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

[pjleduc]

Next you'll be asking what a "farkle" is.... :yahoo:

Farkles are for homosexuals...Mods are for real men.

Farkles & Feejer are two terms I refuse to use!

I agree, I will never use that word. If you disagree you should check some of the definitions of the word on Urban Dictionary

 

[Redfish Hunter]

Next you'll be asking what a "farkle" is.... :yahoo:

Farkles are for homosexuals...Mods are for real men.

Farkles & Feejer are two terms I refuse to use!

I agree, I will never use that word. If you disagree you should check some of the definitions of the word on Urban Dictionary

I never cared for the word before but it was no big deal one way or the other. Until I followed your link to the Urban Dictionary. WTH? Who comes up with this stuff? I don't know whether to thank you or dog-curse you but I will never use that word again.

 

[FJRHawk]

Agree with Redfish. IMHO it is a matter of venue. There are (probably the majority these days) riders that buy Harleys so they can fit in at the "biker events" and plan the only riding they do around this type of activity, I know many who fall into this category and most of them are insufferable sheep. You wont find too many Harley riders who just like bikes and are into riding at these things, mainly because they are too busy, uh, riding. I have met many, many, cool HD guys, but usually only when I am gassing up or stretching my legs at a pull off along a well known (or not) great stretch of road. The real ones get it, and I don't let those who don't bother me. I just inform them that the front brake works better than the back one, and invite them to try to stick to my rear tire on a ride some time...

EDIT: And I live in York, PA. Home to a very large HD manufacturing facility. I am definately in the minority around here, and have a large sampling of experince with HD owners to base my opinion on.

 

[Dirty Hippie]

Next you'll be asking what a "farkle" is.... :yahoo:

Farkles are for homosexuals...Mods are for real men.

Farkles & Feejer are two terms I refuse to use!

After spending too much time on a UK YZF1000 site, and also on the UK KTM site for my 950sm, it's all been "kit" for as long as I can remember. I called them mods before that. Farkle? What?

Examples of using "kit" appropriately include:

"Need some new kit for the FJR. Gonna get a Laminar Lip."

 

"Hey dude, what's that new bit of kit there?"

 

[rpres62]

That's really funny.

 

[RoeckerJ]

Well I say GO Team Yamaha. Harleys' are more for just a show and shine show.

 

[Gerry.GEG]

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've never met a more self absorbed bunch than Harley riders.it's The marketing which is second to none! But, it's also a USA,USA! Thing. U not real 'merican unless you pay too much for old technology that pisses people off cause you're making so GD much noise.

 

[Gerry.GEG]

Well I say GO Team Yamaha. Harleys' are more for just a show and shine show.

Most HD's see the corner Starbucks more than anything.

 

[user 28803]

But, it's also a USA,USA! Thing. U not real 'merican unless you pay too much for old technology that pisses people off cause you're making so GD much noise.

Exactly! And self-absorbed is dead on too, at least for a lot of them.

I had to explain all this to my wife when she got her dander up last week. A couple of HD guys looked right at us and didn't return our waves. She has a bias now :lol:

 

[Greb]

FWIW, my father has ridden bikes for over 30 years including 5 years as a motor officer on Harleys. He now owns a Road Glide, the first and only Harley he has owned, 2008 with 45K miles and he is in his mid 60s. He has never had an issue with the bike which I surely can't say about my FJR in its 37K.

He has owned all of the Japanese big four, a few BMWs, a Victory and now his Harley. He loves the bike but doesn't suffer from the Pirate syndrome nor does he think Harley is the one and only bike to own. He respects all manufacturers and acknowledges that different bikes put emphasis on different styles of riding.

We swap out every now and then on a trip and we both enjoy riding the different style bike for a short time. We both are relieved when back in the saddle of our own machine. Live and let live, and ride what you brought. If you're happy that is all that should matter.

I think HD gets a bad rap from the majority of their client base, but people like my dad are real riders that do it for the experience and not to be accepted socially. Granted, HD would probably be hurting if they had to survive off the merits of their product's performance alone. This whole sub-culture biker image is selling their bikes.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

FWIW, my father has ridden bikes for over 30 years including 5 years as a motor officer on Harleys. He now owns a Road Glide, the first and only Harley he has owned, 2008 with 45K miles and he is in his mid 60s. He has never had an issue with the bike which I surely can't say about my FJR in its 37K.

He has owned all of the Japanese big four, a few BMWs, a Victory and now his Harley. He loves the bike but doesn't suffer from the Pirate syndrome nor does he think Harley is the one and only bike to own. He respects all manufacturers and acknowledges that different bikes put emphasis on different styles of riding.

We swap out every now and then on a trip and we both enjoy riding the different style bike for a short time. We both are relieved when back in the saddle of our own machine. Live and let live, and ride what you brought. If you're happy that is all that should matter.

I think HD gets a bad rap from the majority of their client base, but people like my dad are real riders that do it for the experience and not to be accepted socially. Granted, HD would probably be hurting if they had to survive off the merits of their product's performance alone. This whole sub-culture biker image is selling their bikes.

Excellent Post!

 

[user 28803]

Yeah, there are plenty of HD riders who aren't snobs or pirates I even know a couple of them. I'm glad your dad enjoys his.

 

[FJR Bill]

Yeah, there are plenty of HD riders who aren't snobs or pirates I even know a couple of them. I'm glad your dad enjoys his.

Agree...but this is an excellent long running rant which I enjoy.

Sunday 4 of us at a stop light dressed in protective gear have a Harley guy in a sleeveless shirt and shorts, pass by and he braced his fist at us (full of silver skull rings) and shouted, "Why are you idiots wearing jackets?" About 15 minutes later a Harley guy with typical vest, patches and skull cap followed us to a stop light where we were waiting to turn right. He came into our lane and passed by us on our right, then gunned his straight pipes at us until the traffic cleared. He took off roaring on his irritating pipes. We passed the ***** at half throttle with our silent pipes as if he was standing still. We sure were impressed with his "baaad" attitude. Hey at least neither of these guys were dressed like straight or gay pirates. :yahoo:

Bill

 

[johnny80s]

Come and get me Senor...you and your el robusto buddies.

I am waiting for you...remember, I have cats.

Wheatie you only have to worry about Los Robstos if you are covered in BBQ sauce or something else equally edible.

 

[johnny80s]

That was funny!

 

[beemerdons]

Come and get me Senor...you and your el robusto buddies.

I am waiting for you...remember, I have cats.

Wheatie, you only have to worry about Los Robustos if you are covered in BBQ sauce Salsa picante or something else equally edible.

Fixed.