"Oh! You don't ride a Harley", she asked.....

[LonestaRR]

Picture the scene: Late Tuesday afternoon in a convience store near Tucson.

Me--Wearing not so clean Savanah II red jacket, faded jeans and carrying a white shorty helmet. Face is windburned and hair is a mess. I'm reaching into cooler for a bottle of water.

She--Very attractive, forty something, nice slim build, seems very friendly and no wedding ring.

She--breathlessly says.."So, do you ride a Road King, Ultra Glide....you look like you have lot's of money"?

Me--"I'm on a BMW Roadster today". "I also ride a Gold Wing".

She--"Oh, you don't ride a Harley?"

Me--"Uh, no" "But I'm thinking of getting one". (BIG lie)

She--Turns and walks away.

What is it with these women and their love for Harley Davidson Motor Company?

Ed..

This is what it is.......for me anyway.

[wncbmw]

Inspired by CupOHemlock's story, I have to say, HD riders are not the only culprits on the group-rides issues he describes. On one of my rides to Nova Scotia, I met a local rider near the famous Cabot Trail. He said he had never made it completely around the whole trail. And he lived on it! It's only 105 miles in total!

Seems he only rode in large groups and someone was always stopping to put on or take off a jacket, light a smoke, fix a bike, etc. I politely suggested that he take off by himself one day and ride one of the world's best known rides!

[JCsman]

This is what it is.......for me anyway.

Why do I suspect the bike is not the primary attraction?

[new2BMW]

What is it with these women and their love for Harley Davidson Motor Company?

I think we could just shorten that to;

"What is is with women?"

I don't understand much of what they do, say or think. No complaints though. I'm sure it works both ways.

As for HD riders, it is a shame that some of you have the impressions that you do.

Growing up a lower middle class dirt bike freak, I was always in a constant struggle to come up with the money to keep my bikes running. A group of HD riders from my neighborhood were always very good to me.
When I needed some maintenance that I couldn't handle, these guys would do it for the price of a few beers. In fact, they would have done it anyway, I just threw in the beers.

I owe these guys a lot now that I think about it. They taught me a lot about how motorcycling brings people together on a level that many non-riders can't understand.

Over a 6 or 7 year period in the 70's, these guys:
Painted my bikes more than a few times.
Rebuilt my engines a few times.
Tuned my bikes when I got frustrated with the learning curve.
Helped me to extract broken bolts.
Changed flat tires.
Gave me too much to drink.
Let me sleep on their couch when I had too much to drink.
and many other little bike related help.

All of this for the price of a few beers, some conversation and learning what it means to have a kinship with someone just because you have some of the same interests in life.

I returned the favors when I started work in a machine shop and had access to parts fabrication.

By the way, most of these guys didn't own cars. Their bikes were their transportation.

Did they make Jap bike jokes? Sure.
I gave back my share too. I remember handing my friend a small handful of bolts and nuts claiming I found them in the driveway. Three or four of the guys spent ten minutes checking their bikes for missing parts. It was all in fun and everyone knew it.

In the end, I believe people are people. We all have little quirks and most of us do things we like to do just because we like to. I am of the school where if you don't like or want something, don't buy it or do it, but you don't have to criticize another's decision to do what he wants to.

To this day when I go back to the old neighborhood, I stop by and say hello to Mike and Sal, the two brothers who made me realize that a motorcycle is more than just a machine.

[Beemeridian]

updated

[new2BMW]

Yellowjacket. No doubt there are some freaks out there riding HD (or standing by them anyway.) My only point is that stereotyping a person because of a product that person owns is BS. I've met some pretty stuck up, and very dingle BMW riders, but I don't blame the product.

but I have never seen a BMW owner debase another make for the makes sake.

There are many comments here on this board that fit that description. Look at the other thread here in "off topic" about the guy who walked into the HD shop and drilled the sales guy about hp numbers. What is that all about? He already knew that hd didn't have a lot of power. If he doesn't like a product, he shouldn't buy one, but wasting so much time and effort first looking, ridiculing and then writing about it seems more like the inferiority complex you mentioned. Some people just can't stand that other people like something that they don't.

