Topic: Harley-Humour Thread: My First

[Steve F]

I don't understand how a bike designed by Fred Flintstone can have such a big following!

thats why you dont own one or two.

No, the reason is, if you gave me one or two I would sell them and buy a proper motorbike.

   

[toycollector10]

This is me at a track day about a month ago. I'm burning off an HD Sporty, but only for a short while.

The jacket is a beautiful HD product. Well made and of good quality leather. The SOHC4 badge is worn with pride.

The vintage CB750 badge was courtesy of Ebay. My son says that I'm too "thugged out" but I like the look.

Leather jeans are standard Levis Straus issue.

[Raul CB750K1]

Man, what a cool picture! I had a friend who once showed me a scrapbooks of pictures of him on a track day. When I was done he told me: "the only thing I regret is that I didn't think about taking my helmet out so it's clear it is me in the pictures". He had a tinted visor.... 


BTW, what's that thing on the mirrors? You have to cover the glass with sticky tape in case it breaks, isn't it?

[gregimotis]

I notice it's much more often the kids on sportbikes that don't acknowledge anyone else.

 It's tempting to chock it up to those damn kids today and their insolent ways, but here's another possibility:  I bet more than a few of those kids are logging their first 1000 miles on a bike - imagine what it must be like to learn to ride on a hundred-plus horse power gixxer (I mean those things will ride You if you let them).  I wouldn't take my hands off the bars either.

My point is just that while their certainly are douchebags on bikes, it's also true that people take their attitude and impose them on others.  If I start off thinking kids on sportbikes are generally snot-nosed brats, then that's what I'll see.  And Hog riders, too.


As you can see, I'm nice Gregi today.  Tomorrow I'll be angry Gregi again 

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

"Yeah, of course.  But you aren't riding a $30K Screaming Eagle Harley, either.  Somebody riding an old Honda CB is obviously not concerned about posing.  I don't think any of us bought our old CBs because they would win us popularity points."

Man, I gotta tell ya, when I got my 750F back in May 1975 I almost had to buy a new seat. That passenger section almost was eaten up from all the "moisture" left behind from the ladies. Of course I was 32 years younger and a little more attractive back then plus the bike was a brand new shiny fast model and not 32 years old. Hell I wasn't even 32 years old! Life was good in the 70's. At least I'll always have my memories.   

[edbikerii]

You know, I have found that most women (aside from HD "biker chicks", and some enthusiasts) don't really know one bike from the next, anyway.  In fact, all the times I've been asked for a motorcycle ride by a female, not one of those girls had seen the bike.  I'm pretty sure a couple of them had asked me what kind of bike it was, though.  The answer, "Honda", never really seemed to matter one way or another.

I went to the bar at the SoHo Grand Hotel about 10 years ago.  Parked my bike out front, brought my helmet in with me, and I was wearing a leather jacket with armor.  I didn't even have a chance to order a drink when a hot girl walked up to me.
HER: "Oh, so you ride a motorcycle"?
ME:  "No.  The subway is getting more and more dangerous every day!"
Five minutes later we were out for a ride (on my Yamaha, not that it mattered).

"Yeah, of course.  But you aren't riding a $30K Screaming Eagle Harley, either.  Somebody riding an old Honda CB is obviously not concerned about posing.  I don't think any of us bought our old CBs because they would win us popularity points."

Man, I gotta tell ya, when I got my 750F back in May 1975 I almost had to buy a new seat. That passenger section almost was eaten up from all the "moisture" left behind from the ladies. Of course I was 32 years younger and a little more attractive back then plus the bike was a brand new shiny fast model and not 32 years old. Hell I wasn't even 32 years old! Life was good in the 70's. At least I'll always have my memories.   

[Brent C.]

Look, I am a motorhead at heart, I grew up on the gas tank my older brothers yellow three-wheeler, I like harleys, I LOVE the new sportster custom. I talk myself out of buying a new harley every month. And how I do it is I think of all the yuppies that own one and don't even know how to start a flooded bike. They ARE posers. and the poor bikes suffers at the the hands of an apathetic rider that wants to be thought of as a "tough guy". I think that a Harley owner at track day is just as cool and worthy as the next. I love bikes, period. Two wheels and a motor and I am interested...........Now what is REALLY funny is the A$$clown on a 9.5 foot OCC beach ball tire of a bike......looking like a monkey trying to stay in his lane while making a right hand 90.

