I'm not gonna lie I used to be a harley basher.I love sportbikes period.My dad is a 47 year old x navy seal.320 lbs guy.He rides on his harley alot until recently.He has cancer and they removed 95% of his calf muscle and his (akeleese) spell check tendon.He cant ride right now and hasn't rode his bike in like 6 months.Well a few weeks ago he begged me to take his baby for a ride cause she's been in the garage awhile.I would't ride her cause I hate harleys.Well finaly he talked me into riding her to loosen her up.So I get on this hunk of metal I so hate and ride her.Well long story short I fell in love with her 10 mins after riding her.If I ever do decide to buy a harley it will be like his.The ride was soooooo smooth and comfortable.So I will now never bash another harley.T each his own

 

I guess if you were to look at my previous post on this subject, it is not really the bike, it is the attitude. Yes, in my garage there is a Goldwing and old 1973 Honda 750. They all have a purpose and place. I want to go on a long ride, it will be the 'Wing, for a open hair in your face putt, it will be the CB750, if I feel aggressive, it will be the CBR. I year ago, if asked what I rode to boil off some steam, I would have said the Honda XR. Man, I miss that bike.....

 

I'm not a Harley basher, but a snob basher. They can be on a Harley, BMW, Goldwing or Sportbike.

I get it all the time from both sides. I ride a Goldwing and a 1KRR. When I'm on the Wing, I get it from Harley's and younger guys on sportbikes. When I'm on the 1KRR, I get it from Harleys, and older guys on Wings and BMW's and such.

No brand has a corner on the ******* market, ******** ride all kinds of bikes.

 

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I don't get how bikers seem to WANT to seperate themselves into groups !? I don't bother to wave at a harley/chopper cuz i know i won't get one in return. From his pov, i might just be a sportbike riding a/hole. Talk to a harley driver about cellphone driving idiots for a min or two, and they don't seem all that different to me. Does suck that we can't seem to build a bike, or a car for that matter that can really compete w/honda. Love the fact that i can go buy one of the fastest machines on the steet for under 10K tho !!! WEEEEE !!

I have met a few harley guys who road sport bikes back in the day. Perspectives change. I'm pretty sure i won't be on a 1krr when i'm 60.

 

I find myself bashing Harleys on a semi-regular basis. The thing is, I bash my friends who are on Harleys and my firends with a lot of Harley T-shirts (no bike to be had...snicker, snicker). I like what Father FatGuy has to say on the topic. There are miserable polesmokers on every style of bike...it is the attitude that is a pisser. In my part of the world (Southern Oregon), we have more coffee houses per capita than any other state in the union. One in particular, is a stopping point for numerous "enthusiasts". Everytime I have been there, and spent time talking to the Harley guys, I've enjoyed my conversations. One guy even offered me a cigar (a nice Punch in fact), and we talked about the differences and similarities. Also, my wife manages a very popular sports pub, that collects every motorcycle that travels Hwy 199 to the Oregon Coast, so again I have the occasion to talk to the guys on other rides. I still enjoy bashing on the Harley guys, though, I just can't help it. The two or three negative encounters with them seem to stick in my mind more than the possitive, but I think that is just human nature. I just think of Harley riders as tribal tattoos, or the old barbed wire around the bicept routine. Everyone who gets one must have a spiritual reason for it, but it still makes me roll my eyes.

 

Wait -- you mean you don't approve of my barbed-wire tattoo on my bicep?????


How about dwhite's barbed-wire tattoo on his neck? (if you don't get that one, you don't read the forum enough)

 

I'm sure Dwite's barbed wire incident DID caused a spiritual revelation (namely steadfast faith in the wearing of appropriate safety gear). As far as your tattoos, I'll be impressed if you get the tattoo of a snake on your *****. My boss sent me a picture of such a tattoo and I wasn't sure whether to be sickened, amazed, or curl up in the fetal possition just thinking about it!

 

Some people need to bash what they don't have to make themselves feel more secure in their choice. Same battle between Ford or Chevy drivers, they like to bash the opposite to feel superior and more secure in their choice.

 

Man, all I know, is when you're on two wheels and you see another cat rolling on two wheels go by you...

You need to throw the low five because that guy isn't riding to get from point A to point B, he's riding because he loves it.

Same reason you ride. No need for snobs, man.

That being said, I won't listen to a HD owner talk about quality or performance.

 

Yup I Harley Bash, but only to those I know. Usually about their Harleys, they reciprocate and Bash my "riceburner". Then we go for a ride and it does not matter because we are all doing something that we love. RIDING, each in our own way. Laid back like a monkey. Crouched overa tank. Sitting with perfect posture. and everything in between. 15hp-200hp isn't it all about having fun? If that guy has fun with his 35k rattletrap who am I to take it from him.
Ihappen to agree with the rant in the begining, but seriously who am I to kill their percieved joy?
I'll let any H-D rider who asks ride my bike, because I know they will get the idea after a few turns around the block. Those few minutes will change how they look at our bikes, and you know give thier bike a whirl in return, its respect. You might not like it. Then again you might, personally I like cruisers, don't own one but I see the reason for them.
That said the Harley image is quite a crappy one. Most of them are too "BAD" to wave, and I wave to everybody(well maybe not squids on scooters, but all real bikes). SO, the only a-holes and snobs are the ones who do not return that greeting, imo.
thx
Rant done.