Education to HD Rider: Dragons are not to be toiled with...

[ZekeValk]

And not a good target to try to impress your female passenger. 

I was on the last 15 miles of my ride today (about 200 miles total) and I happen to ride up behind this young man on his HD (Dyna series of some sort I think) and a passenger (female/also young).  I calmly ride up behind him and take 2nd position off his right shoulder, two seconds back.  Non-threatening, just enjoying the breeze.

I know the moment he noticed me, there was a little twitch followed by his passenger glancing over her shoulder.  She tucked in, he took position in the far left part of the lane so he could see around the car in front of us.  There was the car coming in the opposite direction and then a clearing afterwards...I knew it was going to be on.  I cover the clutch in preparation and decide in advance that dropping one gear will be enough to handle this nonsense. 

The oncoming car passes and he starts to go.  I think he missed a shift because I was behind him like a flea on a stray dog and there was a pause.  He finally finds his gear and goes...past the car that we were behind...still accelerating.  He drops back into the lane going in our direction.  I see a car coming at me up ahead, but there's time.  A little more twist and I'm beside him...I back off for a split second so he can take a look and maybe not make the same mistake again...then I was gone.

Hopefully, he took a good mental image of what a Valkyrie looks like from his rear mirror so the next one he meets he can just wave on by.   I know he has a good visual of what one looks like from the back now. 

I'm pretty sure some HD salesman will be getting a call next week from this young man wanting a bigger bike.  Maybe he'll describe the bike that passed him and the salesman will be honest and tell him "son, we don't make one big enough."  (Yea, I know there's fast Harley's with Stage 2 and all that...let me have my moment).

Was a fun ending to a fun day on the Valkyrie.

[Black Dog]

I love the smell of 'Smoked Pork' 

Good job 

Black Dog

[Jess from VA]

When I ride with a group, we keep a decent staggered interval.

When I ride alone, I will often pace other (unknown) bikes (singles or groups), but never as close as in a group ride, and more than 2 seconds back.  You never join a group, without being invited.

Getting in close with a rookie or only a moderately skilled rider (esp with his girl on board), can often cause him to try and outdo his own skill level, maybe with bad results.

Not saying I don't pass folks from time to time, but I do it from farther back.  Which is easy on the Valk.

And I mean no offense here, it's just how I do it.

Heck, I smoked a VRod today.  Most of the time, it's really not the bike, it's the rider who outperforms the other guy.  Course you have to ride more than a 150 Dream to play.  

[ZekeValk]

I got as close to him as I would have a car.  He was just another vehicle to me and I went staggered just to not be in his wheels.  We were about a mile and a half from my turn...a veer off to the right so I was fine being where I was if he hadn't got all froggy. 

They were both in full face helmets.  I call them young because they were both pretty skinny and I guess by the way they were dressed.  The girl was pretty firm looking, but for all I know the guy could've been her skinny daddy.

I take your point, but honestly, I wasn't looking to provoke anything.  Hell, part of me getting close was 1) to check the passenger out and 2) to see if it was anyone I know (bike identification).

[old2soon]

Couple years back three lights from the red with an h/d. When we caught the 4th light he looked over and said loud enough so I could hear over his pipes-Never have beaten one of those cursed things!   And as the light changed I said-you still haven't. I KNOW It's Wrong and I shouldn't do it BUT harly huntin Is FUN dagnabit!   Glad you showed him How it's done and happy him and the gal stayed on the machine. Fairly certain lessen I end up needin a trike I've got my Last ever M/C.   Again-good job-you WILL relive it a lot in yer head!   RIDE SAFE.

[Jess from VA]

I got as close to him as I would have a car.  He was just another vehicle to me and I went staggered just to not be in his wheels.  We were about a mile and a half from my turn...a veer off to the right so I was fine being where I was if he hadn't got all froggy.  

They were both in full face helmets.  I call them young because they were both pretty skinny and I guess by the way they were dressed.  The girl was pretty firm looking, but for all I know the guy could've been her skinny daddy.

I take your point, but honestly, I wasn't looking to provoke anything.  Hell, part of me getting close was 1) to check the passenger out and 2) to see if it was anyone I know (bike identification).

As I said Zeke, I meant no offense or hard criticism.  Maybe it's just the image I took from your story.

