Harley Riders (roll the eyes)

Huh, must not have done it right.

Out riding in the snow flurries yesterday. Up from the onramp comes a dresser Harley and his Goldwing friend. I was surprised to see anyone else riding. They looked at me, I looked at them, gave a quick wave.

And that was all she wrote.

Came to a light and they pulled up beside me, but made darn sure to turn their backs to me (literally). Stereos blaring away, one behind the other, sitting staring off to the shoulder until the light changed, and they wouldn't move until I rode off.

Dunno, maybe it was because my helmet didn't color coordinate with my bike like theirs did. Or because I wasn't wearing proper club colors. Or because my leathers are worn while their nylon was sparkly. Or because I dared to wave, instead of the down by the knees finger flick.

Larry: I waved to a guy in a Prius and he didn't wave back.

Jeff: I don't wave to people in the same car as me.

Larry: We're Prius drivers; we're a special breed.

I've stopped waving at HD riders to be honest as I've rarely gotten a response, everyone else gets a wave or the fingers down.

They didn't want to take their hands off the heated grips.
A Harley and a Gold Wing together? That's the problem. Didn't want to admit to being seen together.

Chuckle, that might be it. The double entendre of their club name had me wondering if it was actually deliberate, metro something.

So the Goldwing rider did give you the time of day? if not, maybe you should modify the thread title to say something like "Harley and Honda riders hate me..."

and to be honest with you....I don't chat every other biker I see out there. In traffic, at a light, it doesn't matter. I'll do a quick wave, but that's it. Maybe I'm just not a social butterfly, but I don't roll my window down and chat up people when I commute in my car, so why do it while on my bike?

^This

I'm not necessarily effuse either. But to deliberately scoot around on the bike to carefully face away from a person you pull up beside?

But then, they were on sparkly clean bikes, wearing their perfectly matched color coordinated riding outfits. My bike was mud spattered. I'm in scruffy black leather, years old and all well used. I probably scared them half to death.

Maybe if I'd have hung my Crocs from the mirror they would have been all safe feeling and chatty.

These are Harley riders we're talking about. They probably were not aware enough to notice another bike on the road. Or if they were, they were too busy trying to manhandle the afterthought steering geometry of their behemoth around to be able to remove a hand from the bars. As far as he knows, counter-steering is how you navigate from the bar stool to the bathroom after too many beers.

If they had tried to turn and wave at you at a stop, they probably would have dumped the dresser on the ground.

foxtrapper wrote: I'm not necessarily effuse either. But to deliberately scoot around on the bike to carefully face away from a person you pull up beside? But then, they were on sparkly clean bikes, wearing their perfectly matched color coordinated riding outfits. My bike was mud spattered. I'm in scruffy black leather, years old and all well used. I probably scared them half to death. Maybe if I'd have hung my Crocs from the mirror they would have been all safe feeling and chatty.

So now if my bikes clean (it isn't right this instant but still) and I have nice gear (I like to think I do, although it doesn't all match) then I'm some sort of poser? Come on man....maybe they really just didn't want to talk to your ass lol.

I have deliberately stayed in a sep lane or something just because I DIDN'T WANT TO berkeleyING TALK TO ANYONE. Sometimes that's just how it is. I ride a lot and have for years and to me it's not about socializing.

Beer Baron wrote: These are Harley riders we're talking about. They probably were not aware enough to notice another bike on the road. Or if they were, they were too busy trying to manhandle the afterthought steering geometry of their behemoth around to be able to remove a hand from the bars. As far as he knows, counter-steering is how you navigate from the bar stool to the bathroom after too many beers. If they had tried to turn and wave at you at a stop, they probably would have dumped the dresser on the ground.

Am I the only one that noticed a Honda was also involved?

Cotton wrote: Am I the only one that noticed a Honda was also involved?

Yeah, but it was a Goldwing. So... I'm not sure what amusing stereotype to paint them with.

Maybe he was too busy futzing with the climate controls.

Realistically, if it's that friggin' cold out, I wouldn't want to talk to anyone.

foxtrapper wrote: Or because I wasn't wearing proper club colors.

Can't have GW colors until you get an RV and add 150 lbs.

Ride more Fox, they're out there. They may be going to their website talking about the newb wannabe or Angel they met on the road today.

You're on two wheels, that's what matters.

Dan

In reply to Cotton:

Yeah, I've pretty much stopped the wave and chat stuff too, unless I'm in a social setting like a bike night or other gathering. I just loathe small talk.

If I wind up next to another bike in traffic, my tinted or mirrored visor stays down, and I'll give a nod to acknowledge the other rider. If they don't get the hint and insist on chatting, I just point to my ears through the helmet as if I have plugs in. I don't.

Years of commuting exclusively on two wheels and doing countless test rides when I worked at the shop just kind of burned me out on the mindless friendliness. I'm sure most folks that don't get a wave back think I'm an shiny happy person, but I honestly couldn't care less. I'm not riding to make friends, and I don't think 10 seconds of the same damn conversation at the light ("What is that?!" "Oh cool, did you build it yourself?") is going to form a lasting bond anyway.

