venting

[Flyinfool]

Living here in Milwaukee WI, the home of HD, it sure seems like 90% of the bikes on the road are HD.

Due to those kind of numbers they all spout that as the measure of quality and "reliability".

 

My standard answer to those that try to pick on my poor old '88 Venture is "When Harley technology is finally good enough to make a shaft drive, water cooled, smooth running, quiet motorcycle like every other brand has been doing for the last 30 years, I'll consider one."

 

But then the rest of the world may have moved on to magnetic drive or some other cool technology.

 

I'm not that way, I will ride with anyone as long as any LOUD bikes are behind me.

When a good friend says that he will lead on a ride, I just remind him that his 1 year old HD does not have enough horse power to lead my 21 year dinasore anywhere.

 

We have a lot of friendly banter over brands. And I do a lot of

[timgray]

I was on a Ride to the Balwin Blessing of the bikes this year, My buddy and I were the only two non HD's in the pack, and because we are greenies we took up the tail.

 

After about 15 intersections we were up near the middle of the pack. We all stopped for Gas and a walkaround when 4 of the guys walked up to me and asked...

 

"what is that bike?"

 

I guess on the last twisties they could not keep up, I' was scraping pegs and passing in the inside lane the pack trying to get to the front to take my turn at intersection blocking. No effort in my part, the bike felt solid and I was not pushing it.

 

I guess harleys cant take corners well.

 

The second time was when the wife was slow getting her helmet on and I had to catch up to the pack. Gloves accidentally slipped off the clutch when I was gunning it and the front wheel came off the ground by about a foot. When we arrived at baldwin I was asked by several riders again what I was riding and the did I change the engine or hotrod it to make it pull the front off the ground like that.

 

I was smiling from ear to ear for the rest of the day that a bunch of really seasoned and old Harley riders were impressed with my old clunker bike.

 

REAL bikers will respect you and your ride. The wanna-be bikers will look down upon your "not a harley". That's how you can tell the real bikers from the ones who are simply faking it.

[spyderhead]

if you don't mind pushing it. I have had three Harleys over the years. The first caught on fire on the Denver-Boulder highway (barely escaped with my . . . um . . . parts, but the bike burned to a golden, chromed crisp). Second one was an ElectraGlide Classic. Ran fine until I turned it off. Dead batteries. Ate batteries and voltage regulators like popcorn. Third one was a Softail. Ok. For bar hopping only.

I have had my 2005 RSTD for almost five years now, and not one single glitch, not one problem. This is, without a doubt, the best bike I have ever owned (been riding 45+ years now). I have little or nothing for Harley snobs. Do not owe them a d*mn thing. Not even respect. If they like to push, load into pickups, feed the slow beast premium gas, etc, etc., so be it. I just wanted something . . . GOOD! . . . this time around.

[Dragonslayer]

I am venting here, I just bought a 2004 venture, and one of the harley guys asked me when I was going to move up. I told him I was not ready for a Goldwing yet.

Then he said, No I mean up to a harley, to which I replied, that going down, not up.

I get tired of that attitude that I are ridding something less than they are because I don't ride a harley. It use to be a joke, but I have began to take it personally.

just venting

 

Gregg

I just laugh at them while we're having to haul them out of the road or pick up their lost parts on the road or work on them at every rest stop on a group ride. If fact I am getting to the point where I don't even like to ride with Harleys because of how problematic they are or seem to be.

[Dragonslayer]

I was on a Ride to the Balwin Blessing of the bikes this year, My buddy and I were the only two non HD's in the pack, and because we are greenies we took up the tail.

 

After about 15 intersections we were up near the middle of the pack. We all stopped for Gas and a walkaround when 4 of the guys walked up to me and asked...

 

"what is that bike?"

 

I guess on the last twisties they could not keep up, I' was scraping pegs and passing in the inside lane the pack trying to get to the front to take my turn at intersection blocking. No effort in my part, the bike felt solid and I was not pushing it.

 

I guess harleys cant take corners well.

 

The second time was when the wife was slow getting her helmet on and I had to catch up to the pack. Gloves accidentally slipped off the clutch when I was gunning it and the front wheel came off the ground by about a foot. When we arrived at baldwin I was asked by several riders again what I was riding and the did I change the engine or hotrod it to make it pull the front off the ground like that.

 

I was smiling from ear to ear for the rest of the day that a bunch of really seasoned and old Harley riders were impressed with my old clunker bike.

 

REAL bikers will respect you and your ride. The wanna-be bikers will look down upon your "not a harley". That's how you can tell the real bikers from the ones who are simply faking it.

Here Here Well said, I have had similar experiences. There is nothing more enjoyable then smoking Harleys when you run across them.

[Dragonslayer]

There always a few snobs that think the only bike to own is a Harley and to each there own and if they want a Harley they will find a way to get it. I have seen very few people with a Harley that did not have to do a lot of up keep & expensive repair's, the price of ownship is to high. You can always tell its a Harley by the way they are pushing it.

I'll say one thing about Harleys............. At least you can push them. I don't want to have to push my 87 VR anywhere that has more than a downhill grade.

