I just had a thought...

[annguyen1981]

We have OUR forum for the beloved GS...
I recently joined the R6 forum...
Pablo visits the CBR600rr forum...
Pandy goes to the SVriders forum  (I think)...





Do harley people have their own forum?  I'm too lazy to search the net...

I can picture it now...  big burly hairy guys sitting at their computers...

[Jughead]

I'm sure they do An but I haven't been looking for them.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT HARLEY RIDERS...

Q: Why do harley riders never ride faster than 50mph???
A: Any faster and they can't see where the parts fell off.

Q-Why do they have all those Harley billboards along the highway?
A-So the owners will know how far it is to the next repair shop

Q- What is the most common accessory for Harleys'?
A- A pick-up truck.

Q: Why do harley riders chrome all their parts???
A: It makes them easier to spot on the side of the road

Q: What do you call a group of Harley Owners with a collective IQ of 120?
A: Sturgis!

Q: What's the difference between a Harley Davidson and a Hoover acuum cleaner?
A: The Harley has room for two dirtbags on board.
Q: How is a Harley Davidson like a Porcupine?
A: Both have pricks on their back.

Q: How is a Harley Davidson like an old dog?
A: If you leave them alone long enough, they'll both mark their territory.

Q: How is a Harley Davidson like an old dog?
A: They both like to ride in the back of pickup trucks.

Q: What is the difference between a Harley Davidson and an old dog?
A: The dog can get in the back of the pickup by itself.

Q: Why do Harley owners have tassels on their handlebars and lothing?
A: To be able to tell if they're moving or not !

[yamahonkawazuki]

and the aforementioned resembles some of the anti-harley crowd as well but hey, i still got a chuckle out of it 

[pantablo]

yes, there are harley forums.

[Turd Ferguson]

Do they get into fights like we do?  I bet the big hairy fat guys get really emotional and there is tons of drama.

-Turd.

[Jughead]

Do they get into fights like we do?  I bet the big hairy fat guys get really emotional and there is tons of drama.

-Turd.

I can Hear it Now "Why don't you like me or my Hawg?" 

[Yankee Punker]

Do they get into fights like we do?  I bet the big hairy fat guys get really emotional and there is tons of drama.

-Turd.

+1   And I wondering what is their version of what we call a squid, and I bet all the ridged guys think the softail guys are noobs or wannabe bikers.

[jdanna]

i dont see why people badmouth harleys so much.
any harley-bashers here ever actually ride one? nicest bike ive ever rode.

i know, they wont turn like a gs will. a lot of bikes wont turn as good as a gs will.

and there are plenty of faster bikes out there. but when i rode one, i just felt so nice. not even sure why, it just felt right.
i would have one right now if i could afford it. thats their biggest drawback to me - they are fantastically overpriced.

[Alphamazing]

i dont see why people badmouth harleys so much.
any harley-bashers here ever actually ride one? nicest bike ive ever rode.

i know, they wont turn like a gs will. a lot of bikes wont turn as good as a gs will.

and there are plenty of faster bikes out there. but when i rode one, i just felt so nice. not even sure why, it just felt right.
i would have one right now if i could afford it. thats their biggest drawback to me - they are fantastically overpriced

See:
http://www.yamahafz1oa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62553

[Jughead]

Hmmm Overpriced,Won't run like a Smaller GS will,Plenty of Other Faster Bikes out there.


Sounds like the 3 Main Reasons to not buy a Bike. 

Don't get me Wrong It's Just whatever someone enjoys riding is what is Important.

[Kasumi]

If your guna be a biker you should appreciate what any biker wants to ride. You give an example of that Harley rider been an ass as an excuse for not liking harley riders or harleys but what about all the videos you post of squids on their sportsbikes . . . it doesn't make you hate your GS or other sports bikes does it. Squids can be asses, Harley riders too but theres plenty of nice ones you just havn't met. I think Harleys are beautiful bikes and riding a big bike like a Harley is a totally different type of riding - riding at 50 is what you do.

[FearedGS500]

you dont ride around alot of harleys do you ? worlds chaning now in days .. i got passed by one on the high way and i was doing 85!!! he was a steady 90-100 .. and all the other ones i have went riding with where doing like 90 ! so .. dont knock them .. they go ... and they go fast if you want them to .. ( maybe not 180 like the GSXR or the other 600's ) but they move

[GeeP]

Considering I'm outnumbered 10:1 by Harleys here in the midwest I suspect they probably do.

I used to think most of them were pricks too.  Just like squids, some of them ride to see and be seen.  Squids feel the need to look cool and fast, the HD poser crowd has to look like billy badass.  There's a lot of group-think going on too.  Riders that would normally be nice people become pricks in front of the group.  They feel the need to ride around on their FLXABC123 looking fresh out of maximum down at the state farm.

