Only in America ..... I hope

[Lord Derosso]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/7/...ectid=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]

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.

[Colapop]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

You are fucking kidding us, surely???

[Waylander]

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]

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]

You are fucking kidding us, surely???

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

[Lord Derosso]

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]

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

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

[Lord Derosso]

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]

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....