving to bikers until October. |
