Harley haters....
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Maybe if we as harley riders would quit hating on each other them fools would stop hating also. We cant even get along with each other much less anybody else. The other day I start a thread about shorts and now I'm a poser, an *******, a *****, I have the IQ of a dog or a cat and I dont have enough brain function to qualify as a human or I'm gay because I wear chaps when its cold, and we're not gonna mention loud pipes because I've been bitched at on here about that and all this came from fellow harley riders. So if you was to ask me I would say that we have enough to worry about with each other before we worry about everybody else. Just my .02
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 7
From: MN
There have been a few reasons over the decades that people have hated Harleys and their riders (BTW, the plural of Harley is Harleys, not "Harley's")
In the '30s and '40s, Indian riders hated Harley riders and visa-versa.
In the 50s and 60s, people were afraid of Harleys and their riders. Indian was gone after '53. Hollister happened and A.I.P. and other B -movie producers were grinding out biker and juvie delinquent films that alarmed the populace.
In the '60s and '70s, a book by Hunter Thompson and articles in mainstream magazines like Life and The Saturday Night Post printed stories about "outlaw heathens on Hogs", followed by TV shows of the time.
In the '70s and early '80s, Harleys were hated for their lack of quality and the company's ownership by AMF (even by the Harley faithful). Big Japenese bikes were mopping up the floor with H-D as far as horsepower and reliability. Plus there was still some residual outlaw feelings by the general public.
Today Harleys are hated by many because, since the mid to late '80s, they are percieved as play-toys of the yuppos and country club types. People who paddle away from stop signs, wear biker costumes on the weekends and load up on billet accesories while riding low powered machines. The kind of people who would have crossed the street 20 years ago rather than walk by a biker bar now say their part of the "Harley Family."
Remember when Harley riders were in their '20s and '30s, didn't buy licensed clothing and took **** OFF their bikes instead of adding on glue-on chrome pieces from Taiwan. Now it's mostly newbies out for lunch, and people who say "I wanted a Harley for years, and now that I'm retired, I can have one!"
In the '30s and '40s, Indian riders hated Harley riders and visa-versa.
In the 50s and 60s, people were afraid of Harleys and their riders. Indian was gone after '53. Hollister happened and A.I.P. and other B -movie producers were grinding out biker and juvie delinquent films that alarmed the populace.
In the '60s and '70s, a book by Hunter Thompson and articles in mainstream magazines like Life and The Saturday Night Post printed stories about "outlaw heathens on Hogs", followed by TV shows of the time.
In the '70s and early '80s, Harleys were hated for their lack of quality and the company's ownership by AMF (even by the Harley faithful). Big Japenese bikes were mopping up the floor with H-D as far as horsepower and reliability. Plus there was still some residual outlaw feelings by the general public.
Today Harleys are hated by many because, since the mid to late '80s, they are percieved as play-toys of the yuppos and country club types. People who paddle away from stop signs, wear biker costumes on the weekends and load up on billet accesories while riding low powered machines. The kind of people who would have crossed the street 20 years ago rather than walk by a biker bar now say their part of the "Harley Family."
Remember when Harley riders were in their '20s and '30s, didn't buy licensed clothing and took **** OFF their bikes instead of adding on glue-on chrome pieces from Taiwan. Now it's mostly newbies out for lunch, and people who say "I wanted a Harley for years, and now that I'm retired, I can have one!"
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 7
From: MN
I guess I couldn't understand why anyone WOULDN'T want a Harley. Since I was a kid, they were the embodiment of a "motorcycle". My Jap riding friends in the '70s gave me crap for my Triumphs and Harleys, I couldn't understand their soul-less appliances.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 650
Likes: 1
From: Wisconsin
Yep, It's true! To each 'his' own. There are also people who hate puppies & kittens, icecream & cookies, Rock or Country music, warm sunny weather & rainfall (even if it's soft and refreshing) ... There are all kinds of people in this world. THAT's what makes it all interesting.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 54
Likes: 1
From: Brighton,Illinois
I'm riding my first Harley now. I find most HD riders to be good people and a lot of fun to be around. However there is that large faction of HD riders that give our brand a bad image.
