Bike Forums - Making a "Harley Wannabe" back down...

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- - Making a "Harley Wannabe" back down... (https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/372513-making-harley-wannabe-back-down.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by WorldPax (Post 5854594)

I totally forgot about this story. One afternoon I was commuting home from work. I was riding a flat black Townie that I'd put a straight bar on, so it had a bit of a custom look to it. This guy on a Harley passes me in the next lane and you could tell he was the real deal, old dirty Flathead with ape hangers, the guy has the long beard and looked as greasy as the bike. The cool thing was, he gave me the salute as he passed, arm upraised without the finger. I thought that was pretty cool.

Lots of people ride motorcycles here. We have rich suburban bikers, BMW riders, hooligans, 1%ers, and retired bikers. Lots of beards and tattoos. Everybody waves but the Harley yuppies. Even the Pagans wave. But not the yuppies. No. Even motorcylists in their cars are cool----except the SUVs and trucks with Harley stickers. Why?

Quote:

Originally Posted by truman (Post 5849512)

Harleys don't really have anything to do with practical transportation. They're more of a 'conspicuous consumption' choice. As such, if one rides it in the rain, then one must detail-clean all the shiny bits, or else it will look utilitarian and thus, lose its cachet.

Exactly.
Only the people who want a Harley (and nothing but a Harley), but Harleys.

Same thing with Nissans. Nothing special, but they have a following...

Some thoughts, purely anecdotal:

I haven't owned a motorcycle in some years, but when I'm not riding a bicycle, I ride a scooter, a nice green one with whitewall tires and cream highlights. To make it even worse, my scrubs match the scooter.

1. Harley riders tend to be really stupid about thinking nothing else is a "real bike," and do seem to be really ******** about image consciousness. Crotch rocket guys don't seem to act silly in this way as much.

2. I don't know where Harley riders have been for the last 30 years, but horseshoe moustaches and leather are only worn together by one other group-Frisco Leathermen. Unless you're a Navy SEAL or something, it might not be the look to sport. I'm not homophobic at all, but find it ironic simply because the typical Harley rider, even the dentist and CPA ones, usually hate queers.

3. They're overpriced and get crappy mileage. I'll take a Honda over a Harley any day, because I like them better, and because I don't want to feel expected to shoot the bull with Harley 'tards all the time.

Seriously, I find most Walmartian status objects, from Hummers to Harleys, fairly ridiculous, due to their inefficiency and sheer fuglitude. But hey, if you have your pitbull airbrushed on the back of your leather riding jacket and you can't understand why guys at the Waffle House keep hitting on you, it's whatever floats your boat, right?