The NERVE!!

[skids]

Re: The NERVE!!

You have to have a thick skin sometimes. "I'm riding and you're not!" said with a grin might have been a good come-back. Those guys are driven by pride and ego. Many have bike as status symbols only. There is always a Harley better than the one he owns. Maybe he feels bad because his doesn't "measure up."
=:-)

Originally posted by capocrimini
(snip)guy in an old van drives by and yells "Get a real bike...get a Harley!" (snip)

[xsivebiker]

In my area of West Virginia, the following "wave stats" seem to hold true:
Harley riders- one rider, he'll wave. A group of Harleys-never.
Goldwingers- always, regardless of how many are in their group.
BMW riders- once while riding by myself I encountered a group of
nearly twenty. They were all pulled off beside the
road. All had Virginia tags. ALL waved--Go figure??
Crotch Rockets- always, even in groups.
Other Jap bikes- always
Greg C.
1980 XS1100-G [fully dressed]
1979 XL250-S

[T1ny]

Here in my part of Ontario things are about the same, single HD riders will wave, groups will not unless they are part of the local Hells angel's chapter they always wave. Pretty much everyone else will wave with the exception of the crotch rockets, they are going too quick.

Oh, and Hi everyone I'm new. <G>

[ohazca]

I have mixed opinions about Harley riders. I just started riding around a year and a half ago, and was fortunate to buy an old 79 XS1100 for my first bike. My plan was to ride for a while and most likely buy a Harley or a Harley look alike, when I figured out what I wanted on a bike.

Last month I got my full of Harley riders and their bikes, when I took off for a 5500 mile ride on my 23 year old bike. I left Mesa AZ, went to San Diego, up the coast though Washington, then over to Sturgis, before returning home through Vale, and Monument valley.

What I found out about Harley riders was that they were real friendly if you ran into them off your bikes. But you have to be wearing the proper cloths. When going into a bar with Harley riders, you must be wearing a Leather Motorcycle Jacket, Black t-shirt, Jeans and or chaps. Its funny they all assume you ride a Harley, and by the time they ask what you ride, the ice is broken and you’re accepted. Who ever thought these hard-core bikers are so cloths conscience.

About their bikes, I passed a bunch of beautiful Harleys on the trip. Some of the guys actually rode them. Others preferred to tow them behind their motor homes on their way to Sturgis. After they got to Sturgis they parked their bikes along the road so they could look at other Harleys parked along side the road. I guess the idea is to go there and look to see how you plan on customizing your bike to look like the other customized bikes. But I have to admit the bikes did look Great.

Going across Montana, I met up with a group of Harley riders, 5 bikes, and 2 chase vehicles. This should have given me a clue. When I first started to ride with them, I thought something was wrong with my bike. Then I found out it was the Harleys around me. Apparently they pay good money to make their bikes sound like they need a tune up. Next I found out that while the day before this group rode the speed limit (75 in Montana), today they decide to ride 10 under, no reason was given, so I kept the bike in 4th. But the most annoying thing about riding with Harleys I found out that when you ride with Harleys, you have to stop at every Harley dealer. At first I thought this was so they could keep up their supply of black t-shirts, but later found out it was to get one of their bikes fixed. 4 hours at a Harley dealer, loads of fun for a bike ride. By the way these are new Harleys (all less than 3 years old). (the next day decided to ride by myself).

Well after finishing my trip, and seeing a bunch of bikes, I came to conclusion, why get rid of a great running bike, to pay good money for a bike that looks like everyone else’s; for me, I’ll keep the XS11, and just spend some money cleaning up the scraps and bruises she received over the last 23 years, and have a bike that vary few have the pleasure of riding.

Looking forward to inputs,

Mark

[Pat Kelly]

Every Sunday morning around 9-10 o'clock a group of bikes (I've counted up to 18 of them) ride past my house. There's a stop sign at each end so they are accellerating by, music to my ears. This is the most diverse group I've ever seen. At the front are the crotch-rockets, large displacement to smaller, Hondas, Yamahas and Kawasakis, a Ducati too I think. Next come some older standards and touring bikes. Bringing up the rear are the dual-sports. When I'm out front fiddling with my XS they ALL wave. Someday my wife will have a Sunday off and I'll be sitting at the curb and follow them to see what's up (they probably go 3 blocks and park). I haven't noticed any Harleys with them though. Maybe next week I get some pics of them and post them.