Two Very different responses

[Chrisj CMA]

I just recently rolled over 100,000 miles on the 97 Stnd.  As you all know it goes to all zeros.  Well I have been kidding that once I get a few miles I can pass her off as a "low mileage bike"  lol....It happened sooner than I thought it would.

When we were at Daytona Beach this time a HD rider parked his bike came over and he and his buddy were giving the Valkyrie a CLOSE inspection.  I was standing right there but they didnt know it was my bike I was just part of the crowd to them.

They were astonished how clean the Valk was until one of them noticed the odometer (3500) then they said "no wonder" it looks like new it never gets ridden.......

When I stepped forward and told them it had just rolled over, that was 103,500 they were very impressed, had good things to say about a bike that can go that long and had never been in the shop.  The never been in the shop part puzzled them a bit, I dont think they could fathome. lol

Well, today I was at our local wally world for the second time in two days.  Yesterday this slug out at the smoking pit thing they have for the employees (which is right next to M/C parking) walks up and asks me if this was a Valkyrie, the six cylinder water cooled thing.......when I said yes he shook his head in disgust and walked away and said dont ever drop it, it would be all over.

Today the same slug was there when I parked and there when I left (I wondered if he ever worked) anyway as I was walking into the store I heard him say to the other employees on break...."Only an idiot would ride one of them, if you dump it, its all over" I guess we have a few thousand "idiots" then LOL

I did good, I ignored him.......If I wouldnt have, I think I might have said something verging on non-Christian-like.

 

[Psychotic Bovine]

that comment by that guy doesn't make any sense.  Why would dropping it ruin it?!?

[Bagger John - #3785]

Well, today I was at our local wally world for the second time in two days.  Yesterday this slug out at the smoking pit thing they have for the employees (which is right next to M/C parking) walks up and asks me if this was a Valkyrie, the six cylinder water cooled thing.......when I said yes he shook his head in disgust and walked away and said dont ever drop it, it would be all over.

Today the same slug was there when I parked and there when I left (I wondered if he ever worked) anyway as I was walking into the store I heard him say to the other employees on break...."Only an idiot would ride one of them, if you dump it, its all over" ...

Pay no attention to the clown behind the counter. Alternatively, point out the fact that said clown works at Wally World for a reason, and it's not due to NASA's emplacing a hiring freeze for rocket scientists...

[Bagger John - #3785]

that comment by that guy doesn't make any sense.  Why would dropping it ruin it?!?

It won't. Said clown hasn't the stones to pick a Valkyrie back up.

[Gilligan]

highway.  He was passing me very fast ... (I was following the posted limit of 50 mph) ... He braked hard and pulled along side us ... He took a long look at our '99 IS ... He looked up at me and gave me a "Thumbs Up" ... ... Then he popped a wheelie and rode off.

I've had very positive comments from many people, including Harley riders.  I've never had a negative comment.

[Chrisj CMA]

I've had very positive comments from many people, including Harley riders.  I've never had a negative comment.

This was my first negative comment.  But I can (I did) ignore it because it came from a couch potato non riding slug that couldnt right any motorcycle much less a Valkyrie.

I too have had surprisingly postive responses from the sport bikers around here.  One actually was afraid of the size of the Valks engine.  It just looks intimidating to some, especially when they are used to a motor you can barely see

[Big IV]

I made a stupid mistake and bumped over the sidewalk in front of Dad's shop in a slow tight turn. The bike rolled into the gravel. While I was fussing at myself (my mistake, I admit it) my wife picked my bike up and sat it down on the side stand for me.

I don't know why dropping it would do anything...might scuff your shine, but otherwise, pick it up and keep riding.

On the one hand I'm impressed he knew what the Valk was with some detail. Most people want to know what type of V Twin that is.

[R J]

that comment by that guy doesn't make any sense.  Why would dropping it ruin it?!?

Cause that poor A hole wouldn't know how to pick it up.....

[Oss]

i am simply very impressed that your wife

a.     picked up your bike and

b.     didnt say to you that you were a big sissy (chris taught me that word just last week lol) that she had to lift it for you

that wife sounds like a real keeper 

[Chrisj CMA]

ha ha ha oss......maybe she can come over and lift that gas tank off for ya......    

