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Sarcasm detector is in overdrive!
14 years ago
I have to admit, I laughed quite a bit at this video, despite the fact it's completely done on a computer, voices included...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A3b.....layer_embedded
As a motorcyclist who has ridden various bikes (sport, cruiser, standard, super sport) in all kinds of weather (600 miles in mid-20 degrees Fahrenheit temps in one day on a sport bike, the same trip done again in temps of 110 degrees Fahrenheit, long rides on a Ninja ZX6R in torrential downpours on Interstate 95 in Florida, through snow, over roads packed with slush and ice, and through sand drifts), I can appreciate the humor of this video. There is nothing more pathetic than a poser. In fact, they should all be required to wear large patches of the "Forever Alone" guy on the back of their vests just to alert the rest of us.
As the temperatures begin to cool down, you start seeing fewer and fewer "real bikers" (idiots who paid a ridiculous amount of money for a pathetic excuse of a motorcycle). When the weather starts dropping below 40 degrees, these same "tough biker" pussies magically disappear from the roadways, only to re-emerge the next spring, like some kind of chrome-laden butterfly.
I ride 365 days of the year, regardless of the weather, and I know several folks who do the same thing. These motorcyclists don't worry about getting water spots on their new chrome pipes. They don't worry about playing "dress-up" with a bunch of leather fetish gear for the sad purpose of trying to intimidate other folks. They ride their bikes because they like to ride, or (like me), they only own motorcycles.
Anyone who knows me in real life knows I don't hesitate to bash Harleys (as I told one Harley rider who said it wasn't wise to do so: "It's not like anyone on a Harley has a chance in hell of catching me even if they did screw up enough courage to do anything about it"). I've ridden a couple of Harleys before, and to say I was unimpressed would be an understatement. The bikes looked great, no doubt about that. But as far as performance, handling or comfort, they sucked more ass than a German porn star (no offense meant for German readers). The technology of their engines is outdated by about 60 years. The overweight, underpowered chromed vibrators handle about as well as a pregnant three-legged hippo with peg-legs. Oh, did you actually want to see what was behind you in those side mirrors? Better buy some red threadlock to keep that shit from loosening up and swinging around the handlebars first! In fact, you might want to submerge the bike in red threadlock just to keep the damn thing together.
Seriously. Let's look at some of the simple facts. Look at Harley ads. Did you ever notice they never post numbers about engine specs? What's the horsepower rating? Quarter-mile times? What's the lifespan of the engine, when maintained properly?
Instead, the ads talk about how bad-ass you would be if you bought a Harley. It's all about image. Did you really expect to blaze new trails on a 900-pound motorcycle pushed around by a 1600cc engine that cranks out a measly 67 horsepower? Shit, son, the Japanese companies make 250cc bikes that spit out 46 horsepower, and even Triumph makes the Rocket Roadster which has a 3-cylinder 2300cc engine that cranks out 146 bhp and 163 foot pounds of torque OUT OF THE BOX. And don't even mention the mighty ZX14 or Hayabusa. The reason these other companies do this is because they use knowledge gained from races and R&D. Harley, for the most part, just recycles their bike components from one year to the next in an effort to create "new" models.
I'm not entirely saying that Harleys suck (they do look nice parked on the side of the road, after all), but it just seems that the vast majority of the morons who ride them these days are trying to live some Hollywood dream inspired by "Easy Rider" and "Sons of Anarchy". These are the same fools who couldn't turn a wrench to save their lives, take the bike to the shop for something as simple as an oil change, and are lucky to travel more than 75 miles in a single day (most bars and pubs aren't that far apart, you know).
If a person wants to play dress-up and be a fair-weather rider, that's fine by me. But they really shouldn't be surprised when other people look at them and ridicule them. It's not like they'll do anything about it, either, unless you count pressing charges for character defamation.
For those of you who ride bikes, regardless of the manufacturer, regardless of the season, and regardless of the weather, my hat's off to you. For those you are trying to live out some false, fabricated illusion of bad-assery, please do the rest of us real motorcyclists a favor and steer your bike off a steep embankment. You don't have to be on it. Just...leave the motorcycle riding to folks who actually know how to ride.
Oh, and for some more laughs, be sure to check out this site:
http://www.goingfaster.com/angst/main.htm
Read some of the letters from Harley riders. I swear, this shit is fucking comedy GOLD.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A3b.....layer_embedded
As a motorcyclist who has ridden various bikes (sport, cruiser, standard, super sport) in all kinds of weather (600 miles in mid-20 degrees Fahrenheit temps in one day on a sport bike, the same trip done again in temps of 110 degrees Fahrenheit, long rides on a Ninja ZX6R in torrential downpours on Interstate 95 in Florida, through snow, over roads packed with slush and ice, and through sand drifts), I can appreciate the humor of this video. There is nothing more pathetic than a poser. In fact, they should all be required to wear large patches of the "Forever Alone" guy on the back of their vests just to alert the rest of us.
As the temperatures begin to cool down, you start seeing fewer and fewer "real bikers" (idiots who paid a ridiculous amount of money for a pathetic excuse of a motorcycle). When the weather starts dropping below 40 degrees, these same "tough biker" pussies magically disappear from the roadways, only to re-emerge the next spring, like some kind of chrome-laden butterfly.
I ride 365 days of the year, regardless of the weather, and I know several folks who do the same thing. These motorcyclists don't worry about getting water spots on their new chrome pipes. They don't worry about playing "dress-up" with a bunch of leather fetish gear for the sad purpose of trying to intimidate other folks. They ride their bikes because they like to ride, or (like me), they only own motorcycles.
