fast and furious thread inspired..

[draboo]

this semi-rant.

this is probably gonna sound pretty dumb to most of you,but im gonna post about it anyway

years ago(1974) i purchased my first harley davidson motorcycle. back then,harleys were insanely unreliable,left a trail of parts cast off from vibration wherever they went,and were not very popular.

i stuck to my guns aobut harleys for many years,purchasing my second one in around 1992,it was the
the same year(1973) as my first one. this one was a XLH sportster. i tore it down to the frame,repainted everything,rebuilt the top end,new seat,tires,etc.
i kept it for a few years and sold it.

i guess my point being is about the people i see riding these new harleys these days. (i should say a percentage of said people)

we have a 'BIKE NITE" down at the local tavern/restaurant and it fills up with"bikers"(using the term extremly looseley)

these folks show up all decked out with a grand or two worth of leathers,boots,every imaginable HD trinket and pin on the market.(some of them even "CHANK" when they walk.) they get off these bikes like theyve ridden 500 miiles and swagger around the parking lot commenting about each others bikes.

actually,all well and good for them,so far. i see nothing "wrong" with their costume party,but...

i guess what irritates me off the most(and the biggest reason i wont own another harley davidson) is these" bikers", dont know a friggin clutch lever from a tail light. they couldnt adjust the idle on one of these machines without trailering it to the dealer.

and i m not targeting these folks down at our local tavern,i m talking about hd riders in general. and HD is partially responsible thru its marketing techniques,and by the advances in technology to make a better motorcycle. anyone ever walked into a HD dealer of late??

the old harley riders call `em "boutiques"

more power to HD on the vast improvements on their machines! i think its great!

i guess i m just too old.....

or i didnt get enough sleep last nite


anyway,this is probably a tad flamebaitish,but i can handle it.
heck,i ve been married 25 years..

brad

LOL Brad!

Interesting post.

I ain't gonna flame ya, as bikes have become designer gear just like boots.

Was a day when you bought good, solid hiking boots for hiking.

Now it seems they are worn to movie premiere's and such. Must be all the walking around they do.

I feel your pain, mate.

Cheers
Mick

[M_Six]

You're right, HD is largely to blame. New HDs are so freakin' expensive, only yuppies can afford them. I'd love to own a new Road King, but $23K is what I'd expect to pay for a nice car, not a motorcycle.

[draboo]

Originally posted by M_Six
You're right, HD is largely to blame. New HDs are so freakin' expensive, only yuppies can afford them. I'd love to own a new Road King, but $23K is what I'd expect to pay for a nice car, not a motorcycle.

forgot about the price thing! i ve seen 1993 softtails go for 11 grand. and there are folks who ll pay that,even more amazing!

i would love to own a new twin cammed road king,but being in da UP of MICH our riding season is from late april to late september.

a 1972 SUPERGLIDE was $1995.00

a 2002 SUPERGLIDE was $19,950.00(well,maybe not quite that much)

percentage increase?? too much for THIS brain to figger out! anyway....LOTS!

our local HOG chapter(Harley Owners Group) puts on a benefit every year for Bay Cliff Health Camp. its a camp that helps out physically and mentally disabled children.
HOG has a ride in bike show(i was a judge a few years ago ), motorcycle "races" like a slow race(fun to watch) something called a "Hotdog" race,which i wont get into here,sometimes a burn out contest,for those who have xtra money for tires. big "biker ball" with a live band after the show. and they raffle off a brand new HD motorcycle every year. last year they drummed up over $75,000 for the cause and every year( so far) they beat the previous years dollar amount.
tickets are $20 each for the motorcycle. i usually buy at least one,but no luck so far

it sure is a good time,tho. i love to park my old YAMAHA right in the middle of all the shiney new harleys.

[Toadman]

I had an 883 Sportster and although it is great for cruising(something about the vibration gets the lady passengers' attention but let's not go there shall we?). I like to lean into corners without scraping the pegs and not being vibrated to death(i.e. blurry mirrors) or setting off car alarms with open pipes. I have a Ninja which is smooth as silk to redline. Desmocrat do your bikes vibrate?

[whargoul]

I think that kind of fits into the category "I don't know anything about computers but I spent thousands of dollars on an Alienware $0 1 4m 3£173r 7h4n j00!!!!! ƒ00!!!".