[sheets]

Don't stoop so low to dignify the comment with a response.  Ignorance.  Wannabe dork doesn't have a clue. He is in a different league.  You are in the big league. Dork is a wannabe spectator.

[98 T]

I usually get positive responses or curious questions when I'm at a gas station. One year (leaving the last InZane in Paducha, KY- I was at a Kentucky gas stop.  This guy came over an stared at my Valk while I was having a candy bar and he asked me with a very proper Queen's English accent, "Pardon me, but is that an automobile engine you have there?"   And I answered: "Why yes -it's a special proto-type Honda is making- they fit a Honda Accord V-6 engine in a Goldwing frame..."  He nodded in amazement and walked away and I could hear him telling his wife:" That chap over there fitted an auto engine into his motorbike..."  I laughed all the way into Tennessee.

I'll never forget that gas stop.

[Dogg]

Since I bought my Valk in 01, I have had only 1 bad thingsaid about my bike. Actually, it was just a stupid comment and had nothing to do with my PARTICULAR bike...

Im in my favorite watering hole and talking to a freind who is sitting about 8 ft from me around a corner of the bar. a small man, maybe 5'5 was sitting in between us at the corner, not part of the conversation at all, just sitting at the corner.
 Tom, (my firend) asked how the bike was running and, of course I said "It's running great!!! Still eating v-twins!!"
 Of course, Tom is kind hearted and just a big ol tteddy bear. He laughs and before he could say another word, This little f*...um, person, made this comment: "I dont care if you run me up, down beat my bikes a**, 1 thing is for sure.....I will always be cooler than you." 
 Just a note....he rides an '83 sporty. its the only bike he could get his short lil legs over.

  Sorry to say but I drew back and was gonna clobber him. Tom, dove across the bar, grabbed my arm and dragged me away from the bar to calm me down. I settled down quickly and we went and had another beer. 

I did get that lil guy tho. about a week later. smoked him stupid and flipping the bird while power shifting. he was a lil hot under the collar afterwards.....lol

everyone else has loved the bike or had very nice things to say. A real piece of engineering...

[junior]

i usally just get told that my bike is sick.............and what poseced  me for riding something like that.lol there arent many valks here in new hampshire

[Black Dog]

Living near Milwaukee, and being surrounded by HD's almost everywhere I go, I've heard it all...  Interestingly enough, most of the derogatory comments are made while I'm standing on the sidewalk, key in pocket, while the 'smartazz' is pulling away tossing the insult over his shoulder...  Yep, pretty brave when ya got a head start 

The guy that owns a little bar near my house is a HD kinda guy.  His place is a frequent stop for lots of Poker Runs, probably because it's a whole 30 miles from Milwaukee, and it's rest time by then.  He rides one of them all decked out HDXLNMNOP (like a Cop bike), and always likes to make a big deal outta saying in front of a buncha people in the bar 'Is that your piece of Jap Crap, parked in front of my bar?'  One night, rather than laughing along with him, I asked him loud enough for everyone to hear 'Hey Pete, ya wanna go Pink Slips?'...  Well, he never made that comment again, and we had quite a nice conversation about the wonderful power of the beast.  He always respected the Valk, just never asked much about it.  Probably didn't want any of his HD buddy's givin him crap 

On another occasion, walking out of a restaurant after lunch, I saw three business type guys lookin' over the Valk real close.  I walked up, and started her up, when one of the suits asks 'Since when did they start putting airplane motors in motorcycles?'  I just laughed, smiled, and pulled away.

As many of you know, stopping for gas can take so much longer than planned.  The poor guy in the mini van, loaded with kids.  The old timer, eager to tell tales of when he used to ride.  The frustrated house wife, making sure she still has the ability to flirt.  And, of course, the grizzled HD rider, eager to flex his muscles, but very interesting to talk with.  They all wanna talk, they all have questions, and they all have a part deep down inside, that wants to feel the open road like we do...  Yep, gas stops are interesting, very interesting 

Black Dog