Harley Riders please explain something to me

[Ack535]

Recently I have noticed an increase in the below described Harley activity. Please explain why?

Whenever I am in a parking lot (i.e. getting gas with my FJR, or getting off at a restaurant) and a group of Harley riders pull in; why do they feel the need to pull in the clutch and rev the engine. We all can hear the bike coming from a mile away, why do they feel the need to attract even more attention to themselves. I have several theories involving narcissistic behavior and the insecurity that comes with  riding an inferior bike, but come on guys, give it a rest.

Disclaimer: I am not a Harley basher, nor is this thread intended to insult anyones childish ego. I have friends that ride Harley's. I am just seeking enlightenment...

Pete

[Mr.Awesome]

This should explain a lot    http://www.southparkstudios.com/full-episodes/s13e12-the-f-word  And no, I am not a harley basher. Would love to own one but can not get past the price of one.

[Rincewind]

In some cases it's so the bike doesn't stall.  

[SilverHound]

Disclaimer: I am not a Harley basher, nor is this thread intended to insult anyones childish ego.
Pete

I don't ride a Harley but you insulted my childish ego by criticizing my childish ego.  

Actually, that's not necessarily a practice limited to Harleys. You can find just about any group of cruiser riders doing the same thing. It's so everyone can also enjoy the awesomeness of their fierce machines.

I have also seen some wilding packs of squids doing the same thing.

I once was part of that cruiser continuum but have since recognized and corrected the err of my ways.

[Rabidsnipe]

This isn't limited to HD's and their riders. Metric cruisers and sportbike riders do it all the time. It's called showing off.

[Slartibartfast]

I think it's more. It's some kind of V-twin self-affirmation mantra. Remember the swat scene in Blues Brothers where all the swat guys are yelling "Hut! Hut! Hut!" as they are assaulting the building? Even the one lonely guy rappelling down the outside was yelling it to himself. Same thing.  

[et]

Recently I have noticed an increase in the below described Harley activity. Please explain why?

Whenever I am in a parking lot (i.e. getting gas with my FJR, or getting off at a restaurant) and a group of Harley riders pull in; why do they feel the need to pull in the clutch and rev the engine. We all can hear the bike coming from a mile away, why do they feel the need to attract even more attention to themselves. I have several theories involving narcissistic behavior and the insecurity that comes with  riding an inferior bike, but come on guys, give it a rest.

Disclaimer: I am not a Harley basher, nor is this thread intended to insult anyones childish ego. I have friends that ride Harley's. I am just seeking enlightenment...

Pete

Stupidity

[staedtler]

Disclaimer: I am not a Harley basher, nor is this thread intended to insult anyones childish ego. I have friends that ride Harley's. I am just seeking enlightenment...

man, i was wondering where our weekly thread was?

 

[71Fish]

I do it because my penis is small.

[J-Mac]

You guys don't get it, do you...

They're saving lives!
Any time I hear hardlies on the horizon, I say "life savers."

Loud pipes save lives!


The best is to stop and ask them about the reverse gear on their bike. When they say it doesn't have reverse, I ask why they were reving it up while backing.

[chornbe]

I've never heard a single sport bike with loud exhaust being revved to the redline at every opportunity. Ever.





I'm lying.

[FiremanBob]

And what's redline on a Harley, 2250?

[chornbe]

And what's redline on a Harley, 2250?

You hush. It's 2275 on stockers, 2290 on the Stage-3 builds. Sheesh!  

[Max Wedge]

Whenever I am in a parking lot (i.e. getting gas with my FJR, or getting off at a restaurant) .....

All I got from your post was that you REALLY like resturants. A lot.

[chornbe]

LOL

[FBRR]

"I have several theories involving narcissistic behavior and the insecurity that comes with  riding an inferior bike"

So you rev your FJR whenever you stop next to a C14!!

DIPSHIT comments are dipshit no matter WHAT bike you ride!

I think what really bugs "stn.net" folks is the fact that "Harley" guy clearly do not think they are riding an inferior BIKE! ( And "sport bike" guys just can't stand the fact that Harley folks enjoy what they have and see no need to have a bike capable of doing 2X or 3X the speed limit.)
It may be slower and heavier, but as one that has owned "other" bikes, I went back to Harley to slow down and enjoy the ride! Just because I choose to do it on a Harley does not make my bike or my riding less valuable to ME!!

