I watch MotoGP and superbike racing religously, currently ride a Yamaha cruiser, have owned one Triumph, 2 harleys and all kinds of japanese sport bikes, cruisers and dirtbikes over the years. If it has two wheels I like it. I don't understand the animosity myself.
Why can't we all just...sniff...get along?
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Recently rode my BMW to the dealer and while there, stopped to look at some of their used bikes. I was admiring a nice Harley Glide when another 'propeller head' asks, "Why would you even LOOK at that crap!" (Yes, he was wearing BMW logo gear.)
I don't get it either. I guess some (many?) folks have a poor self image and need to express themselves through their brand culture. If you're not on MY brand living MY perceived lifestyle then you're not worthy. They buy a particular bike for it's image more than anything else.
It's not just brand either. Cruiser vs. tourers, sport bike vs. standard. Euro vs. American vs. Japanese...
I say nuts to them all. Wave to everyone and enjoy the ride! Real riders don't care what you're on, just that you are. Who cares about the posers anyway?
I don't get it either. I guess some (many?) folks have a poor self image and need to express themselves through their brand culture. If you're not on MY brand living MY perceived lifestyle then you're not worthy. They buy a particular bike for it's image more than anything else.
It's not just brand either. Cruiser vs. tourers, sport bike vs. standard. Euro vs. American vs. Japanese...
I say nuts to them all. Wave to everyone and enjoy the ride! Real riders don't care what you're on, just that you are. Who cares about the posers anyway?
I agree with JL Warrior-- a motor on two wheels is fun! I wave at everyone on two wheels even scooters. In Ontario, Canada almost everyone waves back; in Florida, almost no one does! But, I've never had any kind of confrontation about my bike --a KLR 650, though one guy, after admiring my ride, said "I'm saving for a real bike, a Harley." He had such an innocent look, I just said, "See you at Bike Week!" There's enough ugly stuff going on, like Hiliary for President, without moto-brothers adding to it.
I'll admit it.
I say anybody on 2 wheels is a member of my tribe. In truth I sorta look down on cruiser riders. It's a problem. I know plenty of really good cruiser riders who were former racers or very experienced riders who just prefer riding a cruiser. Still I immediately conclude that somebody on a cruiser wants a heavy underpowered mount, especially of the american variety. I tell myself they ride from bar to bar, or maybe only one bar, and from there wobble home and polish chrome.
i'm a sport bike biggot. even though plenty sport bike riders don't realy ride either.
when i buy a gold wing finally, it'll feel like i have passed over to the dark side.
I need help.
I say anybody on 2 wheels is a member of my tribe. In truth I sorta look down on cruiser riders. It's a problem. I know plenty of really good cruiser riders who were former racers or very experienced riders who just prefer riding a cruiser. Still I immediately conclude that somebody on a cruiser wants a heavy underpowered mount, especially of the american variety. I tell myself they ride from bar to bar, or maybe only one bar, and from there wobble home and polish chrome.
i'm a sport bike biggot. even though plenty sport bike riders don't realy ride either.
when i buy a gold wing finally, it'll feel like i have passed over to the dark side.
I need help.
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323 Posts
I don't see you getting many (if any) comments from people who have (as you describe) animosity toward people who don't ride what they are riding. And how about people who snub certain categories of bikes when they don't even own or ride themselves? I don't see those kind of people having a subscription to motorcycle.com because it's subject matter isn't specific to the "right" kind of motorcycle. If you had brought this question up on a Harley or BMW or (insert brand/genre here) specific message board, you may have brought out some people with that mindset.
I ride with a local HOG (Harley Owner's Group) chapter, and although I haven't seen anyone in our chapter be unkind to someone on another brand, I have heard some negative remarks regarding bikes other than Harley-Davidsons. Most of those kinds of people have never owned anything other than a Harley, and "wouldn't own anything else". Which to me says they aren't really motorcyclists. They are "Harley riders".
I currently own a Harley, but I have owned several other brands of motorcycle, and will likely buy a second bike (non-Harley) because my Harley is not a do-it-all bike. I'm thinking DR-Z 400SM, but I'll wait to see how the new KLR comes out. I like the new Triumph Tiger too.
I ride with a local HOG (Harley Owner's Group) chapter, and although I haven't seen anyone in our chapter be unkind to someone on another brand, I have heard some negative remarks regarding bikes other than Harley-Davidsons. Most of those kinds of people have never owned anything other than a Harley, and "wouldn't own anything else". Which to me says they aren't really motorcyclists. They are "Harley riders".
