Random Rant
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,936
Likes: 8,036
From: poway
We rant here to clear the air. Before social media and HD forums, we would bitch to our riding buddy. But, he didn’t care. Now, with thousands of eyes we get to bitch electronically and we can post it, walk away and return a day later to see the impact. Pretty cool really.
In many of our younger days, we’d be sitting there alone, bike in parts and solving the issue over weeks. Ordering parts online, scrolling through our service manual book with tiny grainy B & W pictures that looked nothing like our bike.
Then we got early, pregoogle YouTube where people posted videos of how to do stuff. I loved that period. No ads, just some guy posting an instructional video to help others. Even, HD forums took issues seriously. Posts early on were more like talking to a rider in a roadside tavern about a common issue than ranting about the end of Harley Davidson. It’s different, I agree. HD forums is my only social media, therefore it is important enough that I have adapted to the changes. I realized early on that what people say and even more, what people read into posts is very different than if we met at a tavern and were sitting next to each other having a brew and talking about our bike, or our president, or the weather.
I still enjoy other OPs posting rants. We have less of a filter and while each response gives that poster a unique opportunity, after 10 or 12 they start to blend into several categories.
to the point we post issues more than glory, yah, I get it. If I’m unhappy, I want to share my misery. If I’m happy, I’m out riding. I don’t need or want to post anything. Somehow, if I have an issue with my bike, it feels better knowing you had the same issue, how you fixed it and moved on to the next issue. Also, it’s winter here. Morning coffee or late afternoon whiskey, I check in here to see what’s going on in the only social media site I’m on to see what’s going the hell is going on with other riders. Topic is not important, sharing some of our daily **** is.
In many of our younger days, we’d be sitting there alone, bike in parts and solving the issue over weeks. Ordering parts online, scrolling through our service manual book with tiny grainy B & W pictures that looked nothing like our bike.
Then we got early, pregoogle YouTube where people posted videos of how to do stuff. I loved that period. No ads, just some guy posting an instructional video to help others. Even, HD forums took issues seriously. Posts early on were more like talking to a rider in a roadside tavern about a common issue than ranting about the end of Harley Davidson. It’s different, I agree. HD forums is my only social media, therefore it is important enough that I have adapted to the changes. I realized early on that what people say and even more, what people read into posts is very different than if we met at a tavern and were sitting next to each other having a brew and talking about our bike, or our president, or the weather.
I still enjoy other OPs posting rants. We have less of a filter and while each response gives that poster a unique opportunity, after 10 or 12 they start to blend into several categories.
to the point we post issues more than glory, yah, I get it. If I’m unhappy, I want to share my misery. If I’m happy, I’m out riding. I don’t need or want to post anything. Somehow, if I have an issue with my bike, it feels better knowing you had the same issue, how you fixed it and moved on to the next issue. Also, it’s winter here. Morning coffee or late afternoon whiskey, I check in here to see what’s going on in the only social media site I’m on to see what’s going the hell is going on with other riders. Topic is not important, sharing some of our daily **** is.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,116
Likes: 7,640
From: Poolville
In my younger days we didn't have computers.. In about the early to mid 80s we had mailing lists with labels like rec.motorcycles.harley. Really didn't start seeing MC stuff for sale on line until the early to mid 90s. IIRC back then you got a catalog and ordered by email..
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,116
Likes: 7,640
From: Poolville
the last one I saw I think was in the early 80s, and you know what a lot of people forgot about Sears catalog used to have just about everything too...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,525
Likes: 57,081
From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,286
Likes: 3,431
From: Idaho Panhandle
JC Whitney is still around, sells performance auto parts. I did not know that, I just googled it and looked at their website. Somehow, it made me feel better knowing they are still around.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
I rode my motorcycle today and nothing happened; I just enjoyed the **** out of it and mused upon my impending retirement, but that involved thinking, so I stopped thinking and enjoyed the ride.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 163
Likes: 85
From: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
I also had a nice ride today, around the north end of Okanagan Lake. My retirement was 2 weeks ago. It might start snowing this week so riding is almost done for the year. Soon it's time for the winter maintenance.
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