What would you have said? (Harley related)

[doug06z]

Recently went on a ride with a couple of co workers. Both ride a Harley 883 Sportster. Both know that I once owned a Harley Dyna Wide Glide. We meet at my place, as I back out of my garage on my half naked Kaw Z750, Mike (while strattling his 883) asks me "how can you go from this to that?" What I really wanted to say was, "I did'nt go from a girls bike to a Kawasaki but rather I went from a full grown Harley to a Kaw." But instead, my response was, "I can't afford a Harley at the moment so this will have to do." I honestly don't understand the mindset of some people. Do they actually feel better about themselves just because they own a bike that says "Harley" on the gas tank?

[UFO]

<--- Mmmm, buttery.

[1KPerDay]

 Mike (while strattling his 883) asks me "how can you go from this to that?" What I really wanted to say was,

"the same way you went from chicks to hairy russian guys."

[XLR8]

That stuff is all part of bike ownership. I think we all do it in one way or another.

[doug06z]

<--- Mmmm, buttery.

I was going for the "Extra" butter on this one

[doug06z]

"the same way you went from chicks to hairy russian guys."

Well, I see I raised a "hair"   That was my whole point

[M.Brane]

 My best friend rides a Dyna. We give each other shit all the time. It's all in good fun though.

[atadaskew]

But instead, my response was, "I can't afford a Harley at the moment so this will have to do."

Worst response ever.

[rockinjc]

I was once outside a HD shop picking up info on an ss1k and this dirtbag says to me that he just did not see the value in my Duc. All I could come up with at the time was that I really liked it.

Hours later the line came to me "By value, do you mean chrome?"  

But lately when a person says they like one bike over another I just say "horses for courses"

jc

[chornbe]

Bike snobs come in all flavors. Try showing up at the chest-thumping Harley events on a tricked out Sportster. I've heard every flavor of girl's bike joke there is. Not one of them has taken me up on the "title run to the end of the road" challenge yet, tho'.

It just ain't worth worrying over. Moving on...

[Scratch33]

We meet at my place, as I back out of my garage on my half naked Kaw Z750, Mike (while strattling his 883) asks me "how can you go from this to that?"

"It's not that hard, really - I just have to remember to be a little easier on the throttle."

[thatguy]

^^^^Nice.

I once went to Rockville Harley to pick up some parts.There was a few guys checking out a Confederate Hellcat (IMO a way cool bike) but when I pulled up on my '84 RZ350 they turned around and started checking out my RZ.I just smiled and went in and got my parts.The hell with the guys who're into the "Harley" thing.I usually say I was riding Harleys when they weren't cool to ride.And I still have more of them than you do.

[OrangeSVS]

I understand the distaste for the current sportbike aesthetic.  I really love aircooled engines... I don't think there's anything sexier than a bunch of fins hanging out in the wind.  When you think about machines and the bare bones basics of what power is, you got it in an air cooled engine.  Rheostats and transistors making up a little black box... blah.  It's a bunch of hocus pocus bullshit.  But yeah, some fins hanging in the breeze, that's something that anyone can understand.

But when you look at it, and think about what it's all about.... going fast, kicking ass... in that regard cruisers just don't do it for me.  It's not that they can't be fast... it's that they forsake simple basic premises of performance motorcycling... like the Porsche Cayenne.  It's faster around a course than a lot of sportscars, but the fact that it's an SUV turns me off... because for all that it is, it's deliberately less than it could be... and I find that to be a distasteful aesthetic.   Car & Driver's One Lap of America a few years ago had a pick up truck that basically mauled the hell out of vipers and vettes.  Again, I suppose that's admirable... but why aren't Vipers and Vettes packing that same juice in a tighter package?  It just kind of leaves me hanging.  I don't like it because to me it's not beautiful.. because it's not form following function... because they are leaving a lot on the table....

I had a point that related to this thread.  I am drink and I forgot it.  Harleys disappoint me.  It's not that I wouldn't enjoy the motor.. quite to the contrary, I think the motor kicks supreme ass... and I don't need fancy plastics either.  I just wish that motor were wrapped in the right package.

Truth be told, I fantasize about a guzzi crotch rocket.  Even if it's just 80hp and twenty grand, I'd consider it my dream bike... the kind of crazy crotch rocket I could buy now and still be riding at 180mph as a crazy old man 50 years from now....