Anyone who knows me in real life knows I don't hesitate to bash Harleys (as I told one Harley rider who said it wasn't wise to do so: "It's not like anyone on a Harley has a chance in hell of catching me even if they did screw up enough courage to do anything about it"). I've ridden a couple of Harleys before, and to say I was unimpressed would be an understatement. The bikes looked great, no doubt about that. But as far as performance, handling or comfort, they sucked more ass than a German porn star (no offense meant for German readers). The technology of their engines is outdated by about 60 years. The overweight, underpowered chromed vibrators handle about as well as a pregnant three-legged hippo with peg-legs. Oh, did you actually want to see what was behind you in those side mirrors? Better buy some red threadlock to keep that shit from loosening up and swinging around the handlebars first! In fact, you might want to submerge the bike in red threadlock just to keep the damn thing together.
Seriously. Let's look at some of the simple facts. Look at Harley ads. Did you ever notice they never post numbers about engine specs? What's the horsepower rating? Quarter-mile times? What's the lifespan of the engine, when maintained properly?
Instead, the ads talk about how bad-ass you would be if you bought a Harley. It's all about image. Did you really expect to blaze new trails on a 900-pound motorcycle pushed around by a 1600cc engine that cranks out a measly 67 horsepower? Shit, son, the Japanese companies make 250cc bikes that spit out 46 horsepower, and even Triumph makes the Rocket Roadster which has a 3-cylinder 2300cc engine that cranks out 146 bhp and 163 foot pounds of torque OUT OF THE BOX. And don't even mention the mighty ZX14 or Hayabusa. The reason these other companies do this is because they use knowledge gained from races and R&D. Harley, for the most part, just recycles their bike components from one year to the next in an effort to create "new" models.
I'm not entirely saying that Harleys suck (they do look nice parked on the side of the road, after all), but it just seems that the vast majority of the morons who ride them these days are trying to live some Hollywood dream inspired by "Easy Rider" and "Sons of Anarchy". These are the same fools who couldn't turn a wrench to save their lives, take the bike to the shop for something as simple as an oil change, and are lucky to travel more than 75 miles in a single day (most bars and pubs aren't that far apart, you know).
If a person wants to play dress-up and be a fair-weather rider, that's fine by me. But they really shouldn't be surprised when other people look at them and ridicule them. It's not like they'll do anything about it, either, unless you count pressing charges for character defamation.
For those of you who ride bikes, regardless of the manufacturer, regardless of the season, and regardless of the weather, my hat's off to you. For those you are trying to live out some false, fabricated illusion of bad-assery, please do the rest of us real motorcyclists a favor and steer your bike off a steep embankment. You don't have to be on it. Just...leave the motorcycle riding to folks who actually know how to ride.
Oh, and for some more laughs, be sure to check out this site:
http://www.goingfaster.com/angst/main.htm
Read some of the letters from Harley riders. I swear, this shit is fucking comedy GOLD.
http://bosshoss.com/view_bike.asp?x=BHC9LS3
Such a shame though the customer wrecked it, oh well such is life.
http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa032.html
Of course, the Japanese companies began producing bikes that squeaked under the size limits set forth in the tariff, and eventually set up their factories here in the US to avoid such hassles again. The most amusing part of all this is the part where Harley still claims it's an American motorcycle. Having been involved with several bike shops over the years, I take great joy in stating that while the Harleys might be physically assembled in the US, the majority of their components come from places such as Mexico, Taiwan, Japan, China, India, Korea, and so on. In fact, I do believe Harley is planning on opening a manufacturing plant in India, if I'm not mistaken. I suppose it'll be a bit more difficult for them to say "Made in America" with any sort of seriousness.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burt_Munro
but inorder to do so the driver must know how to handle the ride right. it's a bit like with muscle cars and porsches: if the porsche driver doesn't know how to drive his rear-engine bullet he doesn't stand a chance. and can't play out the engine size and car weight advantage. (which is why many high-powered little VW beetles smoke muscle cars on the drag strip: the little engine takes less time to run up the rpm ladder).
Harleys are decent bikes, but they could be so much more. It isn't necessarily about speed or power. But quite simply, the bikes vibrate excessively, they are too overweight which makes them difficult and unwieldy in curves or slow-speed situations, and they are priced so high you could buy 2 or 3 superior Japanese motorcycles for the same amount of money! Harley has not faced the challenge of advancement by adapting and improving as other manufacturers have. Instead, they have been building the same stuff since the 1950's, with minimal improvements. They should be kicking ass, but they lack the balls to step out of their corner and try something adventurous. When they began getting beaten in races by other manufacturers they decided to take their ball and go home instead of adapting and improving the bikes as all the other companies did.
Harley also relies heavily on merchandising to help boost it's sagging sales. You don't see many Barbie Honda playsets, do you? There are Harley boutiques (I kid you not), that feature nothing but crap emblazoned with the Harley bar and shield. Of course, posers want to be as bad-ass as possible, so they buy that kinda stuff up. And the reason Harley's sales are sagging so much is because they aren't capable of delivering what most new riders desire in a bike: innovation and improvement of the vehicle. The baby-boomer crowd is dying off, and they are one of the biggest groups of Harley customers. Care to guess how many 20 and 30-year old people are plunking down 20 or 30 grand for a heavy bike that can barely hit 110 and handles like a shopping cart with a bad wheel? Not many. They're opting instead for the British and/or Japanese bikes, which offer the looks of the Harley cruiser, but they also offer updated performance and handling characteristics.
I've ridden lots of bikes over the years, but I gotta tell you, I seriously thought one of the Harleys I was on was either going to blow up or fall apart. A bike that fails to instill confidence or pleasure in a rider is no bike I would ever want to ride.
I've also attended some of those huge Toy Runs in the past, and arrived at them on a green and white Kawasaki Ninja ZX6R. Harleys were pulling over constantly due to overheating (there were a lot of bikes and the traffic was slow as a result). Those of us with advanced, water-cooled bikes had no issues. And I doubt if any of the Harley guys were laughing at our bikes. In fact, I seem to recall many of them swearing at their own bikes as they pulled over to the roadside.
