You just can't predict people

[Bob]

Laura, my wife, rides an XV250 Virago. So we are talking a cruiser here.

So on the way to work, she pulls up at the lights... and a Harley pulls up alongside. So she nodded (someone else on a bike, it is what you do). Harley rider blanks her - to the point of looking the other way.

So she filed him under "Wanker" and carried on.

Next set of lights, a van pulls up in the next lane. And looks at her bike. Then she realised he was still looking, so she looked over. "Thats a really nice bike" he said "What cc is it?"

So she told him it was a 250. "Yeah, really nice little bike that" said the van driver.

Great isn't it? Another biker blanks her, but a man in a van tells her what a nice little bike it is.

As I say, you just can't predict people.

[Magua]

I haven't had much people comment on my bike. There was this one time though, I pulled up at the lights and a NSR250 pulled along side, the guy lifts his visor and greets me with "Sup Gangsta" and asks about the cc before promoting his own "Silent but violent" bike.

[wari]

NOt really surprised by the HD fella ...

SOMe people just need to get over themselves ...

SOMEthing I've noticed is young boys checkin outhe bike as I ride past ...

YOung girls dont even notice ...

MUst be genetick ...

[toads]

Laura, my wife, rides an XV250 Virago. So we are talking a cruiser here.

So on the way to work, she pulls up at the lights... and a Harley pulls up alongside. So she nodded (someone else on a bike, it is what you do). Harley rider blanks her - to the point of looking the other way.

So she filed him under "Wanker" and carried on.

Next set of lights, a van pulls up in the next lane. And looks at her bike. Then she realised he was still looking, so she looked over. "Thats a really nice bike" he said "What cc is it?"

So she told him it was a 250. "Yeah, really nice little bike that" said the van driver.

Great isn't it? Another biker blanks her, but a man in a van tells her what a nice little bike it is.

As I say, you just can't predict people.

yeah I've been told that the freedom riders wouldn't want me around cos I don't have a harley, what a bunch of tossers!

[dhunt]

I haven't had much people comment on my bike. There was this one time though, I pulled up at the lights and a NSR250 pulled along side, the guy lifts his visor and greets me with "Sup Gangsta" and asks about the cc before promoting his own "Silent but violent" bike.

I've had one guy in a cage ask what size engine I had then went on to ask if I would do a wheelie. Not sure where he wanted me to do a wheelie as there was traffic in front of me so I couldn't exactly do a wheelie even if I wanted to.

I'll also have to agree there are some bikers (all cruisers) that wont even agknowledge that you are a biker too and just plain ignore you.

David

[scumdog]

Quote "on the way to work, she pulls up at the lights... and a Harley pulls up alongside. So she nodded (someone else on a bike, it is what you do). Harley rider blanks her - to the point of looking the other way."

Harley owner was probably waiting for the jibes/ridicule/scorn that H-D riders normally get to start, and when it wasn't forthcoming he was at a loss for words!!

[Jackrat]

Yep ya' can't figure people huh.
If she ever pulls up beside a green tow truck and an incredibely good looking type says "gidday" it's not me.On the other hand if an ugly bugger leans out an says "Nice bike" then it probably is me.
Cheers.

[KATWYN]

Recently I asked a couple of Harley Riders what is it about
the Harley - sport bike animosity thing? I found it interesting

They said that sport bike riders have totally missed the point
of motorcycling. HD riders get annoyed at the sport bike riders
speed attitude. Zooming everywhere,taking off at speed etc
ringing the bikes out- instead of cruising and enjoying the scenery
etc

They reakon they laugh when they see sport bikers take off
after being at the pub or cafe etc they can't even cruise off
then..they have to speed.

So when I said whats it like trying to get one of those things
around a sharp corner they said...its really easy...just slow down.

So they proceeded in trying to talk me into riding a Harley...they
reakoned even from a safety perspective they are better. (ie) they
NEVER get tail gated and people HEAR them coming, so drivers move
out of the way.