I currently own a Harley, but I have owned several other brands of motorcycle, and will likely buy a second bike (non-Harley) because my Harley is not a do-it-all bike. I'm thinking DR-Z 400SM, but I'll wait to see how the new KLR comes out. I like the new Triumph Tiger too.
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17,461 Posts
Personally I avoid anyone who puts down other riders merely because of the type of bike they ride.
Who even wants to hang around with such narrowminded and meanspirited losers? Most people outgrow those attitudes by the time they hit their 20s. Sadly some people just never progress emotionally.
What you're seeing is not anything unique to motorcyclists. A certain small percentage of the population is mentally deficient and insecure. These people have to invent reasons why they are better than everyone else. They pretend that they are superior because of the kind of bike or car or house or watch or whatever they possess. This attitude proves unequivocally that they are in reality inferior. The vile attacks on others' riding choices reaveals an awful lot about the vile character of the attackers.
Who even wants to hang around with such narrowminded and meanspirited losers? Most people outgrow those attitudes by the time they hit their 20s. Sadly some people just never progress emotionally.
What you're seeing is not anything unique to motorcyclists. A certain small percentage of the population is mentally deficient and insecure. These people have to invent reasons why they are better than everyone else. They pretend that they are superior because of the kind of bike or car or house or watch or whatever they possess. This attitude proves unequivocally that they are in reality inferior. The vile attacks on others' riding choices reaveals an awful lot about the vile character of the attackers.
I ride a '77 Bonneville...I get dissed by EVERYBODY. Harley riders look down at me, squids can't believe I would ride something so slow.
If you want to really see some bigotry, check out audiophile forums; the tube Vs. transistor controversy rages on...as does the analogue Vs. digital war.
If you want to really see some bigotry, check out audiophile forums; the tube Vs. transistor controversy rages on...as does the analogue Vs. digital war.
The thing that prompted me to ask the question (or at least the most recent thing) was reading some of the posts here. I had kind of assumed the same thing, that people willing to pay to subscribe would be
"enthusiasts" more than brand or type loyalists. And I'm sure that's true, in general. I was a little surprised, though, at the almost vitriolic nature of some of the comments.
"enthusiasts" more than brand or type loyalists. And I'm sure that's true, in general. I was a little surprised, though, at the almost vitriolic nature of some of the comments.
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7,118 Posts
Ive been meaning to put up a similar post myself since I joined MO late last year. I get tired of the endless knocking of HD, the Genx-y-z" comments, sport vs. cruiser myself. Im old enough to remember when the Honda 750 came out and started to really threaten HDs dominance. Hostility in those days was real, as in get run off the road if you were in the wrong place at the wrong time (I was).
Even funnier was the snobbery within even the HD ranks. Sometime in the 70s, HD started using Hitachi starters. Guys would rip them out and put in the Prestolite so they didnt have "Jap Junk" in their bikes. Then the belt drive came out, and it was endless comments about "rubber band bikes." It never stops. Just the other day there was a rant on guys who used trailers to get to Daytona. My friend and I took our bikes from Ft Lauderdale to Daytona on a trailer. My back is broken in two places, (thanks Mr. Cager) and I cant ride more than an hour at most without extreme pain. My buddy has a steel rod for a left leg, but he still rides with a Pingle shifter. I say its better to show up on a trailer than not at all.
Im perfectly aware there are thousands of HD, cruiser, and especially custom or chopper buyers who are in it for the fad. Then there are the ones with the endless chrome and leather fringe, neon lights, whatever. Our bikes are as different as a sailboat is from a "go-fast," but theyre both cool.
I believe that the more people there are out there on any bike at any time, the more cagers there are with a family member, friend, or co-worker who rides. And its my hope that this fact means there are more cagers paying attention to bikes, and not inadvertently, or even deliberately, causing us to wreck. Not to mention that as the industry thrives, our choices in bikes, accessories, service, and cool stuff like MO only increase.
One more thing: Im not at all sure why, but I believe God likes motorcycles. Maybe its because they take us out of the cage and put us back in the world, maybe its because they cause far less damage to the world than the SUVs, or maybe God simply thinks theyre cool. Whatever the reason, when I ride, I feel closer to God than when I don't.
