Back when....???
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,637
Likes: 4,871
From: Missouri City,TX
all awesome post. i remember when you stopped on the side of the road the next bike along would stop to see if everything was ok, not just wave and motor on. long story short back in 79 i ran out of gas on my KZ 1000 north of bangor me and a H.A. stopped. came back about 30 min later in a vw bug with gas. those where the days.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 21,695
Likes: 17,531
From: Driftless Area
Difference in attitudes......
Then: Little thought was given to taking an extended road trip with little $, on a cobbled-together hardtail.
Now: Custom bikes rarely ridden past the county line (trailer), and worrying about having enough bottled water and cell service.
Then: Being turned down for a room, because you looked "dangerous".
Now: "Welcome to our motel, we jacked up the prices 4X because we know you can and will pay it".
Then: Getting pulled over, searched, and written up for chicken-**** equipment violations, while 2 more squads nervously stood behind as backup with hand on gun.
Now: LEO bending over backwards to clear traffic and show support for charity runs, PGR, etc.
Then: Getting haircut once a year, cuz you were a hairy, scary biker.
Now: Getting haircut once a year, cuz it's mostly gone anyway.
Then: Little thought was given to taking an extended road trip with little $, on a cobbled-together hardtail.
Now: Custom bikes rarely ridden past the county line (trailer), and worrying about having enough bottled water and cell service.
Then: Being turned down for a room, because you looked "dangerous".
Now: "Welcome to our motel, we jacked up the prices 4X because we know you can and will pay it".
Then: Getting pulled over, searched, and written up for chicken-**** equipment violations, while 2 more squads nervously stood behind as backup with hand on gun.
Now: LEO bending over backwards to clear traffic and show support for charity runs, PGR, etc.
Then: Getting haircut once a year, cuz you were a hairy, scary biker.
Now: Getting haircut once a year, cuz it's mostly gone anyway.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,013
Likes: 1
From: New Brunswick, C-eh-n-eh-d-eh
[quote=RHPAW;6127887]Difference in attitudes......
Then: Little thought was given to taking an extended road trip with little $, on a cobbled-together hardtail.
Now: Custom bikes rarely ridden past the county line (trailer), and worrying about having enough bottled water and cell service.
Then: Being turned down for a room, because you looked "dangerous".
Now: "Welcome to our motel, we jacked up the prices 4X because we know you can and will pay it".
Then: Getting pulled over, searched, and written up for chicken-**** equipment violations, while 2 more squads nervously stood behind as backup with hand on gun.
Now: LEO bending over backwards to clear traffic and show support for charity runs, PGR, etc.
Then: Getting haircut once a year, cuz you were a hairy, scary biker.
Now: Getting haircut once a year, cuz it's mostly gone anyway.[/quote]
Then: Little thought was given to taking an extended road trip with little $, on a cobbled-together hardtail.
Now: Custom bikes rarely ridden past the county line (trailer), and worrying about having enough bottled water and cell service.
Then: Being turned down for a room, because you looked "dangerous".
Now: "Welcome to our motel, we jacked up the prices 4X because we know you can and will pay it".
Then: Getting pulled over, searched, and written up for chicken-**** equipment violations, while 2 more squads nervously stood behind as backup with hand on gun.
Now: LEO bending over backwards to clear traffic and show support for charity runs, PGR, etc.
Then: Getting haircut once a year, cuz you were a hairy, scary biker.
Now: Getting haircut once a year, cuz it's mostly gone anyway.[/quote]
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,042
Likes: 12,326
From: Arkansas
These days there are too many guys trading in their bike after a couple of years. I never will understand that.
Back in the day, more guys worked on their own bike.
When you used to go to the bike shop, it smelled of oil and exhaust and was generally kind of dirty, especially the parts counter. The only "apparel" you could buy was maybe a T shirt. Now, the bike shop is a fashion boutique.
A few mentioned this already: Too many people worried about what to wear and what others are going to think about them for wearing it.
I do think there was a lot less tolerance for jap bikes years ago than there is now. If you were to show up at a rally with a Honda, it would probably get knocked over, set on fire, or simply smashed. Heck, I was riding a Sporty and was catching crap for it from the guys with the "big bikes". (They weren't called baggers then).
Back in the day, more guys worked on their own bike.
When you used to go to the bike shop, it smelled of oil and exhaust and was generally kind of dirty, especially the parts counter. The only "apparel" you could buy was maybe a T shirt. Now, the bike shop is a fashion boutique.
A few mentioned this already: Too many people worried about what to wear and what others are going to think about them for wearing it.
I do think there was a lot less tolerance for jap bikes years ago than there is now. If you were to show up at a rally with a Honda, it would probably get knocked over, set on fire, or simply smashed. Heck, I was riding a Sporty and was catching crap for it from the guys with the "big bikes". (They weren't called baggers then).
