Ah well, I'm an outcast

[..]

There's a small "bike club" here in Maggie Valley.

The imaginative know where this is going.

They have a club house.

They wear black vests or jackets with the club patch on the back.

They do ride as a club at least one day a week at the weekend.

I've spoken with a few of them.

We've shared bike photos.

Tonight I spoke with one I've never spoken with before. He told me he had a 2017 Harley, I honestly don't remember which model. Once they pass the first 2 or 3 letters of the model my brain gives up. My fault, not theirs.

It was a black wind-shielded bagger. Matt black. I asked if it was factory paint or a wrap. He didn't know.

I showed him a photo of my 2014 Valkyrie explaining it was a kinda stripped down Goldwing.

He told me with a knowing side head nod and a quick look over the top of his glasses that it didn't make much noise. His did.

I told him I didn't really know how much noise my bike made because I was normally going fast enough to leave the noise behind.

I don't think I'll be getting any invitations to go ride.

Lat weekend they rode to Sylva. About 25 miles away via 4 lane. Drank a few beers at a micro brewery or two and rode back via the BRP.

Round trip of maybe. 55 miles.

Different strokes for different folks.  


EDIT. He also told me they only let American made bikes in the club. I should have kept the old bike to show them the "Made in the USA engine casing.

[Rams]

Britman, don't feel like the Lone Ranger.   There's a bunch of us just like you. 
The thing is, we like it that way.   

Rams

[cookiedough]

there is a nice apparitioners club of HD folks in the country outside of our town very nice group gathering area with house, firepit, tables, shelter area,  and woods, etc.,  but pretty sure NO ONE has anything but HD's.  My neighbor who owned a few HD's belonged to that group but only went on a few rides was not his cup of tea either driving from bar to bar to bar and with such a large group outing going all the time,  felt he did not go his own speed or enjoy it as much as if went alone or with just a few is all.

[Jess from VA]

Maybe if you get a really spiffy pirate suit you can hang out with them.   

I do not care what anyone rides (or if they ride).

I rode a Hog for 18 years (but also had other bikes during those years).  I didn't have a pirate suit though.   

I do care how people act.


On the pirate suit thing, I once was in a HD dealer looking for some gear.  I asked if they had anything without the HD logo or name all over it.  It was kind of like farting in church.     

[sandy]

I got that “Jap bike” comment from two morons. I showed them the “made in USA’ casting. They didn’t care; it’s still a Honda. This interaction was at a Patriot Guard mission in the parking lot of the funeral home. Morons!!

[old2soon]

     Right after I got Phatt Ghurl I kicked around the idea of joining a G/W group. The first and as it turned out The Only meeting I attended they were telling me about a "ride" they were planning. Maybe 600 miles and they were gonna take 3 Days to git there!   I've done day rides near or over 500 miules.
      Went on 2 poker runs here in SoMo. 1st and last card draw at the Start/Finish point. The other 3 card draws were in bars/taverns. I learned a Long time ago alcohol and Riding/Racing/driving do NOT mix well.  And most of the riders had multiple shots and beers in front of them. I rolled damn near last but I was first back and left as I didn't even pair up!   I Ride Captained a poker run starting at the dealership in West Plains. The dealership told the Riders No alcohol on the run. 3 left post haste.
        My thinkin here Paul fer whatever it's worth-not much B T W-H/D types it's short hops and alcohol. G/W types it short mile days and Dairy Queen or Tastee Freeze!   And I already KNOW it is Not a one size fits all in either group. RIDE SAFE.

[old2soon]

I got that “Jap bike” comment from two morons. I showed them the “made in USA’ casting. They didn’t care; it’s still a Honda. This interaction was at a Patriot Guard mission in the parking lot of the funeral home. Morons!!

            Had a similar deal here in SoMo on a P G R Mission(s). Blinders. I've asked some hard core V twinky types has the wind Ever asked you what yer on when you are in The Winds Domain? Shrugs and blank looks. Unless I know the rider I just consider the source. RIDE SAFE.

[Thunderbolt]

LOL fartin in church.........

[_Sheffjs_]

Once we finally move to Sylva I will have no trouble riding all those roads on the wing alone with the wife.    I like small groups when I do ride in groups. 

