Always a Harley

[Maha]

I will get to the topic soon enough....

Over the years, almost without exception, everyone house I have worked in (gotta be 1000's by now) or at any gathering, guys (for the most part) have always had a passion. I conclude that the top three are...Fishing/Golf/Motorbikes. I gave fishing a go once, well twice really. Fly fishing when I was young and later, towards the end of last century. Nothing quite beats the feeling of circumnavigating Lake Tarawera trolling for trout. It appealed for a few months, not so any more. Played golf for a few years in Rotorua, every Sunday morning, three mate and myself would soend four hours or so at Springfeild hitting and chasing the little white ball..

Now, its all about Motorbikes and all the things that go with it, the people you meet, the enjoyment of being out there. But the question that I get asked most often by customers is...''do ya fish''? ''no''...''play any sport''? ''no''...I have a bike...''a Harley''? ''no''.

Yet another conclusion...those that are not envolved with bikes automatically think you ride a Harley when you say you own a bike.

I really do like the XL1200 Roadster, will I ever own one? who knows, but at least then I could say Yes! A Harley!

If I end up with a K1200s and say, no its a BMW...the reply would probably be...''didnt know BMW made bikes.

[Colapop]

Funny, when I've told people I ride I get asked how many speeding tickets I've had or got!

[Big Dave]

'A Harley' is a generic term non-enthusiasts use for 'nice motorcycle'.
They are correct too.

[6ft5]

Interesting, a lot of comments I get is just to be careful, perhaps they know me too well

[Maha]

Funny, when I've told people I ride I get asked how many speeding tickets I've had or got!

And you just laugh and say??


'A Harley' is a generic term non-enthusiasts use for 'nice motorcycle'.
They are correct too.

Indeed they are correct, in part.
Puhoi Pub for instance, alot of bikes there on Sundays, and for any non-biker person walking by, they will stop and look at the Harleys.


Interesting, a lot of comments I get is just to be careful, perhaps they know me too well

Yeah my Mum says that too....

[AllanB]

SO when you tell them it's a Honda do they ask if you are gay? :laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:


wait on


Fuck it


I've a Honda!!!!!!!:no::no::no::no:

At least it starts with a H :shifty:


It's a H, H, H, ......Honda.

[Taz]

At least it starts with a H :shifty:


Yeah but so does Homo.........:laugh:

[Maha]

SO when you tell them it's a Honda do they ask if you are gay? :laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:


wait on


Fuck it


I've a Honda!!!!!!!:no::no::no::no:

At least it starts with a H :shifty:


It's a H, H, H, ......Honda.

No, I say its a Suzuki...then they look at me with pity on their face.

[skidMark]

With legs like yours Maha it does look like uve had to push a broken down harley a long way on multiple occasions.

[Maha]

With legs like yours Maha it does look like uve had to push a broken down harley a long way on multiple occasions.

You saying they are fit looking??....:shifty:

There wont be a post found on here where I have dis'd a Harley, a very good friend owns one, dont know that I ever would but ya never know.
They just aren't made for what I want in a bike..well unless you buy an ugly one that is.

[slofox]

No Harley for me - if I fell off I wouldn't be able to pick it up again...would have to hire a crane...and besides, I don't live on a farm any more...<_<

[Omega1]

Yep, when people ask me what do I ride.?.... (thats after telling me I'm a temporary citizen and an evil Hoon ).

I say "A Buell"

usual response I get is: dead air, Silence, zip, nada.... nothing, then never heard of them.

Oh well..

[skidMark]

You saying they are fit looking??....:shifty:

There wont be a post found on here where I have dis'd a Harley, a very good friend owns one, dont know that I ever would but ya never know.
They just aren't made for what I want in a bike..well unless you buy an ugly one that is.


If u were the only one left at the bar i'd let you be my stallion Maha.

[skidMark]

Yep, when people ask me what do I ride.?.... (thats after telling me I'm a temporary citizen and an evil Hoon ).

I say "A Buell"

usual response I get is: dead air, Silence, zip, nada.... nothing, then never heard of them.

Oh well..


I find it interesting... buells and harleys have such loud open exhausts.... yet nobodys ever heard of them. :laugh:

better keep pushing.

