Went to the Harley dealership today...

[~kaos~]

makes sense that people would want to display what their proud of.
i think its one of those things where "the few ruin it for the many".

Not sure I understand what you're getting at... what's getting ruined?
If someone enjoys dressing up in $1000 Willie G chaps w/ Harley boots, headband, glasses, etc. it's all good.... UNLESS the guy rolled up at bike nite in a car and parked out in the back-40.

[CaptainNeeda]

Hear, hear!

Further, it’s not as if overpriced on road gear is unique to Harley. One word: Belstaff.

That said, I’m totally with you. Spend the money on what inspires you to ride, forget the rest.

[Tarsun2]

i understand that someone might enjoy getting dressed in a $1,000 outfit. and i kindda get the brand loyalty thing and wanting to display your passion for the company.
what i dont get is someone that drives to the dealership, purchases new bike and one of everything else, and then has this attitude that they earned this right of passage and that they now are in an exclusive club. (a club that dosent let just anyone in)... unless you have $ i suppose...

This isnt just Harley. So dont take it as that. like i said, there are car guys that are the same way but bikers are known for this. Like the "Gixxer guys" that ride your butt, cut you off, split the lanes, pass on the right, pull in front of you at a light, pass a line of cars in on-coming traffic just to realize that the reason there was traffic was due to the lead car turning left and crash....

now i KNOW not everyone that rides a street bike is like that.... but the few people that ride like that, give every other biker a poor image. people see a guy on a street bike and automatically think they are a jerk.

southpark had a pretty funny episode on this lol but, like i said; its not every rider.

[~kaos~]

*LOL* " Who gives a fck what others think". It's part of the bikers creed and brotherhood, I'm sure you've seen the patch DILLIGAF..... God didn't put me here on this earth to wonder what others think of me. Life's too short for that kinda s#it, just get out and enjoy it.

[Carp]

I've had my motorcycle license almost 30 years now(acquired at age 17). And I've been an off-road'er even longer. I don't give an "F" what people wear or what people ride and/or drive. The only problem is.. When "other" people's opinions, affect your daily life and ability to get out and enjoy it... It's late and I'm getting cranky'er.. My "get off my lawn" back, needs a good Chiropractor. 😔 ... 🤔(did I say that out loud ...probably need more sleep) I did a lot of miles in the rain today.😖

[Tinybear]

To the original post looking at trikes. I completely understand looking as when docs told me 3 separate times during my recovery from a bike accident that they may have to amputate my left leg below knee. I strongly considered a trike. The Can Ams where my preference. But ultimately I decided if my leg was gone I was going to go the side car route instead and get a URAL. I love those things can carry three people is selectable 2wd and does pretty awesome off road. Thankfully I kept my leg. But one day I still want one of those URALS. Just another option to consider.

As for the other branch of this convo. I have always said I ride what ever I want. I have no image or desire to look any certain way. If I was tossed the keys to a 50cc pink Vespa I’d grab it and go have a laugh. I have owned bikes from 200cc little farm bikes to a 1700cc blacked out cruiser and a whole mix a stiff in the middle. These days I ride a bike that allows me to enjoy most types of riding with my Vstrom. But I’d love to one of those R7 sport bikes. Always wanted a triumph scrambler. I’d also like to give one of those Honda rebel 1100s a go. And I have always wanted to pick up a gold wing or big beemer touring to go out with the wife.

The way I have always said it. Is I have lived my life looking like a fool every day. Why would it all of sudden matter what I look like when I get on a bike.

Some of the most fun I have EVER had on two wheels was on my TW200. I’m a Bigger guy and looked like a circus bear on that thing. The poor bike could only just get me to 105km/hr on the road. But That little bike took me places I could not get any other too. One year a group of us with the bikes entered a Huge off road rally thing in Qubece. This rally attracts riders of all kinds of the best off road enduros and big adventure bikes. It’s 300kms of off road in a day with lots of mud,hill climbs and Sandy sections, with a few higher speed sections joining things. 90% of the bikes there were $15k+ or better KTMs and BMWs. Then there was our team 10 little TW200s. We looked absolutely ridiculous in a sea of big adventure and real dirt machines. And many people kinda snickered at us because we were so outa place ridding so called wife’s bikes or farm machines. But the news cameras loved us. We were goofy and just always smiling and having fun. We did all the extra challenges because it was fun. When bikes flopped over in rufff stuff you didn’t need an army to lift it. We just were out laughing and having a good time. We may have looked “dumb” but at the end of the day we were still happy and laughing and ready to hit the trails again the next day.

All I’m saying is live for what you want. Ride wear and do what you want. Don’t try to conform to an image or machoism. Life’s happier that way. Go out look stupid laugh at yourself and just enjoy.

[punkncat]

My neighbor two doors up has a Ural. It's neat as hell. All wheel drive even.

[Tarsun2]

bikers, ahhhh. what a strange breed...

split the lanes, cut people off, and just generally be where other motorists dont expect someone to be. and that same biker will get clipped by a car and the very next day wear one of those idiotic neon yellow shirts that read, "can you see me now, a$$hole", plaster the "look twice, save a life" bumper stickers to the bumper, and post the same sign in the front lawn. as if the motorist should have been aware of another vehicle on the dotted line between them and the car next to them.

for sure, ride and have fun. but then dont complain about other motorists when a bike makes contact with a car.

