That only true bikers ride Harleys is pure hogwash

[totalmotorcycle]

That only true bikers ride Harleys is pure hogwash
Tuesday, December 5, 2006 - By Mike Seate - TRIBUNE-REVIEW - pittsburghlive.com


The rain was coming down in a steady torrent, causing water to seep into tiny holes in my riding leathers. Each time an 18-wheeler passed, my helmet's visor misted over while hydroplaning caused my motorcycle's front wheel to experience an unnerving shimmy.
At a stoplight, I promised myself a tall glass of something single malt at the end of this cold, hair-raising motorcycle ride. But just as I shifted gears to resume my journey, I spotted a guy in a pickup truck waving to me with his middle finger.

Across his back window was a massive Harley-Davidson motorcycles logo, which he pointed to repeatedly. As my bike drew alongside his truck, he shouted, "Buy a Harley, you freak!"

Instead of being insulted, I actually managed to laugh.

How did motorcycling become so cockeyed that a person commuting in lousy weather on a bike can be derided by someone who considers himself more of a biker because he rides to work in a Harley pickup truck?

Ah, but apparently, the ride itself is not the question. My friend with the giant decal is one of millions of fashion-conscious bikers who are more concerned with looking cool on sunny weekends than actually putting their tires where their mouths are.

This phenomenon started back in the early 1990s, when Harleys began appearing in hip fashion magazines, movies and TV shows. Suddenly, people who wouldn't ride a Schwinn were buying leather chaps, growing facial hair and playing biker on the weekends.

And instead of riding motorbikes for travel, adventure or great fuel economy, these folks bought motorcycles for the same reason the girls on "Sex and the City" adore Manolo Blahnik shoes: they're expensive, cool and everybody notices them.

As a result, you can now buy Harley-Davidson T-shirts, cookie jars, shot glasses and hundreds of other items in factory-sponsored stores that don't even sell actual motorcycles.

Because of this, I seldom bother to ride my motorcycles on the weekends as the roads are clogged with leather-clad poseurs, all revving their unmuffled exhausts for attention. On weekdays, the roads are again mine to explore as these Brandos-in-training have parked their Hogs in favor of the family car.

Not to wax self-righteous here. If people want to use their motorcycles to play weekend biker, be my guest.

But when it's cold and raining outside, I'd bet that owning a fashionable motorcycle pales to braving the elements and actually riding one.

[Johnj]

Johnny Cash - Suppertime

[Rydr]

That only true bikers ride Harleys is pure hogwash
Tuesday, December 5, 2006 - By Mike Seate - TRIBUNE-REVIEW - pittsburghlive.com


The rain was coming down in a steady torrent, causing water to seep into tiny holes in my riding leathers. Each time an 18-wheeler passed, my helmet's visor misted over while hydroplaning caused my motorcycle's front wheel to experience an unnerving shimmy.
At a stoplight, I promised myself a tall glass of something single malt at the end of this cold, hair-raising motorcycle ride. But just as I shifted gears to resume my journey, I spotted a guy in a pickup truck waving to me with his middle finger.

Across his back window was a massive Harley-Davidson motorcycles logo, which he pointed to repeatedly. As my bike drew alongside his truck, he shouted, "Buy a Harley, you freak!"

Instead of being insulted, I actually managed to laugh.

How did motorcycling become so cockeyed that a person commuting in lousy weather on a bike can be derided by someone who considers himself more of a biker because he rides to work in a Harley pickup truck?

Ah, but apparently, the ride itself is not the question. My friend with the giant decal is one of millions of fashion-conscious bikers who are more concerned with looking cool on sunny weekends than actually putting their tires where their mouths are.

This phenomenon started back in the early 1990s, when Harleys began appearing in hip fashion magazines, movies and TV shows. Suddenly, people who wouldn't ride a Schwinn were buying leather chaps, growing facial hair and playing biker on the weekends.

And instead of riding motorbikes for travel, adventure or great fuel economy, these folks bought motorcycles for the same reason the girls on "Sex and the City" adore Manolo Blahnik shoes: they're expensive, cool and everybody notices them.

As a result, you can now buy Harley-Davidson T-shirts, cookie jars, shot glasses and hundreds of other items in factory-sponsored stores that don't even sell actual motorcycles.

Because of this, I seldom bother to ride my motorcycles on the weekends as the roads are clogged with leather-clad poseurs, all revving their unmuffled exhausts for attention. On weekdays, the roads are again mine to explore as these Brandos-in-training have parked their Hogs in favor of the family car.

Not to wax self-righteous here. If people want to use their motorcycles to play weekend biker, be my guest.

But when it's cold and raining outside, I'd bet that owning a fashionable motorcycle pales to braving the elements and actually riding one.

He's just as bad as the guy in the truck. A couple of bad experiences and he labels all Harley Riders the same. Such a narrow mind. I ride in all kinds of weather. I ride with friends that are on several different makes of motorcycles. My girlfriend rides a Yamaha V Star. Along with my Harleys' I have owned several other makes, mostly dual purpose that I use for adventure touring.

So as far as I'm concerned you know what he can do with his Tar Brush. I don't think the sun shines there.

Actually I guess he's just ABLE

[High_Side]

I'll agree with Rydr on this tired old subject. I've never owned a Harley, (but have owned every one of the Big 4 and Ducati), as they are not for me (yet), but there are dikwads with attitude on every kind of bike. Some of the nicest real riders I've met on the road ride Harleys, and some of the biggest posers in town also ride Harleys. The same can be said of Hondas, Yamahas...etc....
I think for most people who ride often, and for a long time this debate really doesn't exist anymore. It's the people justifying their existance by what they ride that do all of the whining.
My $.02

[Locopez]

yeah...i understand what the guy is saying....I noticed that many years ago.....before I even started to ride....you would see guy in there BMW cars and their nice suits...with little HD stickers in the window...I used to laugh.

I know oh to well about this wanna be bikers....and yes most of them are riding HD bikes. Where I used to live....I would go for a ride...on the weekend...and I would end up cruising by a coffee place...in a nice downtown.....and you would always see a bunch of nice looking bike....not a spec of dirt on them...all shinny...pretty...those guys I would bet...don't ride a whole lot...other than down to that coffee shop to be seen......well I used to call them the StarBuck Riders.....

I ride a Harley and a Honda.....and to see the difference how people react to me is funny as all get up....and I ride year round...if the weather if rain etc....I will ride the honda....because I hate cleaning the HD.......