Yeah I've never understood the complaints about people asking questions that have been asked before. If you don't like them, don't look at them and by all means don't answer them! This is like the woos Monday night that was complaining to me about Harleys being too loud. For grief's sake take a breath, I'll be by you in 2 seconds! Where's the damage?

I have also observed from my other interests, that there is a common thread in each. There are the 80% that just like doing whatever (in our case riding Harleys), then there is the 20% that likes and has the talent/tools/place/inclination to build, fabricate, customize, etc.

Somehow the 20% are the real whatever, and the 80% are something less. Never have understood that mindset.

I'm here because I like riding my bike. I appreciate those that can and want to do more, but when it becomes a caste system, I want nothing to do with it.

Steve

 

I've done searches like a good boy. Located an old post, then commented or asked a question based on the content. Caught s**t for it. It's a no win situation...

 

why is it when someone has a real question about there bike it get a few posts, when there ****'n and moaning it gos on for pages......................

 

Obviously, you can take the criticism. Some people cant and I personally wouldn’t hold that against them. Saying “looks like ****” and nothing else could drive thin skinned yet innovative and talented people away. Ill just take the time to properly respond to people as to not discourage further efforts.

Not saying the OP is thin skinned either.

 

Hmmm... well, I can't say I disagree with you as a result my involvement in the art world. Some artists employ techniques which gives their work a unique look or quality. Asking them to share something like that is poor etiquette at the very least. The flip side of that is that discussing standard techniques is how we learn. I was at an art exhibit this past weekend. The featured artist was a photographer. His ability is in the photo he sees before he takes the picture and his ability to capture the image in his head. In some cases the photo he takes is the finished piece. In other cases, the photo he takes is just the beginning, then the magic all happens in Photoshop. He and I discussed photography and Photoshop techniques in detail - and we BOTH learned a lot from each other. His father was there - used to work with film in a darkroom, recently moved to digital and Photoshop. He and I swapped a lot of info.

To some degree, there is no point in reinventing the wheel. When they ask, you have no idea it's not something they haven't already spent a lot of time thinking about. Perhaps it is something they created in their mind years ago. Perhaps it is something they already made and are simply asking to see if the poster came up with the same method or something else.

In that respect, you are making a lot of judgments of someone based on the simple fact they asked a question - which is nowhere near enough information. For all you know, they are building a bike from the ground up, and are asking someone how they made their air cleaner cover because it seems to employ techniques they would use to create their own unique cover.

Or... maybe they are unimaginative, lack creative abilities, and only ever copy exactly what others do. You may have a better idea about this person based on a number of their posts - maybe they always ask the same question of a number of posters. So what? I doubt they're taking their bike to shows winning multiple awards for their creativity.

And I'd bet if we got everyone on this forum to bring their bikes to the same location, you'd be hard pressed to find two that look exactly alike.

I guess it boils down to my thinking you can find something better to irk you. Asking questions is how people learn. Copying what someone else is done is how people learn and the path to their own creativity.

I think you'd probably never find a writer of music who has never played someone else's music note for note. That's how you build up your skills so you can then create what is in your head.

 

Crap, double post.

 

Because this is a discussion with input from several people with several different opinions. In most cases, there's only a few correct answers to a technical question..

 

When I joined this forum there weren't tons of posts about the same thing. The Dyna had just been revised and the Street Bob had just come out. There weren't very many parts out and guys like Mud and Basic stepped way out on brand new bikes and provided a wealth of knowledge to the forum. That info is still here, hence my search comment. I always like seeing pics of other peoples bikes but seeing the same stuff over and over kills me. I have dumbass questions too but I usually know who to direct them to so I don't get a bunch of opinions I don't need. Last Saint has one of the baddest bikes on this site IMO but still some guy told him it made him want to throw up in his mouth. I grew up around hot rods, race cars, and bikes. My old man always told me to look at the effort someone put into their stuff instead of the subject matter and keep your mouth shut if you don't have something positive to say. If I don't like the highway forward airhorn spiderweb pegs your put on your bike I'm probably not going to say anything.

SBRob, personally I love your bike. The wheels set it off. It isn't the same stuff you see all the time.

 

Actually, I think that shade of blue looks great with black. I will say, however, if that's 3M tape, the adhesive is not well suited for automotive/bike painting (the blue tape is intended for house painting).