[edbikerii]

Hey, I was at a Battletrax at Danbury HD in Danbury, CT about 10 years ago, and an old-timer on a 1200cc HD Sportster kicked everybody's butt, including mine.  The low-speed maneuverability he had was just exceptional.  That guy even had a tremendously ugly plexiglass fairing, and well worn saddlebags, if I remember correctly.  Let me say, this was no trailer queen of a bike either.  Plenty of rust spots, etc.  The guy was just a great rider, but obviously didn't spend a lot of time polishing.

I don't think it was any coincidence that this was an event sponsored by a HD dealer, either.  The low-speed, tight turn parking lot course favored the HDs over the longer-legged sportbikes.  I'll bet someone on a little CB200 or CB350 would have done really well, too.

Look, I am a motorhead at heart, I grew up on the gas tank my older brothers yellow three-wheeler, I like harleys, I LOVE the new sportster custom. I talk myself out of buying a new harley every month. And how I do it is I think of all the yuppies that own one and don't even know how to start a flooded bike. They ARE posers. and the poor bikes suffers at the the hands of an apathetic rider that wants to be thought of as a "tough guy". I think that a Harley owner at track day is just as cool and worthy as the next. I love bikes, period. Two wheels and a motor and I am interested...........Now what is REALLY funny is the A$$clown on a 9.5 foot OCC beach ball tire of a bike......looking like a monkey trying to stay in his lane while making a right hand 90.

[ofreen]

Man, I gotta tell ya, when I got my 750F back in May 1975 I almost had to buy a new seat. That passenger section almost was eaten up from all the "moisture" left behind from the ladies.

I had to laugh because my experience was the same.  I bought my '75 F on the 4th of July, 1977.  It had only 3500 miles and looked like new.  It was the sunrise orange color and looked sharp.  I had many women come up to me and compliment the bike and had no lack of willing passengers.  Not so much these days, both bike and rider have a lot more miles on 'em (plus my wife would have something to say about it.)  Both can still get the job done, tho.  ha ha

Funny thing was, the bike I rode before that was a full dress '64 Duo-Glide.  The only ones that bike attracted were old farts that wanted to tell me about the one they had when they were young.  The 750 definitely attracted a better class of conversationalists.

[toycollector10]

BTW, what's that thing on the mirrors? You have to cover the glass with sticky tape in case it breaks, isn't it?

That's right, cover all glass and plastic and wire up stands and pillion pegs etc. I took the mirrors off later in the day. I like to use clear tape so that the bike looks pretty much stock.

[edbikerii]

I guess clear tape over the mirrors also prevents that disorienting feeling of not being able to see anything in the mirrors.  It may be a little blurry, but at least you can still see a little rear-view.

BTW, what's that thing on the mirrors? You have to cover the glass with sticky tape in case it breaks, isn't it?

That's right, cover all glass and plastic and wire up stands and pillion pegs etc. I took the mirrors off later in the day. I like to use clear tape so that the bike looks pretty much stock.

[ieism]

I just ordered myself a brandnew pair of lightgrey pants, a new summerjacket and I just got my new gloves too. I typically buy a new set of gloves each year. I don't like the look of old worn down #$%*. My bike looks old and worn already, If I ad old riding gear to this I don't feel cool at all. It makes me feel poor. My girlfriend thinks buying lightgrey pants is hilarious, as they get covered in oil and dead bugs within months, but i'll just buy new when these get dirty
If you wear new harley-gear you're probably new to motorcycles. That's fine with me. Everyone has to start at some point, and unlike cars harley's don't try to kill you all the time.

I was riding on the freeway the other day, and on the opposite side of the road separated by 3 lanes and a fence, is a harleyrider. The minute he spots me he waves enthousiastically at me. Now I know for a fact he not a friend of mine, none of them own a harley. It's standard protocol not to wave at non-harley drivers here too, but his guy was so bad-ass he refused to stick to protocol!

Also...In case you wondered. Harley riders have so much crome on their handlebars that they don't have to look at you when you stop next to them at a trafficlight, they see your reflection in their crome brakeresevoir or something. This saves them from having to turn their heads, a clever solution when you think about it.