[Cajun]

Recently I asked a couple of Harley Riders what is it about
the Harley - sport bike animosity thing? I found it interesting

They said that sport bike riders have totally missed the point
of motorcycling. HD riders get annoyed at the sport bike riders
speed attitude. Zooming everywhere,taking off at speed etc
ringing the bikes out- instead of cruising and enjoying the scenery
etc

They reakon they laugh when they see sport bikers take off
after being at the pub or cafe etc they can't even cruise off
then..they have to speed.

So when I said whats it like trying to get one of those things
around a sharp corner they said...its really easy...just slow down.

So they proceeded in trying to talk me into riding a Harley...they
reakoned even from a safety perspective they are better. (ie) they
NEVER get tail gated and people Hear THEM coming so move out of
the way.

I never get tailed gated in my 600, people here me coming (after market exhust), i even get the big look at that stares which alot of the harley rides are after(from people in cars and side of road) and thats due to riding like a dumb fuck or anything,
I am on a so called hard core sports bike, doesn't mean i race everywhere. its like anything alot of harley rides also own american cars that they race around in, while in a car i just cruise

[Ms Piggy]

Well I dunno about you guys & gals but I reckon there are 2 breeds of riders...nah maybe 3.

Breed # 1 - wave at everyone on 2 wheels & acknowledge that if you are on 2 wheels you're part of a great 'family'.

Breed # 2 - just use their 2 wheels for transport and don't consider it a really great way to get from a to b, just cheap & handy. They generally won't wave.

Breed # 3 - those that do ride but are snobs & don't wave at anyone unless they look 'right'. I've struck Harley riders & sports bike riders in this group.

[scumdog]

I guess I'm too dumb to know that nobody expects to get a wave from a H-D rider so I wave to anyone on a scoot that I see on the road :spudwave:

[FROSTY:Me]

There are bikers out there everywhere -you just don't know it.
That guy in the family SW chacing ya -might have a duke at home in the gargre. That guy in suit and tie might be a harley rider at the weekend.

[jimbo600]

Recently I asked a couple of Harley Riders what is it about
the Harley - sport bike animosity thing? I found it interesting

They said that sport bike riders have totally missed the point
of motorcycling. HD riders get annoyed at the sport bike riders
speed attitude. Zooming everywhere,taking off at speed etc
ringing the bikes out- instead of cruising and enjoying the scenery
etc

They reakon they laugh when they see sport bikers take off
after being at the pub or cafe etc they can't even cruise off
then..they have to speed.

So when I said whats it like trying to get one of those things
around a sharp corner they said...its really easy...just slow down.

So they proceeded in trying to talk me into riding a Harley...they
reakoned even from a safety perspective they are better. (ie) they
NEVER get tail gated and people HEAR them coming, so drivers move
out of the way.

I photographed a Wellington HOG chapter run one day. Now obviously I couldn't rock up on the gixxer so a loan HD something or other was lent to me for the day. Man what a laugh. I really enjoyed myself. Took a while to get out of sportbike mode and into lazy cruise mode, but when I did I could really see the point of it all. Plus those HOG groups are very well supported. Hundreds turn up for runs etc. HD are OK in my opinion, however some HD riders get a bit caught up in the 'badass' image, usually lawyers doctors on their weekend fantasy run. End of the day they ride what they ride, we ride what we ride, but if any of us saw a rider down we wouldn't hesitate in helping.

[KATWYN]

I never get tailed gated in my 600, people here me coming (after market exhust),

Wow you must be a first out of us all to never get tailgated at some point
or another.

I have an after market exhaust as well on my 600- makes no difference
I also find in a 50km area and i'm doing 50km I get tailgaters.

[Storm]

Some people just dont want to share the love.I even wave to scooters !! The XV is a nice looking bike I reckon- I was going to get one for a while. I agree wholeheartedly with Jimbo's comment on stopping to help a rider in need