Only in America ..... I hope [Archive]

Lord Derosso

30th July 2006, 11:32

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/7/story.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=10393487

I am saddened to read this latest account of this authors travels, this time whilst in the US of A. The part about owners shipping their HD's to the rallys or to the 'touring' sites begs the question as to what will they do next.

It is good to read that they came across ONE hard rider 'whom took his HD places other HD owners would never ride..' ,which I presume means dirt roads, 10 miles off the beaten track or away from the hotel chains?

I suppose biking means different things to different people. To me its a means to get to Northland and the far North to visit friendsand family, and of course to get out and about for a blast once in a while(this time of the year anyway).

Ixion

30th July 2006, 11:36

Colapop

30th July 2006, 11:41

A bit different to trail riders. The trails aren't always nearby and the bikes aren't always road worthy.
I think a lot of the anti-Harley sentiment is partly anti-American too. Not anti the people but anti the attitude. That's what riding a bike used to be about wasn't it? The attitude. Now days it's not uncommon for people to go 'camping' in motorhomes - which don't leave anything at home. So why wouldn't the notion be applied to biking by safe Americans?

Dutchee

30th July 2006, 11:54

Yes, I saw that, made me laugh. But , really, is it any different to trail riders here who trailer their bikes to wherever they are going to ride. Never understood that, either.

I imagine that riding in the rain would be incomprehensible to them, let alone using a bike to commute to werk.
You should head to a trailride on a wet day for a looksie. Numbers drop a bit, but not much - plenty of people don't care about the weather. There are some who don't ride in the rain because of glasses fogging over, but plenty actually enjoy riding in the rain.

Why do road racers not ride to the tracks? Same thing.

Never understood why you'd want a bike to ride the roads, what the hell fun is that? The trees only sometimes jump out in front of you, whereas cars always do.

Don't understand commuting to work - how can anyone enjoy that? It's something you have to do, it's not something to enjoy. Yes, I now ride road, I now commute to work, we only have four wheels so we can take out our dirt bikes (which we can not ride on the road legally).

As for trailering a road bike to a rally, whatever. I know it happens here on occasion.

Waylander

30th July 2006, 11:54

Just so you know there are far more riders that will ride from california to florida for Daytona bike week or to Sturgis, than trailer the bike most of the way and ride the last 25 miles. The problem is that there are so many more riders there that a minority seems a majority when compared to a small country like NZ.

Waylander

30th July 2006, 11:59

As for trailering a road bike to a rally, whatever. I know it happens here on occasion.
Know a guy here who showed up to a rally wearing all his gear, even had his helmet with him, but the bike was no where to be seen. Said he didn't have one, showed up in a taxi went home in one too.

Lord Derosso

30th July 2006, 12:02

My impression is that to them the bike is ART FIRST and bike last. I mean the one thing I do love about HD's is that they really are art peices. I would buy one just to ride around the city but the reality is that of all the bikes I have owned and all the miles I have covered, a four cyclinder is the most reliable and comfortable for long trips whilst carrying my gear and people. And as I will need to travel long distances next year, I choose a workhorse over chrome when purchasing my Katana this year. Doesn't deflect my longstanding enjoyment of biking... and thats all that matters to me.

onearmedbandit

30th July 2006, 12:03

Waylander

30th July 2006, 12:05

My impression is that to them the bike is ART FIRST and bike last.
Nah that's choppers. Only harley riders that don't really ride are the ones with fake beards and iron on tats that are doctors, lawyers other assorted big shots by day wannabe bikers by weekend. Cruise around town like boy racers trying to recapture thier lost youth. Not a majority of the harley riders are like that though.

You are fucking kidding us, surely???
Nope. said he was there for the social aspect. Can understand that part but he was still a poesur (or however you spell it) for wearing the harley baged gear with no bike.

Lord Derosso

30th July 2006, 12:07

Know a guy here who showed up to a rally wearing all his gear, even had his helmet with him, but the bike was no where to be seen. Said he didn't have one, showed up in a taxi went home in one too.

See nothing wrong with trying to get a lift home. Perhaps he was expecting his mates to be there? Must have cost a fortune for a taxi knowing where some of these rallies take place in the back country. Heck the poor guy was properly pining for a ride and hoping he was going to get one...sad.

pixc

30th July 2006, 12:09

You are fucking kidding us, surely???

Yes yes...surely he must...surely.

Lord Derosso

30th July 2006, 12:12

Yeh you are right about that actually. Reminds me that years ago I picked up the entire card set, of about 110 cards, of Amercian Thunder bikes. These are really really expensive HD's customised to the nine's. Some of them I would never dream to place anywhere near a public road, or even outside for that matter. I still have the cards but haven't looked at them for ages but remember that some of the bikes were valued at about US$60,000 or more, and thats ten years or more ago.

onearmedbandit

30th July 2006, 12:14

... and iron on tats that....

Whoa, 'iron-on tats'??? Fuck that, those dudes are tougher than I thought!!

Lord Derosso

30th July 2006, 12:33

Know a guy here who showed up to a rally wearing all his gear, even had his helmet with him, but the bike was no where to be seen. Said he didn't have one, showed up in a taxi went home in one too.

HAY ! You might have an idea there. How about local Kiwi Biker club members set up a new annual meet called ... ' the sad ghit pick up rally' ?

Everyone has to draw from a hat to see whom gets to turn up with their bikes and a number to ID their pillion , whom of course are the other half of the drawees, whom have to turn up with only their riding gear. I noticed something similar occuring at a HD pick up at WMC last summer. I was coming through the workshop with all my gears on, including leather jacket, after parking out the back and got 'picked up' by some pretty lady thinking I was her rider for the day. Been stupid at the time, I confessed. DOHHH !

Fun idea but you wouldn't want to have no seriously experienced riders.

Motu

30th July 2006, 13:07

I intend to trailer or hitch rack my bike to gravel roads to ride.My roads are becoming harder to find,I don't want to ride the bike all that way for a quick fang,then all the way back,it's just not set up for long distance use.There are other bikes to use for different purposes,and if I had the money then I'd have 10 brand new bikes,one for each thing I intend to do....sadly I have put my family above becoming a millionare.I don't care if people think I'm a poser,I put the thrill of bikes above what others think of me....

Waylander

30th July 2006, 13:08

Whoa, 'iron-on tats'??? Fuck that, those dudes are tougher than I thought!!
Iron-on, press-on, watercolour... fake tatts mate you get the idea.

onearmedbandit

30th July 2006, 13:19

I know, was just taking the piss.

Colapop

30th July 2006, 15:07

It's the ones with fake tits you gotta watch!!

23226

30th July 2006, 18:04

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/7/story.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=10393487

I am saddened to read this latest account of this authors travels, this time whilst in the US of A. The part about owners shipping their HD's to the rallys or to the 'touring' sites begs the question as to what will they do next.

Generalisation is easy, I personally know a guy over here with an 04 HD that has 80,000 + miles on it.

I saw a lot of bikes being trailered to Daytona last year when i was riding down from virginia ( a mere 750 miles each way) but some of these guys are coming from the opposite end of the country ( its easy to check the plates to see which state they were from)

So some of them you are looking at three thousand MILES each way.

That is around a ten thousand kilometer round trip.

Are YOU up for that kind of distance ? :laugh:

Its also far cheaper to do it in a car and trailer both from the depreciation and consumables standpoint.

Harry33

30th July 2006, 18:48

It's the ones with fake tits you gotta watch!!

Yip I'm always keeping a eye out for those.

Ixion

30th July 2006, 19:20

Generalisation is easy, I personally know a guy over here with an 04 HD that has 80,000 + miles on it.

I saw a lot of bikes being trailered to Daytona last year when i was riding down from virginia ( a mere 750 miles each way) but some of these guys are coming from the opposite end of the country ( its easy to check the plates to see which state they were from)

So some of them you are looking at three thousand MILES each way.

That is around a ten thousand kilometer round trip.

Are YOU up for that kind of distance ? :laugh:

Its also far cheaper to do it in a car and trailer both from the depreciation and consumables standpoint.

But you still have to cover the distance , whether on two wheels or four. I could understand if they they freighted the bike by train. But why drive to take a bike somewhere hen you can ride it? Doesn't make sense.

RantyDave

30th July 2006, 20:33

Know a guy here who showed up to a rally wearing all his gear, even had his helmet with him, but the bike was no where to be seen. Said he didn't have one, showed up in a taxi went home in one too.
Actually, this strikes me as being alarmingly honest ... certainly when compared to paying 50k for a bike then hauling it to a rally on the back of a trailer.

Dave

scumdog

30th July 2006, 20:33

I hear the same thing about hot-rodding over there, a shitload are 'trailer-queens' and are trailered to near the venue and unloaded from the covered trailer at the back of the motel...the ones that visit NZ are stunned to see the stone-chips, scrapes on my F100 and offer me sympathy for the 'damage' to it.

Having said that I saw HEAPS of all sorts of Harleys (and other bikes) all over the States when there last year, often miles from main highways..

HondaV2 may be able to elaborate?

Timber020

30th July 2006, 21:12

In alot of the big bike meets, there are no vacancys within a hundred k's or so from the venue, or along many of the main routes and alot of guys trailer in there bike and haul some camping gear (bear in mind alot of americans think camping involves being within reaching distance of there car) to insure they have somewhere to crash at night. Makes sense.
And its likely that many of them arent up to sleeping to rough or riding so far (some of the distances involved would be a killer for all but the hardest assed of us. Heck I get a bit achy going from wellington to tauranga.)

Wolf

30th July 2006, 21:33

Personally I'd only ever trailer a bike if it wasn't road legal, like a pure trail bike, or totally fucked and unable to be ridden. But then, I don't like driving cars so it'd be a "only if there were no other choice" situation.

I might train freight a bike if it were impossible (due to time constraints) for me to ride it there on time. e.g. if it had to be in Dunedin by Friday night and I had to work that week, I might consider freighting it down earlier in the week and flying down to pick it up on Friday.

Other than that, I'd ride it. My boss wanted me to go down to Palmerston North to service some computers and was going to give me a company car. I said "Nah, I'll take my bike down" (the LS400 at the time) and did, at my own expense. Why? Any excuse for a decent bike ride.

Wound up with a seriously sore tailbone by the time I got home but it was great fun.

Last time I went down there they flew me down - possibly the only transport I'd take over a motorcycle... and that's only because I can't usually afford to fly and if someone else is offering to pay there's no way I'd refuse.

Seriously missed having the bike while I was down there, though. Had to walk everywhere or rely on a work colleague to drive me.

23226

31st July 2006, 01:23

But you still have to cover the distance , whether on two wheels or four. I could understand if they they freighted the bike by train. But why drive to take a bike somewhere hen you can ride it? Doesn't make sense.

I am getting the willies just thinking about handing over my bike to be ocean freighted.

That would be my first choice too, however economics can have an effect on such decisions.

Say three or four guys have bikes and are in the car, they share the fuel costs vs four of them gassing up.

I know if I was embarking on a 6 thousand miles trip on the rocket III, I would HAVE to make sure I could get a new rear tire fitted along the way.

My last rear tire will be lucky to make 4 k. miles due to the $%@ heat this summer.

It was 85C at midnight last night and it felt 'cold'. (thank gawd). :sunny:

23226

31st July 2006, 01:30

Other than that, I'd ride it. My boss wanted me to go down to Palmerston North to service some computers and was going to give me a company car. I said "Nah, I'll take my bike down" (the LS400 at the time) and did, at my own expense. Why? Any excuse for a decent bike ride.

Wound up with a seriously sore tailbone by the time I got home but it was great fun.

Hamilton - Palmerston north = 306 miles one way

I' m talking about ten times that distance each way.

I can guess that after doing the same 6k round trip for the tenth time taking the cheaper easier option might appeal to the non insane.

Or maybe not.

Lord Derosso

31st July 2006, 08:09

Yeh.. I can see the point re the distances been covered to the bigger meets. Its a sad fact that I dont find riding as comfortable as I did 25 years ago. When I was in my early 20's I didnt think twice about travelling 500 miles in a day, but now after age and bumps, some things ache more then they used too. At least travelling by car or hopefully mobile home allows more comfort and rest periods for non drivers. Personally I would still do the trip on a bike but it would have to be set up for long range cruising, eg not a R model, and I would stay at motels enroute to ensure a proper recovery each day. The logical thing like for all long trips is to plan it and allow plenty of time, hence take a week off on AL to attend the bigger meets.

Lou Girardin

31st July 2006, 09:22

If you can do it in a car, you can do it on a bike. trailering your bike is a joke.
They should be turned away from the rally under the 'no cars' rule.
It's a bit like the year old bikes we get traded in with less than a 1000k's on them.
If you don't ride it, you're not a biker. You're just a bike owner. (Hawks and spits)

Paul in NZ

31st July 2006, 09:48

Well you have to factor in that a lot of the folks in the USA also live in the snow states so they freight the vehicle as far as the warmer areas. We are not talking about the sprinklings we get either, we are talking snow and ice all winter and REALLY cold weather. Also, riding in the REALLY hot areas at some times of the year can be a bit dangerous.

I don't like the idea of trailering bikes either but really, its not fair to blag these people when most of us have NO idea just how big america really is. Especially when in NZ where no place is more than 2 days away.

After all, not everyone has 2 weeks to ride to a rally and 2 weeks to ride home again.

Just a thought....

Ixion

31st July 2006, 09:59

Grant you the weather issues. Though if the weather's THAT bad going by car (especially with a heavy trailer attached) is probably not a good idea either. Send it by train.

But the size/two weeks to get there isn't relevant. If it takes two weeks by bike it'll take (at least) two weeks by car.

The other point about several people sharing a car/trailer is valid. Though I don't think that's the common case.

Beemer

31st July 2006, 10:34

Yes, I saw that, made me laugh. But , really, is it any different to trail riders here who trailer their bikes to wherever they are going to ride. Never understood that, either.

You may be confusing trail riding with adventure riding - trail bikes usually don't have indicators, headlights, mirrors, etc and most aren't road legal or registered/warranted, so you'd be in for hefty fines if you were caught riding them on the road. And yes, some of us do trailer bikes to adventure rides because the last thing you want to do after a hard day riding and then a relaxing meal to follow, is to get all that wet muddy gear back on and ride home!

Bit different to the ones who turn up to the Brass Monkey with bikes on trailers, unload them down the road and ride the few hundred metres in and out again!

Wolf

31st July 2006, 11:03

Hamilton - Palmerston north = 306 miles one way

I' m talking about ten times that distance each way.

I can guess that after doing the same 6k round trip for the tenth time taking the cheaper easier option might appeal to the non insane.

Or maybe not.
With regard to the distance, if it can be done in a car with the bikes on a trailer it can be done on the bikes - probably for a lot less money considering the fuel economy of most bikes compared with that of an unladen car, let alone a car dragging a loaded trailer.

For me, the ability to share the driving on long hauls is not enough of an advantage to warrant taking a car. I'd rather allow more time for suitable rest periods and breaks from riding than try to rest in the car while someone else drives.

If I were taking a car, I would want just as many rests - both "stretching the legs" and proper sleep periods - as when I'm on the bike so there would be no advantage at all.

I understand that the distances in the States are far greater than anything we have here, but to me that means you either factor in more time to get there or freight the bikes by rail a few days beforehand and fly in the day before the event.

Ideally I'd want to have the time to ride there at a gentle pace - check out the sights on the way and make an adventure of it and arrive saddle-sore with a dusty bike and 2.4 gig of digital pictures from the journey. I'd also want to map an alternative route back.

If that were not possible due to time constraints, a car and trailer would not be the solution to the problem.

Wolf

31st July 2006, 11:25

And yes, some of us do trailer bikes to adventure rides because the last thing you want to do after a hard day riding and then a relaxing meal to follow, is to get all that wet muddy gear back on and ride home!

Bit different to the ones who turn up to the Brass Monkey with bikes on trailers, unload them down the road and ride the few hundred metres in and out again!
Those turning up at the BM with their bikes on trailers is more like what the article was referring to - people trailering massive road-legal Harley Davidsons to events.

As to trailering to an adventure ride, I have a road legal bike for a reason - to ride it on the roads to and from interesting places. If I didn't feel I'd be up to riding back home after a ride, I certainly wouldn't feel up to driving a car with a heavy trailer on behind, either. If I had to change out of wet muddy gear to eat a meal, my clean and dry clothes would be suitable attire to get me home again by road. If I had no clean, dry clothes to wear for a meal, I suspect "dinner" would be fish and chips out on the street whilst wearing said wet muddy gear, prior to the ride home.

Paul in NZ

31st July 2006, 11:48

With regard to the distance, if it can be done in a car with the bikes on a trailer it can be done on the bikes - probably for a lot less money considering the fuel economy of most bikes compared with that of an unladen car, let alone a car dragging a loaded trailer.

For me, the ability to share the driving on long hauls is not enough of an advantage to warrant taking a car. I'd rather allow more time for suitable rest periods and breaks from riding than try to rest in the car while someone else drives.

If I were taking a car, I would want just as many rests - both "stretching the legs" and proper sleep periods - as when I'm on the bike so there would be no advantage at all.

I understand that the distances in the States are far greater than anything we have here, but to me that means you either factor in more time to get there or freight the bikes by rail a few days beforehand and fly in the day before the event.

Ideally I'd want to have the time to ride there at a gentle pace - check out the sights on the way and make an adventure of it and arrive saddle-sore with a dusty bike and 2.4 gig of digital pictures from the journey. I'd also want to map an alternative route back.

If that were not possible due to time constraints, a car and trailer would not be the solution to the problem.

Yeah - but have you ever driven any distance in the USA? It's a wierd place, most of is flat and scrubby and the roads are wide and straight.

The Interstates are NOT bike friendly - miles and miles of NOTHING.... In NZ I've never used cruise control for more than a few minutes at a time - I had a small 3L V6 locked into cruise control (75 MPH) for 3 hours in the USA.

In the northern states you can drive a vehicle towing a light trailer in snow 'cos they fit studded tyres in the winter and salt the roads. I would not want to expose my bike to that.

Hey, I'm not saying it's good or bad but having driven a few places in the USA I'd drive my car anyday. Miles and miles of Interstates are just plain BORING on a bike and it would be frigging murder on a sports bike or a vintage bike. It makes SH1 look like a mountain road. You are taking a hell of a risk in many areas riding at night 'cos the deer are all over the place.

If you need to make time in a hurry - drive and take shifts.

Lou Girardin

31st July 2006, 11:59

The Interstates are NOT bike friendly - miles and miles of NOTHING....

.

That's what Harleys are designed for. Set the cruise control, sit your beer in the cupholder, wind the stereo up to 'bleeding ears', feet on the highway pegs and aim for nirvana.

Paul in NZ

31st July 2006, 12:17

That's what Harleys are designed for. Set the cruise control, sit your beer in the cupholder, wind the stereo up to 'bleeding ears', feet on the highway pegs and aim for nirvana.

Yeah I'd aim for those talentless bastards too but i wouldn't need to be drunk to do it...

What people forget about the USA is it's size relative to NZ. I paricipate in the US Guzzi boards (though not much lately) and there is a roaring trade in fuel cells so you don't have to stop every 300km and fill up with gas... erk! I mean 500 to 600km without a break? Egad!

scumdog

31st July 2006, 13:04

That's what Harleys are designed for. Set the cruise control, sit your beer in the cupholder, wind the stereo up to 'bleeding ears', feet on the highway pegs and aim for nirvana.

True, true, they do handle that quite well, saw a lot doing it, black tank-top, fingerless gloves and jeans, too hot for anything else (and bug-splats the size of sparrows on their screens).

The thing that you need to appreciate is that you can drive/ride for a whole (and more) through the same scenery.
Imagine riding on long straight roads with scenery like the Twizel area (or for youz up norf the Desert Road) for 10-12 hours and it's STILL the same when you stop.

Gets boring in a car with stereo, nibbles, air-con etc so on a bike in 35 degrees temp. it would drag a little.

Wolf

31st July 2006, 14:43

The thing that you need to appreciate is that you can drive/ride for a whole (and more) through the same scenery.
Imagine riding on long straight roads with scenery like the Twizel area (or for youz up norf the Desert Road) for 10-12 hours and it's STILL the same when you stop.

Gets boring in a car with stereo, nibbles, air-con etc so on a bike in 35 degrees temp. it would drag a little.
I'd probably quite enjoy it the first time, especially if I had the leisure to take alternative routes on the return journey, but I can take the point that you wouldn't want to do it every year. Once would be "Adventure Touring" but riding the same route over those distances every year would bore me to tears, but in that case, I would not want to drive it in a car, either, even if I can sleep half the way while my buddy drives.

That, to me, is a clear argument for loading both yourself and the bike onto the same train and heading for the bar in the restaurant car.

SARGE

31st July 2006, 14:52