some observations
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 323
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From:
RE: some observations
I agree on the hd comment seems like in the 70`-80`s I was the only non bandido hells angel that had a harley,went from 89 to 2003 without a bike then test rode one got fever,only known cure ride..a lot..now what bike do I buy to be different...whats that ruskie one?...oh yeah a URAL yeah thats how to be different.....
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Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 642
Likes: 1
From: Luckey, Ohio
RE: some observations
ORIGINAL: TXjammer
I'm not old enough to do much comparing, so I appreciate the insight that your post provides. Sothe general consensus is that bikers are more stuck-up pretentious jerks, riding in general is more dangerous, but the bikes are built better?
I'm not old enough to do much comparing, so I appreciate the insight that your post provides. Sothe general consensus is that bikers are more stuck-up pretentious jerks, riding in general is more dangerous, but the bikes are built better?
Cruiser
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
From: Crowbait
RE: some observations
1969 I was riding a 1964 Pan head in a 58 wishbone frame. There wern't many gadgets back then and chrome was something that rusted up. Now I'm on a 2005 heritage and it isn't the same world. I'm with you take the attitude and give me an open road. Oh I also endured hemmroid surgery thanks to the wishbone. I appreciate the SOFT tail. the electric start, the lighting, I even like my windshield at night.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 8
From: Dogtown, Oakland, CA
RE: some observations
ORIGINAL: Phil K
Just having finished up my 1st year back in the saddle after not having ridden for 21 years..here are a few observations on riding..for what they are worth. There are many,many more H.D.'S on the road now...doesn't feel as exclusive of a club as it used to....and the raised fist has been replaced with the "down-low" wave...sometimes. Harleys quality has improved dramatically since my 79 Sporty.The cell phone wasn't in existence back then....and i wish it had never been invented. I've had more close calls in the last year than in the whole 8 years of riding back in the 80's. There are more idiots riding recklessly now than ever...on bikes and in cars. I don't feel the need to ride fast as much anymore...and i'm much more cautious...i don't drink and ride anymore. Seems like i run across more Harley riders who think that because they ride H.D. that it somehow makes them an unsociable badass and insist on playing the part to ridiculous extremes.Bugs still hurt when they hit your forehead..and i still don't want a windshield. I don't miss carbureters. I feel more animosity towards bikers by the non-riding public than ever before. And most importantly...i still get the same rush when firing up the bike and heading out as i did 21 years ago....just a little older and wiser.
Just having finished up my 1st year back in the saddle after not having ridden for 21 years..here are a few observations on riding..for what they are worth. There are many,many more H.D.'S on the road now...doesn't feel as exclusive of a club as it used to....and the raised fist has been replaced with the "down-low" wave...sometimes. Harleys quality has improved dramatically since my 79 Sporty.The cell phone wasn't in existence back then....and i wish it had never been invented. I've had more close calls in the last year than in the whole 8 years of riding back in the 80's. There are more idiots riding recklessly now than ever...on bikes and in cars. I don't feel the need to ride fast as much anymore...and i'm much more cautious...i don't drink and ride anymore. Seems like i run across more Harley riders who think that because they ride H.D. that it somehow makes them an unsociable badass and insist on playing the part to ridiculous extremes.Bugs still hurt when they hit your forehead..and i still don't want a windshield. I don't miss carbureters. I feel more animosity towards bikers by the non-riding public than ever before. And most importantly...i still get the same rush when firing up the bike and heading out as i did 21 years ago....just a little older and wiser.
never saw much use of the "raised fist", even in the eighties, except as a joke. the wave has been pretty common for a long time. maybe a regional thing, i suppose.
traffic is worse in many places, and the drivers are more distracted than ever. i wonder though, did you not drive over the last twenty years, because the crazyness on the road is obvious in any vehicle.
people pretending to be badasses because they bought a harley are old news. there is even an acronym for it "Bought A Sportster Therefore A Radical Dude"... when the first rain hits, the costume party riders hang it up and jump back into their other compensation device, their pickup truck.
i will say that i disagree strongly with your observation that drivers display more animosity to motorcyclists. again, it may be a regionally specific thing, but around here in the SF bay area, i have noticed attitudes improving slightly, possibly due to more people riding, or knowing someone who rides.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 15
From: Senoia, Ga., by way of Miami, Fl..
RE: some observations
ORIGINAL: Phil K
No..all bikers aren't pretentious jerks...but i have met quite a few who insist upon playing the 1%er role to the hilt...until they are around a real 1%er. Guess i'm just gettin' too old for the games..i just like to ride. Yes, riding is much more dangerous..we seem to have become invisible even as there are more of us on the road. And i see many less H.D.'S broke down alongside the road..a common sight in the late 70"s. I might add that forums like this would have been great back in the day...more info is shared now due to the advent of the web.
ORIGINAL: TXjammer
I'm not old enough to do much comparing, so I appreciate the insight that your post provides. Sothe general consensus is that bikers are more stuck-up pretentious jerks, riding in general is more dangerous, but the bikes are built better?
I'm not old enough to do much comparing, so I appreciate the insight that your post provides. Sothe general consensus is that bikers are more stuck-up pretentious jerks, riding in general is more dangerous, but the bikes are built better?
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,481
Likes: 1
From:
RE: some observations
ORIGINAL: Phil K
...the raised fist has been replaced with the "down-low" wave...sometimes.
The raised fist would just look corny these days, for some reason.
I've had more close calls in the last year than in the whole 8 years of riding back in the 80's.
Roger that!
There are more idiots riding recklessly now than ever...on bikes and in cars.
That's why we've had more close calls (with cagers). Then there's the damned squids on their crotch rockets.
Seems like i run across more Harley riders who think that because they ride H.D. that it somehow makes them an unsociable badass and insist on playing the part to ridiculous extremes. Seen plenty of that.
I feel more animosity towards bikers by the non-riding public than ever before.
Guess that depends on where you live.
...the raised fist has been replaced with the "down-low" wave...sometimes.
The raised fist would just look corny these days, for some reason.
I've had more close calls in the last year than in the whole 8 years of riding back in the 80's.
Roger that!
There are more idiots riding recklessly now than ever...on bikes and in cars.
That's why we've had more close calls (with cagers). Then there's the damned squids on their crotch rockets.
Seems like i run across more Harley riders who think that because they ride H.D. that it somehow makes them an unsociable badass and insist on playing the part to ridiculous extremes. Seen plenty of that.
I feel more animosity towards bikers by the non-riding public than ever before.
Guess that depends on where you live.
