My how times have changed/I'll say it again

[Ulvetanna_imp]

I'm of the opinion that from Harleys to Hondas, if it makes you happy then ride it and enjoy. If motorcycling is going to draw new people into the mix, then you can probably expect a bit of a dilution of the common stereotypes. The "Harley crowd" is an easy one to fixate on as they represent such a large percentage of the overall mix, but I'm sure the same can be said of the rest of the types of rider groups out there.

You just never know what to expect any more. Jeez, here in Portland, I've seen guys on bicycles fully decked out in motorcycle riding leathers and guys on every type of motorcycle imaginable wearing not much more than a pair of shorts and a tank top. There are plenty of other examples around to bridge the gap between those extremes. To each their own.

Absolutely. Those guys are doing their thing; some people NEED that excess sensory input, the biting cold, the heat, the wind blasting in their eyes with just a pair of sunglasses, the ear-splitting thunder of the twin-cylinder pipes. Truth is, without that outlet, a good share of folks would probably wind up in some real trouble.

With me it is speed and lean angle; thank God for racetracks.

Oh yeah, it's Portland, expect anything in Portland(ia).

[CA200_imp]

This always reminds me of a story I read about many years ago.
When Honda first came to the US and was trying to market to
everyone - "you meet the nicest people on a Honda" etc..
The press interviewed one of the lower level mangers about their
market and he said they had hoped to sell 50k units. The press guy said a year? and he said no " a month". The press said , who do you think will buy them? The Honda fellow said "well we are not trying to
sell them to people who wear dungarees and railroad boots.

I heard he was fired a short time later.

[Papa Weeley_imp]

Oops.

[rboe]

I wore dungarees and railroad boots at one time. The pants were not on my radar, we all wore the same thing - small town in Montana. But. railroad engineer boots were THEE thing first graders wanted to have.

Indian motorcycles and Triumph TR3's were my little cast iron toys.

[DaSwami_imp]

Are those hipsters???

[TINK_imp]

The lack of a helmet law is no excuse not to wear one.
Whenever I go to a non-helmet law state I can't believe it when I see people riding without a helmet.
Forget the rest of the gear, at a minimum one should be wearing a helmet, for crying out loud!

[the Ferret]

yea this really wasn't a thread about what you should wear or shouldn't wear, just a commentary on how things have changed about what Harley riders used to wear for decades compared to what I see them wearing now.

[jrns_imp]

From the earliest time I can remember (mid 50's) until just a few years ago, one thing you could count on with Harley riders is that they always wore jeans, black engineer boots and black leather gloves (fingerless in summer). In my mind those things are synonymous, Harleys, blue jeans (Levis), black leather engineer boots and black leather gloves. They may have worn a sleeveless T-shirt on top, or a sleeved tee with a leather vest, or denim vest if it was warm, or a leather jacket on top if it was cold. Here in Ohio we haven't had a helmet law in forever so I don't remember them wearing helmets much (and dew rags only came into vogue in the 90's), but you could always count on blue jeans , engineer boots and leather gloves.

Passed these two fellows on this mornings ride. Bear in mind it was 56 degrees when I took off this morning with my Modular Helmet, Tourmaster jacket, deerskin gloves, blue jeans and Alpinestar boots (and it was a bit nippy dressed like that). There's a new breed of Harley riders.

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/April%202016%20007_zps1xi5rzvj.jpg.html]

and I will say it once again, for the umpteenth time. "I am not tough enough to ride a Harley" lol

Ferret, this is off topic, but I have to ask ..did you take that pic w/ your phone? If so, it amazes me that people can take a pic without dropping the phone while riding. small little phone, riding gloves, aiming and snapping a pic ...that is skill.

[the Ferret]

Jrns.. No I always wear a small point and shoot digital camera in a lanyard around my neck. Easy to operate, don't have to look at it, just hit on button with one finger, point camera in general direction of what you want pic of, and press shutter button with another finger. Turn off camera with the first finger. Only takes a second or two. Can always drop camera and lanyard keeps it from going anywhere and it will turn itself off. Never know when an interesting pic opportunity will arise.

Here you can see how it's done

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/CB%20ride%20Feb%203%202016%20012_zpswdjsvwo9.jpg.html]

My son took these two pics of me on a trip to the BRP a few years ago. Here you can see the blue camera hanging by my left side

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/image_zpszgxcmnyt.jpeg.html]

and here I'm taking a scenery pic

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/image_zpsbjz6agnk.jpeg.html]

[jrns_imp]

ok, that explains it-great idea. Thanks