G oog le BadWeB | Login/out | Topics | Search | Custodians | Register | Edit Profile


Buell Motorcycle Forum » XBoard » Buell XBoard Archives » Archive through March 03, 2008 » How do Harley guys treat you. » Archive through February 27, 2008 « Previous Next »

Author Message
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Wrongway2
Posted on Monday, February 25, 2008 - 06:36 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

there are idiots in all walks of life I don't waste my good energy on ignorance

Me too, I agree. Most Harley guys are good people. Its the black leather that gives them the attitude. A smart friend told me once "Don't argue with an idiot, they will wear you down with experience!" Also be aware the difference between stupidity and ignorance is "Ignorance can be fixed... unless your stupid!"}
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Irideabuell
Posted on Monday, February 25, 2008 - 06:45 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Rich has most of the bases covered bike ownership wise and he speaks kindly of most brands in one way or another. I'm the same way - treat me with respect and you'll receive the same.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Svo1023
Posted on Monday, February 25, 2008 - 07:58 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Might as well throw in my .02 since i just purchased a Harley......I have owned many different brands throughout the years....still have my Buell always will...as far as the wave if possible i do give the wave back always have....i don't care what they are riding.....i don't ride for other people i ride for me.....if other people don't like what i ride f um....
I was at a bike night trying to sell my old ninja...so i could buy my Buell...back in 04....and this girl asks me why i am selling it....and i told her to buy a Buell....she scoffs and says why? the sportbike guys will laugh at you and the Harley guys won't have anything to do with you.....I said really? what makes you think i give a sh*t about that?
Oh well bottom line i love my road couch....i love my Buell....you wave i wave.... i love to ride period.....no i don't have any live to ride crap on my bagger...never will...nor do i care what anyone else rides...if someone is so brand fanatical of what they ride.....then they just don't get what being on two wheels is all about..
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Xbrfirebolt
Posted on Monday, February 25, 2008 - 10:36 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

A friend of mine that I've ridden with for years has a '07 Harley Softail. He asked me to go on a New Years Day ride with one of our local HOG groups. It was an open ride so anyone was welcome. It was about a 150 mile round trip for a luncheon.

The first stop was at a gas station/convenience store. The groups parked in the large parking lot, I stopped at the pumps naturally. After fueling up, I parked next to my 2 friends. I went inside the store to use the restroom with the rest of the senior citizens.

While I was away from my bike one of the club members asked my friend who was right beside my bike a question. "Just exactly how far do you think you can ride this thing?" (It's an '08 Firebolt.) He answered, "Well it's not my bike but my friend and I have ridden a couple times to the coast and back in a day", (which is 400 miles round trip.) He told him I didn't have any problems with that distance. So the club member asked him if "He had tried to ride it?" He told him he hadn't but he was sure he could and all he had to do was ask me.

I guess the member was getting a little loud, so the club President came over and reminded him that this was an open ride, and anyone could ride with them. Besides he told him this bike is a Harley!

By the time I finished waiting in the restroom line and got back outside everything was fine. My friend told me what had gone one in my absence.

Also one of the club members had dropped his bike trying to turn around to park by us while I was getting fuel. I was on the other side of the pumps so never saw that either.

We had a good time with the group; everyone was friendly to me and my friends. He and I went ahead and joined the club to have more options for riding.
At that meeting as a new member you have to stand and introduce yourself and say a little bit about yourself and what model of bike you have. When I told them I ride a '08 Buell Firebolt, they all clapped.

Now this group rides "Rain or Shine", so to me that's a pretty dedicated group of riders. And that's all that matters!

Bob
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Xl1200r
Posted on Monday, February 25, 2008 - 10:41 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I usually just get good remarks or good questions from people. It seems most around here are at least aware of the Buell brand. I've always kind of been one to just do my own thing anyways.

My first bike was a Harley. I owned it for three years and only rode with another Harley once. He was a friend of a friend and I'd ride with him again.

In fact, I've considered forming a riding club in my area so many times, but I always end up remembering my dislike for riding in groups of anymore than 3 or 4 bikes and forget about it.

I bought my bike for me, not for anyone else.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Kmfw160
Posted on Monday, February 25, 2008 - 11:31 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I get razzed by my Harley buddies a little but it always stops at "when are you gonna get a real Harley, lol?". I've never had any bad goings-on with Harley guys. Everyone I meet be it Sport or cruiser rider all seem to be interested in my Buell.
As far as waving it's been my experience here that the 'hardcore harley'(lol) bikers are usually the ones not to return my wave. oh well, life goes on.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Ratbuell
Posted on Monday, February 25, 2008 - 11:54 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Reading about the zip-tied driveshaft above reminded me of the day we serviced our Service Manager's Jeep at my old job. Not only did we put the ties on his driveshaft, but one enterprising young technician figured out how to wire the horn relay to the left turn signal. He picked left because he knew where Mark lived and that he'd be making all rights for at least three miles.