[punkncat]

Shaftski after having ridden motorcycles as long as I have....used one as primary and only mode of transport for over 7 years alone. I have come to find that the best thing to do while riding a motorcycle is to be constantly on the defensive, and ride like it. Pay attention to everything and always keep a "way out" in mind. Expect that every car you see is out to kill you.
As an aside to that, we went to Cali a couple of years ago for a work trip and that lane splitting shit is a damned good way to end up dead, legal or not. It is super duper hard as a driver from an area where it is not legal to keep in mind to look for a motorcycle, probably travelling WELL in excess of the speed limit, not even seen at the moment you check a mirror, to suddenly be there as you turn the wheel to change lanes. I feel like it's a pretty moronic law, personally.

One of the reasons I no longer ride my bicycle out on the road is directly as a result of phones. Most people aren't driving any more. They are texting while paying the minimum attention required to get where they are going. I ride my bike exclusively on trails, paths, or in a neighborhood with light traffic.
I honestly feel like there should be some manner of connection or block made such that while your car is in a travel lane, in gear, whatever, that it physically makes mobile devices unusable except for the GPS function (which I know I can't live without any more).

[Shaftski]

punkncat yeah, I always keep my eyes peeled for outs, massachusetts drivers truly earn the name "masshole" though.

Even if it were legal, i would not lane split. I can see the reasoning for air cooled bikes, but at the end of the day it isn't smart riding. Avoid the traffic to begin with and take the back roads if you can. I would never own an air cooled bike in cali.

[Knuckle Dragger]

I was rear ended on my bike some years ago, stopped at a red light intersection. I usually split (in California) at stooped intersections, but didn’t since the driver behind me was stopping as well. The turning lane signaled green and I didn’t move, driver accelerated right into me....we weren’t in the turning lane. Lane splitting has its benefits, you have your asshats in every vehicle and getting out of bed has risks. Stay sharp and keep the shiny side up, no matter what you ride and wear.

[Carp]

I been on foot a while now and frogger is not fun with all the A-hole drivers out in this area. Especially in the rain..😩

[CaptainNeeda]

[D]ont complain about other motorists when a bike makes contact with a car.

Not sure who was, or if your point is leveled at the gsx-er comment, but I think we can all point examples of folks behaving badly on the road; independent of wheel count or vehicle type.

Now… back to the trikes!

[punkncat]

Not sure I understand what you're getting at... what's getting ruined?
If someone enjoys dressing up in $1000 Willie G chaps w/ Harley boots, headband, glasses, etc. it's all good.... UNLESS the guy rolled up at bike nite in a car and parked out in the back-40.

Along this line and the following posts....I have been riding motorcycles for the better part of 35 years or so and have owned Harley, Honda, Kawi, Suzuki....haven't gotten a Yamaha (yet). The single funniest situation I ever got in about my clothing was when we were doing a charity ride in the summer, was pretty damned hot. I was wearing my leather (Harley) coat and had a Kevin Harvick (NASCAR) shirt on underneath. I had a whole group of fellas corral me up to tell me that wearing NASCAR clothing on a Harley was "inappropriate".
Needless to say I "pointed at that wall over there" and told them to fuck themselves.

[Tarsun2]

we kind of gotten derailed on the OP post, my fault and my apologies.

im not looking to change anyone's mind on anything. and for the most part, "you do you" (no one specific) so long as it doesn't affect me.

if some one wanted to smoke a bunch of weed, drink a bunch of beers and then see how far they can climb up a tree.. more power to them. but if some one was doing some electrical work on my house and they were doing those things, thats where i draw the line. (kind of a stretch, i know).
more akin to bikers is the guy that dons a spiderman suit before hitting the road. lol maybe other motorists will pay more attention.

When i went to California, splitting the 2 most left lanes was legal. and it was fine. everyone knew and gave space. the bikers cursed up the middle. no wheelies, no top speed runs or any other shenanigans.
but come on, when someone is driving a POS commuter car during their daily grind, they cant react fast enough when a bike is weaving through traffic.
you look back left and see a bike coming up, you look back right and its clear, so you start the merge. when all of a sudden the bike cuts right to pass you and the person in front of you. as a driver, youre not expecting that.

thanks Capt' for the spelling correction.

i think the point was lost somewhere in the posts...
just think what 2 bikers would do if they were riding side by side and a car drove between them.

but more importantly, i believe it was about not missing out on getting a Harley. like Jeeps and Land Rovers, they are not what they used to be. like someone with an H2 hummer saying that they can traverse 30" of water because thats what the original humvee could do. and then wearing a jacket that says 30" club...

look, punkncat, if you wanted a Harley, you know sure as hell you dont need approval from anyone. but more to the point, and im not alone on this as there is an article in the new popular mechanics mag that talks about Harleys being a dying breed. The people that bought them are no longer able to ride and the next generation dosnet share the same mass appeal as the previous. right now, the article says that they are trying to attract new buyers with 2 new models; an adventure bike and a full electric bike. it will be interesting to see how far Harley moves from their roots.

[Siress]

What's this thread even about? Guess I'll drop some opinions too.

Filtering seems to make a lot of sense when the rest of traffic is under ~30mph. Above ~50 and I definitely agree that it's reckless and irresponsible. I've never done it because it's never been legal - and therefore predictable behavior on the roads, which is rule 1 in my book.

Harley... ppffffffffffffffft. Sincerely, an unofficial iron butt. Still a noobie compared to those guys, but I've definitely knocked out 1kmi in 24hrs on my '13 Vstrom. Not that I particularly enjoyed the last few hundred.