Author Topic: I taught her right - Wife encounters Harley OWNER (Read 5046 times)

ElCheapo · « **on:** July 26, 2006, 07:48:37 PM »

Well today at work my wife had an encounter with an "Anti-Jap Crap" Harley OWNER. I don't know what all he said to her, but was basically Harley's are the only bike and all that usual crap. He said something like "I would own a vintage bike but they break down all the time"

Gears turning in my wife's head.

She comes back with....... my husband rides his 30 year old vintage Honda everyday and he has no breakdowns - ever. As a matter of fact we went on two rides with his uncle who was on a brand new Harley Road Glide, both times his uncle had to ride #$%* home.

She said he has had that thing in the shop 3 times in the last two months that he has owned it. (this thing has 1,500 miles on it)

The she went on to inform this fool that in the 70's Harley was so threatened by the 750 bikes out of Japan that they used and abused their political muscle to create unfair tariffs and taxation of larger imported bikes forcing an unfair advantage domestically to Harley. She too finds funny in the # of cylinders = manhood. She explained this but not in as many words. She said that Honda broke the motorcycle history in half by introducing the first 4 cylinder bike to the us. So everything before this is pre-four cylinder and everything else is after Honda's four cylinder, which also introduced racing technology with being the first production bike with a disc brake front. Along with bringing technology to the front that is still winning Moto GP races.

She closed it out with "more is better right?" In his big boasty and deep gruff voice he goes "well, yea". Then why does your bike only have 2 cylinders?"

BTW I have cranked out 5,000 miles on that fresh race motor from this spring and have done NOTHING to it since I dropped it in outside of changing oil.

cbjunkie · « **Reply #1 on:** July 26, 2006, 07:50:27 PM »

keep her.

ElCheapo · « **Reply #2 on:** July 26, 2006, 07:52:04 PM »

I will

I guess I should be at home and not at the shop at this late hour.

seaweb11 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 26, 2006, 07:59:24 PM »

Had a HD rider park next to me on the ferry yesterday. After trying 3 times to back it against the curb bar at the front of the ferry he gets off and says to me.

"Man, a friend of mine had one of those back in the 70s and it was the best bike ever"

I calmly replied that they still are

ElCheapo · « **Reply #4 on:** July 26, 2006, 08:05:00 PM »

Quote from: seaweb11 on July 26, 2006, 07:59:24 PM

"Man, a friend of mine had one of those back in the 70s and it was the best bike ever"

I calmly replied that they still are

You got that right.

cbjunkie · « **Reply #5 on:** July 26, 2006, 08:06:44 PM »

i rode my bicycle to a local watering hole for a quick beer the other night...outside at the curb is parked a brand-new 2006 Softail, all chrome with blue LED lights interspersed around and left on for all to admire...the owner sitting right at the edge of the patio near the bike, the better to get rocks off over comments, i guess...

further over, parked in the shadows on the sidewalk a trim little 450, mostly stock and obviously well cared for - so, i go over to the harley guy and say, "hey man, do you know who rides that 450?" - and he says, "naw...but i know who rides a softtail..." - and i say, "yeah, i've seen those." and walk off...

so i found the 450 owner and we talked shop for about 1hr and a half, and i rode home and got the black pearl and came roaring back, parked next to the 450 and kept talking some more...

about 45 seconds after I rode up the harley guy goes stomping off, hops on his hog and screams away! waaaah...nobody loves me!!!

ElCheapo · « **Reply #6 on:** July 26, 2006, 08:10:09 PM »

Funny at the show there was a guy with a 01 softtail. It was supposed to have flames on it but from about 10 feet it just looked like little Jesus fish?

angeldeville · « **Reply #7 on:** July 26, 2006, 08:23:54 PM »

Does your wife have a sister?

ElCheapo · « **Reply #8 on:** July 26, 2006, 08:32:33 PM »

Quote from: angelpena on July 26, 2006, 08:23:54 PM

Does your wife have a sister?

Yea but she does not dig bikes.

angeldeville · « **Reply #9 on:** July 26, 2006, 08:38:53 PM »

Dammit! the good ones are always taken....

ElCheapo · « **Reply #10 on:** July 27, 2006, 08:25:00 AM »

What's more she has incredible taste in vintage bikes. She has picked out the 1940's Indians as her choice. I think I need 3 more jobs.

Anyone want to buy a kidney?

One of many on ebay she was looking at. She wants us to "build" one similar

OooBoy I have my work cut out for me. She would also like that matching lowered, chopped, narrowed and channelled 48 Merc to go with it

LOL She has expensive taste.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1948-Indain-Chief-AACA-Junior-Senior-Show-Bike-MINT_W0QQitemZ320006025583QQihZ011QQcategoryZ6709QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

StevieMac · « **Reply #11 on:** July 27, 2006, 08:39:07 AM »

Great story! She is indeed a keeper. I just sent this post to my wife and she absolutely loved it.