You Sportster comment made me laugh. I was at a party in N.C. back in the 70's and me and another guy were sharin a bottle of Yukon Jack in the front yard and just shootin the ****. He was with some club outa N.Y. that was passin through town and had gotten an invite to the party. I asked him which bike was his and he pointed out a pretty nice lookin Sporty. I said OH...you ride a dirt bike huh? Before I knew what happened I was on the ground with him on top of me just wailin the pizz out of me. Guess he had gotten tired of the comments about ridin a sprotster. I got a few good licks in and when it was over we went back to our bottle of Yukon. Those was good times there for sure.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 10,788
Likes: 2,222
From: Texas
[QUOTE=oldncrzy;6127924]
Now this is good,...........and sooooooooo true!
Difference in attitudes......
Then: Little thought was given to taking an extended road trip with little $, on a cobbled-together hardtail.
Now: Custom bikes rarely ridden past the county line (trailer), and worrying about having enough bottled water and cell service.
Then: Being turned down for a room, because you looked "dangerous".
Now: "Welcome to our motel, we jacked up the prices 4X because we know you can and will pay it".
Then: Getting pulled over, searched, and written up for chicken-**** equipment violations, while 2 more squads nervously stood behind as backup with hand on gun.
Now: LEO bending over backwards to clear traffic and show support for charity runs, PGR, etc.
Then: Getting haircut once a year, cuz you were a hairy, scary biker.
Now: Getting haircut once a year, cuz it's mostly gone anyway.[/quote]
Then: Little thought was given to taking an extended road trip with little $, on a cobbled-together hardtail.
Now: Custom bikes rarely ridden past the county line (trailer), and worrying about having enough bottled water and cell service.
Then: Being turned down for a room, because you looked "dangerous".
Now: "Welcome to our motel, we jacked up the prices 4X because we know you can and will pay it".
Then: Getting pulled over, searched, and written up for chicken-**** equipment violations, while 2 more squads nervously stood behind as backup with hand on gun.
Now: LEO bending over backwards to clear traffic and show support for charity runs, PGR, etc.
Then: Getting haircut once a year, cuz you were a hairy, scary biker.
Now: Getting haircut once a year, cuz it's mostly gone anyway.[/quote]
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 791
Likes: 1
From: "Arlen", Tx
Training was here's the clutch, twist this for gas, that's the choke
and to start it you kick this thing. Good luck and dont die going home.
and to start it you kick this thing. Good luck and dont die going home.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,946
Likes: 814
From: Nevada
As a black man, I don't encounter as much crap today as I did in the past. My worst experience happened in the early 70's at Sturgis where a guy flashed a gun and told me to leave town. Not exactly the good 'ol days, ya know.
This doesn't bother me as much as the distracted drivers on the road today. I find myself riding more guarded.
This doesn't bother me as much as the distracted drivers on the road today. I find myself riding more guarded.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
So many differences in 40 years
then: Harley riders were either 1%'s or cops. Everyone else rode metric/British
now: Harley riders come from every walk of life. Much more disposable income, and the rides are being used much differently
then: if you were making a long trip, you took a cage
Now: you regularly hear of someone doing an IB on a 50CC scooter...nearly everyone who owns a bike road bike tours longish distances regularly.
Then: if you wore black, you may as well have painted a "stop and harass ME" on the back of your helmet.
Now: as often as not, if you get stopped you also get to chat with a fellow rider
Then: insurance cost me $39. a year for full coverage when I started riding at 14.
Now: insurance costs me a LOT more than $39. year. A LOT more
Then: there was less comradeship amongst riders. You were usually on your own with a brakdown
Now: someone will usually stop within 10 minutes of you pulling over to deal with a gremlin
Then: all bikers were...."bikers" in the eyes of everyone who didn't ride.
Now: I get more compliments ( and a lot of envious looks from guys my age sitting in a cage) now that I ever did 40 years ago
Then: I was young and indestructable
Now: If I throw my leg over the saddle to vigorously with all the armor, heated liners, specialized booths, heated gloves and $600 full-face helmet, I'll probably put my back out and not be able to ride at all for a couple of days.
Not sure which was better...then or now?
then: Harley riders were either 1%'s or cops. Everyone else rode metric/British
now: Harley riders come from every walk of life. Much more disposable income, and the rides are being used much differently
then: if you were making a long trip, you took a cage
Now: you regularly hear of someone doing an IB on a 50CC scooter...nearly everyone who owns a bike road bike tours longish distances regularly.
Then: if you wore black, you may as well have painted a "stop and harass ME" on the back of your helmet.
Now: as often as not, if you get stopped you also get to chat with a fellow rider
Then: insurance cost me $39. a year for full coverage when I started riding at 14.
Now: insurance costs me a LOT more than $39. year. A LOT more
Then: there was less comradeship amongst riders. You were usually on your own with a brakdown
Now: someone will usually stop within 10 minutes of you pulling over to deal with a gremlin
Then: all bikers were...."bikers" in the eyes of everyone who didn't ride.
Now: I get more compliments ( and a lot of envious looks from guys my age sitting in a cage) now that I ever did 40 years ago
Then: I was young and indestructable
Now: If I throw my leg over the saddle to vigorously with all the armor, heated liners, specialized booths, heated gloves and $600 full-face helmet, I'll probably put my back out and not be able to ride at all for a couple of days.
Not sure which was better...then or now?