[scott19]

My response would have been " Why would I pay twice as much for half the bike? "

[rabbott5]

A friend of mine always makes some sort of comment about his Harley over all other bikes.  I stopped by his house one night, he was working on the Harley.  A few other people were there.  He had his new box of parts (chrome thingys) and was putting them on.  It wasn't long and he started in on the Great American Bike and how much better they were.  It took me about 2 seconds to reply, "If they are so good, why do you never see a stock Harley.  As soon as someone buys one they start changing it."  The subject has never come up again.

[Scratch33]

He had his new box of parts (chrome thingys) and was putting them on.  It wasn't long and he started in on the Great American Bike and how much better they were.  

I would've just casually pointed out the "Made In" labels on all those chrome thingys.  

[ZZR Rob]

Not just the chrome things, more stock HD parts are out sourced to other countries than not.

[bomber]

For some harley riders (by no means all) HD ownership represents some form of long-held, deeply felt fantasy -- it's good to fulfill a dream, no matter what it is

me, I don't get the "if I couldn't ride a harley, I wouldn't ride" thing, but, on the other side of the coin, my wife and went riding with her sis and her SO earlier this summer (both on big twins), up in an enjoyable area near us (Kettle Morraine for you flatlanders ;-}  ) -- I kept the pace a bit below reasonable, stopped at every intersection, and made certain everyone got together with their feets on teh tarmac at every stop sign --

after about 30 minutes of this, sis-in-law and SO both commented on how extremely fast wife and I were going . . . didn't understand the joy entailed in such dangerous riding at all

it's a big world -- should be room for all kinds of joy, I'm thinkin

[2RR2NV]

Worst response ever.

i tend to agree, but hey, to each his own. i'd just say,'because i wanted to ride all the time not spend it in the garage." and with a smile to boot.  

[Zerosum]

My response would have been " Why would I pay twice as much for half the bike? "

Seriously.  Some pirate said something derogatroy about my Hawk the other day at a gas station.  Something about how tiny and toylike it was.  I said "Yeah, well it's faster than a Harley, handles better, and I bought it for about what you paid in sales tax on that that thing."    He didn't belive me, but I walked though the math with him.  $1500 / 6% = $25000, which is probably close to what he paid out the door for his giant, chromed-out turd of a bike.

Seriously, all three of my bikes (each of which I think is completely f-ing awesome in its own way) wouldn't buy a new Harley.  Not even close! How retarded is that?  

[Thundergod]

"I had too many Leather-Daddies hitting on me....I wanted something that didn't scream HeellllllOOOOOO!"
Especially powerful if speaking to a leather-vested man-pirate.

PS-- these were your friends and you were holding back OPEN insults? for shame.
----

[Liquidsilver]

I love my Harleys, but they're fat, slow and always falling apart... so I tend to ride this a lot!  
 
 
 
 

[atadaskew]

I would've just casually pointed out the "Made In" labels on all those chrome thingys.  

No kidding.  I was in the local HD shop to buy a sidestand disc (so the bike does not topple over in dirt etc) for my Duc and there's this game I always play no matter what store I'm in.  It's look to see where stuff is made.  It's always made in China or Taiwan. If leather, then maybe Pakistan.  Anyway, all the official Harley chrome doo-dads are made in China.
Best part about this is the sidestand  disc (which is called a jiffy stand plate and actually really is very good) is made in the USA!  I pointed this out to the check out lady, who for some reason did not find it very amusing.
Nice to see all this Chinese made stuff wrapped up in the American flag

[county]

I think I probably would have said:  You suck and so does your slow assed bike.

[UFO]

I had a point that related to this thread.  I am drink and I forgot it.

You're drunk at 7 AM in the morning on a Thursday?  Maybe you should own a Harley.

[chornbe]

Recently went on a ride with a couple of co workers. Both ride a Harley 883 Sportster. Both know that I once owned a Harley Dyna Wide Glide. We meet at my place, as I back out of my garage on my half naked Kaw Z750, Mike (while strattling his 883) asks me "how can you go from this to that?" What I really wanted to say was, "I did'nt go from a girls bike to a Kawasaki but rather I went from a full grown Harley to a Kaw." But instead, my response was, "I can't afford a Harley at the moment so this will have to do." I honestly don't understand the mindset of some people. Do they actually feel better about themselves just because they own a bike that says "Harley" on the gas tank?

