Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Seriously guys...this is getting pathetic

Two Harley owners were riding through the country to go bear hunting. They came upon a fork in the road where a sign read "BEAR LEFT" so they went back home.

A traveling salesman has an audience with the head of a major business and, not quite knowing what to say tries to break the ice with a joke... "Have you heard the one about the two Harley Davidson owners?"

"But I _am_ a Harley owner." the business owner says angrily.

There followed a pregnant pause while the salesman thought quickly ...

"That's OK, sir, I'll tell you it slowly

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Everyone calls HD riders sheep...well have you not noticed that plenty of Triumph riders are exactly the same...buying watches, mugs, mouspads, clothing, toys embossed with the Triumph logo. Again...no different than any HD rider.

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One difference, I think Triumph would need to come out with the product shown below for us to officialy become Triumph 'sheep'.

True HD Sheep Branding



Bob

So Mark what is it you're trying to say?

It's not the bikes themselves. I mean the sound of a Harley going by gets my blood going. It's one of the things that got me back into riding. Hearing them all the time. But it is about the attitude. I'm not talking about the people who grew up riding. They are the ones who will usually comment and say nice ride. Or give the little wave as you pass each other. It is the people who have bought into one of the best marketing campaigns ever. If it's not a Harley its just not IT. Look at how far they, H-D themselves, are willing to go. Putting their name on everything and anything a lot not even related to motorcycles. Wish I had bought some stock about 10 years ago.

For what it's worth...

I met up with a friend in a little town between Tucson and Phoenix Arizona many years ago. I was on my Honda Silverwing and he was on his Moto Guzzi. We found a little hole in the wall bar and settled in for a beverage when shortly thereafter came in your stereo-typical "biker" guys.

After a beverage, one of the "bikers" asked who owned the Guzzi. My friend replied it was his and they complimented the bike.

As my friend and I were leaving, so were the "bikers". We went outside to mount up; they all had older Harleys but it was obvious that they knew them inside and out and rode often. The "bikers" asked us where we were going and we said just out riding. They invited us to join them at a BBQ at another bar they were heading to. Being new at the time, I said "we'd love to, but will you be seen riding with a Honda?" The leaders response was:
"Hey man, if you're on two wheels it's all good with us".

My friend and I went and had a great time.

Moral?
I try not to Harley bash (and mostly succeed). Bottom line though is no matter what you're riding, if you're on two wheels it should all be good.

Right? Or did I miss something?

Funny I just bought the wife a Silverwing (500)for her first bike...it was/is a Shriners parade bike...so it's old 82/83 but it's only got 12k miles on it

Sigh

Hmmmm. So we should all stop being like us so we will be less like them which makes us more like you... I got it!

Hey! Who has a Triumph tattoo? Lets all go get matching Triumph tattoos!!

Dood. I'm not a lemming. I ride with a group of folk that share a similar interest. I share with you guys. If thats wrong, I'll go buy a harley and hang out with them. They understand commradery. Wait, no we hate them, they suck, yea,sucksucksucksucksucksucksucksucksucksucksucksucksucksuck!

I have lots of friends that have Harleys. I like the bikes, too, but don't have a desire to own one. From a business persons perspective, I'm ni awe. they are a case study. They have the most loyal clients of any company in the world and are in the top 5 for brand recognition. Pretty darn good stuff.

I gotta tell you, I think harley riders, in general, suck too. There are a handful that don't. But the majority of em these days just suck. My best friend owns a harley. He's okay.

I once heard a sociology professor give a lecture about tribalism and how it applies in modern society.

One point he made stands out; He said (something like), ethnocentrism is an innate human trait. People, when grouped with other people who seem to be very similar will still form themselves into groups based on some (perceived?) common trait. Be it politics, religion, make of car driven (we can add bikes in here), style of clothing, brand of cigarettes smoked or anything that can be used as an identifier.

So, this is our tribe. Deal with it.

Paul, Backporch has a Harley now? Geez, if that's the case you might as well just buy one now since, according to him, you bought your BA because he had one .... missed ya at the Ga. Rally this year, hopefully one day you can make it back down when your schedule permits. Your new Tiger would probably love those mtn. twisties... ride safe, brother...Gordon

My friend Tom I had mentioned a time or 2 on here and I think is actually a member of this board but due to circumstances beyond his control isn't able to post.He has 2 Triumph tattoos one on each arm. Very cool looking tats too! (get it..tats too)LOL

Oh dude that blah blah sign is so offensive why can't you just lighten up...like I did in the loud exhaust thread ok perhaps I went off and tweeked a bit...I'm sure I 'll be appologizing for it later

Oh and hows this little ditty...

