You Meet The Nicest People On A... Harley? Really?

[DDT (12)]

You Meet The Nicest People On A… Harley? Really?

We’ve all experienced it… That uncomfortable feeling of being singled out as one of those… a metric rider. “Nothing but American iron will do,” we’re told and… “There are only two types of riders: Harley riders and those who wish they were…” We’ve all been called posers or wannabes, and we naturally have those knee-jerk ‘counter-feelings’ of “No sir, we already have the best, and we know that brand myth nonsense holds no power over us.”

For the second time this year alone, I’ve been rescued by a Harley rider. Dang, all that brand bologna crapola and associated stereotypes have flown right out the window for this pseudo rider, and they’ve been replaced with actual first-hand experiences that tell a very different story. No more automatic snap judgements or ‘instinctive assumptions’ for this guy… A book simply cannot be accurately judged by its cover.

I threw a leg over our girl’s ample Corbin saddle the other day and continued the ‘pre-flight’ check. Bungies had all been confirmed properly affixed, bags all present, tires both looked good, motel door closed, helmet and gloves on… A glance at the trip meter indicated we’d need gas in no less than a hundred miles… Starter button depressed and ignition!

We glided off the parking lot and into the light traffic flow and began searching for the unfamiliar turns necessary to exit that smallish town and get back out on the highway where we belonged. Ahhhhh, it felt so good, too, to be back at it after a brief layover, but caution was needed to counter any skill rust that may have entered the picture. An awkward lane change and a clumsy stop at a red light were about it, though, so it appeared we’d have some smooth sailing for a while!

Twenty-five miles later our girl began to spit and sputter, cough and wheeze, slow and sound just like… she was out of gas! I reached down to flip her on reserve and… Oh no! Has somebody sabotaged the fuel supply or what? Wait, the trip log indicated only 125 miles since the last fill-up… What’s going on here…?!

We coasted to the emergency lane of the bypass exit I’d darted up to begin the dreaded wait for assistance. “Geeeez, I do hope it’s only an out of gas thing and not something more serious!” Everything turned off and kickstand down, I dismounted to look her over…

Everything looked OK, no odd smells. I’d no sooner removed my helmet and retrieved my phone to place the inevitable call, when I looked rearward and saw a Harley pull in behind us… “You OK,” came the cheerful question from the rider…? Out of gas, I responded… “I have a gas can at my house just down the road… I’ll be right back!” He was off just like that, so… WOW! I know I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating, so I’ll say it again… I’d much rather be lucky than good!!!

Due to the rather late start that morning and the fact I was only planning a short ride to the next stop, the sun was already high and doing its work bathing the area in warm, bright sunshine from a cloudless sky. Hmmm, a job for… my handy, dandy umbrella for sure! The shade was most welcome, too, so nothing to do now but… “WOW! He’s back already!”

He was in his SUV this time, but he did indeed have a gas can. He added enough motion lotion to ensure we’d make it to a nearby station. I handed him a twenty, but he said, ”Put that back in your pocket. My reward is being able to help somebody…” We introduced ourselves, chatted for a moment, then he was off after watching us crank up and head out, too. Simply WOW!

I played back the tapes of recent events to try and figure out what had happened to us, and it did come to me after a while… When riding to our most recent ‘home’, I’d stopped for gas sometime well before arrival at the motel. I’d already reset the trip meter, when I’d discovered that the card readers weren’t working at any of the gas pumps. I was not going to do multiple trips back and forth inside just to fuel up, so I’d simply ridden on instead, figuring we had enough gas to get us to our next ‘home’ anyway… We had to go on reserve before arriving at the motel. Like they say, “The devil is in the details…” Maybe I should buy a Lotto ticket…

DDT (12)

[Jess from VA]

Good (and heartwarming) story Bruce.  

There's still some Harley snootiness out there, but much less than there used to be.  I wave to every rider (bikes, trikes, mopeds, minibikes, and even the occasional bicycle and convertibles with nice looking lady drivers   ).  

I don't do the cool 2-finger down thing, I hold my left hand/arm straight out with an open hand.  A good number of guys change from the 2-finger down and give me back the open handed wave, which may not be cool, but is certainly friendlier.