[dusterdude]

Also...In case you wondered. Harley riders have so much crome on their handlebars that they don't have to look at you when you stop next to them at a trafficlight, they see your reflection in their crome brakeresevoir or something. This saves them from having to turn their heads, a clever solution when you think about it.     you aint seen mine

[burmashave]

Let it be said (by me) that I really don't have anything against guys who ride Harley's -- new riders or old riders.  I just find it humorous when anyone starts something new and buys all the add-on stuff in an attempt to try to look cool.  I know I've been guilty of this at times.  As for the folks in question, I do not doubt they are great guys, and I'd prolly like hanging or riding with them.  Most of the Harley riders here return my wave, but it's OK if they don't.

Here's is a repeat story that I think is worth repeating again.  ;-)   I learned to ride around 1988 on a '78 CB750.  At that time, **no** Harley rider would **ever** wave to anyone on a rice burner.   I was never quite sure whether they waved to each other, but I never found out.  Harley riders would gratuitously diss the wave, so you had to be sharp in spotting on-coming Harleys and not confuse them with Japanese cruisers.

The one time I had a minor roadside breakdown, it was a Harley rider who stopped within minutes to offer assistance, and he was the kind of "back in the day" type of Harley rider.  Enough said.

I know I've done the new guy thing, and I've prolly entertained others at it.  And there's nothing wrong with sporting new clothes.  There's nothing wrong with people who buy Harley clothes and chew toys for their dogs.  Truth be told, you could take one look at the bed I got my dog when she was sick (note lame excuse), and you'd know that I've done worse.  Her bed is so big and comfortable that one of my friends briefly considered getting one for himself for lounging in front of the TV. 

[edbikerii]

In about '95 I was riding my 550 home from Boston in the tail end of a hurricane.  I pulled over briefly to adjust my rain suit as I could feel cold water leaking down my leg.  I wasn't stopped for more than 2 minutes before a guy on a Harley in a big yellow rain suit stopped and asked me if everything was OK.  No, he wasn't a cop, either (I don't think).  That was a 200 mile ride in a miserable, windy, rainy downpour and I never saw another bike the whole way, except that guy on the Harley.

Let it be said (by me) that I really don't have anything against guys who ride Harley's -- new riders or old riders.  I just find it humorous when anyone starts something new and buys all the add-on stuff in an attempt to try to look cool.  I know I've been guilty of this at times.  As for the folks in question, I do not doubt they are great guys, and I'd prolly like hanging or riding with them.  Most of the Harley riders here return my wave, but it's OK if they don't.

Here's is a repeat story that I think is worth repeating again.  ;-)   I learned to ride around 1988 on a '78 CB750.  At that time, **no** Harley rider would **ever** wave to anyone on a rice burner.   I was never quite sure whether they waved to each other, but I never found out.  Harley riders would gratuitously diss the wave, so you had to be sharp in spotting on-coming Harleys and not confuse them with Japanese cruisers.

The one time I had a minor roadside breakdown, it was a Harley rider who stopped within minutes to offer assistance, and he was the kind of "back in the day" type of Harley rider.  Enough said.

I know I've done the new guy thing, and I've prolly entertained others at it.  And there's nothing wrong with sporting new clothes.  There's nothing wrong with people who buy Harley clothes and chew toys for their dogs.  Truth be told, you could take one look at the bed I got my dog when she was sick (note lame excuse), and you'd know that I've done worse.  Her bed is so big and comfortable that one of my friends briefly considered getting one for himself for lounging in front of the TV. 

[Raul CB750K1]

In about '95 I was riding my 550 home from Boston in the tail end of a hurricane.  I pulled over briefly to adjust my rain suit as I could feel cold water leaking down my leg.  I wasn't stopped for more than 2 minutes before a guy on a Harley in a big yellow rain suit stopped and asked me if everything was OK.  No, he wasn't a cop, either (I don't think).  That was a 200 mile ride in a miserable, windy, rainy downpour and I never saw another bike the whole way, except that guy on the Harley.

Sorry but your example is not valid in this case. That same guy that stopped to offer his help would have probably not waved at you on a sunny day. On a day like the one you describe, you have to be a very bad person not to stop and offer help, irrespective of the bike you or the other one is riding.


 It is very simplistic to make assumptions. I consider myself a cool guy and I think that if I owned a Harley I would wave everybody. But probably some day I would be riding and maybe that day my self-esteem would be high and that day I would decide not to return a couple of waves.


No matter how snob people is. In time of distress, you can count on everybody to help you, and you would help everybody. In fact, I have found that if I need help, it is easier to get it from perfect strangers than from friends and/or relatives.


