At the gas pumps the other day I am filling up, and a guy on a Harley pulls in. I see him eyeing me up, and then he says "you should get a real bike." I said what. He says "you should get a real bike." I said "yeah I was thinking of getting an Indian, a Harley is so gauche and common." Got on my bike and continued my ride. Sometimes you don't meet the nicest people on a Honda. What happened to a good Hello and enjoying your ride?
It is my personal opinion that being an ass knows no borders, ethnicity, gender, religion or any other category that you can name. They just seem to be everywhere. People like him are the reason that years ago I came up with my standard response to fools like him.
"There are only 2 or 3 people on the planet that I care what they think and you are not on the list!
Yes, unfortunately there are still knuckle dragging Neanderthals among us. I work with a machinist who rides a Harley and calls my bike a 'Jap' bike. I'm like, really did you just say 'Jap', didn't the term 'Jap' die out at least a half a century or more ago...
I've often wondered, what the difference is between a 'real' bike, and an 'unreal' bike?
These guys know if there was no Harley, there would be no big Twin metrics.
Yamaha has the largest selection and commitment to the traditional Cruiser. If I want a metric cruiser, Yamaha is where I would go first, because of the choices in the STAR line.
Honda has mostly dropped their cruiser line to what? three bikes. The Shadow especially has been neutered to a 750. Few bikes are as good as the Shadow 1100s. I had two. VTX was a non starter so I went Yamaha. The metric dealer (only one in town) blew me off with service so I sold the Yamaha and bought a Harley,
Services are everywhere for Harleys. Lots of mechanics who are experts on them. Especially the older ones. Take a 1995 Shadow to a Honda service dept and one will find there are no parts and no particular knowledge on the bike by young mechanics who often have to work on ALL Yamaha, Honda,Kawasaki, Suzuki models plus Polaris quads and Yamaha boats and Jet Skis...I don't know about you, but when I buy a bike I buy the service.
I know there is a Harley mechanic nearby or one that will come to me. In a big city one has more choices like Triumphs and BMWs, Ducatis. None of those here. Just a few Harley dealers and one metric dealer selling ALL of them.
When I first bought my Shadow, the civilian gate guard at the airfield asked me if my bike was built in America. I told him that I did not know, but it was bought in America! Other than that, I mostly hear about the displacement (750) then brand. I usually replay with "well, back in the day a 750 WAS the big bike", or I tell them that I don't feel the need to overcompensate for other shortcomings.
Luckily here we have every kind of bike imaginable. I fell in love with 2 bikes this weekend a triumph rocket 3 and moto guzzi eldorado. Ride what you like and screw what anyone else thinks.
I know a lot of Harley guys and girls, most are of the mindset of " Got two wheels, who cares let's ride"
But there are a few others, mostly younger guys and the few kids from the local university that won't even look at you like your a human if your not in a Harley. They are the jerks that scoff at you at the gas station, they also pull up to me at the lights, snaking through stopped traffic making their way up, in both instances they they kinda get a little less smug when I start my little joke Honda and it sounds almost as good and their Harleys.
I personally don't care, when someone asks me if it's a Harley I tell them, "Clearly it isn't, it's not in the shop" so I guess that's our way of being jerks....
Funny that you don't hear people saying "Get a real car." I wonder what would qualify for that statement. If you want to get people thinking ask them this...If Harvey Davidson built a single engine plane......would you fly in it? " Then watch their wheels start turning and see how few actually say "Yes I would."
Harley makes some great bikes.....so does most of all the other manufacturers or they would not be in business. There are certain brands of things I swear by and I strongly recommend people try them, but I don't insult or belittle them because they don't own my preferred brand. The mentality goes beyond motorcycles. Take firearms for example...despite them being used worldwide by military and law enforcement agencies, being used to win countless shooting competitions, and having a reputation of being the most reliable pistol on the planet, there are still people who criticize and hate Glocks. I guess there will always be haters out there regardless of the product.
Ever drive a Geo Metro? You will hear "Get a real car". Most riders, the majority of riders, don't say anything negative about my ACE. As a matter of fact, I have had compliments from a few Harley riders. The only negative I got was from a Harley rider about my Indian and he insulted both metric and Indian at the same time. I posted about that interaction. Most people seem to ignore the Honda. The Indian being new has garnered more responses. If someone tells me to "Get a real bike" when I am riding the ACE, well that may lead to a conversation that they will wish they hadn't started. Particularly if they ride a Harley. One thing Harley riders don't know or conveniently forget is that Honda saved their ass and plays a big part in Harley engine development. Research the lawsuit Harley had against Honda over the noise of an ACE.
