I used to ride with a group called the Catawba Valley Scenic
Riders. Had a variety of all makes of bikes that rode most every
weekend. Middle aged folks that just enjoyed riding in the mountains.
After a while with all the ribbing about foreign bikes people started
dropping out. We were in the North Carolina mountains near the
Virginia line stopped at a old country store for a break. We were all
sitting out front on benches and rockers when My pal looked up and
stated that all the foreign bike owners had stopped riding with us.
Then he looked at me and said Kevin you are the only one that still
rides with us that doesn't ride a Harley why didn't you quit riding with us.
Note there were 7 Harley's and 1 Valkyrie parked in front of the store.
So I told him I ain't Skeered of your Harleys. Plus I can outrun every
Damn one of you. Everyone just looked at me for a few seconds then
we all had a good laugh.
"7 Harleys and 1 Valkyrie"
Sounds a lot like my rides.
A couple of the groups I ride with all ride Harleys (just friends, we don't have a fancy name).
And a couple of the guys are true Harley guys who owned only Harleys their whole riding careers, even through the dreaded AMF fiasco. One told me you knew the oil level was low if it wasn't leaking!
I'm fortunate that they are all good guys, but there is ribbing! So far it's all been good natured.
They talk about my "rice-burner" and I tell them I can't ride behind them due to all the parts that vibrate off and oil leaks I'd have to dodge!
The name came from being on Meetup to post rides. Pretty cool
any member could post a ride and you could have multiple rides
for the same day. Just saved all of the separate calls to plan a ride.
Fees got too expensive so dropped Meetup and went to Facebook.
Facebook went over like a turd in the punch bowl at the company
Christmas party. Now we just call up and set up rides like before.
We are all good friends and most all had a good time going back
and forth with the jabs. Only one rider once told me that when he
was younger he had paid his dues on a Honda but now he had
graduated to a Harley....Never in front of the group but individually
most of them told me how much they liked my Valk. I like Harleys
too but prefer my Valkyrie. The one time I did come close to saying
something seriously was at a charity ride for a Christian ministry in
Bostic NC. After eating the BBQ meal included for riding they had a
bike show with a trophy and cash prize. 90% Harleys with a VW trike
and a few foreign makes. The guy that had paid his dues said with
conviction look at that a Honda in the show that is sacrilegious.
While it wasn't it was for not. There was a turquoise and white
Harley that everyone knew would win the show and did.