I live in a busy urban area, with a lot of money, and with a lot of weekend warrior Harley owners (many with riding wives) (I'm talking many thousands of them).  They have beautiful minty bikes, that maybe get 800 miles a hear.  And many have the total coverage HOG riding gear going on (not the pirate suit, but good new leather gear head to toe).  I bear these guys no ill will at all (unless I get some sass about riding a rice burner, which is rare).  They are out riding and having fun and mostly are not exhibiting stupid attitude and not looking to race.  But they are all novices or only moderate skilled riders.  Relatively safe and harmless if they don't do something stupid.  But with some of them, if you roll in close, they'll take off in a wild cannot-be-passed mode, weaving all around (esp if they're good enough to see it's not a Hog behind them).  And drawing large attention with loud pipes (which can make a cop think you are BOTH drag racing).  Sort of like a dog scaring up a rabbit.

So I mostly give them all wide berth, and never crowd them (until a clear way past presents itself with no surprise to them).   It's better for them, and better for me.

That's what came to my mind from your post.

[F-six]

I wonder who tried to impress the female passenger in this story...

[ZekeValk]

I wonder who tried to impress the female passenger in this story...

1) If the HD rider reacted the same, my story would be the same without the woman...from where I placed myself in the lane to the whole display of horsepower that followed so go back to your troll-hole.

2) I'm holding up good for my age (46), but I know the only thing a 20 something wants from me is below the waist...that's where I keep my wallet.  She can get the other thing below my waist from people her age even if they still have some things to learn.

3) Yea, I looked at her, but I like my women with a little more meat on their bones.

[JimmyG]

I always smile at these posts. I loved my Hardleys, but honestly, they cannot compare to the power of our old phat girls.  I agree with Jess about just enjoying the ride and all, but I have to confess, I kinda get a kick out of the Shake and Break pirates waiting for the right moment, shift down two gears and rattling pipes deafening you, jump out ahead and puff up as they ride off in victory....... Then a little voice in me says, "let em get down the road a mile or so, ease into the left lane and just go catch up with them". You can always hear them as soon as they see you coming up behind them a couple hundred yards behind.  As in last weekend, I was pulling my trailer, and when you blast past them and they cannot do a thing about it, it just makes me chuckle.  I know, childish, but heck, it is funny. Just be safe is all. Heck, while out west a couple years ago while on my brother and my,:great adventure", I did the same thing to a dude and his girlie. They actually laughed as they went by.  Couple miles later, I pulled the same stunt and I swear, he went into full race mode as I blasted past him and about another mile down the road, I slowed down. They pulled up, shook their heads and the guy says,"pull over up ahead, I wanna buy you a drink and look at the bike. I politely declined, said I was on a trip and had to keep making miles.   I learned how to do this stuff from Crazyhorse, he has this little grin he gets when he leaves them in the dust. 

[cookiedough]

I do not get why passing a HD is such a big deal.  I do it all the time on my 250cc scooter...

[Moonshot_1]

I do not get why passing a HD is such a big deal.  I do it all the time on my 250cc scooter...

I believe the big deal is that everytime you pass a Harley you are supposed to get a shirt or some kind of Harley riding apparel.  Kind of like when a bell rings an angel get his wings? Kinda like that only "pass a Harley get a shirt" That is why you see so much Harley apparel around. Haven't got any of mine yet but should be here soon.

[fudgie]

Awesome. 

[ridingron]

  I do not get why passing a HD is such a big deal.  I do it all the time on my 250cc scooter... 2funny 

Several years ago, I was with a group of friends on our way  to Daytona (Bike Week). We were cruising on I-4 at about 60 passing group after group of Harley's. Not racing just cruising along faster than they were. I noticed a friend honking his horn and waving to every Harley we passed. The thing that made it funny is he was riding a scooter. A couple of the women were hitting their boy friend/husband on the back, pointing and laughing.

[PhoenixRizing]

A couple months ago there was a bike show at one of the hotels here and I was just out riding, when two Harley's got beside me both had nice Harley's. They both sneered and me and kinda put their noses in the air, like they were better than me. Light turned green and I started off normal, these two gunned it so me being me I wasn't bout to let that happen so I caught them in third gear and waved as I passed. At the next light neither looked my way, and their noses weren't pointed up anymore. Their girls were smiling though.

[da prez]

  Pappy said "a woman is as old as she looks , a man isn't old until he quits looking."
  I have done my share of harassment , and being harassed. When I grow up , Maybe I will change (not).

                                                  da prez

[cookiedough]

  I do not get why passing a HD is such a big deal.  I do it all the time on my 250cc scooter... 2funny 

Several years ago, I was with a group of friends on our way  to Daytona (Bike Week). We were cruising on I-4 at about 60 passing group after group of Harley's. Not racing just cruising along faster than they were. I noticed a friend honking his horn and waving to every Harley we passed. The thing that made it funny is he was riding a scooter. A couple of the women were hitting their boy friend/husband on the back, pointing and laughing.

