Is it just MY ego?

[Lbyvik]

Or do the rest of you get the same Jolly?

So it was POURING rain here in Fauquier county VA yesterday afternoon and evening. I left school about 5 ish to head home. About 20 minutes.

I was on Ellie, My 87' K100RS.  (Love her!) and decided to take the long way round and stop and grab a beer at McMahon's pub in Warrenton.  I walk into the bar in my Teiz suit with water pouring off me and see 3 guys sitting at the bar wearing their spotless and pressed HD T-shirts.  Im pretty sure they were the ones driving the big pickups parked in the lot with the giant HD window stickers.

I just grin and think to myself....."nope, its NOT sparkly and clean with shiny chrome!" "Yes its a 25 yr old bike" and "YES its 36 degrees and RAINY and I AM riding my motorcycle while yours sits in a garage!"  HA!! "POSERS!!!"

So...Is it just me who gets a massive ego trip when encountering the HD posers when riding in foul weather conditions?  I know my fellow KLR riders get the same feeling I do.

[detbmw]

The other morning it was about 25 degrees and I was riding my brick to work. I spotted a fellow beemer rider on his KLR, wearing his Hi-Viz 'stich. We stopped and talked for a minute. First thing out of his mouth was, "Where are all the cruisers this morning?"  :hehehe

[argent brick]

So...Is it just me who gets a massive ego trip when encountering the HD posers when riding in foul weather conditions?

The weather is not an issue for me. If I am on my brick, I trip anytime when encountering HD .

[WayneDW]

And if you could read their minds they were probably saying: "check out the clown in the monkey suit"!  You should see what the other forums are saying about us BMW riders.   Everybody thinks what they do, ride, wear is best or they wouldn't be doing, riding and wearing it.... such is life...  to each his own.

[branandfox]

Driving to work last year on Nessy, I encountered a tornado. Went from beautiful to shitstorm in a matter of seconds. All I could see was a wall of rain as I approached it on some back roads that I used to take. During said shitstorm I noticed a crew of 4-5 HD riders Sitting under a gas station, just gawking at me as I passed. I made it a point to wave and laugh to myself inside my Bell rs-1 helmet as they're mouths fell wide open.

[Chaos]

Hate to stereotype the cruiser crowd, but for 98% of them around here they are strictly fair weather riders.  That is a good thing, considering how often the local TV news has clips of wrecked Harleys when the weather is nice. 

And yes, it is a boon to the ego riding when the posers revert to comfy mode.  Been 3-wheeling it this winter when the temps are down in the teens. Some understand, some never will.

[frankenduck]

to each his own.

^ This.  Do what works four you. Let others do what works for them.

I don't care what other riders do, wear, ride or think - as long as they don't do shit that endangers my safety.

[argent brick]

And if you could read their minds they were probably saying: "check out the clown in the monkey suit"!  You should see what the other forums are saying about us BMW riders....

Yeah, I would like to know what HDs (and others)think about us. I really would. I can kinda get behind the attitude of some of the rice rocket crowd. I can even understand HD group when it comes to engine design. Beyond that, I just don't get it. The ape hangers, long forks and chrome don't make any sense to me. Their helmet choices and clothes are both a complete mystery. One of my wife's cousins rode a HD about 1200 miles round trip for our wedding wearing jeans, leather vest(no shirt) and beanie helmet.

[Qdude]

What's that phrase?
$15,000 and 15 minutes does not a biker make?

Up here in Seattle you are not a true biker until you have inadvertently ridden blind in the drive tire wash of a Semi on the freeway in a downpour IMHO.

[turq]

A big danger here in rural ORE. is some local that doesn't believe he needs a gas cap. Every few weeks (fill up time) this 'cage' sloshes gas on the two lane corners for near 30'; and this is for several miles thru my area roads. When the conditions are wet and just right I'm going to 'track' him to his driveway.

Does BMW have  a clothing Showroom like HD dealers?

[detbmw]

I don't care what other riders do, wear, ride or think - as long as they don't do shit that endangers my safety.

Hear, hear! I have to agree. To each his own, and I've ridden cruisers and dual-sport bikes in the past.

I definitively prefer Rolling Silence to Rolling Thunder.

[argent brick]

to each his own.

^ This.  Do what works four you. Let others do what works for them.

I don't care what other riders do, wear, ride or think - as long as they don't do shit that endangers my safety.