Raul

[edbikerii]

You know, Raul, I could take your logic a step further and assume that he stopped so he could gloat that he found a Jap bike stuck on the side of the road.  Perhaps he was really disappointed that I wasn't stuck!

Personally, I'd prefer to think he was just a nice guy.  A fellow die-hard lunatic riding his motorcycle in a hurricane.

But, I've been known to be naive.

In about '95 I was riding my 550 home from Boston in the tail end of a hurricane.  I pulled over briefly to adjust my rain suit as I could feel cold water leaking down my leg.  I wasn't stopped for more than 2 minutes before a guy on a Harley in a big yellow rain suit stopped and asked me if everything was OK.  No, he wasn't a cop, either (I don't think).  That was a 200 mile ride in a miserable, windy, rainy downpour and I never saw another bike the whole way, except that guy on the Harley.

Sorry but your example is not valid in this case. That same guy that stopped to offer his help would have probably not waved at you on a sunny day. On a day like the one you describe, you have to be a very bad person not to stop and offer help, irrespective of the bike you or the other one is riding.


 It is very simplistic to make assumptions. I consider myself a cool guy and I think that if I owned a Harley I would wave everybody. But probably some day I would be riding and maybe that day my self-esteem would be high and that day I would decide not to return a couple of waves.


No matter how snob people is. In time of distress, you can count on everybody to help you, and you would help everybody. In fact, I have found that if I need help, it is easier to get it from perfect strangers than from friends and/or relatives.


Raul

[ChevelleSSLS6]

my cousin has a gmc canyon with HD stickers all over it.

at least I'm not blood-related to him.

[Gordon]

my cousin has a gmc canyon with HD stickers all over it.

at least I'm not blood-related to him.

You left out the important part.  Does he own a Harley?

[burmashave]

+1

[bobsmith]

       You have to consider that quite a few of the Harley riders of today, rode 305 scramblers 35 years ago,  they've now reached a point in their lives where they can afford a status symbol of affluent suburbia,. Along wit a Snapper riding lawn mower, the Lexus in the garage, a pregnant daughter, a PMS wife  eating bon bons, voting Republican, and praying for a retirement  pension before his job goes to India. We get enjoyment out of tradition even more meaningful than a assembled in America overpriced bike, we keep a bit of Americana running and running well. But 'status" is important to some ppl ..and Manufacturers cater to that segment. I think most(not all) Harley riders are part of the "soft American" image.

[Killer Canary]

I had a guy I knew stop talking to me completely as soon as he got a harley, he still got along fine wiyh people who didn't ride anything at all, though.
There'll always be people who end these threads with" there'll be people like that on any brand" blah blah blah but after 33years of 8000 mile summers I've gotten insults and nasty comments at gas stations, parking lots, cafes, even stoplights for crying out loud and guess what every last one of these #$%*s had in common.
Blow all the smoke you want, but harley attracts a vastly greater percentage of these clowns than all the others together, anyone who hasn't noticed must not have spent all those years on the street riding Hondas, or maybe harley owners her are just a lot more ignorant than average, I don't know the why of it, it's a moot point to me.
AND, I appreciate all the harley riders here; you wouldn't be here if you had those shallow little minds, that tells me you're genuine bikers.

[dusterdude]

thank you

[Rocker]

A good friend of mine has a 2002 VTX1800. It is the smoothest, sweetest, most comfortable, and most power motorcycle I have ever riden. He purchased it in 2005 with just over 1000 miles on it. For a similar Harley, he would have easily spent double his money. I have to say when it comes time to buy a cruiser, it will be a VTX....but that's a ways off. 

[RatBikeRandy]

I own and have owned several Harley-Davidsons which are actually pretty good bikes.  I do all of my own service.  I am not a bike snob like a lot of other people who seem to think that their BRAND is the only one that counts (including many on this Honda loyal site).  I love all kinds of motorcycles and can see the good points in most of them. 
Perhaps some people need to open their minds a little.  I get tired of the Harley people only thinking that their bike is the only way to go, but if you read a lot of the previous posts it's the same thing with a different brand.  By the way, as for price - Japanese prices are going up while Harley prices are coming down.  It won't be long before they are about even.  Have you priced a nice Japanese cruiser or touring bike lately?
My 2 cents worth - I just want to ride!