When you ride a Harley
You ride the best
Ride a mile
Then walk the rest

I have to agree there Mark.

It doesn't matter what you ride, it just matters that you ride.

The entire thread was tooooo long for me to read, but I think I got the jist. My two cents.. ...There are jerks and good folks in any given interest circle. For the most part a little tongue in cheek rivalry is fun. For the ones who take it way to seriously; ignore those who say "your bike is crap, ride this brand". Just ride your bike and have fun. There's an old saying, "If they're not paying your bills or sleeping in your bed F*em." Remember you'll get judged as hard as those your judging.
Go ride have fun. Ok, I'll get off my soap box.

LOL I like that one Rob!!

Ode to my Harley:

My harley buddies are big and burley

You Triumph type are kinda girley

My hog is the best, I've hair on my chest, but my girl looks like a cross between Schemp and Curly

(yep! It was all downhill for those guys after Curly "bought the farm", boy!)

I am not so sure why anyone would get put out from a little friendly ribbing. I ride with mostly hardleys and a few honda's. We rib each other all the time. My favorite is one of the honda riders is Japanese, and I am always telling him he MUST have some Limy in him somewhere and to get a proper bike I take it from all them and they rib each other too. I don't think our British friends here will take offense to that term put in that manner either.

What's a car???

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and wave at everybody on two wheels even if we are in the car

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Ray,

were you spying on us in Georgia this year?

Good one, Cowboy Yes I admit it... I sometimes wave at scooters. They're like little kids with their first trike and have so much enthusiasm

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My favorite, and ironically the saddest, joke pulled on me was one guy came in the bar where the run was starting and told me my bike was leaking. I figured it was a joke but I ran outside anyway to find a half-dozen tea bags sitting under my bike.

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Gotta say, that is about the best one I have heard of yet!!

But I have to agree with you also, there are more than a few around here with the attitudes.

Hi guys, Stu here, Road King rider,long time lurker, first time poster. I share a house with Mr Keets, so I have been fully exposed to your Triumphant act and I like it. I wish to subscribe to your news letter.

On the subject of ugly nationals, I have a couple of thoughts for you all to consider.

First, xenophobes do not travel well, they hate anything odd, different or strange, so any foreign person you meet in your country is most likely the most adventurous version of the original nationally. They will be more open to the differences they see around them, and that makes them easier to get along with, no matter where you are.

Next point is human nature. I was told years ago that 80% of the worlds population at happy to get along, 10% are leaders and 10% are the kind of people you would rather "Gas like Badgers". The scary thing about human nature is, when you remove the bad influences, one of the reasonable people from the middle group will always take the place of the trouble maker. Dunno why, it just happens, someone has to become the new joker, bully or braggard.

I think it is too late to change those who are someone they enjoy being, so I am working on the next generation. In the interest of encouraging new riders I go out of my way to chat with scooter riders, especially the girls, coz if we can keep girls riding, the boys will follow. I am also shameless and I wave to kids in cars. It is fun watching them warming to the idea of interacting with a real live "Motorcyclist".

Must admit, when my RK and Mr Keets Speedy are parked side by side, his bike gets all the looks and most of the comments. I think Australia still remembers the Triumph parallel twin very fondly. They were plentyful and affordable in the 1950's and 60's, so lots of blue collar guys where exposed to them. On the other hand HD has always been a club bike or yuppie trinket, something people were either scared of or jealous of.

It is nice that people take the time to talk to someone with a bike, we should make the effort to be nice back, so while Mr Keets and his solo seat enjoy "Onion stories" with Grandpa Simpson, I am taking Maud Flanders for a ride around the block.

Cheers,
STU

Welcome Stu. God bless you brother.

John, that was too funny, tea bags, what a hoot. Of course our club, when we have bike shows, put a pile of rice under the Japanese bikes, all in good fun though. So what do you think we should put under the Harleys??? Saurkraut under BMW's???

AmyLee