I ride I was on last fall had a bunch of Harleys, a Buell sportbike, my Honda CB700SC Nighthawk, and some tricked out $40K chopper. During the ride, the chopper pulled off the road 6 times due to engine problems. I dunno about you, but if I shelled out $40K for a custom bike, that motherfucker had better run like a champ! Greg (the guy on the Buell) and I would often hang back until sufficient space opened up between us and the Harley guys, and then crank up the speed a little. Most of the Harley riders were riding 10-20 mph UNDER the posted speed limit, causing traffic to back up behind us. That's not cool.
So this isn't really bashing Harley, per se. It's just that the majority of posers ride Harleys, since they believe those overpriced penis extensions make them appear as sexy and hardcore as Peter Fonda or something. It's sad, man.
Don't get me wrong, I like a little rumble and vibration with my bikes. But having the fillings rattle out of your teeth at idle is not conducive to an enjoyable experience!
Miss that bike, gotta get another one at some point.
Plus, you can FIT in that stuff; I'm a bit large for it... http://www.furaffinity.net/view/831866/
I don't tell people in this genre where I live because I'd hate to go to prison for popping someone in the head when they show up for a surprise visit.
Stupid is as stupid does.
Just make sure you leave the roll of piano wire in the garage of someone you really don't like.
For myself, I'd love to get a bike, but I'd primarily get it as a fuel-efficient alternative to a car when commuting to and from work. 80% of the year, Arizona is perfect for motorcycle riding, and since I have no intention of getting rid of my car, I can use it when the remaining 20% is too harsh.
I've not done a lot of research thus far (since a $4,000 - $5,000 bike is still a ways away for me), but I've been checking out bikes like the Suzuki GZ250 and the Yamaha V-Star 249cc. Small bikes that are still road-worthy and don't have me bending over like a Dodge City hooker to ride them. My big worry is maintenance. I've had one person say that what they save in fuel costs, they make up for in repair and maintenance.
What's your advice?
The 250cc bikes are great for shorter rides and offer fantastic fuel economy. In fact, my little 200cc Honda has over 100,000 miles on the original engine and can hit speeds just under 90 mph (it's been tweaked quite a bit, though). If you have to do any longer rides, I would recommend a slightly larger bike.
I recently got a 2002 Kawasaki Vulcan 500. 498cc water-cooled parallel twin engine that cranks out about 50 horses, is quiet as the grave when riding, comfortable enough for all-day riding, and still gets 52 mpg! I rode it from Mississippi to where I live, which was about 400 miles or so, and aside from being beat to hell by the strong winds that day (and the lack of a windshield) it was an extremely comfortable ride. I would highly recommend this model. It shares the same engine with the EX500Ninja, has six speeds and a chain final drive. I'll post pics of the bikes later this week if I can.
You can get a used Vulcan 500 for 4K or less. New ones are around $5600 I think.
Maintenance isn't that big a deal, though the little GZ250 is really going to struggle since it's only a single-cylinder bike. Look into Honda's new CBR250R. It's gotten rave reviews, is extremely comfortable, and very low-maintenance. It's not really a sport bike; it's more of a dressed-up standard.
I've been riding this Vulcan for a couple weeks now and I'm really enjoying it. It's comfortable, quiet, and plenty fast enough. It'll hit 115 in 4th gear, but I've not taken it over 90 yet. Even at 65 mph, there's plenty of power left for passing if needed. Highly recommended! (Plus, the bike has been around for YEARS. Always a good sign!)
If I got one it'd either be a sports bike. I just don't want some dinky looking scooter or something that looks like some toy. xD I prefer something with good performance, power, looks, and comfort all rolled into one. I've ridden a bike like that before and they are comfortable. I'm not one bothered by the weather as long as there is moving air. It'd only suck during the summer when the traffic is slowly chugging along at red-lights up town, but it feels amazing to not be confined in a box with glass and metal walls around you. Sure you have music, cup holders and etc.. but on a bike you can actually look around naturally.
I want to own an ride a bike more then and car or truck because it's different and I stand out as it is already so why not? Cheaper gas, runs better, feels better, highly responsive. There's just nothing I don't like about bikes. When I compare a bike to an SUV, Car, Truck, Jeep, and whatever 4 wheeled vehicle I only really like the sports vehicles and those are still crap in terms of being over priced like HELL and just eat gas like breathing air.
My only issue is not cost. It's not tolerating weather. It's not maintenance. It's not storage. It's not because it's not a Harley. It's because I seriously might kill my own mother just by the mere fact I'm riding a bike in a place where people will easily rear-end you or run you over. I know what'd she'd do the moment I told her I got one and was riding it. She'd think about someone hitting me from behind in traffic and being turned into a bloody mess of meat and bone shards. Nevermind how careful and alert I am. Nevermind how I never overestimate myself on ANY machine. Or how I'm constantly avoiding accidents that could have happened if I hadn't thought far ahead and not trusting the people driving around me. But.. in her defense. She is my mother and she'll never stop freaking out. xD
Even though I currently ride in diverse weather (sometimes the sort that no sane person would ride a bike in), have only one functioning eye, no night vision (or depth perception), a weakened immune system and somebody else's kidney and pancreas, my family doesn't give me any shit about riding because they've seen what I am capable of doing. And I make it a point to NOT ride beyond my abilities. 600 miles in a single day is no problem, but if I had to go a thousand, I'd probably spend the night at a hotel and finish the ride the next day. I could push myself to go the extra 400 miles, but then I would be tired, and that can lead to accidents. (But I do take satisfaction in being able to outride my overly-critical father).