"I like this one just fine" would have sufficed nicely.

[Tar Snake]

My response to questions like that is to give the questioner my reasons why I ride what I ride: It's very comfortable for me, It's fast, I like the looks, I wanted something different (i.e. if I always rode crusiers and showed up for a ride on a sportbike, or vice versa).

My initial response usually isn't very emotional, just why I ride what I ride. Then we can either talk about bikes or if the response is; but it's Jap Crap!, or a damn crotch rocket, or whatever put down they come up with then it's confirmed I'm dealing with an Asshat and I move on.

[leveredge]

Last night going home from work we followed a guy that rides a huge Harley to the plant riding his "crotch rocket" Kawi home. He was going plenty fast for us to keep up. I ride a Honda "old man's bike" so WTH do I know. Maybe one day I can keep up with a "Harley guy". Probably not.
Who would have thought all these guys are all the same guys?
Why say anything? Who cares? He probably has a Ford and a Chevy truck as well. Confused individual!

[doug06z]

Worst response ever.

He probably did'nt pay much more for his "girls bike" than what I payed for the Z, maybe a couple grand more tops.

[OrangeSVS]

You're drunk at 7 AM in the morning on a Thursday?  Maybe you should own a Harley.

Well, I don't think my bosses would like me having a beer at 10 or 11 at night.  I work third shift.    

[Busy Little Whiner]

Even though I turn 60 this Oct... I feel that HD is an old man's ride... I still crave excitement in my rides...

[Baron Samedi]

Even though I turn 60 this Oct... I feel that HD is an old man's ride... I still crave excitement in my rides...

You've never taken a supercharged Harley round a sharp bend at a 100, have you Larry?  

[black hills]

If you were going riding with them I think "you'll see in a few minutes" would have done it

[blueridgerider]

You've never taken a supercharged Harley round a sharp bend at a 100, have you Larry?  

I bounced a rear wheel off the ground in a lean a couple of times - that's pretty exciting.

Not really in a good way though... which is why I no longer ride cruisers.

[blueridgerider]

If you were going riding with them I think "you'll see in a few minutes" would have done it

Despite the impression that everyone here gives about being the fastest rider, there are people, GASP, even people on Harley's that might be faster.  It's always a danger to try and show someone up - you might be holding out your hand to get your ass back.

[black hills]

Despite the impression that everyone here gives about being the fastest rider, there are people, GASP, even people on Harley's that might be faster.  It's always a danger to try and show someone up - you might be holding out your hand to get your ass back.

Very true, but that is really what competition is all about isn't it?? I have enjoyed (and remembered) the times I've had my ass handed to me far more than when it was the other way around

[CosmicGS]

Recently went on a ride with a couple of co workers. Both ride a Harley 883 Sportster. Both know that I once owned a Harley Dyna Wide Glide. We meet at my place, as I back out of my garage on my half naked Kaw Z750, Mike (while strattling his 883) asks me "how can you go from this to that?" What I really wanted to say was, "I did'nt go from a girls bike to a Kawasaki but rather I went from a full grown Harley to a Kaw." But instead, my response was, "I can't afford a Harley at the moment so this will have to do." I honestly don't understand the mindset of some people. Do they actually feel better about themselves just because they own a bike that says "Harley" on the gas tank?

Dude. Fuck them. As an owner of a Harley I have had my fair share of ribbing from both metrics and HD riders. People that rag on other people's bikes are jackasses. I prefer not to ride with them. They are not pure motorcyclists.

[Ducky]

I really like riding a Ducati, but I wouldn't mind having a Harley. If asked why you ride what you ride, just say, "because I like it." Even within the type of bike I prefer, the bike has to stand out demand I own it. It's got to give you "that" feeling.

[Mydlyfkryzis]

........Nice to see all this Chinese made stuff wrapped up in the American flag

Sadly, the American flag it is wrapped in was also made in China. Try to find an American made American flag...

[Motocentaur]

My usual response to such nonsense, if I am feeling polite, is "Harleys are nice I guess, but cruisers don't really suit how I ride." If they ask me to elaborate, I talk about how cruiser ergos don't work for me, how I like to ride lots of miles in all weather, pack camping gear, etc.

If I'm not feeling polite, I like: "The indian and construction worker called - they say you have a gig tonight."

