rants and raves

[VfrAndy]

Okay Guys, this will probably lift some eyebrows. I just need to clear some shit up. Harleys... what is the deal with this? I come from a country with a lot of motorcycles, even with our short summers there is the "love" for this sport. Don´t get me wrong, with a population on only 5 million people we have a lot of motorcycles crotch rockets nakeds and Harleys and other customs. We all wave to a fellow biker passing because it´s just the decent thing to do. We are all bikers. We do not pay attention to what make or model the bike is. As I said, we are all bikers. Harleys are not rare in Finland, we probably have more per capital than here in the states. The only group of people you DON´T wave to is the 1% bikers, also known as Hells Angels or the 1% of bikers the American motorcycle association does not approve of....
So what is the deal with American Harley riders? Do they actually think that they are better riders than us? They think that because they smell like shit and are covered in tattoos that they are outlaws? Don´t have to wave to any other bike than the one dripping oil? Part of some elite club that do not accept a Honda as a real bike?
I use to be young and naive and wanted a Harley. But at some point in my life after riding a lot of motocross and endurance and riding a bikes that exceeded Harley performance in every other aspect than decibels I finally came to my senses and bought a REAL motorcycle. Performance. Period.

[Pittenger5]

Sounds good, have fun.

[GixerJockey]

[Stiggy]

Unfortunately >90% of Harley riders are in it for an image. My father is one of them, I can't get a DOT helmet on his head at all. He say's they make him look goofy, I say "goofy as you will look as a veggie?"
Part of the image is to not pay attention to sportbikes. My general rule is I don't wave unless waved upon. If a Harley guy wants to wave at me, I'll return the gesture if it is safe for me to do so, if not, no big deal. Don't try and make friends with every bike you pass.

[VfrAndy]

Unfortunately >90% of Harley riders are in it for an image. My father is one of them, I can't get a DOT helmet on his head at all. He say's they make him look goofy, I say "goofy as you will look as a veggie?"
Part of the image is to not pay attention to sportbikes. My general rule is I don't wave unless waved upon. If a Harley guy wants to wave at me, I'll return the gesture if it is safe for me to do so, if not, no big deal. Don't try and make friends with every bike you pass.

Thank you. That was a reasonable answer. IMAGE. I am not anti-Harley, but I´m not pro-Harley either. I might have gotten a bit carried away in my first post. Just a weird culture shock to me
Ride Safe

[lrrs699]

Harleys are an excuse for grown men to play dress up accountant during the week....badass biker on the weekend....IMHO

[Kenn157]

Having had sport bikes in the past, the Gladius is my first standard bike since my Suzuki GS550ES. On coming sport bikers usually don't wave at me. They don't see a fairing they don't wave. Harley's you're right don't wave at all. Nothings changed in the ten years since I was on a bike. I'm dressed with full helmet, gloves, jacket and the squid boys/girls are in shorts and tee's. I don't know about you guys but I can not tell what make a bike is from afar/oncoming, so wave, we're both on two wheels.

[WordTooYoMamma]

Wirelessly posted (Tilt: HTC-8900/1.2 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.6) UP.Link/6.3.1.20.0)

Wave to everyone. Problem solved. Somewhere deep down the weekend image harley driver dies inside because of the fact he bought such an expensive bike with an instruction manual thay says no waving or your warrenty is voided.

[DucDave]

I wave to everyone and nearly everyone waves back...even old ladys walking their dogs!

[Kenn157]

I wave to everyone and nearly everyone waves back...even old ladys walking their dogs!

I have found that indeed it's true. If you make the "first move" most will return the wave. a lot of us have the, I'm not going to wave until they wave mentality. Are you mental? Wave for cripe sakes! Even the finger would be an acknowlegement!

[Kenn157]

or 4!

[Pigman]

HAHAHHAHA they don't wave to me on my GSXR but will wave to my buddy even if he is right behind me or in front.......doesn't make much sense but they do own a Harley.

[Danno]

I wave at everyone but scooters. Those twits are in their own world.

Eddie Izzard 'splains it - caio!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PmuHWPZSkY

[Kenn157]

I wave at everyone but scooters. Those twits are in their own world.

Eddie Izzard 'splains it - caio!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PmuHWPZSkY

When ever I'd see one I used to make off I was going to kick them off the road.