[Maha]

No Harley for me - if I fell off I wouldn't be able to pick it up again...would have to hire a crane...and besides, I don't live on a farm any more...<_<

The week before Easter, I worked at Graeme Crosby's house for a couple of days, he owns a Road King, I asked about his thoughts on it, he said '' its like a fucken big compressor''....I wouldn't wanna pick that thing up....:no:


Yep, when people ask me what do I ride.?.... (thats after telling me I'm a temporary citizen and an evil Hoon ).
I say "A Buell"
usual response I get is: dead air, Silence, zip, nada.... nothing, then never heard of them.
Oh well..

Next time, just say you own Hyosung...
Probably get the same response.....:eek:


If u were the only one left at the bar i'd let you be my stallion Maha.

Stand in line Mark...
Heres a post I made almost three years ago...http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=658598&postcount=11
Yet I said basically the same thing in this thread earlier...not saying what thread I got that from but, yeah, my thoughts have not changed.

[skidMark]

The week before Easter, I worked at Graeme Crosby's house for a couple of days, he owns a Road King, I asked about his thoughts on it, he said '' its like a fucken big compressor''....I wouldn't wanna pick that thing up....:no:



Next time, just say you own Hyosung...
Probably get the same response.....:eek:



Stand in line Mark...
Heres a post I made almost three years ago...http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=658598&postcount=11
Yet I said basically the same thing in this thread earlier...not saying what thread I got that from but, yeah, my thoughts have not changed.

So thats a yes to being my stallion?

[Maha]

So thats a yes to being my stallion?

Unless thats a new name HD have come up with for one of thier next models then.....:bleh:

[skidMark]

Unless thats a new name HD have come up with for one of thier next models then.....:bleh:


A rimmer eh, whatever floats ya boat...

**vision of 2 girls one cup**

[martybabe]

Often asked what bike I ride by none bikers, if I say one of the Jappas it frequently brings on this response (:mellow: oh OK). If I replied, a BMW, I was often asked if it was the Rolls Royce of bikes, not sure why, a name they recognise from the car world must make them more worthwhile than the yamasuki tiny little Jap companies.

Finally Harleys, tell none bikers the world over you ride a harley and it's generally met with recognition and a smile, like there's some unspoken understanding that you've reached the pinnacle of motorcycling just because they are actually familiar with the name, it's almost like people want to give you a knowing wink, quite odd really. :confused:

[elevenhundred]

What I think happens is that the people asking about what kind of bike you have probably have some indirect interest in them, for example they probably have a friend of family member who is into bikes. This friend or family member being a typical motorcyclist, does what we all do and is constantly talking about bikes to anyone who will listen (we know it and we love it).
As a result there are thousands of people out there who are interested in bikes but have a very narrow field of knowledge about them, usually restricted to info on the kind of bike their friend or family member has and anything else they have learned through TV, internet etc etc

SO when they ask what kind of bike you have, what they mean is 'do you have a bike that I know about', if so then you'll have a nice chat about bikes, if not then it is your responsibility as a motorcyclist to educate them further on bikes and why they are so great.

[Maha]

Often asked what bike I ride by none bikers, if I say one of the Jappas it frequently brings on this response (:mellow: oh OK). If I replied, a BMW, I was often asked if it was the Rolls Royce of bikes, not sure why, a name they recognise from the car world must make them more worthwhile than the yamasuki tiny little Jap companies.

Finally Harleys, tell none bikers the world over you ride a harley and it's generally met with recognition and a smile, like there's some unspoken understanding that you've reached the pinnacle of motorcycling just because they are actually familiar with the name, it's almost like people want to give you a knowing wink, quite odd really. :confused:

It is odd Mrty (opps theres that txt thread creeping in) but, tell them the model and the wink becomes astonishment, raised eyebrows and that wonderfull line..''Aren't all Harleys the same''???

''Are all airplanes the same''?? ''you sit in them and they fly yes, but thats where it ends''.

[Maha]

What I think happens is that the people asking about what kind of bike you have probably have some indirect interest in them, for example they probably have a friend of family member who is into bikes. This friend or family member being a typical motorcyclist, does what we all do and is constantly talking about bikes to anyone who will listen (we know it and we love it).
As a result there are thousands of people out there who are interested in bikes but have a very narrow field of knowledge about them, usually restricted to info on the kind of bike their friend or family member has and anything else they have learned through TV, internet etc etc

SO when they ask what kind of bike you have, what they mean is 'do you have a bike that I know about', if so then you'll have a nice chat about bikes, if not then it is your responsibility as a motorcyclist to educate them further on bikes and why they are so great.