I've had the "American Iron" shtick thrown at me in the past, and am always delighted to inform the HOGman, every Valkyrie (except some few made in Japan for their own market) was made in Marysville OH and with a higher percentage of US made parts than Harley ever managed.   I rode a Hog (FXRD dresser, only 1000 made) for 18 years, but it got sold to a collector when I discovered the complete superiority of Honda Valkyries.  

I run only non ethanol in both bikes (unless I'm traveling), and I keep a bunch of 5gal cans of it at home for all my other equipment too (since it's a 100 mile round trip to get it).  So I occasionally top up the bike I'm riding before leaving the house... but almost never remember to reset one tripmeter (Interstates have 2).  My usual mileage from the 6.9gal tank is 220 to reserve (with about 1.1gal left) (which is more reliable than the stupid LED bar Interstate gas gauge, which likes to go down then back up again all the time).  So I end up confused that I have more gas than I'm supposed to, not less.  

Good Samaritans are out there and it's always a real pleasure to meet them.  I try my best to be one myself.  

Socrates said 'Virtue is it's own reward', and he was right (though I lost my virtue some years ago at a drive in movie )

[DIGGER]

My Valkyrie in 123,000 miles has never let me down to where I have needed to be rescued.
WHen I am on my Valkyrie I have always stopped for a bike on the side of the road.....no matter the make of bike.  Being disabled on the side of the road is such a helpless feeling.  I have never had anyone take me up on my offer.    I have a truck and motorcycle trailer and would jump thru hoops to help a stranded biker.  

I've brought this up before with no response.... for yrs I rode BMWs.  BMWOA (BMW OWNERS OF AMERICA) used to have...and may still have.... a small paperback book with the names and addresses of BMW owners across the US who volunteer to help stranded BMW's.   I was in it.  They had codes to put by your name in the book to offer the services you offer...such as tools, indoor or outdoor floor space to park your bike, will trailer xxxx amount of miles, housing, etc. for stranded Beamers and their riders.   It would be great if this could be organized with our Valkyrie Owners of America.

[trout dude]

Hey Buddy I gave that little can away but can get you another one 

[Timbo1]

My Valkyrie in 123,000 miles has never let me down to where I have needed to be rescued.
WHen I am on my Valkyrie I have always stopped for a bike on the side of the road.....no matter the make of bike.  Being disabled on the side of the road is such a helpless feeling.  I have never had anyone take me up on my offer.    I have a truck and motorcycle trailer and would jump thru hoops to help a stranded biker.  

I've brought this up before with no response.... for yrs I rode BMWs.  BMWOA (BMW OWNERS OF AMERICA) used to have...and may still have.... a small paperback book with the names and addresses of BMW owners across the US who volunteer to help stranded BMW's.   I was in it.  They had codes to put by your name in the book to offer the services you offer...such as tools, indoor or outdoor floor space to park your bike, will trailer xxxx amount of miles, housing, etc. for stranded Beamers and their riders.   It would be great if this could be organized with our Valkyrie Owners of America.

Used to be one years ago Digger.  It was called Vortex and the link still exists on http://www.valkyrieriders.com/ unfortunately the link appears to be a dead and directs to (http://www.f6rider.com/Valk/vortex.htm).  I had created a spreadsheet back in 2006 with all the members and at that time there were 969 participants that had provided Member#, Handle, First Name, City, State, Country, Telephone & Email for anyone in need.

[flsix]

Bruce it's good to know there are good folks out there no matter what they ride.

We had a similar rescue list in an ABATE chapter I was in when we lived in FL.

[Pluggy]

Nice story.  Good guys, bad guys and everyone in-between is on a Harley these days.  The Japanese brands are into other products and offer only a few models of heavyweight bikes.  Indian and BMW are available, but their dealer networks are small compared to Harley.  People wanting a big new motorcycle are likely to go with H-D.

[Valkorado]

Great story Bruce.

[HayHauler]

When harsh comments come my way about my metric bike (1999 Valkyrie), I just point to my "MADE IN THE USA" cast into the block on the right side.  Then I as to see theirs?  That pretty much ends the conversation.  I say this in a very friendly way, not condescending.

Hay  
Jimmyt

[LTD]

In the end we are all on the road and courtesy should be extended  no matter what the brand.