[Sheppo]

hahahaha yet again the sportbike vs harley debates.... I ride both. I wave on both I get waves back. I don't care if initiate the wave or not. Some people are snobs or noobs it really doesn't matter. Just ride your ride and who cares. This debate is as old as the VEST one.

[CB750F]

im new to riding and i do the low wave when on coming bikes approch. sometime i get the wave back sometime i dont majority of the ones i get back are sport riders, i do get some harleys to gesture back, shit ive even gottin the finger a few times lol. i just laugh cause they are jealous, that my 30yr old bike looks better then there bike. dont sweat it wave or dont, if you get it back cool if not carry on. i also honk and wave at just random people, its funny to see there reactions. most people are like" was he waving at me?" and do the half wave cause they dont know what to do lmfao.

[Omahastylin16]

i dont wave at anyone *shrug*

[roadracer685]

Harleys are an excuse for grown men to play dress up accountant during the week....badass biker on the weekend....IMHO

Once again lumping harley riders all together,i will agree alot are douch bags but am i one because i have one? I also have a Apilla RSV and im an expert roadracer and have owned just about every kind of bike around and i bought a Harley because its comfy and it will hold its value and since ive bought it ive met alot of different people some are dicks but ill tell ya alot are just nice people just my 2 cents.And by the way i wave to everyone.

[Pittenger5]

This debate is as old as the VEST one.

I STILL WANT MY MOTHERFUCKING CARE BEAR VEST.

[Wanderer]

An oldie but a goodie
(FWIW, rather like some HDs. Certainly wouldnt say no to a XR1200)

Top Ten Reasons Why Harley Riders Donʼt Wave

10. Afraid it will invalidate warranty.
9. Leather and studs make it too heavy to raise arm.
8. Refuse to wave to anyone whose bike is already paid for.
7. Afraid to let go of handlebars because they might vibrate off.
6. Rushing wind would blow scabs off the new tattoos.
5. Angry because just took out second mortgage to pay luxury tax on new Harley.
4. Just discovered the fine print in owner's manual and realized H-D is partially owned by Honda.
3. Can't tell if other riders are waving or just reaching to cover their ears like everyone else.
2. Remembers the last time a Harley rider waved back, he impaled his hand on spiked helmet.
1. They're too tired from spending hours polishing all that chrome to lift their arms.

Top Ten Reasons Why Gold Wing Riders Donʼt Wave

10. Wasn't sure whether other rider was waving or making an obscene gesture.
9. Afraid might get frostbite if hand is removed from heated grip.
8. Has arthritis and the pas t 400 miles have made it difficult to raise arm.
7. Reflection from etched windshield momentarily blinded him.
6. The espresso machine just finished.
5. Was actually asleep when other rider waved.
4. Was in a three-way conference call with stockbroker and accessories dealer.
3. Was distracted by odd shaped blip on radar screen.
2. Was simultaneously adjusting the air suspension, seat height, programmable CD player, seat temperature, and satellite navigation system.
1. Couldn't find the "auto wave back" button on dashboard.

Top Ten Reasons Why Sport Bike Riders Donʼt Wave

10. They have not been riding long enough to know they're supposed to.
9. They're going too fast to have time enough to register the movement and respond.
8. You weren't wearing bright enough gear.
7. If they stick their arm out going that fast they'll rip it out of the socket.
6. They're too occupied with trying to get rid of their chicken strips.
5. They look way too cool with both hands on the bars or they don't want to unbalance themselves while standing on the tank.
4. Their skin tight-Kevlar- ballistic- nylon-kangaroo- leather suits prevent any position other than fetal.
3. Raising an arm allows bugs into the armholes of their tank tops.
2. It's too hard to do one-handed stoppies.
1. They were too busy slipping their flip- flop back on.

Top Ten Reasons Why BMW Riders Donʼt Wave

10. New Aerostich suit too stiff to raise arm.
9. Removing a hand from the bars is considered "bad form."
8. Your bike isn't weird enough looking to justify acknowledgement.
7. Too sore from an 800-mile day on a stock "comfort" seat.
6. Too busy programming the GPS, monitoring radar, listening to ipod, XM, and talking on the cell phone.
5. He's an Iron Butt rider and you're not!
4. Wires from Gerbings are too short.
3. You're not riding the "right kind" of BMW.
2. You haven't been properly introduced.
1. Afraid it will be misinterpreted as a friendly gesture.

