Topic: Harley riders walk the walk

[Bankerdanny]

I did the Chicago Ride Now for Autism Speaks Sunday. This was the 3rd time I've done the ride, although the first time since I think 2008.

The ride was easily 1500 riders, the double line of bikes stretched for at least a mile down the road. Conservatively if there were 1500 riders, 1450 of them were riding Harley's. Walking the parking lot before and after the ride I saw a handful of Goldwings (all modern GL1800's), a few metric twins, two Indians (a Chief and a Scout), a few 6cyl BMW K's, a couple crotch rockets, 5 (!) Can Am Spyders, and various older Jap bikes like an 80's V65 Sabre, a Yamaha Seca 750, and of course my 550 (the only Honda SOHC4 I saw). Interestingly only 2 raked out choppers. Pretty much every bike was something you could ride more than 2-3 miles from home to the bar and back.

A certain amount of Harley bashing is common on the forum (although not a lot as quite a few members also own or have owned a Harley), but whenever there is a charity ride for pretty much anything the Harley folks show up in force. Literally 1000+ showed up and paid their $30 fee and bought merch to support this cause. Later this year even more will saddle up on a 40 degree day to ride for Toys For Tots. Around the country tens of thousands of Harley guys saddle up rain or shine to support pretty much every cause you can think of.

Why is it nobody else consistently does that? The GoldWing folks are probably 2nd, and it is a distant second. Where was Indian? They're an American bike company bragging about how they are older than Harley, which is technically true, but deeply misleading. Why don't I see Indian busting it's butt to get a piece of this action. These rides are a rolling Harley add. A demonstration of why Harley is a lifestyle, not just a fashion statement.

And where are my fellow vintage Jap bike owners? There is a national club with a large membership (although not me). Why isn't the VJMC more actively promoting rides and getting groups out?

It really disappoints me that I don't see more of my fellow SOHC4 members at events around Chicago. I go out of my way when I go to shows or rides to find SOHC4 bikes and as if people are members. Never once has anyone seen my bike and asked me if I was a member here.

I have been and am proud to be a member. This is a great group of people and I have learned a lot, received invaluable advice, and made a few friends. I see plenty of posts on this board about charity rides and local shows, so I know that plenty of others get out, but when it comes to stepping up as an owner group, in the US Harley is the undisputed heavyweight champ.

It's funny, when I watched Harley & The Davidsons I was amazed that according to this purportedly fact based serie, creating a community and a lifestyle was a goal from the very earliest days of the company. It was a truly visionary idea.

[BomberMann650]

I understand what you're sayin danny.
Last winters toy run was dominated by harley riders.  My little troupe of pals were mostly accepting of my lil bloo honda.  They all had ultra classics.
I'll be participating in the toy run again this year.
I'd do more charity runs if I had the means and the schedule lined up.  There are so many events in summer its possible to ride for a cause every weekend.  Sometimes twice!

DGR however, that's a cause that really hit me where it matters.

I've checked myself in twice when I was plannin on making an permanent exit.
The experience however, being committed with a plan like that.  Was much less than distinguished.  It pisses me off, the way doctors and mooks handle a fellow who is contemplating suicide.  If I wanted to be left alone in a small room with no clothing, i could have accomplished that at home and spared myself the invoice.  There needs to be major reform in hospital policy.  So a man can go discuss these dark ideas, with some fcukin dignity.

That's why I've suited up for DGR

[Bailgang]

Well said Danny and I can't argue with you one bit. My wife and I have only been on one charity ride and it too was easily 95% HD riders with a few metrics tossed in and mine being the only sohc bike there but that wasn't really a surprise to me because about 95% of the bikes I see around here are HD's or metric equivalents and I'm the only one around here that rides a 70's vintage Jap bike on a regular basis. I've come to find out I'm a bit of a local legend so to speak, when ever I talk to a fellow rider and tell them what I ride they say "Ah so you're the dude I see all the time riding that 750....." Also during the charity ride I got no hassle at all from the HD riders in fact I got compliments.

My problem with rides like that is simply I can't stand riding in formation, it's just too close for comfort for me. I like to keep a distance between me and anyone ahead of me whether it's a car or bike, the faster I'm moving the bigger the gap I like to keep and this became an issue during the charity ride because some were passing me (in my lane) to fill in that gap I had ahead of me. I understand the reason for formation riding, with a large group of riders you can't have everyone strung out all over keeping their distance from each other but formation riding is just to close for me. Next maybe I should just wait till I'm the last bike to pull out so I can keep all the distance I want.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Hate riding in groups and what I do for charity or to help my fellow man is NOBODY'S BUSINESS but mine.