[F6Dave]

A friend's wife made this observation about the pirate suits:  A million rugged individuals -- all dressed alike.

[..]

Once we finally move to Sylva I will have no trouble riding all those roads on the wing alone with the wife.    I like small groups when I do ride in groups. 

Sylva! When?

[Robert]

Brit didnt think you were one of the pack, ever.  

The more people, the more attitudes, when the day is calling for a ride, God and nature along with discoveries of the day make the exploration a attitude adjustment change. Nothing can compare with that and anything other than that is just a distraction.

[Jess from VA]

A friend's wife made this observation about the pirate suits:  A million rugged individuals -- all dressed alike.

When I was 15-16 my mom made the comment that all us boys dressed so much alike, we appeared to be in uniform.

Powder blue oxford buttondown shirt, blue jeans, penny loafers (no sox), and the navy blue nylon coaches jacket. (this was the dressed up look)

Of course, she was right. (I never liked no sox, but everyone else was doing it...)

[0leman]

Local club has poker runs several times a year.  Put in maybe 90 miles.  BUT lots of stops at small town bars for cards.  Yes, some beers (lots) of beer is drank.  I did the run one time.  Was at the back of pack when we left town with police blocking traffic.  I was one of the first to make it back.  Yeah a lot of V-twins, lots of noise, and idiot riders.

Decide once was enough.  Since they do rides for good causes, and most of the winners give back the winnings, I tend to just go donate money.  Then leave and go for  an enjoyable ride the opposite direction.

[Crackerborn]

The only organized rides I participated in were Toys for Tots Christmas rides on the LSD in Chi-town and that ended around 2002. Some of the fine pirates on that ride made fun of a '39 Knucklehead since it wasn't shiny and new like their butt jewelry. That bike really did mark it's spot and that was the last organized ride I took since it was an all day affair to travel 15 miles. I've always found solo trips or small groups better rides and I don't have to beware of inebriated riding partners. The local girl found her way to Duluth on a recent trip to the hardware store and I live near Lake Geneva (roughly 400 miles one way). I got back a bit late that day, caught h_ll from the bride, but I really needed that little time in the wind.

[Bret SD]

My best friend was SA for a 1% club here in town for many years, he personally doesn't care what bike I ride, but he does still ride a Road Glide. We were talking about tires and he still gets American made tires for his bike.

Many club members I know are of the same mindset, they don't care and respect the hell out of our Valkyries, they just have to ride a certain bike to be in the club.

[Serk]

On the pirate suit thing, I once was in a HD dealer looking for some gear.  I asked if they had anything without the HD logo or name all over it.  It was kind of like farting in church.     

I did that once as well, was looking for goggles when I still wore a skid lid.... And yup, went over about as well for me as it did for you. That's when it finally hit me that HD dealerships aren't motorcycle shops, they're "Lifestyle accessory emporiums."

Love this quote from Sonny Barger (Founder of the Hell's Angels), wish he could have acted on it:

"It's always been important for Hell's Angels to ride American-made machines. In terms of pure workmanship, personally I don't like Harleys. I ride them because I'm in the club, and that's the image, but if I could I would seriously consider riding a Honda ST1100 or a BMW. We really missed the boat not switching over to the Japanese models when they began building bigger bikes. I'll usually say, "F*** Harley-Davidson. You can buy an ST1100 and the motherf***** will do 110 miles per hour right from the factory all day long ... While it's probably too late to switch over now, it would have been a nice move because Japanese bikes today are so much cheaper and better built. However, Japanese motorcycles don't have as much personality."

When I first started riding I hooked up with a Texas club (The Valhalla Six Guns for those old timers) that was dipping their toes into the whole (non 1%'er) MC thing. We ran into real 1%'er clubs, things almost got ugly. Decided to hang my colors up and ride to get away from minding my P's and Q's, not riding to have to follow rules more rigid than I have to follow at my day job.

[..]

not riding to have to follow rules more rigid than I have to follow at my day job.

Ride Hard
Live Free  (so long as you agree to the rules)

[signart]

A friend's wife made this observation about the pirate suits:  A million rugged individuals -- all dressed alike.