...the groups that have the horrendously loud pipes who think it is cool to blow other peoples ears out. I have a bad ear. Last summer a group of these idiots really let me have it in my car at a stop light...loudest pipes I have ever heard. Now I'm a long time rider but I really had the urge to take these fools out at the next traffic light.
...the riders who in a large group will completely disregard the traffic laws...like an entire group of 50 riders going in mass through a stop light for example, or completely taking over a section of town.
...the terrible behavior of some of the HD riders at bars and restaurants.
...the general feeling of a lot of the HD riders that they are somehow better than someone riding a metric bike...and the constant Harley talk. Come on guys...Harleys are great bikes...but there is more to life than motorcycles.
...or the low life motorcycle gangs that cause so many problems...most of whom are Harley riders.
I could go on but you get the idea...we do have a problem. I don't really understand why anyone would be surprised that the non riding public looks at us with distain.
Now again I find most HD riders are great people. But we do have an image problem. Most non riders don't care for us that much. That small group of numb skulls is really destroying our image. We could do a lot better job of policing our own ranks.
...the groups that have the horrendously loud pipes who think it is cool to blow other peoples ears out. I have a bad ear. Last summer a group of these idiots really let me have it in my car at a stop light...loudest pipes I have ever heard. Now I'm a long time rider but I really had the urge to take these fools out at the next traffic light.
...the riders who in a large group will completely disregard the traffic laws...like an entire group of 50 riders going in mass through a stop light for example, or completely taking over a section of town.
...the terrible behavior of some of the HD riders at bars and restaurants.
...the general feeling of a lot of the HD riders that they are somehow better than someone riding a metric bike...and the constant Harley talk. Come on guys...Harleys are great bikes...but there is more to life than motorcycles.
...or the low life motorcycle gangs that cause so many problems...most of whom are Harley riders.
I could go on but you get the idea...we do have a problem. I don't really understand why anyone would be surprised that the non riding public looks at us with distain.
Now again I find most HD riders are great people. But we do have an image problem. Most non riders don't care for us that much. That small group of numb skulls is really destroying our image. We could do a lot better job of policing our own ranks.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
Not giving a damn about what other people think is the best way to truly enjoy your ride.After all your making the payments or your pride and joy is sitting at your home.Why would it matter what other people think when it boils down to wanting to ride whatever you choose.There are too many members of the Jones family to keep happy.
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 30,914
Likes: 16
From: Springfield, Ohio
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6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 14
Likes: 1
From: Philadelphia
My first bike was a Yamaha 500 (very used). The first bike I bought at a dealer was a used Honda Sabre, which I still have. My first Harley was a Road King. I love(d) all my bikes and always wave to all riders. I don't worry if the don't wave back, it's their loss. I've always loved Harley as well as all other bikes, but it wasn't until recently that I could responsibly afford to have one. I do prefer the style, sound and strength of the Harley over the Imports, but I am mainly a cruiser type guy, no sport bikes for me. I like the way they look, but I'm not a speed freak and they are extremely fast. Overall, I prefer Harleys but would never look down on any rider, no matter what they ride.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Ireland
"It would be a fine thing for the world if some of this goodwill could be bottled up at Christmas time and dealt out regularly wherever it was needed during the rest of the year. For instance, I'm sure the motorcycle world could stand some of it; for, even though we boast of our "good fellowship" spirit, there still seems to be a tendency among a good many motorcyclist to slight the fellow riding another kind of machine. Motorcyclist are all bound together by a brotherhood tie through their love of the sport, and what difference does it make what make of machine he rides as long as he belongs to the clan?"
Walter Davidson
The December, 1920 edition of the H-D Enthusiast Magazine.
Walter Davidson
The December, 1920 edition of the H-D Enthusiast Magazine.