What a great post, well thought out and put together.
Quite a few house's I work have a bike/s (of some description) in the garage and thats always a good starting point with the customer. One old chap had a CBX and an older Sporty under sheets in his garage, the CBX was the the first one I had ever seen and what a bike!!

[skidMark]

What I think happens is that the people asking about what kind of bike you have probably have some indirect interest in them, for example they probably have a friend of family member who is into bikes. This friend or family member being a typical motorcyclist, does what we all do and is constantly talking about bikes to anyone who will listen (we know it and we love it).
As a result there are thousands of people out there who are interested in bikes but have a very narrow field of knowledge about them, usually restricted to info on the kind of bike their friend or family member has and anything else they have learned through TV, internet etc etc

SO when they ask what kind of bike you have, what they mean is 'do you have a bike that I know about', if so then you'll have a nice chat about bikes, if not then it is your responsibility as a motorcyclist to educate them further on bikes and why they are so great.


The best ones are the ones who ask... then feel they need to inform you on "those things are dangerous you know"

and i'm like "fuck really? i better stop riding then, i never knew apart from every blind tard in a car pulling out infront of me"

had a guy at a gas station once pull in and hand me his business card...

"i sell wheel chairs, you'll need one riding one of those things"

to which i replied...

"be cheeky like that and ill drag you out of that car and beat you until you are in one"

he drove away rather fast.:laugh:

[Bend-it]

What I keep getting when I tell people I ride a bike, is some sad bloody story about how their mate, or cousin, or brother in-law, or ex-gay partner had a bad crash and is now a vegetable... at which point I tell them to piss off...

Otherwise, they ask me what sort, and can you imagine trying to explain to someone what a Cagiva is? I just say "two-wheeled"...

Then they leave me alone, muttering in the corner of the room...

[skidMark]

What I keep getting when I tell people I ride a bike, is some sad bloody story about how their mate, or cousin, or brother in-law, or ex-gay partner had a bad crash and is now a vegetable... at which point I tell them to piss off...

Otherwise, they ask me what sort, and can you imagine trying to explain to someone what a Cagiva is? I just say "two-wheeled"...

Then they leave me alone, muttering in the corner of the room...


Yep everybody has a story of a mates mate who came off and got messed up...

"was he wearing gear"

"no he was only going around the corner to the shops"

" <_< "

[martybabe]

SO when they ask what kind of bike you have, what they mean is 'do you have a bike that I know about', if so then you'll have a nice chat about bikes, if not then it is your responsibility as a motorcyclist to educate them further on bikes and why they are so great.

Yep, very well put. +1

[Molly]

I avoid talking bikes with people who are just making conversation.

[Headbanger]

...''do ya fish''? ''no''...''play any sport''? ''no''...I have a bike...''a Harley''? ''no''.

Yet another conclusion...those that are not envolved with bikes automatically think you ride a Harley when you say you own a bike.


They are looking for reasons to respect you, and you let them down.

Should have asked them if they owned a fork.

[piston broke]

Yep everybody has a story of a mates mate who came off and got messed up...

"was he wearing gear"

"no he was only going around the corner to the shops"

" <_< "

or,do you even ride?:third:

[Maha]

I avoid talking bikes with people who are just making conversation.

Sort of my point, at times I cant wait to put the ear muffs on and kick the grinder into life.

They are looking for reasons to respect you, and you let them down.

Should have asked them if they owned a fork.

But when I have transformed thier grotty old floor into a thing of beauty, they see me in a different light...:shifty:
Some customers will even have me back....:confused:

I did a job for an old guy once, he was a retired bike machanic, Triumphs mainly, years ago....got into buying them and rebuilding them. He talked way too much about bikes. :eek:

[awayatc]

Finally Harleys, tell none bikers the world over you ride a harley and it's generally met with recognition and a smile, like there's some unspoken understanding that you've reached the pinnacle of motorcycling just because they are actually familiar with the name, it's almost like people want to give you a knowing wink, quite odd really. :confused:


It is why I bought a Harley.....
easier to say Harley then Aprilia......

Social sort of guy I am......

[been_there]

I get told "Do you enjoy being a temporary citizen?"

Reply: "Yes and you?" Why walk to your grave? When you can go sliding in going whooo hooo what a ride!!!!
:banana:

[Skyryder]

Use to be when I told some freinds of mine I bought a Guzzi. Ohh ........
I thought you'd be a Harley man or an equivilent comment. Mind you I did start looking for one that is until I saw a Cali.....................no contest.



Skyrder