| Author | Message | ||
     Pkforbes87 |
They actually do exist! We hear a lot about of bashing on this board aimed toward HD riders, so I thought I'd share a positive experience I had with a few of them. Yesterday, I headed out from OKC to Lawton, OK to meet up with some sport bike riders I'd never ridden with before. Took the "scenic route" to get there, so the 90 mile interstate trip ended up being about 120 miles of more scenic two-lane highways. I arrived at the meeting place to find 3 riders all my age (mid-20s). One young lady on an R6 and two guys on CBR1000's. I knew things were going downhill when we hit the road and at the first stoplight, the guy on the Honda in front of me thought it would be cool to do a burnout while waiting for the green light. I don't understand why anyone wants to pull that kind of stunt, especially in a very public area. Maybe he's never had the pleasure of purchasing tires? Maybe he doesn't realize that nobody is impressed? Who knows.. but to make a long story short, the afternoon of riding that followed was full of me watching two crotch rockets disappear over the horizon at 150+ mph only to see them again at the next stop. One of the guys on a CBR1000 showed either self-restraint, rider etiquette, or both by sticking back with me when the others took off. Maybe education was a factor as all four of us riding were military, the guy who hung back with me was the only officer in the group. Anyway, after having enough of the shenanigans I said goodbye and went my own way. (after leaving all 3 behind on a short twisty section of the route) On my way back to OKC, I pulled in to get fuel at a station with a few guys on Harleys, all wearing "Freedom Riders" vests. 3 glides of some sort, a Road King, and a Deuce. Everyone in the HD group soon walked over to me and struck up a conversation expressing a genuine interest in my XT, asking where I was from, where I was heading, how I liked the bike, etc. We chatted for a while, all of them proved to be far more knowledgeable about the HD/Buell relationship and motorcycling in general than most HD riders I've met. When the topic of Indian being purchased by Polaris came up, a couple of the riders really seemed to be optimistic about the results of such a move. A couple of them mentioned how they could finally be interested in the superior technology of a Victory if only the brand would borrow some of the traditional styling from the Indian lineup. They also joked about how if HD finally gets some worthwhile competition, they may be forced to drop their prices to a more reasonable level. After chatting for a while, we rode out together. We all had different destinations around OKC so parted ways one by one. The best part - no traffic laws were broken while riding with this group and while their cornering speeds may have not been exactly awe-inspiring, I'm positive they were more entertaining than the crotch rocket group I left behind earlier in the day whose only interest was in doubling every posted speed limit. There are good and bad in every crowd. Some times it's easy for us to get too busy hating HD to see that the bike doesn't predetermine the rider. | ||
| Slaughter |
As you are finding, it is pretty easy to find compatible riders - if you are looking. I (personally) would NEVER ride with a group with even ONE person I had never met or who wasn't spoken for by a friend. That's just asking for it - ESPECIALLY in sportbike groups. We don't ride "slow" - we ride "ticketless." | ||
| Teeps |
PK, Sounds like you turned the corner and are now an adult. Have you heard the news? He has risen. He has risen; indeed! | ||
| Just_ziptab |
Maybe there is something to be said about"earning your wings". The Harley riders I associate with..have been riding Harley's for decades,not years.They don't look down their nose at my Buell. One of my best friends that didn't ride for years.......got a Harley and immediately started dissing the Buell because it wasn't a "real bike". He fell into the "pretend,fairytale lifestyle".  | ||
| Cityxslicker |
psst, several on this board own both, no more of a pirate on the HD than I am the Buell, or I was on the string of ninjas, handful o Dualsports, and the one honda I miss dearly 84 750S (ps, I still have the key, and If I ever find the sumnabiatch that stole her; I will string them up from the yard arm - arg pirate !) | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
good story personally I feel that calling HD riders 'pirates' is dumb, I dont understand how that name came to be for them. Yes, I've been on rides with the sportbike guys like youve mentioned, its embarrassing and uncalled for. Cant wait til they crash and stop riding | ||
| Kenm123t |