<click> honk...honk...honk...honk... Funny as hell to watch (I lived in the same direction): )
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

F_skinner
Posted on Monday, February 25, 2008 - 04:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

My first real road bike was a 76 Ironhead Sporty and I have owned Evo Sportys, Big Twins and have built Shovel and Evo choppers but when I got my first Buell I was hooked. I now have three Buells. I still really like Harleys (Shovels and early Evos) but it is the small percentage of people that are buying them to make a statement or to look cool that are the first ones to criticize someone else for what they ride. The guys and gals that have been riding for a while know the drill and get it. It is not what you ride but the fact that you ride at all is what counts. I have had people criticize my Sporty, Chopper and Electra Glide. It does not matter to me, everyone rides what they want to. The only comment that has really got under my skin was; when are you going to get a real bike? Says the so called biker on his over priced Softtail, chromed with every ride to live crap offered, temp tags, brand new leather chaps and no helmet.

This weekend my GF (she rides a Sporty) and I stopped at a bike friendly watering hole in Colorado Springs. There were several bikes owned by one of the local Motorcycle Clubs out front. Since I happen to know one of the members and we chatted. Two of the newer members went out to smoke and were looking at my XB12R when I came out. Both were young guys in their late 20s, and they wanted to talk about Buells. Both were aware of Buell and I fielded their questions the best I could. We actually talked a lot about the 1125r, fuel in frame, oil in swingarm, comfort etc. Then they asked me a question I had never heard; when I told them I owned three Buells they asked; What is it about riding a Buell do you like the most?

Great question, I had to pause, no one has ever asked me that before. I told them there are a lot of things I like about Buells. The Buell brand is about as common now as Harleys were when I started riding them in the late 70s. I guess I do not like being mainstream but I knew at that time that whenever I came across another Harley rider we were going to have fun and something to talk about. My Buells have the character that my old Harleys had. I need to work on my tubers but that is part of what it is about for me. There is not a time when I see another Buell rider that we don’t have something to talk about. They asked me to join them on a ride out East and hit some mildly challenging roads. They let me lead them through the corners at a high rate of speed. They were believers after that. I told them I kept my Harleys for a long time after I got my first Buell but I just decided they were not the brand for me anymore, for a variety of reasons, but I still ride with a lot of Harley riders. They do not ride with me because I ride a Buell and I do not ride with them because they ride a Harley. I ride with them because I trust them and they trust me. After all isn’t that what being on a bike on in a club is all about?

As far as the dealer issue. I think we are stuck with this situation for the foreseeable future. There are two options, 1) Try to make the Buell dealers better if they are not already or 2) don’t. Complaining about something we cannot change is going to do very little.

There are good and bad dealers. I have been working with our local dealer for six months and finally started making a little progress. It is very much personality dependent. They are out to make a buck like everyone else but if I can add a little to the Buell experience I am all for it. It is not the guy on the sales floor fault for not having the time to research every thing we Buell riders know about Buells. However, I would rather talk to someone that tells me he does not know something than someone that will make up some crap just to get a sale. I think most people can see through this. It has taken me a long time to get the dealership to trust our local Buell group and even longer for the Buell riders to actually set foot in the dealership. We are not there yet but the point is I would rather be part of the solution than part of the problem. Believe me there is still a lot of Bad Blood in both camps but as people rotate it gets easier to make forward progress. I went to the dealer to see if they had a part for my S1 and was asked “who makes a S1?” Like I said I have a ways to go.

Imagine if a dealerships allocation of bikes were based on how many of the previous year bikes were serviced at that dealership.

Just my 2 cents.

Frank
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Torquemonster
Posted on Monday, February 25, 2008 - 05:50 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I must be a pretty lucky guy...
None of my friends (hogs, ricers, etc.) see brand name as an issue, and the Buell staff at Pensacola Buell/HD is on top of their game.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Firebolt32
Posted on Monday, February 25, 2008 - 07:17 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

No matter what they think...Buell runs a Harley Engine. They have to respect that.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Buellrider11960
Posted on Monday, February 25, 2008 - 07:26 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

i don't care what anyone says about my buells, i bought them because I LIKE THEM AND I PAID FOR THEM.so if anyone thinks i should ride something different you buy it for me and i'll gladly ride it. till then you ride what like i'll do the same. different riders=different rides i'm just glad that we agree half the wheels twice the fun
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Cataract2
Posted on Monday, February 25, 2008 - 09:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I get a little razed. I raze back.

Heck, my father just got a 103" big bore (I know it was big, might be wrong on the size) done to his 03 Wide Glide. Now he says he'll take any Buell on the street (jokingly of course). I just said I'll take him on that bet. When I'm down there this summer I'll be buying an 1125R. So, he can bring it. I did ask. Would he like me to have a handicap? I'll race him on one wheel.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Eicas
Posted on Monday, February 25, 2008 - 10:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Most of the Harley guys I come across treat me nice - lots of respect, but they really do not want to ride with me.