[fnfalman]

Once upon a time the majority; if not all, of the HD riders were serious riders. But that was once upon a time. Nowadays the majority of HD riders are a joke to the cycle world.

[owldaddy]

This thread reminds me of some contact I once had with a bunch of hard core bikers, all on HD's. Living in Livermore Ca, at that time I used to ride my Suzuki GS750 through the Old Altimont Pass often. Those who have done this ride, know why I would do it often, it is a nice piece of road, with a lot of high speed turns, and some tight twisties, at least it was in those days, they have since removed a couple bridges, and striaghtened out a few turns. Anyway.... I was cruising along at a good pace, when I come upon a rider on the side of the road, with a broken HD. I stopped to ask if I could help. He was a bit offput by me actually. There I was on a Jap bike, and he was in need of help, but to proud to ask for it. Just as I was about to get back on my bike, he asked me if I knew where Mountain House was. I did indeed, it is a biker hang out on the east side of the Pass, and on this day there was a BBQ going on. He asked me to find Mulie, and tell him Snake needed a master link, and some compressed air for a flat tire. So I put my helmet back on, and rode the couple miles to Mountain House, finding a large party going on when I got there. I started asking around for Mulie, no one seemed to know who I was talking about. after a couple minutes of this, a very large man, about the size of a mule walked up to me. Asked in a very loud voice, and in a threating manner "Who is looking for Mulie, who Mulie doesn't know?" I'm sure these guys thought I was working DEA or some other law enforcement agency. I just told this hugh guy, that Snake was stuck up on the Pass, and if he should see Mulie, he might give him the message. Well, that was all he needed to know, he laughed loudly and offered me a beer. A couple of the guys who were close by and overheard the conversation loosened up and offered me something to eat as well as a beer, I even got compliments on how clean my "Suzi" was. I didn't stick around long, just enough time to have a brew, then hit the road. I have to say, these guys and gals really knew how to party. I felt welcome, after the first few tense minutes. 25 years ago, when this happened, I was a partying fool, I may have missed an oppertunity to change life styles I am sure I would have ended up divorced much earlier in life if I had. That wouldn't have been such a bad deal now that I think about it.

Don

[ebiker]

Look at the other thread here in "off topic" about the guy who walked into the HD shop and drilled the sales guy about hp numbers. What is that all about? He already knew that hd didn't have a lot of power. If he doesn't like a product, he shouldn't buy one, but wasting so much time and effort first looking, ridiculing and then writing about it seems more like the inferiority complex you mentioned. Some people just can't stand that other people like something that they don't.

Ooh, found a bug in your wheaties?? Shorts on too tight?? And YOU said you won't flame me. You lied!!

Read my earlier post where I said I like Harley Davidson motorcycles. I once owned a Harley. My issue with the Motor Company is requiring the customers output of more cash to up the power to weight ratio on the touring bikes--those 700-800LB machines with the old pushrod aircooled motor. The Ultra Glide MSRP is about $20,000. For that price the customer deserves a machine from the factory that will get out of harms way when needed and not have to dump an additional $2K in motor upgrades. The motor company earns a substantual profit each year for the accessory goodies line, so I see the money for new technology as available.

As far as wasting my time and effort.....I'm retired. I have plenty of time and talking with salesmen isn't really an effort for me.

By the way, Honda's GL1800 is a fine motorcycle.

Ed..

[sjbmw]

That is not so far fetched. Before I bought a R1150R I went to all kinds of dealers, looking at bikes. My buddies had HD, so I went to look at those also.

The Dyna had a sticker on it of 16,250 USD. I started asking about out the door costs and the salesman told me that I would want to get the Stage I kit for $2k more. I had no idea what he was talking about. It was a performance upgrade! There was another guy standing there also, and when I said I was not sure I wanted that option he said:

"Get it, or you will be back in a month for it.", and the salesman concurred.

I then asked what must have seemed a stupid question:
"Why doesn't the bike come with it stock if it's so necessary?"

Silence.

[new2BMW]

Ed;
That is hardly a flame unless you are offended by "If you don7t like it, don't buy it". I don't remember saying that I wouldn't flame you anyway, although I won't.