I feel the same. I don't care what they do. I just don't understand it.

[CRASH]

It has actually gotten worse over the years.  Back in the day, when bikers were actually bikers and not doctors, dentists and lawyers pretending to be what they are actually mortified of, I would get shit for riding a Jap bike and wearing my leathers blah blah blah ... but in the end, most of them woudl stop and help or would appreciate a hand if they needed it. I have been to more than one Hells Angel party and been accepted.

Today the posers have the most inane attitude.  They are special for some reason, only HD makes motorcycles (ask them what country invented motorcycles as you casually stroke your German steed), "couldn't afford a Harley eh"  "No asshole, I could not afford your 17 grand HD so I bought a 22k BMW." That is when they start to talk about how much extra in chrome they paid.  And so on ... on the rare occasion that I joust with them, I ask them technical questions about their bikes. "Wow, Showa forks and shocks ... huh ... I thought that was a Japanese company.  Nissan calipers too?  You sure this isn't a Honda?  Probably not since your pistons are made in GERMANY"  Then they start talking out their ass and I tell them when they can figure out what the fuck they are actually riding, come talk to me .. until then STFU.  Note:  My size helps a lot in these discussions ... more than once I could see they wanted to take a swing but had to think about it.

I have a lot of friends that ride HDs (and everything else under the sun)  I ride with anyone that RIDES and don't care what they are on.  Had an old timer walk up to a few of us one day "What the HAILLLLL?  A Harley riding with a BMW?  Now I seen everything."   "Hey, we are the two snobbiest brands on the planet, no one else can stand us, we HAVE to stick together."  He laughed and walked away shaking his head. There we stood a few guys in leathers, chaps and half helmets and me in my textiles, yellow jacket and full face helmet laughing.

[WayneDW]

I have a lot of friends that ride HDs (and everything else under the sun)  I ride with anyone that RIDES and don't care what they are on.  Had an old timer walk up to a few of us one day "What the HAILLLLL?  A Harley riding with a BMW?  Now I seen everything."   "Hey, we are the two snobbiest brands on the planet, no one else can stand us, we HAVE to stick together."  He laughed and walked away shaking his head. There we stood a few guys in leathers, chaps and half helmets and me in my textiles, yellow jacket and full face helmet laughing.

LOL!

My barber owns a HD and rides all the time.  He and I go on a few rides a year together.  He never wears a helmet and I always do.  He wears jeans and a jean jacket or leather coat and I wear my yellow and black textile riding pants and armored  jacket.  He knows where all the biker bars are and I know where all the DQ's are.  He can't figure me out and I feel the same about him but if he is willing to put up with me then I am willing to put up with him.  We are friends because we both love to ride.

[detbmw]

Of the guys I ride with around here there is almost always a mix of bikes:

I have two BMWs, a brick and an oilhead.
One guy has an oilhead RT.
One guy has an oilhead GS, an airhead RS, and a KLR.
One guy has an oilhead RT, a KLR, and a Bandit.
One guy has a Versus, a KLR, and a Honda sportbike.
One guy has a hexhead GS, a KLR, and a scooter that he rides everyday to work.

[branandfox]

I was riding with a few guys that rode older yama's, mostly cruisers. I agree with crash and argent at the same time. Its harder to find people to ride with in the HD department because they only want to ride with other HD's. sometimes they won't even sign back in passing, Which is all fine and dandy with me. the fun of it all is when fell riders pull up next to you in traffic, ask to tag along for your ride and just see where you both end up, as has happened to me a few times. Never with a HD rider though. I usually end up nowadays with my few friends on there CBR's, GSXR's, Daytonas, and ducatis. But at least they don't count me out.
But If your down to ride. so am I.

[CRASH]

Does BMW have  a clothing Showroom like HD dealers?

San Jose BMW has a pretty large selection and when they move into their new digs they tell me they will have a lot more "BMW LIFESTYLE" clothes.

[Lbyvik]

Hey guys,
don't get me wrong.  I really don't give two shits what anyone rides.  Two wheeled brotherhood and all that....It just seems like I get the most derision and judgement from the HD set.  I can't begin to count the number of times I've gotten a rash of crap when I pull up for gas 600 miles into my 900 mile trip to or from Pensacola with my bicycle on the back of my brick.  The BS comes from the HD guys.."600 miles! On that!? In ONE DAY?!!"..all the other "types" are great folks and chatty and curious and trading stories.