Shit man, we're all gonna die some day. Have fun responsibly while you're alive! My days of blowing through speed traps and outrunning cops are behind me; I'd much rather just relax and soak up the miles aboard a reliable 2-wheeled fun machine. (On a related note, I actually had my mom take the MSF course so she could witness and experience what, exactly, a motorcyclist has to do and be aware of every moment he/she is on the bike. She quit fussing about my motorcycling hobbies and realized that, as a result of riding a bike (and presuming that all other vehicles are gunning for you), it made me a far more alert driver than she was.
The only ones that seem to give a shit are the seriously old school Vietnam vintage bikers, and the 1%'rs. Personally, while I find a sport bike to be uncomfortable, they do look cool and I would like to someday take one(That I can actually put my fucking feet on the ground with) out for a spin and see just what the fuss is about. If I didn't prefer cruisers anyway, it's mostly a matter of stature for me.
Simply put, I just do not have the height to ride most standards/sport/touring/dual purpose bikes. Some of these bikes I can't even reach the ground from the seat while it's on the kickstand. I entered a raffle to win a Harley Sportster, and the lady behind the counter asked me if I liked the Harley(She obviously did). I said yeah, it was pretty, but if I won it I would sell it and use the money to buy cool shit for my Intruder. She was suitably aghast.
My main "problems" with the Intruder are pretty much anything other than an oil change in the Haynes Manual begins with "Remove Fuel Tank", including changing the battery, and an abysmally small fuel tank. You get about 130~140miles to a 3.25gal tank. It also requires a separate key for the fork lock, which is annoying since the guy didn't have the key when I bought it.
Honestly I haven't been riding long enough to have experienced serious cold, but I planned on getting some good gauntlet style gloves(I have some good padded goatskin riding gloves for everyday use that are very warm, even at 75mph around 40degrees), a full face Scorpion helmet, scarf to wrap around my neck and tuck into the collar of my leather jacket, layers on layers, and for ultra cold, I have a thickly insulated set of coveralls.
But truth be told, as I said, overall I have met other riders and always (usually) experienced nothing but silent respect and a friendly wave as we cross paths on the highway. Even Harley guys have commented on the Intruder's looks, and I've never been ridiculed or berated for owning an import. When considering a bike, I had thought hard about the Vulcan, Virago, and of course the Intruder won out with style, for me at least.
Lastly, here's an absolutely hilarious article I found that if you didn't already know about it, is funny because it's so damned true.
http://www.cracked.com/article_1921.....otorcycle.html
This journal is mostly about the one-percenters. Most real motorcyclists, regardless of what brand they ride, will wave or signal one another. I've pulled over numerous times to help other bikers on the side of the road, and have had a couple pull over to see if I was having any problems (one time I was getting a drink, and another time I was debating putting on my rain gear). I wave to, and will assist, anyone on any sort of motorcycle (even the posers). But it's extremely annoying when posers parade around like they're some sort of Old West outlaw on an iron horse, when they're really just experiencing a 3-day weekend break from their 9-to-5 at Initech.
*nods* Yeah I was strongly considering getting some bar-mounted grip windshields for the winter. They look like ass on toast, but I am more concerned with staving off hypothermia than "cruising and looking cool". They sell those little pocket warmers too, and they fit nicely inside a pair of winter gauntlets.
As I have only been riding now for about 3 weeks, I am still obviously pretty green, but have tried to -NOT- personify the stereotype of the typical squib. I mean, I've worn a thick leather biker's jacket for literally years as a truck driver, they are nice and warm, and I find them handy and easy to work and maneuver in the trailer and loading and unloading product.
I researched a lot of bikes before I settled on(and fell in love with) the Intruder, and I would be more full of shit than a whale with no asshole if I said I didn't dig the feel and look of it. I kinda like the looks people give me and the bike when I pull up at the gas station or the chinese restaurant.
But the part that worries me, despite not really giving a shit about what people think in a certain context, one thing I have always striven for is to not proliferate my own stereotype, regardless of what it might be. Sure, I am a little more cautious than you would be in traffic, I'm still learning about the road, and just yesterday I learned why cruisers do not drive over curbs, and instead opt to drive all the way around to the exit ramp out of a gas station.
I like to rationalize stupid mistakes like this not as blatant arrogance or stupid overconfidence, but as inexperience and ignorance. I learned yesterday that the 800 Intruder will do a wheelie if you downshift and gun the throttle too hard to get ahead of a 18 wheeler bearing down on you. Granted it was a little one, but it scared the piss out of me.
As a truck driver for over a decade now, I have an advantage over regular beginners in that I have already developed a keen sense of "Hyper Awareness" of my surroundings when operating a vehicle, and I glance at the mirrors on the bike every few seconds. But I still am making mistakes, and I know it, and watching experienced riders, it's easy to pick out scrubs like myself from behaviors and characteristics in their technique....that unfortunately mirror my own to a greater or lesser degree.
I practice the MSF slow speed drills, figure 8's, start and stopping, the 2 parking space U turn and such. But it feels so fucking awesome to get on that bike and take off down the road, you feel like a superhero almost. Like you have a uncommon skill and it somehow empowers your self image. Like "Yeah, I used to just drive cars and 18 wheelers, but now....I ride a motorcycle. I'm like fucking Fonzie, ayyyyyyy!"
And then I hit a groove in the highway and damn near dump it, or I stall the bike and promptly deflate myself to feeling about 2 millimeters tall. I read experienced riders opinions and how they speak of others, and I wonder, shit, am I a fucking poser too? I mean sure, I like the look, I like wearing my jacket and my leather gloves, even the helmet and blasting down the road. I like how...intimate it feels to ride a bike as opposed to the comparatively sterile environment of a car. I love the feel of it all, the challenge of controlling and learning to make the bike do what I want, it's like an orgasm that lasts as long as I'm on the bike. I don't just enjoy riding the Intruder, I hunger for it.