[Sheppo]

An oldie but a goodie
(FWIW, rather like some HDs. Certainly wouldnt say no to a XR1200)

Top Ten Reasons Why Harley Riders Donʼt Wave

10. Afraid it will invalidate warranty.
9. Leather and studs make it too heavy to raise arm.
8. Refuse to wave to anyone whose bike is already paid for.
7. Afraid to let go of handlebars because they might vibrate off.
6. Rushing wind would blow scabs off the new tattoos.
5. Angry because just took out second mortgage to pay luxury tax on new Harley.
4. Just discovered the fine print in owner's manual and realized H-D is partially owned by Honda.
3. Can't tell if other riders are waving or just reaching to cover their ears like everyone else.
2. Remembers the last time a Harley rider waved back, he impaled his hand on spiked helmet.
1. They're too tired from spending hours polishing all that chrome to lift their arms.

Top Ten Reasons Why Gold Wing Riders Donʼt Wave

10. Wasn't sure whether other rider was waving or making an obscene gesture.
9. Afraid might get frostbite if hand is removed from heated grip.
8. Has arthritis and the pas t 400 miles have made it difficult to raise arm.
7. Reflection from etched windshield momentarily blinded him.
6. The espresso machine just finished.
5. Was actually asleep when other rider waved.
4. Was in a three-way conference call with stockbroker and accessories dealer.
3. Was distracted by odd shaped blip on radar screen.
2. Was simultaneously adjusting the air suspension, seat height, programmable CD player, seat temperature, and satellite navigation system.
1. Couldn't find the "auto wave back" button on dashboard.

Top Ten Reasons Why Sport Bike Riders Donʼt Wave

10. They have not been riding long enough to know they're supposed to.
9. They're going too fast to have time enough to register the movement and respond.
8. You weren't wearing bright enough gear.
7. If they stick their arm out going that fast they'll rip it out of the socket.
6. They're too occupied with trying to get rid of their chicken strips.
5. They look way too cool with both hands on the bars or they don't want to unbalance themselves while standing on the tank.
4. Their skin tight-Kevlar- ballistic- nylon-kangaroo- leather suits prevent any position other than fetal.
3. Raising an arm allows bugs into the armholes of their tank tops.
2. It's too hard to do one-handed stoppies.
1. They were too busy slipping their flip- flop back on.

Top Ten Reasons Why BMW Riders Donʼt Wave

10. New Aerostich suit too stiff to raise arm.
9. Removing a hand from the bars is considered "bad form."
8. Your bike isn't weird enough looking to justify acknowledgement.
7. Too sore from an 800-mile day on a stock "comfort" seat.
6. Too busy programming the GPS, monitoring radar, listening to ipod, XM, and talking on the cell phone.
5. He's an Iron Butt rider and you're not!
4. Wires from Gerbings are too short.
3. You're not riding the "right kind" of BMW.
2. You haven't been properly introduced.
1. Afraid it will be misinterpreted as a friendly gesture.

AMEN !

[mikeb]

I use to be young and naive and wanted a Harley. But at some point in my life after riding a lot of motocross and endurance and riding a bikes that exceeded Harley performance in every other aspect than decibels I finally came to my senses and bought a REAL motorcycle. Performance. Period.

i dont wave at anyone *shrug*

[DucDave]

good one Giles!

[DucDave]

Originally Posted by VfrAndy
I use to be young and naive and wanted a Harley. But at some point in my life after riding a lot of motocross and endurance and riding a bikes that exceeded Harley performance in every other aspect than decibels I finally came to my senses and bought a REAL motorcycle. Performance. Period.

You should have been at the Grand Nationals last year. Lots of 'Harleys' demonstating what 'performance' means on a 1 mile dirt oval.

Performance is very context specific. A Gold Wing is hard to beat if 'Performance' means the ability to eat up mile after mile after mile. An Ex500 is hard to beat if 'Performance' means low cost track weapon. A Scooter is hard to beat if 'Performance' means 100 mpg.

Motorcycling's a big tent. Keep the flap to your tent open and you'll be surprised all the cool people you might get to meet!

[Honclfibr]

I STILL WANT MY MOTHERFUCKING CARE BEAR VEST.

Liar, what you want is a pedo bear vest.