And I certainly and not in the "snob" set.  Well...maybe a little in attitude.  But my brick is a muddy, dirty, worn mess....cuz I ride her ALL the time.  I also LOVE my KLR, Which is also not sparkly!

At the end of the day I ride all year round not just for the utility, but also for the fun and adventure. Its just plain fun.  Well Off to another Parent conference..at least this one is with a smokin hot mom!  woof

[JERRY]

I have a K and a R but I also have a few Harleys. I get to see it and hear it all. The best one was a H-D rider was looking at my R100 and said that he realy didn`t care for Japanese bikes. I have also ran into people that apologize for what they ride. One guy had a metric step through scooter, about a 650, that I was looking at and the first thing he said was a defensive "It will keep up with yours". Ride what you can afford; ride what you are comfortable on;ride within your ability and leave all the drama for someone that cares. If you ride fast and wreck, you are a bad rider.If you ride slow and wreck, you are a bad rider. If you are a bad rider, don`t ride motorcycles! 

[Qdude]

I have a K and a R but I also have a few Harleys. I get to see it and hear it all. The best one was a H-D rider was looking at my R100 and said that he realy didn`t care for Japanese bikes. ......

If you ride fast and wreck, you are a bad rider.If you ride slow and wreck, you are a bad rider. If you are a bad rider, don`t ride motorcycles!

 :hehehe

[TimTyler]

I guess this is some serious drama I have yet to experience!

They're just motorcycles, people. Like camera brands, appliance brands or OS brands, everybody's got a favorite. I'm in the "I don't give a shit" camp. Helmet or not, leather or nylon, shiny or dirty... it doesn't matter to me.

I am happy to pull over and help out a motorist regardless of their ride's nationality, or whether they're on a pedal bike, scooter or 4-wheeled box. I will ignore large SUV's or anything with a confederate flag though.

[argent brick]

I can understand about the confederate flag, but what do you have against a SUV?

[Freelancer]

I too, am in the don't givvashit group. :2thumbup:
But there are times when certain people who ride a specific brand just make taking the low road too easy and fun. :yes

I believe a short description of one out of many such incidences will explain.

I was stopped to pick up grocieries at a Bashas in Apache Junction, AZ.
On the way out I noticed two bikes parked on the side walk. One was a Harley with all the early 2000's custom wannabe bells and whistles. Basically, nothing that would interest me.
The other bike was a R 1200 c Montauk that, while not my type of bike, had me curious as to what direction my favorite MC manufacturer was going.

So, I'm standing there looking at the Montauk when the Harley rider comes out. I nod  and he nods as he walks up all prepared to talk about his custom. You could see the emotion creep into his expression as he realizated that I was not even looking at his bike.

Harley guy) Unable to contain himself asked if the Montauk was mine.

Me) "No, but when I eventually get my next bike, it's going to be a Beemer".

Harly guy) Threw his leg over his bike, patted the tank and said, "F-that, get a real bike".

Me) "I plan to, thats why I'm gonna buy a Beemer".

Harly guy) Noticeably more agitated, he started the bike, patted his tank again and leaned over so his shout could be heard over the pipes,"At least this is American made!!".

Me) I replied loud enough to be heard, "So is a Honda Goldwing, doesn't mean that I want one.

Harly guy) Gunned the motor and took off while mouthing obsenities that no one could hear over his pipes.

Me:  :lol:

I know, I know....it was wrong of me to not drool all over his "following the fad" custom chopper. I should be ashamed for damaging his self esteem. :neener: :laugh   

[argent brick]

You know, in some fields of medical practice, what you did to Mr. Harley could be considered emotional abuse because you did not validate his feelings.

So, when did Honda start making the Goldwing in the US?   My ex-wife used to tell me that the Goldwing was the best motorcycle on the market. It would drive me nuts because I owned a Boxer. 

How can you tell that a Goldwing owner is having an affair?  Answer: Helmets don't match.

[Freelancer]

So, when did Honda start making the Goldwing in the US? 

May 1980.  :yes

Through most of the years since 1985, the Honda Goldwing has had a higher "Made in America" parts content that Harlies.  :ohyea:

How can you tell that a Goldwing owner is having an affair?  Answer: Helmets don't match.

 :laughing-on-ground: