Pup
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2014
- Messages
- 123
O.K., perfect riding day here in S.E. Iowa USA yesterday, a benefit ride was scheduled for a 30 year young chap with a
brain tumor. His father has ridden for sometime, but I only met him once several years ago. Three of my friends had
stopped by Friday late afternoon that turned into late in the evening. They were trying to convince me to join up on
the ride as the route the group was taking would be coming down the main road heading south round noon time. I am
not keen riding in a huge herd of people that I don't know, I.e., (their experience) I'm primarily a solo rider 99% of
the time. And these days, it's enough of challenge to go for a ride and not encounter some idiot cage driver not
paying attention, distracted by their phones. I decided I would join up til the first stop at least to visit
with my mates, and avoid them trashing me the next time I saw them for not showing up. I got on the Commando
and awaited the coming thunder at the corner. Quite a showing, a good 125 or more, the guys I knew were up front as the one had helped coordinate the ride. Pulled out and caught up quickly.
Our first stop was a 25 mile ride. By the time we got the bikes parked quite a few were in the bar, and it had to be
packed inside, I never did see my pals, as I didn't go into the sea of people. I opted for a different pub, and went
in and got a soda, came back outside and hung with the Norton. There were still plenty of people just milling about.
Most of them in very clean, new looking shiny leather, and newer Harley-Davidsons. I noted a few BMW's and a smattering
of Japanese branded sport bikes. That was about it for taking the census of brands. Not one person stopped to b.s. with
me. There was one guy standing in my vicinity, and appeared to be in his mid-20's. I certainly wasn't there to wow people
with my bike, or expected it, but I thought just maybe there were people that would at least discuss it, being it was
obviously the oldest (oddest ?) thing on two wheels there. NOPE. So I turned to the young man and announced I was
totally in the minority. He responded by saying "how's that SIR ?" I said, I'm the only one on a British bike, and most
certainly the only one with a kick-start ! He said, You are probably right, SIR. I told him furthermore, if I had decided
to ride my '74 Super glide, (bought in March, 1980) I would have been the only one a shovelhead there ! (I'm not convinced
that he even knew what that was...) I decided I had had enough, kicked it once, and out of there. The bike had run flawlessly running 70, while in the pack,
it almost felt like I could have really given it the "onion" and passed the whole group. No one asked what it was, how old
it was, nothing. Now I can see how the attitudes come about concerning "Harley riders". Back in the day guys I rode
with, on shovels and panheads, Triumphs and BSA's, and some Japanese brands were not 'snobs', they just liked all
bikes, as long as Your knees were in the breeze. Now, it's all about the newest, shiniest (chrome won't get You home),
and the general attitude seemed to be if not on an H-D, You ain't S*%#. Kind of eye-opening, they don't have a clue
of what riding was like 30 or 40 years ago. Or seem to care. Plus, I'm guessing the majority of them are screwed if
Don't get me wrong, new bikes have their place for sure, and I guess I can understand those that can afford to have
a newer bike to just jump on and go. The purist in me cannot, however. Worn, non-shiny leathers and all......
dinosaur....
brain tumor. His father has ridden for sometime, but I only met him once several years ago. Three of my friends had
stopped by Friday late afternoon that turned into late in the evening. They were trying to convince me to join up on
the ride as the route the group was taking would be coming down the main road heading south round noon time. I am
not keen riding in a huge herd of people that I don't know, I.e., (their experience) I'm primarily a solo rider 99% of
the time. And these days, it's enough of challenge to go for a ride and not encounter some idiot cage driver not
paying attention, distracted by their phones. I decided I would join up til the first stop at least to visit
with my mates, and avoid them trashing me the next time I saw them for not showing up. I got on the Commando
and awaited the coming thunder at the corner. Quite a showing, a good 125 or more, the guys I knew were up front as the one had helped coordinate the ride. Pulled out and caught up quickly.
Our first stop was a 25 mile ride. By the time we got the bikes parked quite a few were in the bar, and it had to be
packed inside, I never did see my pals, as I didn't go into the sea of people. I opted for a different pub, and went
in and got a soda, came back outside and hung with the Norton. There were still plenty of people just milling about.
Most of them in very clean, new looking shiny leather, and newer Harley-Davidsons. I noted a few BMW's and a smattering
of Japanese branded sport bikes. That was about it for taking the census of brands. Not one person stopped to b.s. with
me. There was one guy standing in my vicinity, and appeared to be in his mid-20's. I certainly wasn't there to wow people
with my bike, or expected it, but I thought just maybe there were people that would at least discuss it, being it was
obviously the oldest (oddest ?) thing on two wheels there. NOPE. So I turned to the young man and announced I was
totally in the minority. He responded by saying "how's that SIR ?" I said, I'm the only one on a British bike, and most
certainly the only one with a kick-start ! He said, You are probably right, SIR. I told him furthermore, if I had decided
to ride my '74 Super glide, (bought in March, 1980) I would have been the only one a shovelhead there ! (I'm not convinced
that he even knew what that was...) I decided I had had enough, kicked it once, and out of there. The bike had run flawlessly running 70, while in the pack,
it almost felt like I could have really given it the "onion" and passed the whole group. No one asked what it was, how old
it was, nothing. Now I can see how the attitudes come about concerning "Harley riders". Back in the day guys I rode
with, on shovels and panheads, Triumphs and BSA's, and some Japanese brands were not 'snobs', they just liked all
bikes, as long as Your knees were in the breeze. Now, it's all about the newest, shiniest (chrome won't get You home),
and the general attitude seemed to be if not on an H-D, You ain't S*%#. Kind of eye-opening, they don't have a clue
of what riding was like 30 or 40 years ago. Or seem to care. Plus, I'm guessing the majority of them are screwed if
they have an issue and have to take them to a dealer to get "plugged in" for a diagnosis...all of my bikes among
several in the stable, manufactured from 3 different companies, are kick-start equipped, along with points and a condenser.Don't get me wrong, new bikes have their place for sure, and I guess I can understand those that can afford to have
a newer bike to just jump on and go. The purist in me cannot, however. Worn, non-shiny leathers and all......
dinosaur....
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