I hurt a harley rider's feelings yesterday

[stude31]

Long story short (I hope)

My wife works with a lady and her husband rides a Harley.  She always tells my wife that we need to go riding together.  I informed my newly acclimated motorcycling wife that I don't ride with just anyone.  I like to know the people prior cause riding in groups can get you hurt.  Well, we decided to stop over at their house last saturday for a couple hours. 

He was installing a fairing that he had just painted and it was aftermarket and he had just had a stereo (alpine) installed with four speakers in the fairing.  It looked sharp.  But when he went to put the outer shell on it wouldn't close due to the stereo being too far out and was an inch too long.  I told him that his bike looked great and was really nice.  (as most harleys do when they are not running!!! lmao).   Of course he has a chevy pick up w/ a harley tag on the front and was wearing a HD pullover ( I had met this guy one other time and of course he was sporting a HD shirt).   We then got to talking at he was informing me that it was the 100 anniversary edition but he took off the tank and bags and bought others but still has them????  why?? is what I thought but I guess for pricing to sell later it's good to keep it oem when selling it. 

Anyhow, we go over to his uncle's shop down the street and they were painting a car and had the fenders off an older camaro off and i had noticed a bead of weld on the back side of the fender.  I asked him did you "scab" another fender onto the original?  You would have thought that I had just insulted his first born!!!  He was very irritated, okay honest mistake but that is what I call it and so it is what it is... Later his uncle's house had asked me where I get my tires and I told him I order them online and go down to walmart to have them mounted and balanced... He got offended for me to buy them online and then to take them to walmart cause he has a shop.  I told him that I had priced them at his place and couldn't come close... He (another hd rider) got belligerent and was making all these comments later.

My wife comes home from lunch today and said, "well your husband sure did a good job at making friends"...  She then informed me that the wife of this Harley rider said that our marriage wasn't going to last a year and that if I had any intelligence I would have bought a Harley!!!!  And on and on... At first I wanted to go knock both of these guys teeth in but then I looked at my wife and told her... Hey if I was materialistic I would have owned a harley and would act like an idiot but instead I own a honda valkyrie I/S and all that he is spending to put on his bike mine came with it!!!       

I knew that this had bothered my wife but I also know that these folks really aren't good friends and it's okay!!!  I like my vrcc friends much much better!!!!

anyhow... Just needed to vent my frustration with people belittling others... Me being still "young" part wants to beat the living $h!t out of them but it isn't going to make any room for them to wise up so I'll just let it ride....

Anyone else have ran into any of these people??? or is it just my lucky weekend????   

Stude31

[JimL]

Unless this guy is a "big 'ol boy", my money would be on you prevailing in the "ass whooping"; however you did the right think and let it go.  Best to let him wallow alone in his ignorance!

[Jabba]

They ain't ALL that way... but some are.

I had a guy in a Toyota truck tell me I should have bought a HD.  I just said... "Dude... do you see what you're driving?" 

"It was built in Evansville!!!"

"Yeah... and mine was built in Marysville OHIO!"

My other response is simply... "I'll bet you $1000 I am riding mine longer than you're riding yours".   That'll usually shut them up too.

You never know where you're gonna find a new friend though... so don't just assume they are dicks JUST because they ride HD.

Jabba

[stude31]

They ain't ALL that way... but some are.

I had a guy in a Toyota truck tell me I should have bought a HD.  I just said... "Dude... do you see what you're driving?" 

"It was built in Evansville!!!"

"Yeah... and mine was built in Marysville OHIO!"

My other response is simply... "I'll bet you $1000 I am riding mine longer than you're riding yours".   That'll usually shut them up too.

You never know where you're gonna find a new friend though... so don't just assume they are dicks JUST because they ride HD.

Jabba

good point Jabba, and thanks Jim for your post as well.... 

[czuch]

Saturday I rolled 65k on the 97 Tourer.
Air filters,oil filters,tires. One valve adjust,all ok, one carb sync,1 slightly out, 1 battery.
 In 4 years of stewardship. I've had Harleys and many others.
None of em could hold a candle to the Valk.
I guess its a good thing he has a shop. Thats what I called it when I had my pan. And a back brace.
Its never worth hittin anybody. Someday they'll need a ride to get a part. You can help and let them eat crow, or wave and continue enjoying your ride.