And it's funny that a "FJR" guy cannot see the wisdom in that fact, yet complain when REAL Sport bike guys make fun of the FJR. When their beloved FJRER's are maligned,they understand, NOT EVERYONE wishes to ride the same BIKE!

[UFO]

Recently I have noticed an increase in the below described Harley activity. Please explain why?

Whenever I am in a parking lot (i.e. getting gas with my FJR, or getting off at a restaurant) and a group of Harley riders pull in; why do they feel the need to pull in the clutch and rev the engine. We all can hear the bike coming from a mile away, why do they feel the need to attract even more attention to themselves. I have several theories involving narcissistic behavior and the insecurity that comes with  riding an inferior bike, but come on guys, give it a rest.

Disclaimer: I am not a Harley basher, nor is this thread intended to insult anyones childish ego. I have friends that ride Harley's. I am just seeking enlightenment...

Pete

Same reason squids feel the need to start a fuel injected bike at half to full throttle.  Attention whores.

Next thread!

[greywolf]

On the older Carb bikes it was sometimes down to prevent stalling.  Now it's more an excercize in ego by RUBS and Noobs
I see in with crotch rockets too around here .

I don't do it on my Harley or FJR , no point. I'd rather ride in stealth mode .  

[5nines]

This should explain a lot    http://www.southparkstudios.com/full-episodes/s13e12-the-f-word  And no, I am not a harley basher. Would love to own one but can not get past the price of one.

You got to admit   South Park got it right  

[Robbo]

( And "sport bike" guys just can't stand the fact that Harley folks enjoy what they have and see no need to have a bike capable of doing 2X or 3X the speed limit.)

Mostly 3X.....

[Open Sore]

When you pull the clutch in and rev the engine, the centripidal force of the crank makes balancing the bike easier at slow speeds.





And it's fun to make noise.

[1KPerDay]

Recently I have noticed an increase in the below described Harley activity. Please explain why?

You just crawled out under the rock you've apparently been living under for the past 30 years?

[Open Sore]

You just crawled out under the rock you've apparently been living under for the past 30 years?

more like looking for rep points by bashing "Harley" type behavior.

[falconati]

I love these threads.

[atadaskew]

I have never read a thread about Guzzi bashing, yet Guzzis are basically Italian Harleys.

[Mr.Black]

And it's fun to make noise.

 

[Ack535]

I do agree that this type of behavior is not limited to the Harley folks exclusively, it just seems that lately (last month or so) I have seen a disproportionate amount of Harley riders revving their engines at slow speeds with the clutch in with the obvious intent of "hey look at me".

And no I am not buying the centrifical force thing.

Pete

[chornbe]

I admit... any time I go thru' a tunnel or thru' a parking garage or under a train trestle, or any other enclosed area, I like to rev up the Guzzi 'cause it sounds feckin' awesome.

[Mr.Awesome]

I admit... any time I go thru' a tunnel or thru' a parking garage or under a train trestle, or any other enclosed area, I like to rev up the Guzzi 'cause it sounds feckin' awesome.

I do this on just about any bike I'm on.   Especially when I had my GPz with full Muzzy system.  But I have to admit it seems more prone to being on a v twin. I rented a softail classic a few years back and found myself reving it at most stop lights and thought it was cool. And yes....I was doing it on the Guzzi as well.  

[tumbler]

If you "have friends that ride Harleys" why don't you ask them instead of a bunch of STNers? Report back to us what you find out.

[birdrunner]

I've never heard a single sport bike with loud exhaust being revved to the redline at every opportunity. Ever.





I'm lying.

I know someone   with some sweet sounding Jardine exhaust who revs his sport bike everytime he rides through a tunnel,  he's so immature.


Sounds awesome though.

[Ack535]

If you "have friends that ride Harleys" why don't you ask them instead of a bunch of STNers? Report back to us what you find out.

Good idea, I'll check in with them and get back with you.

Pete

[Mr.Black]

Sometimes I put two playing cards in my spokes.

[crispiegee1]

I have never read a thread about Guzzi bashing, yet Guzzis are basically Italian Harleys.

And with that statement, you have officially bashed Guzzis!




 

[Ack535]

So I load up my family and we head out in my car to Hell Michigan (yes there is such a place) for some pre-Halloween shopping/sightseeing. As luck would have it, we get stuck behind a Harley rider and his girl on the back doing 25 mph in a 45 mph zone with really loud straight pipe exhaust.