Even funnier was the snobbery within even the HD ranks. Sometime in the 70s, HD started using Hitachi starters. Guys would rip them out and put in the Prestolite so they didnt have "Jap Junk" in their bikes. Then the belt drive came out, and it was endless comments about "rubber band bikes." It never stops. Just the other day there was a rant on guys who used trailers to get to Daytona. My friend and I took our bikes from Ft Lauderdale to Daytona on a trailer. My back is broken in two places, (thanks Mr. Cager) and I cant ride more than an hour at most without extreme pain. My buddy has a steel rod for a left leg, but he still rides with a Pingle shifter. I say its better to show up on a trailer than not at all.
Im perfectly aware there are thousands of HD, cruiser, and especially custom or chopper buyers who are in it for the fad. Then there are the ones with the endless chrome and leather fringe, neon lights, whatever. Our bikes are as different as a sailboat is from a "go-fast," but theyre both cool.
I believe that the more people there are out there on any bike at any time, the more cagers there are with a family member, friend, or co-worker who rides. And its my hope that this fact means there are more cagers paying attention to bikes, and not inadvertently, or even deliberately, causing us to wreck. Not to mention that as the industry thrives, our choices in bikes, accessories, service, and cool stuff like MO only increase.
One more thing: Im not at all sure why, but I believe God likes motorcycles. Maybe its because they take us out of the cage and put us back in the world, maybe its because they cause far less damage to the world than the SUVs, or maybe God simply thinks theyre cool. Whatever the reason, when I ride, I feel closer to God than when I don't.
Because in a cage you are secluded and enveloped inside a cocoon. On the bike you are out in the wind. There is a heightened sense of vulnerability along with being outside enjoying everything God made from sun, rain, smells, and sights. I get the same feeling when I ride and that is why I think that is.
Plus I ride a real motorcycle, Harley Davidson Road King, and chicks dig it. After being treated to all sorts of devious pleasures, I am sure stemming from riding the motorcycle God intended to ride the earth along with looking like a young, muscular Michael Douglas, I am glad posers ride other atrocities, er motorcycles.
So I think we should all be nice and happy to see other motorcyclists on whatever they want to ride. It is their choice to ride whatever they want, whether it is a real motorcycle, rice rocket, Harley imitation, or whatever. They made that choice for a reason, like they are blessed by God to ride a Harley, can't afford a Harley, or they are really stupid. What I would like to see is more affection shown for the motor cops. They are so nice and just want to help us out but no one waves to them "sniff".
Plus I ride a real motorcycle, Harley Davidson Road King, and chicks dig it. After being treated to all sorts of devious pleasures, I am sure stemming from riding the motorcycle God intended to ride the earth along with looking like a young, muscular Michael Douglas, I am glad posers ride other atrocities, er motorcycles.
So I think we should all be nice and happy to see other motorcyclists on whatever they want to ride. It is their choice to ride whatever they want, whether it is a real motorcycle, rice rocket, Harley imitation, or whatever. They made that choice for a reason, like they are blessed by God to ride a Harley, can't afford a Harley, or they are really stupid. What I would like to see is more affection shown for the motor cops. They are so nice and just want to help us out but no one waves to them "sniff".
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37 Posts
I find that the majority of negative comments come from wanna be's and posers - no matter what they are riding. The real riders by and large give the opinion that if it has two wheels it's OK. The most open minded group of people that I've come across are scooter riders.
Rub
Rub
Beware of sarcasm. Especially here. Read everything here with the assumption that it's said in an Ironic tone, and with a goofy 1/2 smile.....
By and large, this is a pretty tolerant bunch, except when it comes to Idiots. What you ride really doesn't matter. Much.
(grin)
-Rob
By and large, this is a pretty tolerant bunch, except when it comes to Idiots. What you ride really doesn't matter. Much.
(grin)
-Rob
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4,369 Posts
Also, beware of the Loud Minority.
We're conditioned heavily to adopt and us-versus-them mentality. Team sports, nationalism, brand loyalty, mods vs. rockers, etc. Some people fully internalize this mentality and they extend it to include motorcycles as well. It's difficult to totally erase-- we all enjoy team sports from time to time or enjoy a special satisfaction when we see 'our' brand of bike win a race, even if most of the time as true fans we're just happy to see great competition, and recognize that the teams and brands are less important sometimes than the athletes that switch between them every couple of years.
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