The words, thoughts and opinions of those that mean nothing to me have exactly that amount of weight, I've got too many good folks, blessings and fun to be had to give it any .
I have received the same from a few Harley folks, but I just hold my tongue and continue to do my thing...this really makes them mad, ha, ha. Ignore these folks and enjoy your bike. May you have a prosperous day.
:smile2:
I never got any comments like that anywhere I've been on a Honda motorcycle. Dave has it right. A strangers opinion is meaningless to me. My friends respect me enough (and I them) to know that we don't talk like that to each other...doesn't matter what anyone rides. My favorite quote (in fact I have a t-shirt with it on it) is; "I like riding, maybe 3 people, and beer." And another is "It doesn't matter what you ride, as long as your face is in the wind". Life is too short to be concerned over such things as Harley brand (or any brand) loyalty as a point of judgement against others. I consider it a sign of ignorance.
I think the criticism from HD riders is largely leveled at other cruisers. When I'm on my Bonneville I get nothing but compliments. Often "What year is it?" then stories about their Triumph from back in the day. Or "That's what a motorcycle is supposed to look like". Another one I've gotten from HD guys is "How much do you want for it?".
Yeah, PhantomRider64 mentioned this thread today as we talked, I told him I hadn`t seen it yet...
After I ask ""just what flavor "Real Bike" is it you mention?""
IF they say Harley,
I`d just hafta tell `em, "I have a Harley at home, I RIDE MY HONDA"
Last time I was insulted was in third grade.
Being saddled for life with bulk, several scars, gorilla arms and a visible attitude, when folks appear to be girding their loins to make some negative comment, I smile.
Either they smile, too, or seem to suddenly pursue other interests.
Brer Bill says it may have something to do with my smile.
Brer Byron says it's because I spent twenty years battling hostile and combative alcoholics, addicts and mental health patients who were off their meds.
The Redhead just says I'm kinda
gnarly.
My opinion? It's just like whatcha get, when you cross an elephant with a rhino:
The group I ride with has all brands and styles of bikes, more cruisers but still a good mix, But I find some in the "Branded clubs" can get quite snobby, not the whole clubs but they seam to attract the worst of the snobs
One of our group is in several clubs (has several brands and styles) and the snobbiest he struck was the Gold Wing club...they did not talk to him when he turned up on his KLR
Here its the Triumph and Harley riders that normally give you the Japper comments (Just the **** ones) but on a whole here its as long as you get out in the breeze you are accepted
@Dingo. are you sure it wasn't a dig at the lack of cc's vice it being a Honda -vs- Harley thing? I know any time I'm out on one of my small 250 cc bikes (with knobby tires), there's always some dude with a 450 or 650 that makes the same remark. Often it's done with levity. If it was a dude ... or chick ... on a big Vulcan or a Triumph Rocket would you of been as offended?
As to you folks with the snarky cracks about H/D's being in the shop.... try looking in a dealership or repair shop. I'll bet you you'll find a whole bunch of Honda's and Yamaha and every other brand needing work. Do you seriously believe, in this day and age that one or two brands have mechanical superiority?
For a lot of people, it's all about the cc's. There's are millions of riders out there that consider a Honda Shadow little more than a "starter" bike. They believe once you get the whole two-wheeled thing figured out it's then time to move "up to a "real" bike". It's an opinion. Nothing more, nothing less. I'd be willing to bet a lot of those folks started off on a Honda Shadow or something similar and have nothing but respect for the bike, they just don't view it as a "real" bike. Get over it. It is what it is. If you're happy and satisfied with your bike then why should it matter what someone else says about it.
It's amazing how many threads we've had around here lately that are about some guy on a Harley said this to me, or that to me....... Would you of been as offended if it was a guy on a Suzuki or a BMW or a Valkyrie?
I just ignore the "insults", and ride my bike that I love, since their "opinion" is less than worthless to me. I've had some actually say, "Nice Harley! What model is it?" to which I reply, "It's actually a Honda!", and usually take off quick so they can hear how my Cobra pipes sound almost exactly like a Sporty with Screamin' Eagles. That usually shuts them up, but I had one guy come back with, "Well, it looks great to me!" Jerks are everywhere, riding ALL kinds of bikes, and cars, and whatever. It may seem like this "attitude" comes more from HD riders than others, but it really doesn't matter. Just be happy with what you have, and learn to let all the other garbage roll off like water off a duck's back.