[old2soon]

      Make or model I no care I try to be helpful. Some years back I had an H D rider giving me well tryin to give me a hard time bout my rice burner. And about a month before that thing another H D rider mentioned in all the years he'd been riding the wind Never Once asked him how and on what did he git in the wind. I related that to him and added-Right Now you and me title for title. His friend told him if that man can ride You WILL lose yer scooter. I assured them both I could in Fact RIDE! The challenger backed down. Saw him on another P G R Mission bout a week later and he offered to buy me lunch!  Which I accepeted and he turned out to be a decent guy once he unloaded the chip on his shoulder.
       Bruce you Do have a propensity for gittin yerself into some rather interesting situations And seem to have a flair fer coming out generally better than when you went in.  I've said this to you before but it bears repeating-keep on keepin on Bruce! Seems to be wurkin fer ya!  RIDE SAFE.

[TTG53#1717]

Growing up in North Jersey I bought my first Harley at 16 and chopped it over the winter of ‘70/71. Doing stuff like that gets you on the radar of the 1% factions and over the course of the next 20+ years of building H-D bikes for myself and friends I had a few less than ideal interactions with both A & P club members trying to “influence” my life.

A year or so before buying my Valk I was out on my Sportster and suddenly lost power with a bunch of pops and backfiring. My point cam bolt had broken and I didn’t have a spare. I was 3 miles from home on a major highway and started to push. Along comes a ratty old custom van that pulls in front of me on the shoulder. Out pop four 1% type guys with no patches who say “Hey bro can we give you a lift home ?”
I said OK and we load the bike into the back of the van. We start to roll and I say “Not this exit but the next one”. One of the guys says “No problems bro we know where to go”.  AND THEY, TOOK ME RIGHT TO MY HOUSE.

The intelligence network of the 1% clubs is second to none.

I picked up my Valk from the dealer and rode it home on a nasty rainy November day. Taking my time and being safe on this giant new and unfamiliar bike. As I open the basement door to the house I heard the phone ringing and answered it. It was my pal who owned an H-D centric custom shop calling to congratulate me on picking up the new bike. I asked him how he knew about that and he said the P called and told him. Some of them pulled up and surrounded me one day and told me - when I was on my Honda they didn’t care but if I was on my Harley I had to toe the line and look the part.

I moved away from all that BS  ‘99.

[Hook#3287]

When harsh comments come my way about my metric bike (1999 Valkyrie), I just point to my "MADE IN THE USA" cast into the block on the right side.  Then I as to see theirs?  That pretty much ends the conversation.  I say this in a very friendly way, not condescending.

Hay  
Jimmyt

That's just what I do, then I point out that most likely their suspension and wiring are "made in Japan" and Honda owns about 1/3 of Showa.

Last thing is I offer to show them the nickel trick.

[Oss]

I got the opportunity to  ride the back seat of a harley once in Connecticut when my alternator died
I got a ride to a place there was cell reception
Did not like the idea of leaving my wife with the bike but I was back within the hour
as I had to walk back to her

I dunno  My wife says I make friends in the elevator ....

So maybe there is truth in
"you reap what you sow"

Glad you got out of another jam with ease Bruce.  Maybe it is time to get a small 1 gal  or less gas can eh?

[Mooskee]

Bruce, I carry a 32 oz can of TruFuel. It stays stable in the sealed can for 5 years and is stable for a year after opened. Should get me or someone else about 7-8 miles down the road. Haven't needed it yet. My uncle used to put everything to tune his car in the trunk. Claimed he never needed it!

Ride safe my friend.

Dave

[Willow]

...
So maybe there is truth in
"you reap what you sow"
...

So, that's what it is?  I thought it was, "You rip what you sew."   

[f6john]

I don’t care what others ride but I do have sympathy for a lot of Harley riders. I was sitting in my truck at a stop light this week when a Harley rider pulled up next to me in the left turn lane. Those guys always look so cool, had a cigarette hanging out the corner of his mouth, his stereo was thumping which could barely be heard over the lovely potato,potato of the exhaust and the black paint was gleaming. Then I noticed it, everything, and I mean everything was shaking, from the front fender to the mirrors, the engine was dancing around in the frame, and the tour pac and bags were trying to keep in time with everything else. What sealed the deal was watching that small amount of flab that hangs under some of us old guys arms was doing its own dance too! I guess they live for that time they spend in the sweet spot of the throttle where there is a semblance of smoothness and all is right in their world?

I have to add, points for him on his Harley while I’m in my truck!