Yeah, they want to be different, like everybody else

[signart]

I got that “Jap bike” comment from two morons. I showed them the “made in USA’ casting. They didn’t care; it’s still a Honda. This interaction was at a Patriot Guard mission in the parking lot of the funeral home. Morons!!

I ask them to show me where it says "Made in U.S.A." on their bike. THEN I show them mine

[Serk]

A friend's wife made this observation about the pirate suits:  A million rugged individuals -- all dressed alike.

Yeah, they want to be different, like everybody else

Find the Valkyrie rider in this video clip

https://youtu.be/jVygqjyS4CA

[Ramie]

My brother in-law is a die hard HD guy but he will ride with me as long as I follow him.  He calls my Phatt girl a Valarie just to try and get a rise out of me.  It's his older sisters name and she's a big girl.

[John Schmidt]

On my little journey the past couple weeks at one stop I had a young lady on her HD pull up next to me. As she pulled off her gloves and helmet, she looked at the trike and questioned "it's not made in the US is it?" To which I answered..."actually, yes...both me and the bike...made in the USA."  She giggled and added...."me too" and walked inside. Kinda refreshing! 

[TTG53#1717]

I bought my 1st H-D in ‘70. Two days before 17th Bday.  I built a chopper over the winter and had the first ever chopped Harley in my high school senior class. I went to MC mech. school and worked in an H-D dealership. ( Until it went bankrupt and closed ). Then I became a Tool & Die Maker.

From ‘70 to ‘96 I built and rode only Sportster type H-Ds. As a “Builder” I was constantly under the thumb of the Tri-state (NY,NJ,PA) 1% clubs. If you think the government has an “intel” apparatus…you should experience the outlaw MC clubs intel system.

As long as I was on an H-D, my every move was their business and they wanted me to “fit the profile”.
They asked if I would shave my head, get more forearm tats or maybe carry a bigger knife. I bought a used PC in a local comp store and paid with a company check that had a chopper pic on it. Next thing you know I’m on the store phone speaking to an HA who wanted to know my sit rep. I gave him my “given name” and he knew exactly who I was and what shop I rode out of.

When I finally got tired of the combover and did shave my head I went to the annual “Harley Rendezvous “ in upstate NY. 26k people having a huge biker party. NO COLORS ALLOWED, but the 1%rs had long sleeve tee shirts with specific flames on the sleeves to identify clubs and chapters.
So it’s midnight and I’m standing at the top of a hill, smoking a cigar with a pal, and watching the band. Suddenly two HA from NYC are all excited pointing at me and writing stuff in a notebook. The fact that I shaved my head needed to be noted and reported.

When I rode my ‘Valk home from Bergen Honda in ‘11/96, an outlaw club guy called my pal who owned an HD oriented custom shop and told him I had just picked up the bike. It was pouring rain. 45 minutes later, when I got home, my phone was ringing and it was him calling to congratulate me on my new ride.

I was the Road Captain on our weekend rides. When I showed up the first time with the ‘Valk it created quite a stir. It became known as “The Bus” because of the Boxer engine. I still had my H-D’s and rode them to the appropriate events but the ‘ Valk was my only choice when riding my lady.

The 1% guys told me “When you’re on your Honda we don’t care anything about what you do. When you’re on the Harley, all we want is for you to fit the part.”

Here in Far West Texas that BS didn’t exist.

[_Sheffjs_]

Once we finally move to Sylva I will have no trouble riding all those roads on the wing alone with the wife.    I like small groups when I do ride in groups. 

Sylva! When?

We signed the house build papers on the 18th when in Franklin so the house should be finished sometime in February we will use it for vacations until I retire, say two years.   
 

[msb]

Funny, I've never really experienced a lot of these situations mentioned here from "hardcore" HD clubs in my 20 years of riding my Valk (and now my 78 Wing), and previous to that my 84 Aspencade. Generally, the hardcore guys just ignore me while I get just good natured ribbing from HD friends, although they and most other knowledgeable HD riders all seem to have a lot of respect for and interest in the Valkyrie and even the old Wing. I guess because first of all I'm in Canada so the "American Made" issue isnt' as prevalent, although my 99 IS does have the engine stamp. Also, I'm not into "hunting Harelys" and I've never been into clubs (until the VRCC), going to bike rallys (until the VRCC), group riding (until the VRCC and my Valhalla friends), frequenting bars, etc. or other places where those crowds seem to hang out a lot.