[Netminder]

I remember considering a baby Sportster for my first bike out of BRC, and even test riding one. Countless friends told me I might as well wear a pink jacket. That wasn't actually what dissuaded me. It was the fact that the bike seemed a dreadful waste of money.

[AutoXer]

"It took me about 2 seconds to reply, "If they are so good, why do you never see a stock Harley.  As soon as someone buys one they start changing it."  The subject has never come up again."


Harley's and Jeeps - both are wonderful devices after you completely rebuild them!

[soonerstan56]

My response to the many cruiser riders(not all are Harley's) at work to the question "why did you buy that" is "I already have a lifestyle".
After giving several that answer I've noticed a lot less (useless) leather and doo-rags.
In fact two have, after some longer rides together, purchased FJR's.
Avoiding the pissing contests will go a long way towards disarming argument.

Stan

[ironmike]

What..?  Don't you know..?

Well, if I have to explain - you wouldn't understand...

 

[Jeff N]

I live and ride in a literal hell called Redding, CA. We're suffering through a late summer freeze here. It was 99 degrees today. Harley riders usually comment on my choice of riding gear before they get the chance to cast hate upon my ride of choice. I'm gone before they can say much more.

[Busy Little Whiner]

You've never taken a supercharged Harley round a sharp bend at a 100, have you Larry?  

Wow... HD hit 100??? OK but aren't you supposed to cruise around sharp bends???
   

[Hardware]

A couple of old buddies that live a couple of thousand kms away ride cruisers.  One just got back into riding and got a used V-Star.  He laughs his head off when I razz the man-pirates and I got him saying "Aaarrrggghhh" with a vengeance...even though he rides a cruiser.  

The other buddy - I've known for about 20 years - just got back into the "lifestyle" and got a used Electra-Glide Ultra Classic in "Black Cherry" colour...he's proud of it as it's the bike he's always dreamed of owning.

They sent pictures of themselves in chaps, doo rags standing in front of a Harley boutique...

I sent an e-mail back asking who the gay pirates were standing in front of the dildo shop...

I then sent them pictures of the wife's and my bikes and asked them when they were going to get "real" bikes.

It's all in good fun...and if ya' can't have a laugh every now and then, what's the friggin' point?  

[M.Brane]

It's all in good fun...and if ya' can't have a laugh every now and then, what's the friggin' point?  

 Yup.

 My friend's comment on the whole thing from our last ride:

[krumgrinder]

Sadly, the American flag it is wrapped in was also made in China. Try to find an American mad American flag...

Actually, it's pretty easy here in Ohio:

http://www.flagladyohio.com/store/

She's actually pretty famous in political circles...

[chornbe]

Dude. Fuck them. As an owner of a Harley I have had my fair share of ribbing from both metrics and HD riders. People that rag on other people's bikes are jackasses. I prefer not to ride with them. They are not pure motorcyclists.

Oddly enough, this is one of the very few posts worth a damn in this thread.  

[ride+dive]

You should have told him that you didn't feel the need to dress up like a pirate today.

[atadaskew]

 Yup.

 My friend's comment on the whole thing from our last ride:

Is that Lockwood Valley road?

[Playinthestreet]

Having ridden a Road King Custom with "beach bars" yesterday for the first time..... anyone that can do a u-turn with those bars and not look like he/she's having an epileptic fit wins in my book.  Yikes!!!!!!!!

I'd better get better soon, leaving for Indy in any hour.

[Geoff]

Oddly enough, this is one of the very few posts worth a damn in this thread.  

I agree!

[M.Brane]

Is that Lockwood Valley road?

 Why yes it is.

[Phenix_Rider]

"Well, my bike is fast, smooth, nimble, light, gorgeous, economical, versatile, and cost less than your accessory package.  What do you think?"

[stevent]

I dunno'....I'd have stuck with the ol' "cause I'm not a faggot like you" and called it good...  

[weaselope]

I think that both deserve each other.

[Galo]

They sent pictures of themselves in chaps, doo rags standing in front of a Harley boutique...

I sent an e-mail back asking who the gay pirates were standing in front of the dildo shop...

It's all in good fun...and if ya' can't have a laugh every now and then, what's the friggin' point?  

And I think this is best post here....
 

[OMJunk]

How about "my standards must be higher than yours."

[ruffcut]

"It's not that hard, really - I just have to remember to be a little easier on the throttle."

   Ding Ding Ding we have a winner!!!!!!!