[Dunk]

I don't care for the slow parade formation stuff. I somewhat regularly go on a weekly ride with a group of mostly vintage bike enthusiasts. It starts as a cruise night at a local spot, then a usually spirited group ride on some twisties and ends at a local pub to hang for a bit and disperse. I prefer early and late in the season when it's a smaller group. I used to do cruise nights, sometimes a charity cruise night, when I was more involved in the classic car scene but I didn't do many shows as I don't like being tied down for most of the day to sit around in a field or parking lot.

So for me the typical Harley charity run thing doesn't interest me from the activity and social aspect. I'd rather do a more casual cruise night and come/go as I please or a smaller more spirited group ride. I'm far from rich but I do give to charity several times per year. Typically to libertarian causes and groups and to individual motorcycle accident victims or their families, though occasionally other groups or individuals where I feel my money would have a good ROI. I just don't see a connection between the fact that I ride a motorcycle or a Honda specifically, and giving to any particular charities.

[Gene]

Hate riding in groups and what I do for charity or to help my fellow man is NOBODY'S BUSINESS but mine.

Was looking for the "like" button.  I get the idea - bring awareness, etc.  But groups are not my cup of tea either, present company excepted.  Except for Terry. I have given to and "performed" in various fund-raising groups and my final thought is always that there is too much money spent in costs to for operational expenses than it's worth. 

This is JUST MY OPINION!  I do not decry those that do these things, just ain't my gig.  And, it would seem that many others feel this way.

Charity is a good thing, it should be independent. 

[Stev-o]

Could it be that Harley is more of a social club? 

I, like the others who posted above, are not involved in a bike club or any other club.

We [wife and I] donate our fair share to charity, just not on a bike.

[Bankerdanny]

It wasn't my intention to accuse anyone of being uncharitable and if it came across that way I apologize.

[70CB750]

Hate riding in groups and what I do for charity or to help my fellow man is NOBODY'S BUSINESS but mine.

+1 on groups and pretty much the rest of the post too.

[Stev-o]

It wasn't my intention to accuse anyone of being uncharitable and if it came across that way

I didnt see it that way.

[dhall57]

I love my sohc4 Honda's but I'm also one of quite a few members here that have a Harley to. Before I got back into the old Honda's in 2009 the only bike I had was my 97 Wide Glide and I've been on my fair share of charity rides with it over the years. Back then 99% of the bikes in those rides were HD. A few crotch rockets and a few other type bikes were thrown in for good measure.The best I can remember I don't ever remember ever seeing any sohc4 bikes in those rides. I'm like a few others here, don't really like those rides with so many bikes. You can't let you guard to down for one second. You have to constantly watch the riders on all sides of you. Never had any accidents but had a few close calls when another rider would make a unexpected move. 

[Bankerdanny]

It is a tiring way to ride, so I get why people wouldn't like it. One a year is plenty for me.

I wrote the post because it just really struck me this year how much Harley's dominate this event. It will be interesting to see if the number of Indians grows as they seem to be targeting the Harley crowd.

[evanphi]

I have a venture as to why we see so many Harleys and big cruisers at these events...

Disposable income!

Most of the people who can afford to own and customize and maintain and wash and shine and... etc... are middle-aged and are likely to have that money available. The younger crowds with sportbikes will not.

I just did a Toy Run a few weeks ago, and it was the same layout as described by Bankerdanny. Mostly large HDs or large displacement metric cruisers, very few in stock configuration. All expensive bikes, and for the majority of the people riding them, they are a third vehicle/toy apart from their (wife's) car and (unnecessarily big) truck.

Nothing wrong with it. My in-laws are both life members of the local HOG chapter, and mother-in-law is heavily involved in their charity organizing. No kids at home means more money for shiny bike stuff!

[dave the welder]

I did a charity ride several years ago on my 750 chopper.ride was aprox 22 miles long.i went 3 miles before I could use 2nd gear.i don't like riding with large groups for the reasons listed above.i have done every Zilla ride so far,always a small group and enjoyed it a lot.you are right that the vast majority of bikes were/are Harley riders but I take into account how many there are of them and how many old Hondas are out there.ok now I am rambling old age will do that to you