That makes sense, different riding style.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Firebolt32
Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 09:20 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I'm the only Buell amongst 8 other Harley's when we ride together. I get razed a bit, but they keep me from doing 110 on the interstate. On the other hand, I always tell them my girl looks better on my bike than their's do on their bikes.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Kyrocket
Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 12:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I'm getting in on the thread kinda late here and have enjoyed reading up on it. I ride with Harleys, Kawasakis, Suzukis, Triumphs, Hondas, and whatever else someone wants to bring. We all give each other a hard time no matter what they're riding but that's just the camaraderie of riding and brotherhood. I get the most respect from my crowd because I rode with them to Florida and back on my X1 and was the only streetfighter of the bunch.
The only problem, if you want to call it that, that I've had from the general public came soon after I got it in 2000. A friend and I were riding in town, he owned a 2000 Road Star at the time and we ran into some acquaintances of his. This young kid started to badmouth my Buell saying they were too heavy. I have the carbon edition so it's just over 400 lbs. I told him this little fact and he said his was only 250 lbs. My buddy jumped in and laughingly said what is it a 250 and he said it was. We all started laughing at that point and he just hung his head and shut up. Poor kid.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Cityxslicker
Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 01:29 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

They have no f'n idea what to think about a dirty bike that gets more use and abuse than their 4x4 (I swear most of them that drive the big trucks never even engage the four wheel drive) If I cared what everyone thought about what I do, I would never do anything because I am sure somebody somewhere would have angst to it. So I dont pay attention. And the chrome couch cowboys, well to each their own ;)
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Xb12mel
Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 01:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I only get the crazy looks when I ask for Buell Stuff from the Harley Dealers! Even if they do have HD/Buell Signs out front!

Really though, my Dad and all his buddies are "Harley" Guys and I hear him defending me and my choice to them all the time. (Makes me proud) but on the road, all I get is respect and lots of times they pull up beside me and want to start a conversation about the "Trilogy" stuff. I've even got ricers pulling up to me to look at the bike. I think anyone who has ever put an additional two grand into their bikes just to make it "unique" really shows an appreciation for my Lightening.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Hdbobwithabuell
Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 01:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I don't own a Harley anymore but when I did, I treated myself like crap just for owning a Buell. Once I rode the Buell to get all you can eat chicken wings knowing that it will eventually kill me. I also force myself to drink large amounts of beer just to keep the Harley look going.

Also, I will NOT wave at myself when on a Buell.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Kmfw160
Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 02:23 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

LMAO
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Buellinachinashop
Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 06:50 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

"when are you gonna get a real Harley, lol?"

When I hear that question all I say is.."When Harley decides to build a bike that I can lean more than 10° on and not scrape pipes and baggage."
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Ft_bstrd
Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 07:25 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

The Harley Riders I know treat me very well.


They are quite proficient at filling my teeth, scoping my knee, and preparing my legal documents in a timely manner.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Ft_bstrd
Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 07:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Or you could just show 'em your O face.



Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Cycleaddict
Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 07:54 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

what does a "Harley guy" look like ?? (oh, you must mean those guys wearing their "Harley costumes") how do "i" treat them ? just like any other human being !(momma always said .... if you play with shit , your gonna git some on ya !!!)
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Snakedriver
Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 08:50 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Im still not hip with the whole H-D engine thing. There is what, like 3 parts in the engine that are same as a Sporty. My bike is not a H-D. Its a Buell. Kinda like a Shelby Cobra is not a Ford. I dont think that the 427 in that Cobra had much in common with a "Ford" 427.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Johnnylunchbox
Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 10:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

The Harley Riders I know treat me very well.
They are quite proficient at filling my teeth, scoping my knee, and preparing my legal documents in a timely manner.


I like to refer to these guys as Hells Accountants.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Ft_bstrd
Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 10:30 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

They are true 1%ers.


Top 1% of the income scale. : D
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Paint_shaker
Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 09:50 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I treat Harley riders pretty decent. I let them ride with me, slow down so they can keep up and what not. I even let them park next to me when I stop!! LOL
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Stretchman
Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 08:07 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I own both. The real truth is that I am skitzo. So, when I am riding one of them, I don't think about the other.

Weird. I would never be able to make up my mind if I had to choose. But man, I love my new Softail, and having the Buell back with a decent battery, well, let's just say it has some 'package' to it now.

Love them both. For different reasons.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Cityxslicker
Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 08:54 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Dr Jekyll, Mr Hyde : XB9SX, XL883R Which is the evil split personality ? ;)
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Paint_shaker
Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 09:00 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Oh yeah... I have a 98 S1W, an 08 XB12R and an 02 sporty 883 Hugger... hehehehe
« Previous Next »

Topics | Last Day | Tree View | Search | User List | Help/Instructions | Rules | Program Credits Administration