Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge The Harley guys only defence.

One of the distressing aspects of the HD world is the way it has changed over the years. I was one of the guys who might have said something stupid like, "It's a Harley." That, however, was before the yuppie invasion by people like my dentist who crashed his sparkling new Harley as he tried to negotiate his driveway on the way home from the dealership.

Back then, the Harley owner was a true enthusiast who often wrenched his own bike, and had no particular issue with leaks, etc. Most were really great riders, and many of them used their bikes exclusively as transportation.

Then, the yuppie invasion came. If you would have told me around 1995 that my butt would ever be on anything but a Harley, I would have told you that you were nuts, and I would have invited you to share with me whatever you were smoking.

Then, I had a life changing experience. The Honda Valkyrie came out in 1997. I just couldn't resist a bike that was not another Harley wannabe. I bought one, tricked it out, and so enjoyed blowing away my friends with stroker Harleys. I sold, BTW, a 1993 Springer Softail on which I had installed over 13 kbucks worth of add-ons including Edelbrock heads, hot Andrews cam, modified S&S carb, hot ignition, etc., etc. After all of that, my Valk would have blown that bike away!

I have gone straight ever since, and am now thoroughly enjoying the world of Triumph!

Unfortunately, I have gone the other way in which I am so tired of the typical Harley, wannabe bad boy, riding the same boring bikes. Obviously, there are some great folks who still ride Harleys, but they, unfortunately, are a small minority from what I can observe.

Oh, and one other thing. I do surprisingly notice that Harley riders actually wave to me. I'm not sure if they are simply confused or actually acknowledge non rice burners. I know in the days when I accepted nothing but a Harley as a legitimate motorcycle, there were some guys who had Triumph choppers that would ride with us, and we actually acknowledged them as true riders on true bikes.