08-26-2016, 09:17 AM
The Guzzi crowd, from time to time, will make a comment on the order of "if you want a perfect bike get a Honda", "my Guzzi has character, unlike the Honda" etc. Then I get to tell them my other bike is a Honda.... 
Most folks don't mean a thing by it, the "fill in the brand" just does it for them and they are really glad they found a bike they can really live with. Some however do take it a bit further and other members are all too willing to jump on them for it.
I got my you know what handed to me last weekend when I asked this Harley guy why he didn't wear a helmet when it started raining. I thought he was ready to invite me outside! He assumed that since I know him (very very little) I should know better than to ask that question - well he made a bunch of assumptions about my train of thought while accusing me of having assumptions (partially true, but then I was really interested in why 'cause I've gotten some interesting answers to that question).
I don't get Ducati's (have not ridden one either), don't really buy into the Italian mystique and don't buy into the perfect bike is made by Honda or that Italy has motorcycle elves. I do think that some bikes do a certain job better than others and if your riding fits that niche then you will do well to see what is popular in the niche as it may serve your needs very well too. If you happen to be a weird or cranky (or both) old fart a Guzzi may be just your cup of tea.
Most folks don't mean a thing by it, the "fill in the brand" just does it for them and they are really glad they found a bike they can really live with. Some however do take it a bit further and other members are all too willing to jump on them for it.
I got my you know what handed to me last weekend when I asked this Harley guy why he didn't wear a helmet when it started raining. I thought he was ready to invite me outside! He assumed that since I know him (very very little) I should know better than to ask that question - well he made a bunch of assumptions about my train of thought while accusing me of having assumptions (partially true, but then I was really interested in why 'cause I've gotten some interesting answers to that question).
I don't get Ducati's (have not ridden one either), don't really buy into the Italian mystique and don't buy into the perfect bike is made by Honda or that Italy has motorcycle elves. I do think that some bikes do a certain job better than others and if your riding fits that niche then you will do well to see what is popular in the niche as it may serve your needs very well too. If you happen to be a weird or cranky (or both) old fart a Guzzi may be just your cup of tea.