I took my FJR to a Harley dealer open house party yesterday

[PanAmerican]

I got an email from my local Harley Davidson dealer that if I came to their open house Saturday monring I would get a free t-shirt. Free stuff is always good especially if it's motorcycle related. So I show up on my FJR. Wow. I don't think I could have been more out of place unless I was a Catholic Cardinal showing up to an Al Qaeda campfire sing-along. I was like I was majocally transported to the set of the next Pirates of the Caribbean movie shoot and everybody was in costume. The only thing missing was some guy with a hook for a hand and a parrot on his shoulder.

Have motorcyclists really evolved to to two separate species like this? I never imagined we would become so tribal.

 

[GPRIDER]

Pan, that's hilarious. And yes, it seems like we have evolved into 2 different groups. The pirate theme seems all the rage with the harley riders and I suppose has been for quite a while now that I think of it. I don't get it either. If I ever own a Harley, I guess I will be the only one wearing a full face helmet,armored textile jacket and full finger gloves.

GP

 

[Vmaxrider]

I know what you mean. I went to a Harley place with some friends (who own Harleys) I was looking at some of the different models and a salesman asked me what I currently rode. When I told him, he kinda smirked and said I didn't know what is was like to be a "real" rider and asked if I had a "Yamaha" tattoo. Hmmm, I don't have any tattoos but I think I now know what my first choice would be. anyway, I have nothing against Harleys, in fact I like how most of their dealerships have a crap-ton of accessories for every model they sell on all the walls. I wish I could walk into a dealership that had more goodies for my FJR rather than just taking people's advice and ordering online blindly.

 

[CheesyRider]

If I ever own a Harley, I guess I will be the only one wearing a full face helmet,armored textile jacket and full finger gloves.

The only Harley rider I personally know is my cousin. She wears a full face Arai helmet and all the protective gear. So, if you get a Harley and wear ATGATT, you wont be alone!

 

[PanAmerican]

I know what you mean. I went to a Harley place with some friends (who own Harleys) I was looking at some of the different models and a salesman asked me what I currently rode. When I told him, he kinda smirked and said I didn't know what is was like to be a "real" rider and asked if I had a "Yamaha" tattoo. Hmmm, I don't have any tattoos but I think I now know what my first choice would be. anyway, I have nothing against Harleys, in fact I like how most of their dealerships have a crap-ton of accessories for every model they sell on all the walls. I wish I could walk into a dealership that had more goodies for my FJR rather than just taking people's advice and ordering online blindly.

Wow, the salesman really asked that? What a moron. I think I will go to the next Harley dealer party and wear this.

 

[PanAmerican]

 

[azitlies]

Have to admit... it really is kind of sad.

Pretty much every other type of motorcycle rider is a pretty decent person, even Beemer riders

But it seems HD riders are buying the bike for the attitude only. I mean... why else would anyone buy a Chrome Tractor? errrrr I mean Harley?

just sayin...

 

[lnewlf]

When a Hardley guy asks me when I'm going to be a "real" rider I usually invite him to bring his Ukranian ditch pump and his wallet over to the nearest twisty road or long straight stretch..After he declines of course, I ask if he ever rode from the Daytona bike week Harley fest to Philly in one day in March like I did..[yeah I was young and stupid then]... or how he likes the Showa forks on his pig..oops, hog.. don't tell anyone but I kinda like the bug eyed dual headlight Fatboy..

 

[frito1]

Have motorcyclists really evolved to to two separate species like this? I never imagined we would become so tribal.

Since your profile lists your age about the same as mine and your location as WI, I have to question your evaluation of the MC world and/or how long you've been riding. No reason to expect special treatment or for your bike to be recognized when you're at a dealer of another persuasion. Harley dealers (& owners) typically know just about as much about a Yamaha as the typical Yamaha dealer (& owner) knows about a Harley. In my experience it doesn't matter if it's a MC or auto dealers the same applies, and be prepared to face ridicule is you aren't representing the brand they sell. Most salesmen whether at the HD or Yamaha dealer know far less about what they sell than a well prepared, well read potential customer.

Oh yeah, there are at least four separate species of motorcyclists, European brand posers, American brand posers, Japanese brand posers, and real MC riders.

Which one are you? :devil:

 

[FJRay]

I guess I am confused (nothing new)but I like my FJR and I enjoy my wifes Harley. I need a T-shirt that honors both :lol:

This ought to make NEPRT real quick

 

[PanAmerican]

Have motorcyclists really evolved to to two separate species like this? I never imagined we would become so tribal.

Since your profile lists your age about the same as mine and your location as WI, I have to question your evaluation of the MC world and/or how long you've been riding. No reason to expect special treatment or for your bike to be recognized when you're at a dealer of another persuasion. Harley dealers (& owners) typically know just about as much about a Yamaha as the typical Yamaha dealer (& owner) knows about a Harley. In my experience it doesn't matter if it's a MC or auto dealers the same applies, and be prepared to face ridicule is you aren't representing the brand they sell. Most salesmen whether at the HD or Yamaha dealer know far less about what they sell than a well prepared, well read potential customer.

Oh yeah, there are at least four separate species of motorcyclists, European brand posers, American brand posers, Japanese brand posers, and real MC riders.

Which one are you? :devil:

"I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member." -- Groucho Marx

The point of my post, which you missed, was that this devolution of motorcyclist has accelerated in recent years. And since I live within 40 miles of Harley-Davidson headquarters I do have a passing notion of what constitutes a Harley rider over the years. Especially considering Milwaukee is the Mecca of the Harley religion. At one time we used to be motorcyclists who rode different machines. Now we have little, if anything in common.

 

[dcarver]

Not all of us are pirates!

 

[SkooterG]

Ukranian ditch pump

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

don't tell anyone but I kinda like the bug eyed dual headlight Fatboy..

It's the Fat Bob. I've ridden it, and it is a sweet bike. If I could have 5 or 6 bikes in the garage that would be one of them. One of the only Harley models that actually has twin brake rotors up front.

 

[FJRay]

Ukranian ditch pump

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

don't tell anyone but I kinda like the bug eyed dual headlight Fatboy..

It's the Fat Bob. I've ridden it, and it is a sweet bike. If I could have 5 or 6 bikes in the garage that would be one of them. One of the only Harley models that actually has twin brake rotors up front.

You already have four in there so what's one more.

 

[donaldb]

Not all of us are pirates!

So, carver's got a purse and boobs???

 

[Mike-H]

Not all of us are pirates!

So, carver's got a purse and boobs???

SURPRISE :blink:

 

[Matt101]

I know what you mean. I went to a Harley place with some friends (who own Harleys) I was looking at some of the different models and a salesman asked me what I currently rode. When I told him, he kinda smirked and said I didn't know what is was like to be a "real" rider and asked if I had a "Yamaha" tattoo.

Well some of us do have tattoo's. But I still wouldn't own a Hardley Movinson. Just don't do anything for me!

 

[PhilJet09]

I guess I am confused (nothing new)but I like my FJR and I enjoy my wifes Harley. I need a T-shirt that honors both :lol:

This ought to make NEPRT real quick

Funny, I was thinking the same thing. My wife rides a Superlow and loves it. If she's happy, I'm happy.

 

[PhilJet09]

At one time we used to be motorcyclists who rode different machines. Now we have little, if anything in common.

I couldn't disagree with you more on that one. Most of my close friends are Harley riders and they don't have that attitude at all. I don't talk crap about what they ride, they show me the same courtesy. They don't dress like pirates either. One of them can almost keep up with me on OH-555 so I'm sure on an FJR he'd out-ride me any day of the week. We see eye to eye on more things than not.