BTW. I am the first guyt o say that the HD products are way underpowered, expensive and have horrible brakes. Tis has nothing to do with my point, which is, stereotyping people limits your horizons. I know a lot of really nice people who ride HD because they like them. They are not rude to me, arogant or anything else negative. In fact, many of them like to ask a lot of questions since I've been riding for 30 years.

Anyway, you guys can have this thread. It isn't worth debating a subject when opinions become beliefs.

Cheers,
Jeff

[ebiker]

Ed;
That is hardly a flame unless you are offended by "If you don7t like it, don't buy it". I don't remember saying that I wouldn't flame you anyway, although I won't.

I wasn't offended, Jeff....I was just teasing you bro! I certainly do value your opinion.

Ed..

[yjleesvrr]

SJ - I got my stage 1 kit for 300 bucks installed by the dealer. The dealer you spoke with must be seriously gouging its customers.

[sjbmw]

SJ - I got my stage 1 kit for 300 bucks installed by the dealer. The dealer you spoke with must be seriously gouging its customers.

All more reason for it to be a stock item.

[yjleesvrr]

I agree. With the stage 1 kit, my Dyna's acceleration is actually pretty good. Of course, I got a Dyna Glide Sport because it weighs less than most of the other big HDs. But compared to my Roadster or SV, it is slower.

[sjbmw]

That's the bike I wanted. Great looking machine. But after crunching numbers, I just could not justify the costs.

[yjleesvrr]

SJ - I got mine for less than 17k, which is to say for retail. True, dollar for dollar it doesn't hold a candle to the Roadster. But it's the only traditional Harley I wanted considering the rest of the line can't handle nearly as well as the Dyna Glide Sport. I enjoy it quite a bit. The rest of the Harley air-cooled models leave me cold. The Street Rod and the V-Rod are the only other Harleys I like.

[Tripton]

A bunch of m buddies are Harley guys, and we switch bikes fairly regularly. The Harleys really do ride pretty nice, and they say the same about my bike, but most of them are Hrley guys....and probably wont own anything else.

That being said, my Harley friendsmust be an exception. They have ridden MANY kindsof bikes, and just find that they like the HDs. Not sure why, but i am sure that American pride has something to do with it.

One guy has a Victory Vegas, and it is pretty sweet as well. I am supposed to ride it, but have not ahd the chance to do so. The others say that it is execptionally smooth for a giant V-twin.

Oh, my HD friends use their bikes as primary transportation too. If the weather is ok...and that is a relative term...they will ride to wherever they have to be. They are not in the 2000 mile or less club like a LOT of HD riders that I know.

I would actually have to say that most of the hardcore riders that I know, that ride in crappy weather and the like are all on HDs, and for the most part, have had good luck with them, reliability wise.

The one friend that sticks out in my mind rode his Night Train to New Orleans, and stopped once along the way to sleep hunched over ON HIS BIKE for an HOUR, fired up and went the rest. Same guy flew to Connecticut to get his new Road King, and rode it back to Iowa, only stopping for gas! Dont know if I could do that or not...

[Tripton]

A bunch of m buddies are Harley guys, and we switch bikes fairly regularly. The Harleys really do ride pretty nice, and they say the same about my bike, but most of them are Hrley guys....and probably wont own anything else.

That being said, my Harley friendsmust be an exception. They have ridden MANY kindsof bikes, and just find that they like the HDs. Not sure why, but i am sure that American pride has something to do with it.

One guy has a Victory Vegas, and it is pretty sweet as well. I am supposed to ride it, but have not ahd the chance to do so. The others say that it is execptionally smooth for a giant V-twin.

Oh, my HD friends use their bikes as primary transportation too. If the weather is ok...and that is a relative term...they will ride to wherever they have to be. They are not in the 2000 mile or less club like a LOT of HD riders that I know.

I would actually have to say that most of the hardcore riders that I know, that ride in crappy weather and the like are all on HDs, and for the most part, have had good luck with them, reliability wise.

The one friend that sticks out in my mind rode his Night Train to New Orleans, and stopped once along the way to sleep hunched over ON HIS BIKE for an HOUR, fired up and went the rest. Same guy flew to Connecticut to get his new Road King, and rode it back to Iowa, only stopping for gas! Dont know if I could do that or not...