Conversely, in the later 70's and early 80's when I did ride HD when they weren't as popular as they are now with mainstream riders, I had to be a little careful keeping a low profile, as the BC HA and other local "biker" clubs did look down on rubes like me in a jean jacket and cowboy boots puttin' around looking cool on my stripped down AMF HD.

[..]

Once we finally move to Sylva I will have no trouble riding all those roads on the wing alone with the wife.    I like small groups when I do ride in groups. 

Sylva! When?

We signed the house build papers on the 18th when in Franklin so the house should be finished sometime in February we will use it for vacations until I retire, say two years.   
 

If you need someone to run by the house in an emergency I'll try to help.

[_Sheffjs_]

Thanks and I would love to have more back up.   Friends in Cahsiers, Fines Creek, Nantahala and now this.  I’m in good hands.  South of 74 on 23 to Sutton Branch to Duchess dr.  (Not found on Google) easy run from 23. 

[Tundra]

My brother in-law is a die hard HD guy but he will ride with me as long as I follow him.  He calls my Phatt girl a Valarie just to try and get a rise out of me.  It's his older sisters name and she's a big girl.

You could tell him his Shirley Davidson is cute? Ask him where he got all the cool riding gear? A Shirley Davidson boutique?

[..]

The same individual as mentioned in the first post was taking last night about the new bike he's getting.

A couple of years old and $32,000. Also added he will need to spend $4 / 5,000 to get it to about 105hp.

I didn't tell him my 2014 Valkyrie is already 118h.p. from the factory.

[hubcapsc]

I was on my black Harley at a poker run with 100 other black Harleys
in Charleston SC. We had trailered there since it was so far away. It
was a giant revelation when Frank Smoak rolled up on his giant red
motorcycle with a chrome car engine!

-Mike

[..]

I was on my black Harley at a poker run with 100 other black Harleys
in Charleston SC. We had trailered there since it was so far away. It
was a giant revelation when Frank Smoak rolled up on his giant red
motorcycle with a chrome car engine!

-Mike

 

[old2soon]

The same individual as mentioned in the first post was taking last night about the new bike he's getting.

A couple of years old and $32,000. Also added he will need to spend $4 / 5,000 to get it to about 105hp.

I didn't tell him my 2014 Valkyrie is already 118h.p. from the factory.

        Let him spend the 4  5K and then SHOW him What FROM the FACTORY REALLY MEANS!  I've run up on V-twinkys that have SPENT the Money to git better H/P! They THOUGHT!  I Was NOT above showin em the Error of their ways specially if they were overloaded with tude! RIDE SAFE.

[Crackerborn]

So my last extended ride was over Labor Day with a past riding bud and 3 of his new riding crowd. It was a last minute decision to go and it was up river road to Superior and points west from there. The introduction was an indication of the next few days as the three I didn't know were all over the "Jap" bike until be I asked where the made in USA stamp was on their bikes, after all it is stamped on the block of both of my large ladies. After informing me they wouldn't be stopping if I had mechanical issues on my old POS, off they go. My old friend asked if I wanted to reconsider and I told him payback is a bitch and I doubted I would hang with them long. Saturday night in Superior I was sipping Basil Hayden at the inn when they pulled in. Jeff and I went our own way Sunday. Monday morning the 3 stooges were tinkering with one newer Twinkies saying it was running a bit rough. Insert comment here. We all started back south together until first gas stop where the fine 3 decided by start imbibing. Jeff and I just looked at each other and waved bye. We did just under 1200 miles in three days. Jeff and I were both at work on Tuesday but apparently the 3 stooges were so busted up they had to miss 2 more days. I also found out later that they never left the inn on Sunday preferring to play cards and drink over taking some wonderful back roads in northern MN.

No club rides for me.

[hubcapsc]

No club rides for me.

You just need to find the right "club"... 



-Mike

[..]

No club rides for me.

You just need to find the right "club"... 



-Mike