How do you deal with motorcycle snobs?

[blues2cruise]

When I purchased my new 650 V-Star Classic, it was a thrilling thing for me to do. It was love at first sit, so to speak.

The comments people make aren't going to make me love my new bike any less, but I wish people would keep their yaps shut.

For example, when people make comments like ...it has drum brakes on the back...it's no good. It should have discs on the back as well as the front.
Or....it's just a Harley wannabe....
I tell them not to rain on my parade. The bike may not suit them, but it suits me.
Then there is this one....It's a copy cat. It's designed after a Harley....I tell them maybe Harley was designed after Yamaha.

Or....You should change the pipes....I ask them why? I like them the way they are.

Why do people feel it's necessary to always make these snobbish comments?
Much the same thing happens regarding the helmet. I have chosen to wear a full face helmet. It seems everyone has an opinion and finds it necessary to make disparaging remarks about it.
How do you handle this? Any recommendations for a comeback without resorting to rudeness?

[MASHBY]

Basicaly it all boils down to jelousy a lot of the time.Think about it you get to do something a lot of people would like to do but never get round to it for one reason or another.And for the ones that ride who make a comment I have found usualy that they are so inscure about themselves that they must make themselves feel big at any cost.Just Ignore them and think I get to ride a cool bike while your stuck in your cage.

[Scott58]

LOL you should ride a 250.

[cb360]

Jerks are gonna be jerks whatever the subject they happen to be talking about... I happen to be a decent golfer and I have a decent set of clubs. I can't imagine playing with a friend or acquantaince who can't break 100 with their hand-me-down, mix-and-match golf clubs and saying, "You should really dump those Callaway knockoffs, they suck." At the same time, I've been beaten soundly by players with thirty-year old blades and a persimmon driver. It ain't the bike, it's the rider. A $20,000 Harley doesn't make anyone superior. But a lot of really cool people have really cool bikes - don't let the a-holes get you down. I pretty high percentage of the other bikers I know are nice and interesting people. Anyone who feels the need to say something like that about your bike or you personally, probably isn't someone you're gonna be friends with anyway.

[BuzZz]

Ask them where thier bike is or how much riding they do. If they don't ride, thier opinion don't count for much, does it? Even if the ydo ride and do preffer a different style of bike or gear, that's thier bag. You have yours and you enjoy it.

Just look at them, shake your head and laugh... then they will fell like they are missing something....If they ask what it is, just tell them they wouldn't get it and ride off.

[High_Side]

It doesn't matter what you ride, there is someone who will try to get off on putting it down. If they NEED an expensive bike to look good for others, they are riding for the wrong reason. There are alot of people like this, some may figure it out, others won't. You have. It's clearly their problem.....

[Gummiente]

IMO, a true biker accepts all makes and models of motorcycles without question - it's the rider that gets judged. Anyone who makes disparaging comments about your choice of ride is a person who just doesn't get what motorcycling is all about. If YOU are happy on your bike, then that's all that matters. Ignore the twits and ride with the real bikers.

BTW, next time someone calls it a Harley copy, tell them you bought it for half the price of a real one.

[old-n-slow]

They are not making "comments" what they are spouting is put-downs. Why? Because you have something nice and new (to you) and they don't. Somehow it makes them feel better if they can irk you by pointing out what they consider deficiencies.

Be your own man/woman, there are many of those bikes out there and the owners love them. Equip it the way you want. Do you do other things in your life just to satisfy other people? I doubt it. The only person you need to please is yourself, and nobody but you can tell you how to do that.

So throw on that full face helmet, drop the shield and go for it. Let the wind on your body, the pavement streaming past and the subtle sound of muted exhaust soothe your nerves and leave them bungholes all behind. After all, that's why you bought the bike in the first place wasn't it?

[Telesque]

I'm not sure exactly what it is, but it seems to be a cultural norm to constantly want/need 'the best', and to clearly assert the fact when something isn't.

If someone tells you that you should put pipes on your bike, just tell them 'No, you should pipes on your bike, I like mine the way it is'. Very effective, especially if said person doesn't even own a bike.

I've gotten the 'Harley Wannabee' thing a couple times. What do I care? I like it the way it is. My bike > Their opinion.

Just flash 'em a smile, make sure they see that 'I love biking' twinkle in your eye, and if their opinion is worth a damn, they'll probably just agree with whatever you tell them.

[Aquaduct]

Well, my whole life could be defined as "different" so I'm not sure I'd even notice other's rude comments.

Right now I ride a Triumph sport tourer that probably nobody this side of the pond would even recognize. And being a Brit bike, that shuts down all the nasty japanese bike comments. Maybe it's just that people can't figure out what to say to me

But I'm 44 now and my wife is back in school getting her nursing degree and we're getting her her own 450 Rebel from my mom. So if something like that did come up, I'd just point out that I'm sleeping with a hot college biker babe, and she likes it, so what would be your point?

Seriously, the real bikers I know (and I know quite a few) of all stripes are never that way. Always interested in what you ride and how you like it. Great people.

F**k 'em if they can't take a joke!