So, sorry in advance to anyone I pass. I'm a good guy, and I'll go out of my way to actually help just about anybody when it's needed, but randomly chipper and friendly isn't one of my factory settings.

Beer Baron wrote:

Cotton wrote: Am I the only one that noticed a Honda was also involved?

Yeah, but it was a Goldwing. So... I'm not sure what amusing stereotype to paint them with. Maybe he was too busy futzing with the climate controls. Realistically, if it's that friggin' cold out, I wouldn't want to talk to anyone.

Wasn't sure whether foxtrapper was waving or making an obscene gesture

Afraid might get frostbite if hand is removed from heated grip

Has arthritis and the past 400 miles have made it difficult to raise arm

Reflection from etched windshield momentarily blinded him

The espresso machine just finished

Was actually asleep when other rider waved

Was in a three-way conference call with stockbroker and accessories dealer

Was distracted by odd shaped blip on radar screen

Was simultaneously adjusting the air suspension, seat height, programmable CD player, seat temperature and satellite navigation system

But most likely:

Couldn't find the "auto wave back" button on dashboard

RealMiniDriver wrote: The espresso machine just finished

He said the other bike was a Goldwing, not a BMW.

Though to Harleys shame...

http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/gma_product.jsp?WebLogicSession=NfEKCw6sfNnXsrgxVCzlmpTE2b95dpn7oKF2xDnj7dPsk8LklTIR!237983023!hiwpbmsp01.ihd.hd!7005!8005&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524448775804&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302490891&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302490891&bmUID=1302316240569&bmLocale=en_us

Everyone loves to talk about how all harleys are garage queens but the funny thing is it looks like the BMW and Harley croud are more likely to ride in the rain than the others. At least here in the Bay Area I see plenty of Harleys out there. The real reason not to ride in the rain is there is so much chrome/aluminum to shine and if your harley is dirty you are a kind of second class citizen.

I'm over the whole waving thing, I might do it if you the other person does it first but honestly if you have time to look up and wave you aren't riding hard enough.

I'd love a sportsters with buell engine, adjustable suspension, and dual disc front end so the damn thing stops. I wonder why harley uses the single disc front end on the harleys as it isn't enough brakepower.

Normally, I see Harley's wave at other Harley's. and if I'm not mistaken, that's exactly what Fox is on, and not some little Sportster either. I would be less surprised if they ignored him on a sportsbike.

The KLR didn't get near the number of waves the Wee Strom is getting from everyone. I'm actually rather surprised at the number of H-D riders that wave back to me on either of the bikes I've had so far. I should pay attention to the ratio of guys who ignore me on H-D's, because they are out there in such large numbers it first appears there are more that don't do the wave, but I think the ratio is actually pretty good. BMW riders, OTOH...snob central, most of them. Sport bikes I give a pass to because a lot of them are clinging to the handlebars for dear life.

Worst offenders of all? Scooter riders. They are completely clueless or disinterested in the wave. Which is okay by me, because scooters on the open road are stupid anyway.

benzbaronDaryn wrote: I'd love a sportsters with buell engine, adjustable suspension, and dual disc front end so the damn thing stops. I wonder why harley uses the single disc front end on the harleys as it isn't enough brakepower.

Just get a Buell, then...they are inexpensive...and are nice riding bikes. Brakes are amazing. Want "genuine"-get an XR1200. Also, some Sportsters--the "R" models (883R)--do have twin discs.

As for waving...I ride a Buell XB12STT, wear a helmet, and give a down low two fingers to everyone. I bet 85% return the gesture.

Took the XS out over the weekend for a few miles, came to an intersection where I was turning right. There was a couple on a Harley complete with travel trunk, the de rigeur H-D leather jackets, no helmets etc and they would not even deign to look over. Eyes straight ahead. They simply could not be expected to acknowledge the presence of a lesser rice burner, particularly when the rider is wearing a helmet. Oh, well.

Heh, try riding around on a Pacific Coast. I got maybe two waves over the course of an entire year on it.

Thought at least Goldwing riders would wave, but they just looked the other way in an embarrassed fashion.

The point is having a buell engine in a sportster frame, really the bike harley should have made. My moms got a 1200sporty and it needs something. I think a smoother running more powerful engine with an adjustable suspension and brakes that work could surprise some people, especially hustling through the hills. The regular harley engine is nice and torquey but runs feels like it is self destructing above 5000rpm.

benzbaronDaryn wrote: The point is having a buell engine in a sportster frame, really the bike harley should have made. My moms got a 1200sporty and it needs something. I think a smoother running more powerful engine with an adjustable suspension and brakes that work could surprise some people, especially hustling through the hills. The regular harley engine is nice and torquey but runs feels like it is self destructing above 5000rpm.

I believe that is called a Triumph Thunderbird.