I want to rip open the air box and put a free flowing filter on it, I want to add chrome to a few places and Kuryakyn grips, change the pegs to something a little more showy,(NO Forward controls though, that shit is uncomfortable as hell), install a Corbin Gunfighter seat, add a tach, a cruise control, Dunlop tires, bullet style stubby turn signals.....I am a hardcore car guy, I love hot rods and modding my vehicles to make them perform and last longer, add personal touches to them to make them stand out, and most of all, make me smile, not to drive down main street at 2MPH and gun my engine to get attention.
I watch motorcycle movies and find myself not only enjoying it for that fact, but watching the hands and feet of the stunt drivers, looking for how they control the bike and do what they do. I get in my car and unconsciously reach for the brake, and my fingers twitch to grip the clutch. When I'm not on the bike, I think about riding. I go out in the rain, in the wind, at night, and just ride, and practice maneuvering. The throaty rumble of the V Twin never fails to elicit a smile.
In all sincerity, does this make me a poser? Is it considered tacky by more experienced riders to want to add shiny to your bike? I mean aside from the sport bikers. My friend's KZ1000 looks like something out of Mad Max, if it has anything shiny on it it's because something has rubbed it. Another's Ninja is very pretty and has a fine paint job, but he has nothing but bike on it. No storage, not even a little tool bag.
I look at the Harley Full Dressers, and then glance at my own saddlebags and chrome, and I wonder if I am behaving/thinking like a typical squib, or just degenerating into a dumbass perceived as nothing more than what you said, a poser. My bike might not be a so-called status symbol, but I do feel better about myself after a ride. I take pride in the machine, how she looks, performs, and behaves. I don't feel I am, but then again, you ask any driver on the road and they will always list themselves "Above Average", including the dumb fuck that drove away with the gasoline pump hanging off their quarter panel.
I am beginning to see a correlation and similarity between Harley's and Rice Boys, guys in Honda Civics with VTEC badges on a 50HP lawnmower with gigantic boy racer wings and a fart can muffler that's louder than a fucking harley backfire. Both groups seem to care more about image than anything else. I polish and clean my chrome, and keep the bike looking shiny and new, but I don't think that puts me in the same class as a Full Dresser weekend warrior that pulls out his 30 grand Astroglyde(Or whatever) to ride 20 miles, adds 5 grand in chrome and custom shit to the bike and call himself a "Biker dude".
I have discovered, far later in life than I am happy with, just how amazing and enriching it is to ride a bike, and I'm still going to ride and enjoy myself even if others think I am a dumbass, but I do try to be aware of my own dumbfuckery and stop it before I embarrass myself. Well.....more than I already have, anyway.
Wearing gloves, helmet, jacket and all that safety stuff doesn't make you a poser. It makes you smart. You've basically prepared yourself as best as possible for the eventual laydown, and folks who wear leathers fare much better than folks who don't (just ask the guy in the shorts and tank top, who was struggling to get his $35K chopper off the on-ramp tarmac when I pulled over to assist. Seems like all those tattoos he was trying to show off were going to be covered with a bunch of scabs, scars and roadrash. He was the perfect definition of a poser).
Customizing your bike isn't necessarily poser behavior; everyone (well, most guys, anyway) likes to make their vehicle uniquely their own, and motorcycles are the best rides to trick out because you're really only limited by your imagination. If you don't know how to wrench yourself, then budget becomes a factor too. But wrenching on a bike isn't too difficult.
Have you taken an MSF course yet? I highly recommend it. They teach you all kinds of stuff, and it isn't that hard to pass (both Denise and my mother took the MSF course, and they both passed! If a (then 59-year-old) woman can pass the course, then surely anyone else can!).
I wear a leather jacket all the time. Mostly it's because I ride the bike, but it's also because I carry a Taurus Judge in a shoulder holster. Kinda hard to conceal that any other way. I've been wearing jeans and boots since high school (almost 24 years ago now), so that's pretty much the norm for me. A poser would wear a do-rag and sleeveless shirt just to show off his tats and the 3-day stubble on his chin. They would also wear the bare minimum as far as protective gear, going so far as to wear one of those novelty skull cap helmets just because "it looks cool and hardcore". Nevermind the fact it won't do shit to protect your head in a crash...
From your description, you don't sound like poser material. Hell, even questioning whether or not you're a poser makes you a motorcyclist rather than a poser. Taking care to obey the rules of the road and making sure you get proper course training also differentiates you from a poser. In my experience, posers (and squids) jump on a bike assuming they know how to ride it without proper training. That sort of arrogance can not only result in death or injury to themselves, but also other riders and even pedestrians!
Oh, and as a final note: posers will never EVER go riding in questionable weather. Due to their lack of proper riding gear, rain and wind will sting like a motherfucker, and all that water would spot up their chrome. A real motorcyclist should try to keep their ride reasonably clean, but they shouldn't be afraid of a shower or two!
I have the Haynes manual and have built a couple hot rods, and prefer to learn and do the work myself. For the same reason I cut my own hair, I don't believe in paying someone to do something I can do for myself. Besides, I like to know my ride, inside and out. I hate those helpless waifs that sit there and kick rocks and whine they are broken down when all it was is a simple clogged fuel filter, wasted alternator or something equally simple. If I could carry a full toolbox with me on the bike like I do in my 4x4, I would. I dislike being caught unprepared for breakdowns and simple repairs.
I am signed up for the MSF course beginning on the 3rd of October, and have been practicing the safety drills and maneuvering exercises every day on the dirt roads out where I live, as well as short sojourns into town to get a better feel for it. Riding on dirt is a whole other world than pavement.