Inevitably, the wife looks at me and questions me as to why his bike has to be so loud... As if I really know the answer, or somehow I am responsible for all bikers bad behaviors. As we get into Hell, the Harley rider stays true to form, pulls into the parking lot full of minivan soccer mom's and their kids, proceeds to pull the clutch in and (you guessed it) revs the engine several times! Ugh! WTF!

Now I am thinking to myself "how freaking ironic is this".

I mention to my lovely bride (who is now less then amused at this idiotic behavior) that I just posted a thread on Sport-Touring.Net about this very same issue. She's still not impressed, so I leave it alone.

In the interest of full disclosure, later on in the day some dude pulls in on a Triumph Speed 4, hangs around for a few minutes, and then blasts off in a vain attempt to impress the Harley crowd. Once again I get the evil eye from my spouse who is now more pissed off at bikers then before, and repeats something to the effect of "this is just like North Carolina" referring to our family vacation this past summer on lake Santeetlah/Robbinsville NC.

My point is this: Regardless of what bike you ride, we are all ambassadors of our chosen motorsport.

Pete

[chornbe]

In the interest of full disclosure, later on in the day some dude pulls in on a Triumph Speed 4, hangs around for a few minutes, and then blasts off in a vain attempt to impress the Harley crowd. Once again I get the evil eye from my spouse who is now more pissed off at bikers then before, and repeats something to the effect of "this is just like North Carolina" referring to our family vacation this past summer on lake Santeetlah/Robbinsville NC.

My point is this: Regardless of what bike you ride, we are all ambassadors of our chosen motorsport.

... which happens ALL the time out there in the wild.

[County Tar]

So I load up my family and we head out in my car to Hell Michigan (yes there is such a place) for some pre-Halloween shopping/sightseeing. As luck would have it, we get stuck behind a Harley rider and his girl on the back doing 25 mph in a 45 mph zone with really loud straight pipe exhaust.

Inevitably, the wife looks at me and questions me as to why his bike has to be so loud... As if I really know the answer, or somehow I am responsible for all bikers bad behaviors. As we get into Hell, the Harley rider stays true to form, pulls into the parking lot full of minivan soccer mom's and their kids, proceeds to pull the clutch in and (you guessed it) revs the engine several times! Ugh! WTF!

Pete, you were going to Hell.  What did you expect?  

[atadaskew]

I mention to my lovely bride (who is now less then amused at this idiotic behavior) that I just posted a thread on Sport-Touring.Net about this very same issue. She's still not impressed, so I leave it alone.

It's stunning, stunning I tell's ya, that women are not impressed by us posting on StN.

[crispiegee1]

My point is this: Regardless of what bike you ride, we are all ambassadors of our chosen motorsport.

Well put.    

This is why I stopped hanging out with other sport bike guys with my YZF600R (I consider myself a sport tourer) and also why I want to trade the Bub pipes on the Eldorado for something quieter. I've got nothing to prove, other than maybe a high odometer reading and dead bugs on my headlight.

[Ack535]

Well put.    

This is why I stopped hanging out with other sport bike guys with my YZF600R (I consider myself a sport tourer) and also why I want to trade the Bub pipes on the Eldorado for something quieter. I've got nothing to prove, other than maybe a high odometer reading and dead bugs on my headlight.

I couldn't agree more!

Pete

[FBRR]

For those that don't know "HELL." ON any weekend day you expect to find the "TOWN" ( A bar and a"Hell" store)will always be filled with Harleys!! To go there "shopping" is the joke here!! He was trolling.

[sammyseaman]

I almost always rev my bike while at lights and such. Not high rpm revs but revs non-the-less. My Thrux is running a bit rich (I think. I have to check plugs soon) so it loads up a little when idling. Also I grew up on breathed on two stroke motocross bikes and had street rods with large cams and you couldn't let them idle too long. They'd load up. So I guess it's outa habit for me. Who cares  

[stevent]

This is right up there with the standard "I changed the cans, jets and airbox on my bike, now it runs like shit" thread............With the old Bendix carbs on Shovelheads it was hard to get a bike to idle well so you had to rev it, that all changed with the Keihins from '78 on and specially now with EFI, they purr like kittens all day long. Yanking the throttle is just a throw back I guess.