Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Interesting Thread

great site and great debate!- I feel the same way as many of the HD riders- I dont "hate" other bike riders; I feel we have to stick together- as Maximus Dickus says from Galdiator- "if we stick together we satnd a better chance"- but not against cagers!(he didnt say that, because cars were not invented then...but neither were bikes )

Really interesting. I was almost tempted to register at the HD forum just to join the discussion! lol

See, there are all kinds of people out there. Most riders will respect other bikes. You don't have to love every bike on the market. That's why there are jillions of different bikes on the road - because everyone likes something different. Heck, I even preferred the Speedmaster over the America. Does that make me a bad person? lol

Thank you, for posting that thread. Maybe we should remember that, for the most part, those guys were very open to all that ride. They set a pretty good standard for civility.

I loved that the one guy posted he sold his Harley and had two Hondas without a single bad word after the fact.

I have read alot of HD comments on this site and we have always seemed to balance it out over time.

I never paid any attention to what HD owners said or felt about our Triumphs I really do not care.

I followed the link and read the posts and I'm really surprized on how balanced it was and what they actual think of our bikes. I personally feel the term (Metric Bikes)is a dig at a class bikes that somehow is inferior to their's, based solely on a measuring system.

This was their site and all HD owners they could have really slammed us, but did not. I think this shows no matter what they say in public in private we have their respect.

"Why is it some of these folks just have to make a point of giving a lot of chin music to those of us who chose differently? Its almost like penis envy!"

Talk about the pot and the kettle. Chosing a Harley is NOT different. It's the mainstream, pal. There's nothing wrong with that but I don't want any of this "woe is me" crap from the Harley crowd.

That said, the only Harley riders that have a problem with Triumph are the asshats who have a problem with everything. The old timers and "real bikers" acknowledge and respect the Triumph heritage. And I've met more TRIUMPH OWNERS who seem to have a problem with TRIUMPH CRUISERS, than Harley guys who don't like Triumph.

This was cool, Dave. Kind'a like being a Moose Lodge member and walkin' into the Elks Club and overhearing the conversations goin' on at their bar.

I especially liked Bear64's open-minded comments about Triumphs and Moto Guzzis.

Cheers,
Dwight
(hey...wait a minute...moose, elks, bears....this was starting to sound like a day at the zoo here, wasn't it???....or for you hunters out there, a lot o' fun!)

I got a gift certificate to Car and Driver after not reading it for many years. The thing that struck me right off the bat was how polarized the letters to the editors are about a specific automobile. The general public probably wold not beleive how laid back and accepting most motorcycle riders are of riders who ride different brands.

GASP! They would be shocked to know many moto riders actually OWN and ride different brands. I've found more friendly people on motorcycles-HD's especially, than in an average bar.

One thing I do wish is that the US would adopt the metric system. I'm so tired of having two complete sets of tools-and as much we would like to think we are the center of the universe, just wait 5 years until China is on line. Our economy is going to be probably 3rd if we are really lucky.

Most everyone should be pretty metric literate by now. The only thing that should stop a full cold turkey plunge is the expense of re-tooling at the manufacturers. But that should be done regularly anyway.
I don't think the tool sellers have much lobbying power. But I could be wrong. A fully metric U.S.A. would reduce their sales substantially.

I believe they toyed with the idea back in the early 70's.
Even had a date set for the change over to metric. Then sombody realized that It would have cost billions for American industry (the aerospace industry in particular)
to completely retool.

Quote:

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those of us who chose differently? Its almost like penis envy!" Talk about the pot and the kettle. Chosing a Harley is NOT different. It's the mainstream, pal.

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Dear Friar,
I think this is an acknowlegement that "Triumph is back!"

to ad to last post by retooling I dont simply mean replaceing a 1/2 wrench with a 9mm. Reprogaming machinery,
redrawing and I would think in cases redisinging components,

It would be a boon to folks like me (toolmaker) but would still cost billions.

the harley sheep commercial summed it up....they might be black sheep...but sheep none the less..

I was reading some letters to the editor in CW today about that Harley 1200 that might only go to europe. Some of them commented on the sheep thing, but a lot of the guys said they had just been waiting for HD to produce something they liked. So I think that some people are in a pickle. I do believe there are folks who genuinely like the HD bikes like we like ours, but are then pidgeon holed as sheep no matter what their reason for purchase was.

In the 80s after Japan Inc. had put nearly everybody out of buisiness, including Triumph, that knew how to make a bike the Harleys came out without AMF and the EVO. Compared to the strange shapes of Duc,BMW,and Japan Inc. the Harleys looked like motorcycles with a huge dealer network (thanks to AMF) and more accessories than anybody could imagine.

Harley looks like a motorcycle should look to a great many folks out there. Many more hate the idea that Japan Inc. owns the market still today. Most riders are not into horses and torgue that ride Harley. If you want horses and torgue buy a sport bike. If you tell a Harley rider you have more horses than him first you may be wrong and second, he really doesn't care.

They are not sheep, they are loyal to a look that didn't change the way a motorcycle should look no matter how many others own it. Thats what they want.

I drive a Chevy Silverado not a Nissan Titan. Am I a sheep or do I just like the look no matter who else has one.?

Speaking of sheep, what does the Yamahondakawasuki cruiser look like? Reach deep down inside and admit, they look like Harleys. Japan Inc. with the power to build anything they like and the drive to make it superior did it again. Still, with all their efforts they can't stop Harley Davidson.

Those folks in that thread were great and very supportive of all bikers. The cool thing about "Go you own way." is to get along and respect those who went their own way too.

Ron,

I agree with much that you say here, but I also think that the reason there is often the sense by non-Harley owners that the R.U.B. mentality "rubs them the wrong way"(so to speak) is that the many people who ONLY consider a Harley for purchase, and who(as I like to say) "don't do their homework"(i.e. investigate what other companies such as Triumph have to offer them), often shows their lack of understanding the rich history and diversity of motorcycling in general.

One of my great pleasure here in SoCal is being a member of the local Norton Club Riders Association. Almost without exception, my fellow members of this loose-knit club are extremely knowledgable and appreciative of almost EVERY motorcycle they see out on the road and the rich history that those diverse brands would bring to a conversation.

I've never gotten the sense that I can sit down with your "average" H.O.G. member and discuss the finer points of an old MV Augusta's gear driven DOHC system or how in 1969 the Honda CB750 "revolutionalized" the motorcycle industry, whereas I DO feel I am much more likely to have those discussions with one of my fellow Norton Club members.

Cheers,
Dwight
(BTW...The other day I bought an absolutely pristine 2000 Silverado with the 5.2L engine, my first Chevy truck...the sucker's loaded and looks and runs like it's BRAND FREAKIN' NEW......I LOVE IT)