I am not even close to a "1%'r", not because I love the law, but because I am a professional driver and I like being able to work. Speeding tickets and such hurt a truck driver bad. The helmet is needed on the interstate, I simply can't imagine trying to control the bike at 75 with the wind whipping my face around like that. As fr being a squid, I didn't ven shift the bike out of first gear the first 4 days I rode it, because I was learning to control it, understand the controls, balance, and power. Plus, I freely admit, a bike is very intimidating. Completely alien controls, literally using all four limbs at the same time to manage it...it's kind of scary. But I get off on challenging myself like that, proving to myself that I am capable of doing it.
I always wave to other riders, and I dunno...I got caught in the rain the other day, and frankly, it was kind of cool. Okay it was FRICKING FREEZING MISTER BIGGLESWORTH, but it was still refreshing and a neat experience. The smell of the road, the highway, the wind, everything. Riding a bike is so personal, you really don't know how disconnected from the road you are until you ride a bike. I wish i could get paid to ride my bike. LOL
And part of the pleasure of owning a custom vehicle, is maintaining and cleaning them. I love chrome and polish, and doing that is like communing with the vehicle. It's like stroking a woman, feeling her curves, becoming intimately familiar with all her nuances, appreciating the smooth metal, the flowing lines of the fenders into the wheels. Buying new tires is like getting a new leather jacket, it's a blast. I mean, what good is chrome that you never have to clean and shine? That's PART of of what makes it so cool and fun, is cleaning and wiping it down, seeing you did a good job, and basking in the shiny goodness.
I will say I dislike the no tach thing; the spartan mindset of the Intruder is a welcome departure from the billions of gauges in my rig, but no tach really sucks. I like knowing exactly what my motor is doing, and how happy or sad it is. By ear is okay, but I like empirical data.
BTW, thanks for not shooting me down for a ginormous post....I considered deleting it several times because I thought it made me sound like a complete dipshit. Maybe someday if we're in the same part of the world we could go for a ride. .......when I get better, of course. :)
No problem with big posts; sometimes a lot of things have to be said, and there's no sense in making 20 posts about them when they can all be included in only one!
How'd your MSF class go?
I'm thinking of snapping a few pics of my bikes and putting them online in a couple days. Two of them are legal, one is almost finished (assembly) and the last one is in the process of being disassembled for a complete ground-up customization.
As for the MSF course, I had to cancel because I thought I had this job that was going to start...and then they keep postponing my start date....over and over. I'm going to just show up on the 19'th(250 miles away, mind) and try to really show I want this job. Hopefully this act of persistence will tip the scales in my favor, and they'll hire me just to shut me up. :)
Once I have the opportunity though, I do intend to take it. Yeah yeah I know, I should make time and money for it, but shit....$200 is a lot of money right now. I can handle $8 fillups on the bike every 140 miles, as opposed to $60 for the hot rod.
And damn.....I need a set of chaps. 30 degrees at 80MPH in jeans is not going to cut the mustard.
.....did I mention I've put 1300 miles on the bike in the month since I got it? And, can I get paid to ride? Because that would be like, the best job EVAR.
1) Tuck short-sleeved t-shirt into underwear
2) Put on light/medium thermal top and bottom (long-sleeved and full-legged). Tuck top into bottom.
3) Pull on a pair of thick thermal socks. Put over top of pant cuffs on thermal bottoms
4) Put on heavy-duty thermal top and bottom (long-sleeved top and full-legged bottom). Tuck top into bottom.
5) Put on outerwear shirt and jeans/pants. Tuck shirt into pants.
6) Step into insulated coveralls (Carhartt or Berne are good). Zip up.
7) Put on blaze orange hunting jacket (thermal, waterproof and windproof).
8) pull on Thinsulate balaclave (available from Dennis Kirk). Tuck neck skirt into jacket before zipping up.
9) Lace up thermal and waterproof boots.
10) Pull on thermal glove liners (available at J.C. Whitney). Pull on Goretex waterproof/windproof/thermal hunting gloves.
11) Make sure your bike has a windshield and handguards (Sportech makes oversized guards for cold-weather riding. Keeps the wind off your hands).
12) If it's really fucking cold out, you can get some of those stick-on warmers that hunters use, and place one on your first t-shirt (step 1), on the outside portion, right between the shoulder blades.
13) You'd better be wearing a full-face helmet if you're gonna ride in the cold. Dennis Kirk sells an item called "Quiet Rider" which prevents wind, water and cold air from getting into your helmet.
That's what I wear when it's in the 20's or colder. If it's warmer than that, you can leave certain layers off (I usually only use the coveralls for super cold temps).
I agree it sounds like a lot of work just to commute somewhere, but....well, when you love what you do, it's easier to justify going to extreme measures to do it.
And I never put my ass in the saddle now without my Scorpion full face helmet. The wind in the face is just too unpleasant at higher speeds. I also wear earplugs now as well, because frankly my ears are starting to ring from the wind and engine roar. It won't keep me warm, but....
Lots of layers and pocket warmers in the gloves work good...I know I'm going to look like a complete fucking retard, but yeah...
Look like a retard + warm = Win. Cool + Hypothermia = Bullshit.
I take a lot of long rides, so it's important to wear all this stuff if I plan on traveling 500 miles in a day. Nothing worse than going halfway and realizing your suffering from hypothermia.
Yeah, I wear earplugs whenever I do any highway traveling of 30 miles or more. My hearing has been damaged through the years, but I'm trying to save what I can!
The riding through mud and the heat and cold weren't an issue - clothing for that. But snow and ice? That was a dealbreaker.
The only thing I can think about when I see motorcyclists is, What do you do when that one wasp or bee goes right into the neckline of your shirt or jacket?
XD
Now, I don't like bugs. At all. I'll kill anything in the house or on my person with more than 4 legs, no matter what it is. But I had to keep my cool until I could pull off the highway and remove my helmet and get the bug out of there...10 minutes after I first noticed it.
