The bike thread

[jgcable]

Most Harley guys just look at it funny because they don't understand it and alot of sport bike guys don't take it seriously because it says Harley on it. I feel so alone!

It's great for around town and short rides but anything else is pretty uncomfortable.

Most of the guys in our group totally accept the V-Rod as a full fledged Harley. The reason that most of us don't ride one is because we do long trips and the V-Rod isn't comfortable for the long hall. Cool bike though. If it had a more upright seating position I would have bought one instead of the Valkyrie.

[Robert Hendrix]

Generally, Harley's stick with Harley's and metrics stick with metrics. There are basically a few groups of riders. Regardless of what some people will tell you.. this is realistically how it shakes out...

Group 1 Harley Riders. They will allow other USA made bikes in their groups such as Victory's or custom bikes
Group 2 Metric Cruisers. These are the V-Stars, the VTX, the V-Max, the Suzuki M109's, etc...
Group 3 Sport Bikes aka...crotch rockets. Everything from Kawasaki to Suzuki to Ducati. This group tends to be a much younger and crazier crowd.
Group 4 Hardcore tourers... Wings, Interstates, BMW's, Connie's. The funny thing about this crowd is that you will rarely see a Harley touring bike in the mix. Harley's stick with Harley's.
If your friends ride HD's you should consider getting one if you want to ride with your friends and not catch too much crap.

Most of the time this is true. For the most part, I have found the riders in this area to be alot more liberal than they were in Texas where I use to live. I've been pretty well accepted on my Honda by most everybody I know that ride Harleys. And I pretty regularly ride in groups that have Wings, Vulcans, Harly, and Valks riding alongside each other. Of course, there's always the occasional Harley Snob out there, but when I see them, they are usually riding alone.

The ones that I have noticed being the most snobbish are the ones with the big custom choppers.

[SEEGERMANY]

For some reason, I can't picture a Bandito riding a Wing!

[Robert Hendrix]

For some reason, I can't picture a Bandito riding a Wing!

Actually, I knew one that did in Texas. He had a Harley that he rode with colors. and when he was going on a trip he took the colors off and jumped on his Wing.. There are still some one sided people out there but it's not like it use to be. Most people don't care what you ride as long as it get's your face in the wind.

Now Helmets!! THAT'S a different story! Alot of diehard bikers will give you a hard time if you show up for a ride with a full face helmet.

[mattsmusiccenter]

I ride with a full face most of the time. A good friend of mine got T-boned by a car 2 years ago with a brain bucket on and he spent the next 3 months in a coma. I can get away with it on the V-Rod, but I admit it would look retarded on an air cooled HD.

[Robert Hendrix]

I ride with a full face most of the time. A good friend of mine got T-boned by a car 2 years ago with a brain bucket on and he spent the next 3 months in a coma. I can get away with it on the V-Rod, but I admit it would look retarded on an air cooled HD.

I have three helmets that I use. I have a full face that I use for open road and cold weather riding. A 3/4 helmet that I use for around town, and every now and then, If it's REALLY hot outside or if I'm doing a charity ride with lots of other bikes, I have a half helmet (nomad) that I wear just so I'll look as cool as the rest of them..

I can't wear the full face helmet in the summer. Can't stand the heat.. LOL

[992gnt]

After racing (and falling off of!) a few Japanese 4 cylinder superbikes back in the mid 90's, I won't even go around the block without a full face helmet on. Give me a hard time all you want, I won't mind.

[khabibissell]

Some nice bikes around here! Here's the new toy, 08 GSXR 750

[jgcable]

I have three helmets that I use. I have a full face that I use for open road and cold weather riding. A 3/4 helmet that I use for around town, and every now and then, If it's REALLY hot outside or if I'm doing a charity ride with lots of other bikes, I have a half helmet (nomad) that I wear just so I'll look as cool as the rest of them..

I can't wear the full face helmet in the summer. Can't stand the heat.. LOL

Ditto... me too although I gave my full face to my dad. He lives in the woods and it protects him from bugs. A full face is just too hot and too constriciting when riding with a group. Lots of talking going on at lights and with a full face on I was left out. Most of the time I wear a 3/4 or a 1/2. BTW... I am the only one in my group of at least 20 bikes that wears any type of helmet at all. Husbands... wives... none of them wear helmets of any kind.
When we do a large group ride of say 100+ bikes... I would say that at least 98 of them don't where helmets.

[zeegler]

I have a full face, but I've only ever worn it once. I just wear my beanie. The smallest helmet that is legal here, and I'm not 100% sure it even is legal. I know, I'm an idiot. I also sometimes boot down to the convenience store in shorts and a tank top. I even did it wearing flip flops once. :ROTF:

[khabibissell]

You guys are nuts. Full leathers, boots, gloves, helmet, etc... all the time for me regardless of how hot it gets. People don't pay attention at all on the roads around here, and I'd rather not take the chance. I'll take sweat over road rash or a closed head injury any day.

[straycat]

I had a 52 "K" model Harley(45 cu in) a very long time ago 8in overstock springer front end.2in riser with "Z" bars.
Originaly a police bike but copped it and lowered it 3 in.Fat bob tank foot clutch and side shift. black with HRF on the tank.
Old school to say the least.

[levantin]

You guys are nuts. Full leathers, boots, gloves, helmet, etc... all the time for me regardless of how hot it gets. People don't pay attention at all on the roads around here, and I'd rather not take the chance. I'll take sweat over road rash or a closed head injury any day.

Me too. I don't care if I look goofy in a full face helmet. I'm sure road rash looks worse.

[SEEGERMANY]

This past summer, I was driving home from the office and the thermometer on my rearview mirror registered 103 degrees and I was running about 80 mph. When I exited the interstate, there was a traffic light and next to me was a guy on a Harley in full leathers. I looked at my thermometer and it registered 107. You could see the heat waves coming off his engine and I thought to myself "man, I wish I was that fucking cool!"

[clifffclaven]

Ive trashed two full face helmets. My last wreck, i got highsided and separated my shoulder and had a concussion. I wouldnt be here without either one of them.