Hey, most scooters are NOT to be MESSED with.  I think nothing of passing harleys with my Valk, but is more special on my 250cc scoot me beeping the horn as I pass them waiving my hand doing 70 mph.  One of these days I will get in trouble for top speed of 78 mph might get me into trouble if one harley rider decides to go faster than 80 with me passing them. 

[Danny McMillin]

This whole thread is funny as hell! Kept me entertained for a few minutes! Thanks....

[cookiedough]

This whole thread is funny as hell! Kept me entertained for a few minutes! Thanks....

hey now,  nothing to laugh at a middle age fat man of 285lbs. on a 250cc scoot blowing by a lineup of harleys....  nothing funny there right??????????

On that one long trip doing 65 mph consistently on a faster 2 lanes in each direction roadtrip I got several WHAT THE F is that thing able to keep up doing 65 mph with me on it.  People kept passing me in fast left lane doing 70 mph in a 55 mph speed zone just kept staring at my scoot guessing they thought I had a SUPER TUNE in that beast.  

I really want to race my neighbors HD ultra classic before he sells it this summer just to see what would happen, off the line up to say 40 mph at least???  Just think what I could do with a suzuki burgmann 650 or even a honda silverwing 600cc scoot to that ultra classic of his bragging it up like it was the ONE and ONLY ultra classic 88 cu. inch engine in the world.  

Update:  just yesterday riding 250cc scoot,  an old guy on what appeared to be an older 80/90's ultra classic HD was putzing in town followed him VERY slowly in town to where it went into the country.  He even was nice enough to slow down pulling over slightly on a country road and waived me on buy to pass him.  You meet the nicest guys on a Harley?   
On way home same road,  I tried catching a newer goldwing with wife/passenger on board and could ONLY maintain being about 200 yards behind him some 12 miles or so.  I was doing 70 mph and figured he was in front so hopefully he would get a ticket before me.  Never did catch him coming back into my hometown but on the rural country twisty roads,  I would gain/catch up a tad riding into the corners faster than he was riding 2-up. 

[RainMaker]

We really should quit twisting the tails of our HD brothers.  After all, it takes guts to ride an underpowered 100 year old design on the highway. 

[maelstrom]

You know there has to be rebutal posts in defence of Hardleys - so let me add one here - be patient - hear me out. = I have two Valks, a standard and an I/S, and I love my Valks. My buddy has a '99 I/S and prides himself on showing up Hardleys and others. AS luck would have it, a friend on a Hardley called him out and proceded 
to place a whopping on him that he can't forget. Yep, the Hardley beet the Valk & we couldn't believe it. Then ------- we found out the Hardley guy had a friend that builds engines for Nascar rebuild his engine - don't know what all he did to it, but $15000 in engine work allowed him to beat a stock $8000 Honda. Was it worth it? no to me, but shows what you can do with money, right ??
  Ride safe --  Rick !!

[Valker]

Harley made a non-street legal bike a few years back that was a 9-10 second 1/4 mile bike. It was factory done and wicked fast.

[98valk]

Harley made a non-street legal bike a few years back that was a 9-10 second 1/4 mile bike. It was factory done and wicked fast.

same great Porsche designed engine. HD can only build modified compressor engines.

VRXSE: V-Rod "Destroyer"
In 2006 Harley-Davidson Introduced a non-street legal eight-second drag bike nicknamed "the Destroyer". It came with the same engines as others in its family, with the exception of a long stroke flywheel, larger valves, dyno tuned velocity stacks, large bore high compression forged pistons, high lift cams, multi stage lock-up clutch, programmable shift light, pneumatic shifter, larger throttle bodies, and more race equipment. A total of 646 vehicles were produced with 625 released to dealer showrooms. The Destroyer was inspiration for a four-time world champion in NHRA Pro Stock motorcycle drag racing the Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines V-Rod. This Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines V-Rod ran 6.815 seconds and went nearly 200 mph in the quarter-mile.

[hubcapsc]

 * same great Porsche designed engine. HD can only build modified compressor engines.

HD could build anything they want, they have engineers and money and motorcycle factories.

-Mike

[rocketray]

I run an open Interstate exhaust that puts the Viking header blasting/ripping  music past my color matched GIVI trunk on  a blue/white striped Standard that sings to 7300 RPM w/Dyna 3000 set to curve #4..they compliment me on the "nice bike"  as they walk by--it has some chrome and screened velocity stacks..and they drop their jaws and spill their drinks with an opening 1/2 throttle roar..in 1st a few 5-10 feet rubber burn offs in the parking lot and school is over.....