On the other hand, I've killed a few birds and bats on my bikes. Nailed a brown bat with the turn signal stalk on my Nighthawk one time, and only realized something was clinging to the signal when I smelled something funky a couple days later. I killed a cardinal with my left boot one time when it darted in front of my old chopper and bounced off the boot while I was traveling down a local road. I had a bird impact my right shoulder and bounce up into the air, broken, while riding the Vulcan 500 back from Mississippi.
But I do try to swerve and avoid larger animals. Even bounced my head off a curb at about 40 mph while swerving to avoid somebody's pet late at night on a dark country road. Luckily, I wear the right gear all the time (full face helmet at all times), so I was able to get back up after a minute, picked the chopper up, bent the turn signals back into position, did a quick once-over, kick started the engine back to life and continued on my way...
With the price of gas being what it is today I've toyed with the idea of looking into a touring bike or a more powerful scooter, but I'm not sure it's practical for me. You might be able to get your groceries on something like that, but I've ridden in the rain with no overpass in sight (the typical case in these parts), and it sucks. Riding in an Ontario winter? Only if you're interested in testing whether hypothermia or impact trauma will kill you first; it just isn't done. I can't afford a bike and a car to switch out for the seasons. Eh... Maybe I ought to check out the Singer lineup.
And I've noticed the 'class warfare' between the riders of different types of bikes. Some guys wave at all other riders, while others only seem to recognize certain types of bikes.
Cool post!
At highway speeds, I can't even hear an ambulance until it's crawling up my ass. The deafening roar of the wind can conceal their approach.
What kind of helmet do you wear? Currently I use a Hawk Modular helmet. (Need to find the box for the specific information...)
http://hawkhelmets.com/p/Hawk-Helme.....et/222678.html - Similar model to mine.
It works pretty good I have to say, really easy to clean up after riding through a cloud of Nats, and occasional butterfly.
I also don't often use a windshield, so all that wind is hitting me in the face at 70+ mph, which accounts for the noise. When I'm behind a windshield, it's much quieter.
http://www.sharkhelmetstore.com/sha.....2-helmets.html
The chin piece slips around the back side so it doesn't catch all that air.
I drive a Subaru WRX (purely for driving, not showing off), and I can tell you that every single sport biker I encounter is driven by an A-1 asshole. The instant they see my car and its enormous hood scoop, it's nothing but wheelies, drag racing, swerving, circling, and tailgating by 3 feet for 5 miles. They are like flies, but 10 times as annoying. You can't swat them.
The Harley guys are just out cruising, and usually give me a friendly nod and a smile. Despite the fact that I'm a nerd with outdated glasses. Well, okay, I wear fingerless driving gloves, too. ;)
Yes I admit it wasn't too much fun trying to ride 12 miles to work on winter mornings down roads that were effectively sheets of ice with ditches next to them (you gotta love UK countryside roads) but I still used to do it and love it.
R Model, 1932–1936, 750 cc
W Model, 1937–1952, 750 cc, solo (2 wheel, frame only)
G (Servi-Car) Model, 1932–1973, 750 cc
K Model, 1952–1953, 750 cc
KH Model, 1954–1956, 900 cc
Ironhead, 1957–1971, 900 cc; 1971–1985, 1,000 cc
Evolution, since 1986, 883 cc, 1,100 cc and 1,200 cc
F-head, also known as JD, pocket valve and IOE (intake over exhaust), 1914–1929 (1,000 cc), and 1922–1929 (1,200 cc)
Flathead, 1930–1948 (1,200 cc) and 1935–1941 (1,300 cc).
Knucklehead, 1936–1947 61 cubic inch (1,000 cc), and 1941–1947 74 cubic inch (1,200 cc)
Panhead, 1948–1965 61 cubic inch (1,000 cc), and 1948–1965, 74 cubic inch (1,200 cc)
Shovelhead, 1966–1984, 74 cubic inch (1,200 cc) and 80 cubic inch (1,345 cc) since late 1978
Evolution (a.k.a. "Evo" and "Blockhead"), 1984–2000, 80 cubic inch (1,340 cc)
Twin Cam 88 (a.k.a. "Fathead") 1999–2006, 88 cubic inch (1,450 cc)
Twin Cam 88B (counter balanced version of the Twin Cam 88) 2000–2006, 88 cubic inch (1,450 cc)
Twin Cam 95, since 2000, 95 cubic inch (1,550 cc) (engines for early C.V.O. models)
Twin Cam 96, since 2007, Only the Street Bob and Super Glide Dyna Models still use the 96. 96 cubic inch (1,584 cc)
Twin Cam 103, 2003–2006, 2009, 103 cubic inch (1,690 cc) (engines for C.V.O. models), Standard on 2011 Touring models such as the Road King Classic and Road Glide Ultra and optional on other Touring Models like the Road Glide Custom and Street Glide. Standard on most 2012 models excluding Sportsters and 2 Dynas (Street Bob and Super Glide)
Twin Cam 110, since 2007, 110 cubic inch (1,802 cc) (engines for C.V.O. models)
(STILL STUCK IN THE 50'S USING ANCIENT TECHNOLOGY EH?)
In August 2009, Harley-Davidson announced plans to enter the market in India, where, according to press releases, it expects to start selling its motorcycles in 2010. The company has established a subsidiary to be located in Gurgaon, near Delhi, and has begun the process of seeking dealers. Plans to enter the Indian market have been delayed for several years, due to high tariffs and emissions regulations. The pollution regulations have recently changed, but the tariff problem is yet unresolved.