[Sailor]

I get a lot of the guff about getting a Harley, even from non riders. I just tell them I would rather ride it than push it. You could always mention that Harley had to go to Japan to get the parts for the evolution engine machined. It is assembled in the U.S. Those neat Harley boots are made by Hush Puppy.

[KiteSquid]

I own two bikes right now.

 

A 2007 Yamaha Royal Star Venture

 

A 1950 Harley-Davidson FL

 

 

Guess which one is for sale.

[Dano]

Saw a guy pull up at the Advance Auto Parts in Oberlin yesterday morning on a mid-70's HD. you KNEW that guy knew how to work on his own bike. Then the pack of new bike riders pulled out of the Marathon. You know the guy I would talk to and would talk back with me!

 

Dan

[Venturous Randy]

A couple years ago I lined up with a guy at a stop light that was a left turn onto the onramp on to the interstate. It was a long ramp up hill that murged into one lane. The guy was on one of the "Big Dog" type bikes and he was sitting there rapping on the throttle. I was on the outside lane and when the light changed he took off. He was at least a bike length ahead of me by the time we made the turn and he was obviously wide open. I cranked it on and passed him in 1st, and pulled him a couple of bike lengths. We both had to brake hard as there was a car at the top of the ramp running about 55 that was murgeing. Since there was not any traffic coming, I flipped my left turn signal on and when I had room, I went to the left lane with him about a foot behind me. I again pulled him a couple of bike lengths and then slowed down. As he passed me he would not even look over at me.

I wonder if he told his buddies about getting smoked by some old bike that kinda looked like an old Gold Wing, but could run off and leave him?

RandyA

[cowpuc]

I own two bikes right now.

 

A 2007 Yamaha Royal Star Venture

 

A 1950 Harley-Davidson FL

 

 

Guess which one is for sale.

 

 

So Skidder,, have you got pics of the FL anywhere online for us folks who like Harleys to look at?? Also, what are you asking??

Tks

Puc

[KiteSquid]

So Skidder,, have you got pics of the FL anywhere online for us folks who like Harleys to look at?? Also, what are you asking??

Tks

Puc

 

I don't have any photos up on the web. but I should get some up.....

 

 

I am asking $18,000 for it.

 

 

I am not trying too hard to sell it as where would I find another??? If someone comes up with the $$$ then she is gone...

[Yammer Dan]

As Buddy said a while back on this one, it's not what you ride but if you ride. And even that don't get it. So many different idiots out there anymore. Like the one that wiped me out last week . To save a few bucks on his insurance he will lie and ruin me. And probally walk away smiling. (for a while)thinking he is doing right. the way he was raised. hard to find the right words but the attitude is a part of them and you are not going to change it.

[frogmaster]

I am venting here, I just bought a 2004 venture, and one of the harley guys asked me when I was going to move up. I told him I was not ready for a Goldwing yet.

Then he said, No I mean up to a harley, to which I replied, that going down, not up.

I get tired of that attitude that I are ridding something less than they are because I don't ride a harley. It use to be a joke, but I have began to take it personally.

just venting

 

Gregg

 

Gregg, YOU NAILED IT. I WILL remember these replies for my next Harley Dude.

[jer878]

My cousins (I & II) are big in to the HD (hundred dollars) and 2 of them bought matching 08 Ultra's. Now the younger on will "race" with me and were about even. Keeping in mind that I have about $16,500 in my 07 that I bought for $14,780 new out the door and added some extras ( bag rails, truck rack, BUB sleepers, Diamond R back rest, passing lights, turn & headlight visor, hd tail lights & highway pegs).

They, on the other hand paid about $21,000 and another $1,500 for a race tuner and Rinehart (BUB) pipes and another g or so for some chrome do-dads.

Now I'll give you that the Ultra has a fine audio system compared to the antiquated Venture's and the cruise seems more operator friendly, BUT it ain't worth 8 g's to me.

 

The only issue I've had is the clutch gear thingy that whined like a broke down HD rider, That was replace by warranty. And the dealer I bought the thing from plugged the antana's in wrong and was buggin' out the radio, fixed by my local dealer.

 

Just IMHO

Edited June 8, 2009 by jer878

[Snarley Bill]

just can't seem to get on board for this dislike of other bikers, whether they ride a harley or a cheap chinese scooter. i met a winger this weekend that i emailed later and he told me all the nights they had rides if i wanted to participate. then he informed me ,and i qoute, we are just regular people we don't wear those funny vests and fancy pants. i'm not into the costume but i do have one, not for the looks, but the chaps are for my warmth and protection and my vest with all the patches is because i am proud of all the meets i have been to and i am proud to wear the american flag. i just wrote this guy and his group off. to each his own. i don't hold his views against him, but just not my kind of people. i'm not going to lower myself to bad mouth him, cuz i ain't perfect myself. a harley is just another bike to me. if i wanted one i would have one. they just don't have a particular model that suits me. we have alot of harley riders on this site and quite a few who would like to have one. i don't even know why these threads go on and on. we are all bikers. there are good bikers and there are bad ones. take the bike away and the people don't change. there are good people and there are alot that aren't worth nothing. the bike don't make the person. just my 2 cents