[ArmyValker]

Don't worry about it. I come from a long line of "Mopar" guys and "HD" only bikers.. I own a F-150 and and 3 Honda's and I'm pretty much shunned for it. Some of my cousins get physically upset when they find out I don't drive a Dodge.

Can't figure out what the big frickin deal is... just a truck. Just a motorcycle. I got more important things to worry about.

[kiwi#9582]

HD riders are a different breed.  I ride with several in a club.... they are not all the same.  These guys even joke about themselves.

Remember......  80 % os all the Harleys are still on the road..........................

( the other 20% made it home.........  )   

[Chrisj CMA]

I had a HD rider at Daytona comment how nice the Valk looked since it was a '97....When he saw the miles on the odometer (7K at that time) he goes "oooooooh, thats why it looks so good, my harley is like that too ten+ years old and mostly sits under the cover staying clean"  

He bout crapped when I told him there was 100,000 miles that doesnt show because the odometer rolls over to all zeros.....I said "I ride it"......I think he was emabarrased.  And unfortunately because I wasnt trying to pi$$ him off.....that kinda ended the converstion

[Hoser]

Now now Stude, no need to get physical, just see if wants to race, then he'll feel bad.  If he won't do it, then kick his a$$!   
hoser

[Quicksilver]

I can't see what all the fuss is about the Harleys, I find them simply too small a bike and very noisey as well as uncomfortable trying to see with all the vibrating. Why would anyone choose a Harley over a Valkyrie if they really are interested in a quality ride?

[Mikey]

Yeah, my buddy's Wide Glide feels like a kids bike... I let him ride my Valk once, and all he had to say was "Wow, That's a big bike!"

[Black Pearl's Captain]

Take him for a little ride. Try KS-4 to KS-99 to I-70 and back to his favorite bar. Loser buys the beers. When he gets it running of course.

Raymond

[PharmBoy]

Keep your cool, Joe!  There are a few good ones out there.  I met one on the road last summer. I was coming home and he just wanted to see the mountains in the refuge just west of my house.  We exchanged pleasantries at a couple of stop lights and at the third one I asked him if he'd like to stop by the house for a beer.  Needless to say, he never made it to the mountains and I have always hoped that he made it home. He was a good guy and rode a sharp looking stripped down Harley of some kind with a custom paint job and was just out for a ride by himself on a beautiful afternoon...JTL

[Big Rig]

HD is all about  image....

I am the only metric rider in my club, and we all bust ballz....it is what keeps it fun...and to honest I do most of the busting...I think if they rode a valk and could handle it, they would all be riding valks...

I did tell them Sunday that harleys are 4 cylinders light...

JMHO...

[Jabba]

Why would I pay twice as much for something that performs half as well, and is half as reliable, and half as comfortable, and shakes like dag crapping a peach pit?

Jabba

[DIGGER]

i've got the pic but can't figure out how to post it.......someone needs to send this Harley fan the pic of the Harley 18 wheeler on the side of the road with the hood up......the caption says
"A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS".......

[Tx Bohemian]

"Yeah... and mine was built in Marysville OHIO!"

Ok, being somewhat new to the Valks someone explain. 

As I was looking at my bike how to jackup the rear wheel I was examining closely around the kickstand/frame area and saw "Made in America" casted into the rear of the engine block.

Are these things manufactured and assembled in the US?

[JimL]

"Yeah... and mine was built in Marysville OHIO!"

Ok, being somewhat new to the Valks someone explain.  

As I was looking at my bike how to jackup the rear wheel I was examining closely around the kickstand/frame area and saw "Made in America" casted into the rear of the engine block.

Are these things manufactured and assembled in the US?

Jabba pretty much summed it up when he said "was built in Marysville".  They quit production in 2003 (The year I decided I had to have one).

[Disco]

In March '08, about 6 months after I got my '00 standard with 3,507 miles on it for just over $8K, my oldest friend bought a beautiful new Street Glide, 2 helmets (they never wear), 2 jackets, and a big fat warranty.  $28,000.00!  His goes to the shop several times a year.  Mine's never been.  He hates this poster, but knows it's true.

[Disco]

Bottom line is he got what he wanted and I got what I wanted (and saved $20,000).  He's a former (and future) metric guy riding his first HD.  It's his SO with the attitude...

[Hoser]

Take him for a little ride. Try KS-4 to KS-99 to I-70 and back to his favorite bar. Loser buys the beers. When he gets it running of course.

