05-15-2017, 07:16 AM
(04-24-2017, 07:19 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: Said it before will say it again..I am not tough enough to ride a HArley..only now I am going to add sport bikes to that quote.
Finished cutting the grass and had some errands to run. Grabbed my mc boots, my Fox Creek leather jacket and gauntlet deer skin gloves and and an HJC 3/4 helmet. I was already wearing a long sleeved t shirt and flannel lined jeans. Hadn't planned to go far and figured this would be enough. It was in the upper 60's but I thought it rather nippy still. I'll be riding the CB.
Rode up and paid for some new gutters we had installed on the house last week, and ran over to the pharmacy to pick up a script for my wife. At the pharmacy I parked the bike next to a full dress Harley in the lot, took off and locked up my helmet, and was walking thru the lot when a clean cut gentleman in a white T, jeans and gym shoes walked past me and said " You meet the nicest people on a Honda". I laughed and said " Why, thank you", and kept walking. At the door I turned to see said fellow throwing a leg over the Harley. No helmet of course. He fired it up and rumbled off. I thought "he doesn't look like a Harley rider to me." Like a Harley rider has to look a certain way. How foolish of me. Stereotypes I laughed.
Anyhow I get the script and head home and come upon a couple on another Harley. Black tees, jeans. No helmets. She was wearing a head band. He was bald and had an earring. Bike had droopy leather saddlebags, life saving pipes, and they were doing 35 in the straights and a little less than 30 thru the curves in a 40 zone. This went on about 3 miles until we came to a stop sign. They turned left (I was going to turn left too but decided to turn right instead). Closer to what I had in my mind for Harley riders. Faith in stereotypes renewed
Another couple miles up the road I come upon a sport bike. Red white and blue Honda CBR. Couldn't tell if it was a 600 or 1000. Undertail with lic plate stuffed up under the rear fender, no turn signals I could see (ends up they were little glowing things inside the tail light) Rider had a silver full face helmet on, grey T shirt (one of those real thin stretchy kinds), cargo shorts, short socks and gym shoes. No gloves. Tattoos on both calves. His left leg had a sun and moon, the right one some Japanese writing. Millenial I think.
Again I thought these guys are tougher than I am. It's kinda chilly and he's wearing the least of everybody. We both turn onto one of my favorite curvy roads, one I know VERY well. Will see what he has. Over the first little rise into a right hander and he's positioned wrong for the next 2 curves and he's going to bounce over some broken pavement (he did which he could have avoid had he hung to the left in the lane which also would have set him up best for the next 2 curves). Hmm he's braking for the left hander and staying in the middle of the road. After the next right is a short straight away followed by more curves. On the straight he gaps me quickly by 100 yards (first time I ever felt the CB lacked power). Thru the curves I reel him back in. This goes on for the next 4 miles. On the straights he's gone, in the curves I catch him. He's staying in the center of the lane, while I'm doing the apex inside out, outside in thing. I figure by lane positioning, he is a fairly new rider. Again, young guy, fast sport bike, undertail and hidden t/s, tattoos in weird places, lack of riding gear... sport bike squid. Stereotypes lol.
Pondering: I wonder what all these people thought when they saw me. Leather Jacket, mc riding boots, gloves, helmet, Japanese UJM, riding too fast and using all the road because that is the most efficient way to go fast. Wonder what stereotype I was fitting into for them. Wonder if they told anyone: "I saw this old guy today, almost bald, white beard, had to be hot, because he was wearing all kinds of gear. Couldn't even hear his bike. He was all over the road. Old guys "
Last October it was mid-50s in the morning when I set out for a day ride. To remain warm I wore my full face helmet, Boot Hill Saloon long sleeve t-shirt, heavy flannel shirt, micro-fibre filled long sleeved vest, leather jacket, insulated suede deerskin gloves, long underwear, flannel lined jeans, tall woolly socks and my Alpinestars Roam boots.
About an hour out I pass two tiny young girls waiting with their dad in the laneway for the school bus. The girls were wearing Croc shoes, white ankle socks, mini skirts, and short sleeves T-shirts. I just shook my head thinking what a wuss I was dressed like an eskimo.