its the helmetless look with bandanas and the tattoos ! The general talk like a pirate ARRGGH! all the time completes the personna. The Sport bike squids are the finest example of natural selection. | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
not all HD riders wear bandanas not all HD riders have tats and the 'talk like a pirate' part....please. Where are the puffy shirts? Where is the scurvy? If tats and bandanas are what makes a HD rider a pirate, I'd say I've seen quite a few 'pirates' on sportbikes  | ||
| Kenm123t |
Being close to Daytona and south beach you get a different perspective. Look up Wheels of the Road a local biker mag in so fla NTWS there is another either is so well just plain nasty I wont read it any more. Its the lifestyle and ( club ) happenings magazine. One of the reasons dad stopped riding his sporty in favor in the XB9s was every one thought he was ( Member) That and the plain nasty attitude of the Hd Riders we ran into. Since Daves time dad buys his parts in Appleton We live in Fl | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
That's the new Origami Superfold. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
try riding off road with the BMW and KTM guys for the added brand angst  | ||
| Danger_dave |
Try looking past the motorcycle and see the people. There's good and bad on all of them. | ||
| Cecilsan |
Good to know there are other Buellers here in OKC. I've only see 4 other Buells but it was always when we were going opposite directions or one of the days I was forced to drive my car  I've met plenty of good Harley guys and plenty of poor ones but the only helpful dealership I've found is the one in Edmond. They don't do mch for me, but they aren't rude when they say they can't help. I haven't ridden with too many crotch rocket guys but usually their first question is how fast does my bike go. Why do you need a 200mph bike to drive in town?! (Message edited by Cecilsan on April 24, 2011) | ||
| Dynasport |
Most of my friends who ride, ride Harleys. I've put quite a few miles on them myself and still own one. I have seen guys who can really ride on HDs. Unfortunately, the brand does attract quite a few people who view a motorcycle as a lifestyle accessory, but that is certainly not exclusive to HD riders. | ||
| Danger_dave |
I consider my bike a lifestyle accessory. | ||
| Kenm123t |
Riders ride they have several bikes of differing types and brands. I can look arond a room and pick out the riders as opposed to the Lifestyle and Club members. | ||
| Cowboy |
I own both Buell and Harley could not get by with out them both , I ride my Buell when I need a thrill and ride my Harley when trolling for female adult together ness. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Turds on wheels knows no brand. I've met some of the greatest people and not on two wheels. I couldn't give you a proper scatter pattern for the ass hat/marque match up. The ONLY definitive I've found is the impression other brand people have of Buell riders. We're all a little off. | ||
| Slaughter |
Only girly-men drink lite beer. | ||
| Doerman |
We're all a little offkilter. And proud of it! | ||
| Cataract2 |
I must agree with some above. Doesn't matter the bike, anyone can be a turd. Also, it's really hard to find someone who you can ride with. I normally ride alone now as I have a hard time finding someone I want to ride with. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
I agree, consider the riders, and those that cant see past brand prejudice are indeed best left alone. I am so ever glad that the Soviet Steeds have adopted a crazy Bueller on some of their local events | ||
| Kenm123t |
Jeremy we were'nt going to tell you about the little off thing. You fit in so well why spoil it. | ||
| Littlebuggles |
"We're all a little off" I think I'm going to put that on a T-shirt. Coming from a guy that sells motorcycles I think it carries a fair bit of weight, thanks for the insight Fat B! Great story PK, it's good to hear that the are indeed friendly and polite riders out there, regardless of the brand (theirs or ours). | ||
| Kyrocket |
You know what's really fun? When you have good friends who ride different brands and everyone razzes everyone about what they're riding that day. Most of my riding friends have multiple brands and we've all been on the side of the road at one time or another with each other. I kid about their oily spots all over the garage, they kid me about which rice I use. It's all in good fun and they can come up with some zingers. You know what a German Shepherd and a Harley Davidson have in common don't you? They both like to ride in the back of a pickup. So to make a short story long, yes there are the bad apples on any brand. They'd be bad apples in their cage too. |
