09-03-2019, 01:10 AM
As I was riding my '17 EX up to Monitor Pass and over to Lake Tahoe yesterday, my mind began to wander up on Hwy 88. To entertain myself, I started counting the various types of cars and motorcycles on the road. I often do this with cars when I'm up in the mountains, noting the disproportionate number of Subarus, which are nearly as ubiquitous as Toyotas in places like Truckee and Tahoe.
Anyway, when I switched over to counting motorcycles, which I rarely do, I began to understand why I rarely do it. My god, was it depressing. From the moment I began my count, near Pine Grove, to the time I concluded it, in Tahoe City, I'd given up and simply broken it down into three categories: Cruisers, BMWs, Others.
Cruisers: one hundred and sixty-two
BMWS: ninety-four
Others: six
The BMWs were nearly all some sort of GS model. There were a decent number of RT's, but the vast majority were GS's, many of which were serving as pack mules, heavily laden down with hard luggage and a multitude of strapped-on duffel bags. I saw no RRs, K bikes, Roadsters, or anything else.
The Others were two Goldwings, two KTM's, one old CBR600, and an SV650S.
The Cruisers were, of course, nearly all Harleys, most of which seemed to be touring Harleys. I didn't see a single Indian, which surprised me.
The further I rode from civilization, the greater were the percentage of BMWs. In town, it was mostly non-touring Harleys, plus those two sportbikes.
Not a single Standard of any make. Oh, wait, there was one Norton, parked by the side of the highway, just east of Pioneer. It looked shiny and new, and its rider was nowhere to be seen. He'd left his gloves and jacket by the rear wheel.
So, okay, seven Others. Still a depressing number.
On the plus side, all the Harleys gave me the little hand-gesture acknowledgment. There was a time when Harley riders often didn't do this, but I'm noticing that now they usually seem to do it, just like every other rider. Touring-bike riders, ADV riders, and sportbike riders do it every time, without fail. Oddly, or maybe not so oddly, the lone holdout group seems to be scooter riders, who probably just aren't up to speed on the whole hand-gesture thing.
Anyway, one hundred and sixty-two cruisers, vs six (seven, if we include a non-running Norton) non-cruisers/BMWs. I felt embarrassed for all mankind.
Oh, well. At least it was a perfect day up there...
![[Image: 1365b3a65c5802b4da8aa61583ab33af.jpg]](https://cb1100forum.net/forum/uploads/imp/201909/1365b3a65c5802b4da8aa61583ab33af.jpg)
![[Image: 1ca26f916a18a25fde91b4d2635a4e05.jpg]](https://cb1100forum.net/forum/uploads/imp/201909/1ca26f916a18a25fde91b4d2635a4e05.jpg)
![[Image: 1edc669e19fcf72eb97ded96403d2661.jpg]](https://cb1100forum.net/forum/uploads/imp/201909/1edc669e19fcf72eb97ded96403d2661.jpg)
![[Image: f5813ce68f282c0db0842a3536fe8ab8.jpg]](https://cb1100forum.net/forum/uploads/imp/201909/f5813ce68f282c0db0842a3536fe8ab8.jpg)
I love that shot of the open road. All it needs is a coiled rattlesnake or an armadillo crossing the road in the foreground, and it would be the perfect classic rock album cover (The Eagles, The Allman Brothers Band, Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, etc.), the American West's version of Abbey Road.
That last shot, 'Heaven shining its light upon her,' blew me away.
Anyway, when I switched over to counting motorcycles, which I rarely do, I began to understand why I rarely do it. My god, was it depressing. From the moment I began my count, near Pine Grove, to the time I concluded it, in Tahoe City, I'd given up and simply broken it down into three categories: Cruisers, BMWs, Others.
Cruisers: one hundred and sixty-two
BMWS: ninety-four
Others: six
The BMWs were nearly all some sort of GS model. There were a decent number of RT's, but the vast majority were GS's, many of which were serving as pack mules, heavily laden down with hard luggage and a multitude of strapped-on duffel bags. I saw no RRs, K bikes, Roadsters, or anything else.
The Others were two Goldwings, two KTM's, one old CBR600, and an SV650S.
The Cruisers were, of course, nearly all Harleys, most of which seemed to be touring Harleys. I didn't see a single Indian, which surprised me.
The further I rode from civilization, the greater were the percentage of BMWs. In town, it was mostly non-touring Harleys, plus those two sportbikes.
Not a single Standard of any make. Oh, wait, there was one Norton, parked by the side of the highway, just east of Pioneer. It looked shiny and new, and its rider was nowhere to be seen. He'd left his gloves and jacket by the rear wheel.
So, okay, seven Others. Still a depressing number.
On the plus side, all the Harleys gave me the little hand-gesture acknowledgment. There was a time when Harley riders often didn't do this, but I'm noticing that now they usually seem to do it, just like every other rider. Touring-bike riders, ADV riders, and sportbike riders do it every time, without fail. Oddly, or maybe not so oddly, the lone holdout group seems to be scooter riders, who probably just aren't up to speed on the whole hand-gesture thing.
Anyway, one hundred and sixty-two cruisers, vs six (seven, if we include a non-running Norton) non-cruisers/BMWs. I felt embarrassed for all mankind.
Oh, well. At least it was a perfect day up there...
I love that shot of the open road. All it needs is a coiled rattlesnake or an armadillo crossing the road in the foreground, and it would be the perfect classic rock album cover (The Eagles, The Allman Brothers Band, Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, etc.), the American West's version of Abbey Road.
That last shot, 'Heaven shining its light upon her,' blew me away.
