Divided we fall

[ss2wheels_imp]

A large % of HD owners Drive Toyota,Nissan,and Honda cars and trucks.When they act out against Japanese Bikes that just proves a low IQ.The way I see it is we all have A--Holes, we all dont need a Harley.I am sure that when the chick in the first post gets back to the trailer park and jumps in the beat up K-Mart swimming pool with a cheap beer and a smoke, she will feel better.

[ChipBeck_imp]

Wow, I've never had anything like that happen in 45 years of riding. I own and ride a HD, Japanese, and Italian bikes and I wave to everybody. When I'm on a Honda or Ducati almost all HD riders wave back. That girl would be a doushbag on any brand of bike. Just ride!!

Chip

[cbdtran_imp]

I used to sell Harley-Davidsons, and I replaced my stolen Nightster with the Deluxe. I can tell you flatly that most Harley riders don't give a cuss what you ride--just ride.

We have regular ride-ins here in Durham at a few watering holes. There's always a very eclectic bike mix, including Harleys, sport bikes, Can-Ams and even a Ural sidecar rig. Very, very few riders of any machine refuse to wave at me, and most times sport bikers beat me to it when I was riding my Nightster.

The only Harely-logo items I ever owned were my riding jackets, and that's because they not only "matched" the bike, but they're of higher quality than almost anything else on the market. Of course, you pay for that quality too. My brother rides a 2001 Dyna Super Glide that he bought new; he owns no Harley-logo gear whatsoever, and never has. And he's not unique.

But here's the thing: even bikers in full Harley regalia can be as accommodating as any other rider. I've seen as much motorcyclist bigotry from Power Rangers as I have from Pirates. I don't let stereotypes determine who I enjoy our passion with. I focus on the rider.

I visit HD store frequently, their product are of high quality but not expensive. I sometime wear my HD jacket for a long trip in cold weather on my CB. My BMW boot does the job but not high quality as its price suggest.

I had an odd experience today when I took advantage of a glorious day to ride to the North Cascades in Washington State. I visited an antique airplane fly-in and got lots of compliments on my beautiful shiny red CB1100 Deluxe. However, on the way home on Interstate 5, I was reminded that all of us motorcyclists are not exactly united. A recent vintage Harley equipped with some very loud pipes appeared next to me in the fast lane, complete with a Biker Chick on back gesticulating wildly in my direction. I thought the poor girl might have some form of Tourett's Syndrome, but then she shouted in my direction "get that Jap Crap off of my road, you $#!@hole!" I dropped back behind and was treated to the sight of her wildly swinging her arms in a fine demonstration of Biker Unity. I guess I had blanked it out of my mind that not all motorcyclists are the fine kind of folks that seem to inhabit this forum. Too bad, it seems like our cause would be better presented if some of us didn't have a fit when presented with someone that doesn't look just like themselves. Oh well.

I live in CA, norther and now southern. As far as I can see, 50% or more car on hwy are Japanese brand. It is so common, you don't think about it anymore. Back in 79 in oil embargo, Detroit car workers can't go to work in their Jap car, it is unAmerican.

[shdwghst457_imp]

The fact that "Jap crap" is even a phrase is amazing to me...especially since she's probably going to get off that back and squeeze back into her high-interest Kia. The Japanese make a lot of high quality products, while only a few American companies can actually claim that quality is an important factor to them (McIntosh audio equipment for example). Couldn't pay me to drive a non-Japanese car at this point in the sense of a daily driver. I feel safer on the CB knowing that it's at least put together properly!

[jimigalahad_imp]

I had some guy in the passenger seat of a lifted pickup roll down his window at a stop light and call me a queer this weekend. I have no idea why. I wasn't riding aggressively, cut him off, or anything so I'm attributing it to riding a non-hd bike as well. My first concern was if he got out of the truck how to makes sure my bike stayed upright. I'll gladly take a punch to the face to keep my cb from getting scratched.

It wasn't a huge deal but did freak me out a bit later thinking about how exposed we are out there on our bikes.

[Todd_K_imp]

I'll pull out the culture card and blame society's movement away from civility for this kind of stupidity.

Strangers that go through the trouble to say something negative about you should be pitied. Their world is likely a dark and lonely place.

[HikerToo_imp]

Gets me mad, and bet most of them go home to their Toyota and Honda cars after being all pro-American built on their Harley's…f'rs

[CIP57_imp]

I'll pull out the culture card and blame society's movement away from civility for this kind of stupidity.

Strangers that go through the trouble to say something negative about you should be pitied. Their world is likely a dark and lonely place.

+1
We have to be thankful that she's on his (husband, friend doesn't matter) bike and not ours

[rboe]

Riding up to Cave Creek yesterday morning in questionable weather I was greeted by waves from other riders; I suspect because like them, I was not a fair weather rider. But that is just a working theory.

[ChipBeck_imp]

The fact that "Jap crap" is even a phrase is amazing to me...especially since she's probably going to get off that back and squeeze back into her high-interest Kia. The Japanese make a lot of high quality products, while only a few American companies can actually claim that quality is an important factor to them (McIntosh audio equipment for example). Couldn't pay me to drive a non-Japanese car at this point in the sense of a daily driver. I feel safer on the CB knowing that it's at least put together properly!

KIA is not a Japanese car, it's Korean. I was the original KIA dealer in Scottsdale AZ when they first started importing cars to the US and they had a lot of quality problems. Their cars are much improved now. I respectfully disagree with your comment about American companies not caring about quality. To survive in this day of instant mass communication quality is everything. The quality of HD bikes is every bit the equal of Honda and is considered a world standard. Ford is obsessed with quality and has made huge strides which has resulted in their overtaking and now outselling most Japanese brands in the US. HD sells more large displacement motorcycles that all Japanese makers combined.

I like all motorcycles. I'd love to have a Royal Enfield, a Ural with a side car, Moto Guzzi, Triumph, you name it. Two years ago I had dinner with Bill Davidson at the flat track motorcycle races here in AZ. Both he and his father Willie G. Davidson own several Japanese and European bikes in addition to their Harleys. Variety is the spice of life. All the best.

Chip