Not all are like that.  On the subject of good HD riders, I met this old guy and his big decked out HD.  It had everything, and I mean right down to the leather lever grips with tassles.  Turns out it that owning a HD was a dream of his from the time he was a little kid.  A year ago he went out and bought one with money he had been saving for over a decade.  I see him most every day, rain or shine, warm and sunny or cold and dreary.  Yeah, he has the leather vest and the chaps, the tassles, and whatever else, but he also has a big smile on his face.  I think that's all that counts.

As a side, I saw his wife trailing him on a brand new Burgman starting last week.   

On Thursday I was sitting in a restaurant in my bright orange leathers with my helmet and backpack on the chair next to me.  Another old guy asked if he could share the table (the place was packed).  Turns out his first bike was a 39 HD back about 1942.  We talked motorcycles and airplanes for well over an hour.  Turns out he's the admissions director for SIU.  Anybody want to go the school?   

Therefore, I won't dismiss someone just because of their ride.  I try to evaluate each rider individually like I hope they do me.  If you make the blanket statement "All goldwing riders are old farts."  Or "All HD riders are convicts."  You may miss out on some good conversation.  I know of at least one Goldwing rider with a Gixxer in the garage.

I won't ride with the vast majority of them.  Most IL riders don't wear gear, many have no training, and I don't like scraping body parts into ziplocs.  Regardless, it is important that every rider show a little basic respect and courtesy.  I like my HD jokes, and I have to admit some "Jap bike" jokes are pretty funny too.  Just don't bash somebody's ride to their face because you don't like it.  We're all fresh meat to the cell-phone wielding cager.

Would I ever own a HD?  Probably not.  I don't like the style, the ergonomics give me back pains, I don't like scraping hard things, and I don't wish to look like billy badass.  If I want to tour the country I'll do it on a sport-tourer and bring the coffee pot too.  Despite their downfalls, it's important to realize that the bikes appeal to a large swath of America.  I think that's partly due to their long history in this country and partly to their excellent marketing.  In the end what matters is whether the rider of said bike enjoys it.  For every rider there's a bike.

Who wants the soap box now?   

[Jughead]

i got passed by one on the high way and i was doing 85!!! he was a steady 90-100 .. and all the other ones i have went riding with where doing like 90 !

The reason he was going so fast was Because there was a Speck of Rust Gaining Ground on Him.

Sorry I couldn't Help it.

[seaheifer]

So are we talking about HDs specifically or the "cruiser" style......my dad has a honda shadow spirit 1100. I always enjoyed riding on the back with him and b/c of his interest in bikes made me interested as well.  I dont like how they look and just prefer the feel of a "sport bike" but sometimes when I have to move his bike out of the garage, I just sit on it and roll out and I will have to admit I could sit on the back of that bike all day over a couch or laying in bed.  The seat is huge and the posture and position if just as comfortable as ever.......but I have to say he is interested in the RC-51 so I havent given up hope on him just yet 

[jdanna]

So are we talking about HDs specifically or the "cruiser" style......my dad has a honda shadow spirit 1100. I always enjoyed riding on the back with him and b/c of his interest in bikes made me interested as well.  I dont like how they look and just prefer the feel of a "sport bike" but sometimes when I have to move his bike out of the garage, I just sit on it and roll out and I will have to admit I could sit on the back of that bike all day over a couch or laying in bed.  The seat is huge and the posture and position if just as comfortable as ever.......but I have to say he is interested in the RC-51 so I havent given up hope on him just yet 

thats why i moved to a boulevard c50. the gs500 was great, but too small and the seat was horrible for someone of my size :/

[damiencovington]

My family is wrought thick with Harleys.  My grandfather, couple of uncles, my dad,all have/had Harleys since the 50's.  I was almost NAMED Harley for that matter (honest, I heard it from mom and dad).  I was raised around them and to this day love them.  They are a part of out heritage as motorcycle riders in the U.S.  So you can immagine the anxiety I had when I told my family my first bike was a Suzuki!  Every one of em said they thought it was kool and were glad I finally got my first bike!  I was so relieved when my uncle (who builds and paints Harleys professionlally) told me he wanted me to bring my bike with me the next time I went home, cuz he wants to paint it for me.  I guess what I am trying to say is that it's not the bike, but the rider you should form your opinion on, and don't form that opinion until you have the chance to...  You may miss out on meeting some really kool people and possibly good friends if you don't give someone the chance just because they ride something different.  You never know when it may be you stuck on the side of the road when the Harley guy drives by in his truck and gives you a ride home (if you read the posts, you know what I am talking about).  We all deserve the same respect from each other and should treat each other as such.  2 wheels and a helmet get my respect always.

My 2 cents....
Damien

[3imo]

well said.. er... typed..