She's had her share of "Harley guy" encounters herself. I think she'll be using/stealing a few of your wife's comments for future encounters

ElCheapo · « **Reply #12 on:** July 27, 2006, 08:42:51 AM »

Quote from: StevieMac on July 27, 2006, 08:39:07 AM

Great story! She is indeed a keeper. I just sent this post to my wife and she absolutely loved it.

She's had her share of "Harley guy" encounters herself. I think she'll be using/stealing a few of your wife's comments for future encounters

You better hope she does not steal her taste in expensive vintage bikes......

Anyone want to buy two kidneys?

cbjunkie · « **Reply #13 on:** July 27, 2006, 10:01:22 AM »

INDIAN...

THOSE DAMN VALVE COVERS!!!

nickjtc · « **Reply #14 on:** July 27, 2006, 10:18:16 AM »

It's hard to get excited about any cruiser (Harley or metric) because there are just so many of them and apart from the non V-twin ones they all look just the same. So any owner who expects people (knowledgable or not) to drool over their ride must expect apathy...........seen one, seen them all!

Honda may be (or have been) the most prolific manufacturer in the world, but the reality is that even now you can own one of their bikes and ride for weeks without seeing another of the same type.

Hereabouts I would guess that half the bikes I see on the road (or on the back of a pickup truck.....ouch!......) are Harleys. Good for them for doing a fantastic marketing job to brainwash people that theirs is the only bike to own. I personally like to be on something a little less common.....

cbjunkie · « **Reply #15 on:** July 27, 2006, 10:27:28 AM »

c'mon man - there's no way you can look at that Indian and be bored...

nickjtc · « **Reply #16 on:** July 27, 2006, 12:36:14 PM »

....but by definition an Indian qualifies as a 'classic' bike and does not fall into the discussion about modern bikes. Not counting the recently demised 'clones' of course!

ElCheapo · « **Reply #17 on:** July 27, 2006, 01:28:50 PM »

Quote from: nickjtc on July 27, 2006, 12:36:14 PM

....but by definition an Indian qualifies as a 'classic' bike and does not fall into the discussion about modern bikes. Not counting the recently demised 'clones' of course!

What?

nickjtc · « **Reply #18 on:** July 28, 2006, 10:08:34 AM »

Quote from: ElCheapo on July 27, 2006, 01:28:50 PM

Quote from: nickjtc on July 27, 2006, 12:36:14 PM
....but by definition an Indian qualifies as a 'classic' bike and does not fall into the discussion about modern bikes. Not counting the recently demised 'clones' of course!
What?

Sorry, it was the beer talking. What I meant was: older 'original' (pre-50's) Indian = good; newer 'resurrected and recently defunct' Indian = less good, imho.

Chris Schneiter · « **Reply #19 on:** July 28, 2006, 10:49:19 AM »

Did Indian 4's have overhead Cams? I have a friend who has a 1940...maybe he could join us?

cbjunkie · « **Reply #20 on:** July 28, 2006, 01:31:42 PM »

Quote

Sorry, it was the beer talking. What I meant was: older 'original' (pre-50's) Indian = good; newer 'resurrected and recently defunct' Indian = less good, imho.

MAN! i thought so, but i wasn't gonna say anything... you and Gordon are the drunk typers...

now that i know what you mean i agree. my dad and i were talking about that same thing - i sent him that link and he just about wet himself - then he related a story to me about a dude he knew that had one of the "new" ones...said it just didn't feel right at all...

i wonder what the market is like for machining new parts for these bikes?

kslrr · « **Reply #21 on:** July 28, 2006, 02:04:22 PM »

Nice stories.

My wife also loves motorcylces, Harleys that is. I also enjoy riding our Harley Sportster with her on the back

and I also love the vintage Honda's as well. So what does that make me?

Klark Kent · « **Reply #22 on:** July 28, 2006, 02:17:58 PM »

a witch?

yes its a witch. definately a witch. burn him.

wait...

do you float?

-KK (not even drunk yet)

kslrr · « **Reply #23 on:** July 28, 2006, 02:32:51 PM »

Hmmm... Not yet sure how to reply to that....... $:-\$

Klark Kent · « **Reply #24 on:** July 28, 2006, 03:04:22 PM »

ok fine, i'll bite right:

it makes you an exception.

way to not be like the majority of morons and be able to appreciate the good things about various brands of motorcycle as opposed to latching onto any one for brand name sake alone. It's not the harley's we don't like (well, me anyway) its the pretencious pricks hanging onto the bars we can't stand. So you have nothing to fear here and a lot to gain in the way of moto-resources.
welcome

-KK (going to get drunk now)

Klark Kent · « **Reply #25 on:** July 28, 2006, 03:06:10 PM »

Oh and check out Monty Python and the Holy Grail. it's a great film. from the same guys who did spamalot.
-KK

DJ_AX · « **Reply #26 on:** July 28, 2006, 03:15:15 PM »

Here in the middle of West Detroit suburbia... I live right next to a park that has 20 miles of gently twisting 40mph road running through it. It's a really popular stretch for bikers to ride through on nice days. Seeing all the bikes that go through. 90% are Harleys, 8% were crotch rockets, scooters, or minibikes. and less than 2% (mine and one other I've seen) good old Honda SOHCs
As un-restored, un-polished, and scarred (but running like a champ!) as my 750 is, I always see heads turning wherever I go, and get comments wherever I stop. I just think it's hilarious as I've invested less than most of those other guys one payments. Or even less than any of thier new bikes visits to the shop.
Oh yeah and my wife's a keeper too! She appreciates it as much as I do, and encourages it.

Orcinus · « **Reply #27 on:** July 28, 2006, 07:07:28 PM »

I just returned this week to a job that I was working 4 years ago, they loaned me out and finally called me back. Just before I left, one of the guys bought a Yamaha Cruiser, now something like 12 out of my 20 coworkers are all riding Harleys or clones of one make or another. I can't tell the darn things apart. I'm sure looking forward to getting my F2 finished even though none of the guys understand. They all think I should run out and get something like they've got... I think the only one that understands is the original yamaha owner, and that's because he's my bike's PO. He let it go because he didn't have room for it and his new toy, but he's already told me that he's sorry that he let it go. It's gonna be interesting...

Gordon · « **Reply #28 on:** July 28, 2006, 07:23:03 PM »

Quote from: cbjunkie on July 28, 2006, 01:31:42 PM

MAN! i thought so, but i wasn't gonna say anything... you and Gordon are the drunk typers...

Hey now, how the Hell did I get dragged into this?
I check in on this thread after a couple of days and find my good name being sullied!

Sheesh! Now I have to go get another beer...

cbjunkie · « **Reply #29 on:** July 28, 2006, 07:30:05 PM »

hey man - you got a rep - s'all i'm sayin'...

nickjtc · « **Reply #30 on:** July 28, 2006, 09:24:19 PM »

Quote from: cbjunkie on July 28, 2006, 07:30:05 PM

hey man - you got a rep - s'all i'm sayin'...

I got a rep too, hic, and no one even knows me, burp........

Raul CB750K1 · « **Reply #31 on:** July 28, 2006, 09:39:19 PM »

Though having three old bikes, I would not mind to have a Sportster. I've tried and I think it's overpriced -those 8.500 euros are hard to swallow-, but it's the only Harley that could match my anatomy and my riding style and habits. And I would buy it not only because I like it, but also to shut some mouths off.

Being said that, I have to say that I have a lot of Harley T-shirts. Right now I'm working in Curitiba, Brazil, and one of the first things I did was to search on the internet for the Harley dealer, go there and buy a T-shirt where clearly specifies the city. Some people do it with Hard Rock Cafe t-shirts, I do it with Harley T-shirts. Back on your town it's a great way to brag about how cool you are- loving bikes and being a cosmopolitan man. Nahville, Vegas, SF, NY, Memphis, Madrid, Berlin, Munich and now Curitiba. Cool......

Raul

P.S. Cheapo, you really have a gift to start long-running posts.... ;-)

ElCheapo · « **Reply #32 on:** July 30, 2006, 05:55:17 PM »

Geeze Raul, I leave for two days, and this thread just went wild.. I am not anti-Harley. I am anti stupid. Stupid people ride Honda's too. Just look at me.

Anyway, my uncle goes to get his severly mal-functioning Road Glide from the shop. Still dies, still too lean, runs like crap. They say "The factory guys gave it the clean bill of health", He says "So you didn't fix it?" the respond again with "The factory guys gave it the clean bill of health". So the truth is they have no idea why thier BRAND NEW bike will not run correctly. Also might I add they somehow managed to burn out the radio (for the second time) in the bike during thier "Inspection".... The last burn out was during the install of the O.E. CB radio.

With less than 3,000 miles on it and $18,000 later you would think you would have a bike you did not have to fix. There are aftermarket fixes (including hand grenades) for these problems. Why should he have to fix a NEW bike? BTW - His Gold wing runs like a top.

So I say no matter what you ride or like, they are ALL crap at some time. If they were perfect we would not by newer bikes. No one brand is really all that much better than the other. Just a matter of preference. There are alot of cool Honda's out there I absolutely hate.

kslrr · « **Reply #33 on:** July 30, 2006, 07:24:48 PM »

Hey Klark, nice save.

And I love all of Monty Pythons stuff! Classic comedy like the classic bikes that we love. And thanks for the welcome.

News:

Author Topic: I taught her right - Wife encounters Harley OWNER (Read 5046 times)

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