In 2007, U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab and the Minister for Commerce and Industry of India, Kamal Nath, had agreed that Harley-Davidson motorcycles will be allowed access to the Indian market in exchange for the export of Indian mangoes. However, India had not specified emission standards for motorcycles over 500 cc displacement, effectively prohibiting the import of Harley-Davidsons, along with most models of other manufacturers. Plans to export to India were also held up by import duties of 60% and taxes of 30%, which effectively doubled the sale price.[78] A Harley-Davidson spokesman said the company thinks demand is high enough to overcome the tariffs, and chief operating officer Matt Levatich said they would continue to push for lower tariffs.
(IT OBVIOUSLY STATES RIGHT THERE THAT H-D WAS PLANNING TO EXPORT TO INDIA NOT BUILD A FACTORY THERE)
In 1921 a motorcycle won a race with an average speed of more than 100 mph for the first time in history. That motorcycle was a Harley-Davidson. It wasn't the first time a Harley-Davidson set a record, broke through a performance barrier or raised the bar in racing.
It would not be the last time, either.
For more than 100 years, Harley-Davidson has been synonymous with excellence in motorcycle racing, and those high expectations will pace the 2010 season as well.
"Harley-Davidson motorcycles were raced almost from the very beginning of the company, first by independent owners, and then by an official racing department in 1914," said Bill Jackson, Manager of Harley-Davidson Archives. "Racing symbolized the ultimate in motorcycle challenge." Though Harley- Davidson was one of the first motorcycle manufacturers - building a bike in 1903 - that position was challenged by more than 150 other companies that entered the marketplace by 1911.
Racing, however, would quickly differentiate Harley-Davidson from the rest of the field. In fact, it would lay the groundwork for a century in which the company not only became the most-dominant motorcycle race team in history, but also the most respected manufacturer in the business.
Springfield (May 24, 2011) - The Harley-Davidson Screamin' Eagle Factory Team will have three-time champion rider Kenny Coolbeth in the saddle to open the 2011 Grand National Twins portion of the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Flat Track Championship on May 22 at the historic Springfield Mile in Springfield, Ill. Coolbeth returns for a sixth season aboard the factory Harley-Davidson XR750.
(SO H-D IS OUT OF RACING EH?)
H-D has taken on and beat the best the imports have to offer and in fact has gotten so popular with so many of them on the road there has even been the formation of a group to cater to H-D owners/racers called The AHDRA (All Harley-Davidson Drag Race Association). Although this fact will probably be twisted to say that H-D owners ran to the AHDRA to avoid competition from the imports, that is in fact the farthest from the truth. (You don't see any all Honda, all Kawasaki, etc. etc. racing bodies out there now do you?)
Continuing to use a single pin crankshaft )which is the driving force behind the Harley sound and vibration) is holding them back from producing engines which have longer lifespans, smoother operation and more power output. Their 1584cc engines put out 67 horsepower. A 1340cc Japanese engine can put out nearly 200 horsepower from the factory. Aftermarket manufacturers produce upgraded components for Harleys which will allow the rider to squeeze some more performance out of the bike, but it really isn't fair that the owner should have to shell out another 15 grand to get few more ponies.
The V-Rod was a sharp Harley, but the majority of Harley purists didn't like it. They didn't approve of the use of water cooling (which has tighter tolerances and results in a longer engine lifespan, not to mention higher power outputs). Personally, I would LOVE to see Harley come out with a truly modern water-cooled V-twin cruiser. Hell, I might even get one if they actually did that!
(IT OBVIOUSLY STATES RIGHT THERE THAT H-D WAS PLANNING TO EXPORT TO INDIA NOT BUILD A FACTORY THERE)
Ah, it had been a few years since I read the article (which was printed in a Harley news-stand magazine). I recall the reporter making the remark about the "Made in America" bit becoming difficult to stand behind; I'll see if I can locate that magazine.
(SO H-D IS OUT OF RACING EH?)
Street racing, or racing that is able to transfer the newest technology to their production bikes? Yes, Harley is out of that loop. Remember too, back in the earlier days (1920's through 1950's), the Japanese didn't compete in motorcycle races like they do nowadays. Most of the newest streetbike technology (fly-by-wire throttle systems, uneven firing orders, chassis and suspension changes, adjustable velocity stacks, etcetera) have all come from improvements to their racing bikes. It just filtered down to their production units after race testing.
(You don't see any all Honda, all Kawasaki, etc. etc. racing bodies out there now do you?)
Nor will you ever. Flat track racing is like dirt bike racing minus the bumps and hills. It was a universally popular bike sport many years ago, but the other manufacturers have since pursued racing that at least has some relevance to street riding and production units. You will never see Harley appear in any modern sport bike races. Taking a Sportster and putting different exhaust and bodywork on it (like the XR1200) is not going to make it perform better. Heck, even Yamaha has updated their cruiser line by using old-style air-cooled pushrod V-twin engines coupled to aluminum chassis for lighter weight and better handling. There's just room for improvement in Harley's line, but it seems the company prefers to live in the past and talk about how great they used to be, instead of how great they could be now.
Harleys can be fast in drag racing, providing you spend some serious dough on the engine and such. But even the stock Hayabusa can spank the biggest Harley into a coma without even trying, although that's a bit like comparing apples to oranges.
Harley has a niche market, and they cater well to it. But the simple fact their sales are dwindling cannot be ignored. They need to advance themselves quickly before they get lapped by the other makers...again. Hell, even Triumph, once the unofficial "brother" of the almighty Harley, has stepped up its game and is now producing reliable, powerful and sharp-handling bikes.
I honestly do wish Harley would step up their game. It would be nice to have an American motorcycle that was actually a threat to the other brands, instead of one that harkens to an earlier time when bikes were speedy when they could reach 100 mph in a straight line.
Every segment of bike is seeing an upsurge, except for harley.
Oh, and I'm a full time rider! :)
Ride safe!
The fastest I ever went was about 160, give or take. Nowadays, I don't bother going over 80!