Raymond

I'm gonna take that ride today, when I get to Alma I'll take the flint hills scenic drive west, it ends up at Alta Vista.  I'll catch k-4 west from Auburn Rd, six miles north of my house.  Have'nt been on it this year yet.    Hoser

[SlowRoad]

   When I was having some fuel vaporlock issues a couple summers ago, the Valk quit on the side of the road at a cross roads. There were about 3 or 4 Goldwings that just looked at me and kept going. A Harley rider in his cage stopped and offered to help. Took me to the store to get gas and see if that helped to get her running. When I got back, another Harley was sitting there with my wife and the bike to make sure she was ok and we got the bike going.  So there are a lot of good ones out there. 

    My father-in-law rides an Ultra Classic and a Softtail Classic.  We ride together fairly often, and he is always amazed at the power of the Valk to pull thru hills and mountains without constantly shifting up and down.

Tim

[fiddle mike]

It just happens these guys are into H-D, it could be any status possession. They let their things define who they are.

One of my favorite Harley guys will ride 200 miles (one way) to get breakfast (I've had breakfast with him).  He  owns both a classic and a fairly new Road King, knows more about Harleys in two minutes than your neighbor will ever know,  but can't figure out why people call him a biker.  "I'm just a guy who has a motorcycle".

Keep your cool. My old guru told me, "The result of anger is worse than the cause".

[PIBIT #34]

Interesting reading...I must say that nothing can top my 97 black and chrome supercharged Beast with close to 180,000 miles and that's why I will have it forever. But, I like my screaming eagle Ultra Classic as well...the 110 motor makes a big difference for those of us used to the Valk's power. Never thought I would own a Harley...and I still enjoy turning them in to "mirror specks" when out on the Valk, but i have no regrets having bought the Harley either.
PIBIT #34 

[MP]

TxBohemain:

Yes, the Valkyrie is a US motorcycle.  It was built in Marysville, Ohio, with MORE US parts than Harleys are!  Really pi***s them off when you tell them that.  The 97 and 98 models have Made in USA on them.  HD got the US govt to change the law, so after that they could not say that.  Even though they have more US parts than HD!  HD was NOT able to say Made in USA those same years.

MP

[9Ball]

TxBohemain:

Yes, the Valkyrie is a US motorcycle.  It was built in Marysville, Ohio, with MORE US parts than Harleys are!  Really pi***s them off when you tell them that.  The 97 and 98 models have Made in USA on them.  HD got the US govt to change the law, so after that they could not say that.  Even though they have more US parts than HD!  HD was NOT able to say Made in USA those same years.

MP

The 99s also have Made in USA....at least mine does.   I've pointed it out often and asked the detractors to show me where it says so on their bikes..

[czuch]

My friend has a sportster and has "Hecho en USA" on his.
THAT kills em.

[boss hoss bill]

It's funny how people get so hung up on their brand of motorcycle. As the saying goes, at least to my way of thinking, "It's not WHAT you ride, but THAT you ride" is what's important.
I have owned a Harley FXR for the last 15 years, 75hp 85 ft lbs. of torque. Fairly light at just under 600 lbs. Physically, a beautiful bike and fairly trouble free. Fairly quick (for a Harley.)

My die hard friend has a 103 CI Screaming Eagle and I just blow his wheels off on my Valk, he whines that my bike revs higher, etc, etc. I tell him that if you don't know how to ride your bike to its fullest,or you want to try something that has some guts, you can always try my Valk! I can just see his jaws get tighter!
Many different types of bikes out there, but for a cruiser, it's hard to beat Mr Valk.

 I'm fortunate to  also own a 09 VMAx, you want to talk fast, it's a rocket. Got small bags and a windshield on it, to make it a mini bagger. But, for all around, if I had to say my favorite, it's the Valk.
Smooth, comfy, fast, a great cruiser, and looks great with that big chrome engine. Bought it new in 2003 and has never given me one problem!
Bill

[Skeeter (Va)]

Like other posts in this thread, I was headed to the BRP on my Valk last fall  when my Gold Wing buddy made a wrong turn near Petersburg, Va. headed west. I talked to him on the CB and pulled over onto the sholder to wait for him. Two Harley riders stopped to make sure I was OK and didn't need help. I told them how sincerely I appreciated that. They mentioned the Valk was incredible looking and the engine hanging out the sides was intimidating...Nice folks for sure..

[Dogg]

my 01 valk had "made in America "on it. not made in the USA.