They've all got these 'rebel' sew on patches on their denims - that they've probably got their mother to sew on - saying things like 'Doesn't play well with others' and 'loud pipes save lives'... why not 'Plays well with others, especially females', and 'loud pipes cause premature deafness'?
Not too bad out my way - manage more nods than not on a ride-out generally. To be fair, I've never had a HD rider sitting six inches off my rear tyre, or had one at speed closing on me (on the wrong side of the road as they exceed their riding ability), or seen one go for dangerous overtake after dangerous overtake as they demonstrate their "mad riding skills" A missing nod here or there is far more welcome than any of the above "Sports" rider tendencies!
I don't think you can tar everyone with the same brush when it comes to bikes and the type of person who rides them. A ignorant person is an ignorant person regardless of what they prefer to ride. For the record a couple of previous bikes I have owned, loved and rode hard everywhere, even my little 1200 special which seemed to want to wheelie everywhere blew up in the end!!! lol...
Well I have to say, as much as I hate how Harley Riders dress I'm sure they have a few things to say about us leather clad bunch. As for engineering...........my Triumph has had more problems than the Harley did. I'm no mechanic though so that's based on experience rather than technical know how. My biking experience is all back to front. I actually started on a Harley. 1200 Nightster had a retro look I like and still do. Not into most of what they produce but not dead against it either. A bike is a bike in my eyes and if it gives you the sense of freedom and adventure we are all after then who cares. I nod at them and some nod back and some don't but no more than any others. I'll even nod at scooters! Lol So yeah, Harley to Street Triple to Daytona and now getting a KTM 250! Although it's looking like I might be holding onto the Daytona at the moment too which is great news! So, no bad feelings from me.........but I won't be going back.
One Harley I really do like is the XR1200 - looks an awesome bike and they race them too.....saw the film Wild Hogs the other day, recommend it for some light viewing, pretty funny and says it all.... http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0486946/
no offense intended frankie/ozzer can i have a lend of yer leather waistcoats if youre not using them anymore?
B***ard! I must admit, I do look back now and think why! But I loved that bike when I had it and it was my first. I still like the look of it to a degree. I used to work at a place where the guy had 5-6 of them and when I worked in the office he would tinker and rev them up etc and them store there. That got me into bikes so when redundancy came.......that was it. I bought the bike and toured Europe 3 months later on it. I suppose I have a lot to thank them for. And if ever I do America on a bike I'm sorry but it will probably be on a Harley. Be rude not to! And yeah.........waistcoat is in the post........along with my skull and crossbones bandana and flip front helmet with accompanying boom microphone! And just to lose any last bit of street cred I may have had.......here's the bike:
quality mate i rode an enfield bullet round india and nepal circa 2000 and the first thing i fitted was a set of drop handlebars so i can understand the comfort side of things with the harleys, its just the bad muzzy and face like a slapped arse that i struggle to get my head round but yeh youre dead right, a bikes a bike and we're all one big happy family so i suppose i should learn to be a bit more accepting of our hairier compatriots
I don't personally want one, they are too often ridden by fat knackers (acknowledgements to GMF) or gays, but I had a Thunderbird Storm for a day and can see what the cruiser thing is about. Not my choice but no animosity. I fear the lack of nods may be because they feel they should be "bad-ass Mo'f*ckers" sort of Romford outlaws...
I had a Bonneville as a Demo not so long ago and had loads of fun on it. The thing cornered great. Jeez though........it was heavy! They had given it me without tax too so they brought a Street Triple out and swapped it. Then I remembered what fun really is!
I think for many, they are not just buying a bike, they are buying a lifestyle...I regularly ride to Cook's Corner, a notorious HD hangout...on any Sunday there'll be upwards of 200 HD's, and maybe a half-dozen or so sportbikes...no-one ever gives me grief, and I've only ever once heard a disparaging remark, made by a woman whose size no doubt proposed a serious challenge to her bike engine's ability to provide forward movement at anything above walking pace. Some couldn't care less about sportbikes, some love Triumph - like one guy last week who was gushing over mine...simply LOVED it. Out on the road it can be different, and a different attitude seems to prevail....when driving and moving over for a biker, it's rare for me not to get an acknowledgement of some kind from a sport rider, yet I can count on one hand how many times I've received the same courtesy from a cruiser rider....odd.
I agree with you there. I just keep nodding because I'd hate to pass a Harley who nodded and I didn't.
one of the reasons HD riders dont nod back is because they are too busy trying not to fall off. Imean have you tried one? the brakes are made of wood, the engine is weak. nxt time you pass one and look at the fear in his eyes
PS Wave constantly at everyone. Funny to see the looks of surprise. PPS The 675 is for sale and I'm keeping the Harley.
I think most of them are probably looking at their bike and yours thinking 'Wow! Why didn't I get a Daytona instead?!'
