I was perusing through my copy of Motorcycle voyager the other day and reading an article on Japanese bike meets in the USA (TC has forsaken his multi tool and asked for Motorcycle Voyager plugs instead). We all know the Harley guys don't like the Japanese stuff and it made me wonder why. The article mentioned some Harley riders taking sledge hammers to Jap bikes during the early days. The only thing I could come up with is that this a hangover of anti-japanese feeling from the second world war.

Even stranger, that it still exists today and has even crossed the Atlantic and infected the Harley riders over here. If anyone has read DP's v-rod review, they'll know what I'm talking about.

Well, that my take on it, unless somebody knows better but it does seem strange that the Harley guys cannot see past anything other than a Harley.

20 years ago I had my 1st foray to the USA.
I did the rounds of bike shops looking for performance stuff for my GS 1000-the prices were fantastic!
the guys in the shops were helpfull, the guys on the Harleys were OK when I was on a Harley.Did the eastern seaboard on my mates Harley.
I never took any of them seriously though-all the rallies I went to-they Harley owners turned up with immaculate bikes-brought in on the back of pick up trucks!
One guy was cock-a-hoop at winning the "most distance travelled" award, but he travelled in a truck-his "ride" only covered a few miles at the rally-still Harley owners must know what their own bikes are like to ride-pick up trucks prolly the best way to go!
as I'm on one, heres another point-now that I ride the cruiser more than the ZZR(for the mo) I get the wave/nod/flash from most types of biker-but not Gods chosen ones-Harley riders still ignore me

well in 6 days god made the earth

on the 7th day he rode his harley













for 2 miles then pushed it back home











god rides a quad












have you not heard of the gods quad














god moves in mysterious ways




I reckon he needs to check his wheel bearings


strange how god is dog spelt backwards

deep Womble, VERY deep.

gods quad  :D  :D

look forward to meeting you at the Celtic warriors bash.

Vaguely on this subject - thought this might amuse - found it on the net somewhere........


    "I love motorcycles, and like many of you, what first drew me to bikes was not just riding, but the feeling that I'd become part of a special community-a brotherhood, really. Nothing better than a long ride down the interstate, waving to the members of my beloved clan. Except when I pass Harley guys. I hate Harley guys. Hate, hate, hate. When they pass me on the highway, you know what I do? I don't wave. With their little tassle handlebars and the studded luggage and the half-helmets-God, they drive me crazy.

You know who else I hate? BMW guys. Oh, I hate those guys: I don't wave at them, either. They think they're great, sitting all upright, with their 180-degree German engines. They're almost as bad as those old bastards on  tourers. You know what I call those bikes? "Two-wheeled couches!" Get it? They're so big. They ride like they've got all day. Appreciate the scenery somewhere else, Grampa, and while you're at it, I'm not waving to you.

Ducati guys - I don't wave at them either. Why don't they spend a little more  on their bikes? "You can have any color you want, as long as it's red." How cool! Like they know what a desmo-whatever engine is, anyway. Try finding the battery, you wannabe racers! I never wave at those guys. Laverda guys are worse. I mean, is it a bike or a fruit? Those guys and their orange bikes - are you kidding? If Italian bikes are so great why can't each maker afford more than one can of paint? Anyways, I'd never wave at an orange bike.

Suzuki guys aren't much better, so I never wave at them either. They have those stupid helmets on top of their stupid heads, but God forbid they should wear any other safety gear. They make me mad. Sometimes they speed by and look at me and you know what I do? I don't wave. I just keep on going.
Please, don't get me started on Kawasaki guys. Ninjas? What are you, 12  years old? Team Green my ass. I never wave at Kawasaki guys.

I ride a Honda, and wave at Honda guys, but even then, not at a guy in full leathers. Never, never, never. Yeah, like you're going to get your knee down on the New York Thruway. Nice crotch, by the way. Guys in full leathers will never get a wave from me, and by the way, neither will the guys in two-piece leathers. And I'll tell you who else I'm not waving at - those guys with the helmets with the loud paintjobs. Four pounds of paint on a two pound helmet- like I'm going to wave back to that! I'll also never wave at someone with a mirrored visor. Or helmet stickers. Or racing gloves. Or hiking boots.

To me, motorcycling is a like a family, a close-knit brotherhood of people who ride Hondas, wear jeans and leather jacket (not Vanson) with regular gloves and solid-color helmet with a clear visor, no stickers, no racing gloves and regular boots.  And isn't that what really makes riding so special?"




 

Very true..