The custom trend that bugs me is the fancy paint jobs that make me drool all over my chin and into my beard - what a mess!
I would love to do something like that, but up here I could buy a whole bike for the price of nice paint, so I dream, and drool......

 

I think 'irritate' may be a little strong. The only way a new custom trend would actually irritate me was if someone took my motor-bike and put installed it. Otherwise I am simply amused.

 

The "low slammed big wheel look."
Very yesterday.
Bagger mags must think it's something new?
Really?

 

Nothing really. It is the owner's bike, they can do what they want with it, and who the hell am I to say otherwise? I'm not a fan of chrome or ape hangers, but if you want your bike to be so blinged out it requires dark glasses when the sun is shining on it and bars so high you can do chin ups, more power to you.

On the other side of this subject, what irritates me the most are people that are close minded about others bikes and judge relentlessly. Or make snap assumptions when they honestly don't have a clue. Some people just don't think a Harley should look like anything other than what you see in the yearly catalog and can't comprehend anything else. Kind of sad, really.

EDIT: I lied, there was one trend that annoyed the **** out of me. Back in my sports bike days there was a trend of "furring" bikes. Literally covering them in some sort of animal print that was literally furry. I really try to live by what I said above, but I can't help but shake my head when I see a bike rolling down the street covered in leopard ****. Thankfully it seems that it didn't last more than a couple of years and I haven't seen one in a long, long time.

 

I was gonna say reflectors but then I realized they are factory but seem custom because only a few run them.

But seriously why does this thread exist the whole point is that it is their bike not yours and quite honestly I don't want all bikes to look like mine. Even whacked out trailer queen bikes that no-one could ever ride are fine because they aren't mine. Let's be happy that they support the two wheel cause anyway they want.

 

Yep that and long *** cholo fishtails 2 feet behind the bike ..

 

Wheelie bars, duh!

 

That there's so many people with more money than sense and put together bikes that *no one* could ride even if they wanted to...they are just there for some stoopid show! The huge front wheels, the stupidly fat rear tire and the 20 foot long frame *with* that stupidly fat tire. I've always been practical. If I see something that's not practical, it's useless and stupid.

 

Do what you want with your bike, but you'll never see a big wheel, flashy crayola paint, or fringe on my bike. I like understated and every Harley I've owned since 1967 has been vivid black. I don't want to screw up the handling geometry by putting a huge wheel on it. If it improved handling, road racers would have them. Tassles or fringe especially on the grips or levers does nothing but get in the way and constantly whip your hands and arms. On floorboards it drags and on saddlebags or seats to me it looks lousy. If you want or like any of that stuff, you can have whatever is my share of it and more power to you. Every day I see stuff on bikes I'd never have or want, but if it's your thing, I really don't care because I don't have to ride your bike.

 

Who the hell am I to judge another man or woman's bike?

As for my personal tastes though, the less plastic I see on my bike the happier I am with it. Give me chrome and leather- at least for now.