Modern Buddy

Yesterday I was riding behind a motorcyclist on Harley and when he reached the bottom of a steep hill he came to a complete stop (no stop sign, light or even a intersection) then he gave me the bird and rocketed up the hill. I think he was trying to annoy me thinking I couldn't make it up without a running start but I just kept my Stella in a lower gear and kept up with him.

Anyone else have any stories about rude motorcyclists?

Most of them are great, or just pretend I don't exist.

I did have a pack of sportbike kids blow by me on both sides (I was going a few mph over anyway I'm sure....) and cut it a tad close. I chose to let it be and not get too flustered.

Yeah don't think much of it.

It tends to be universal, I've seen Harley riders flick off sportbike riders, Kawi riders flick off Honda riders.
Back when I had my Mustang, people in Cameos flick me off. Lol lots of love.

Just remember to always ride how and what you want no matter what some poser thinks.

When you got to the top, you should have asked if he was having trouble finding first!

I've never had any specific bad motorcycle experiences on my scooter - the worst that's happened is that most motorcycles don't give me the wave. No big deal. But when I had a Honda Rebel motorcycle, a guy on a Harley pulled up next to me at a stoplight and said, "Why don't you get a real bike?". MMkkay. Last I checked, that thing I was sitting on was real.

skully93 wrote:Most of them are great, or just pretend I don't exist.

Lol xs 100

Yeah most motorcycles give me the nod or ask if I want to go riding with them.
I do keep my finger by my horn for when they give me the friendly blow

I don't anticipate any problems and have never had any. Maybe if the big, fat Harley's could lane split and filter like I can they'd be able to catch up with me to snicker or something. But they can't

Seems most are nice to me. If anyone ever flips me off at a light I'll just hop off my scoot and kick 'em at the next one

After they catch up with me

Ahhh...he was trying to prove what a 'bad ass' he is.

I mean, what's he gonna do? Go to the clubhouse and brag how he just 'gave the bird' to a wimp on a scooter?

Real bad asses don't have to prove anything - they're just bad ass.

I tend to get more waves and good vibes from sportbike riders. The Harley guys are too into the badass image they're trying so hard to portray. They're too cool to acknowledge or even look at a scooter. Funny thing is most of them are doctors/lawyers/dentists/exec's that THINK they're badass. They wouldn't know badass until it knocked them on their arse.

The TRUE badass Harley types seem to really be curious about the scooter (fortunately for me).

Poser idiots!

Yeah, I've had guys not wave when I'm the scooter. Just makes me smile. I'm sure the sportbike guys would wave if I was on my Ducati, or.etc. etc. I have a garage full of bikes and I choose to ride the scooter quite often. I just chalk them up a being poser idiots.

k1dude wrote:I tend to get more waves and good vibes from sportbike riders.

The TRUE badass Harley types seem to really be curious about the scooter (fortunately for me).

Wow, In Texas, I've yet to have a sport bike rider wave or return a wave, actually I just stopped waving to them about a year ago. But you are right on with the grizzled old/or real tough guy bikers - they usually want to know how did I get the Blackjack that loud

"Kind of" related, but also to lighten the mood in the thread--every time I read Kaos' story in this thread (about the 4th entry down), it just cracks me up!

The closest I ever came to anything like that really happened to my ex girlfriend more than it happened to me. We were out for a ride and I fell back a bit. By the time I caught back up at the next light a Bandido on a hog had pulled in between us. I am pretty sure he didn't know I was there. He pulled along side my ex and started stomping his foot and gunning his motor. I think he was flirting, but she swears he was trying to scare her.

The light turned green and he turned up the other road.

Kyle

Just have this run through your head after a bad encounter


*Edit. Well had a good picture with a broken link

Tam Tam wrote:Ahhh...he was trying to prove what a 'bad ass' he is.

I mean, what's he gonna do? Go to the clubhouse and brag how he just 'gave the bird' to a wimp on a scooter?

Real bad asses don't have to prove anything - they're just bad ass.

LOL yessss!

k1dude wrote:I tend to get more waves and good vibes from sportbike riders. The Harley guys are too into the badass image they're trying so hard to portray. They're too cool to acknowledge or even look at a scooter. Funny thing is most of them are doctors/lawyers/dentists/exec's that THINK they're badass. They wouldn't know badass until it knocked them on their arse.

The TRUE badass Harley types seem to really be curious about the scooter (fortunately for me).

This x1000. The true Harley guys that understand bikes will fall over each other to ask me questions when I'm on my Super. Most of them are flabbergasted at the concept of shifting with your left hand rather than your feet.

I don't get much of a response in general, but I see the opposite. Perhaps it's regional.

In Los Angeles, especially West LA and the Beverly Hills area, the "Harley guys" are friendlier than the people on sport bikes. Especially the people around here. Maybe it's an image thing?

Honestly, the only "people" to ever annoy me are some of the people in the UCLA Motorcycle Club. Some of those members are the only ones I've seen outright bag on scooters, on the facebook group at least.

Other than a few youngish hotheads, I've never really gotten a horrible response from actual riders. The vast majority of riders I've met, even in LA gasp!, seem to be friendly people who enjoy riding.

Perhaps the LA traffic brings us all together into a tighter knit riding community than in some of your cities We all suffer together!


The only people I've ever gotten the "don't you want a real bike" comment from is from people that don't ride. So I don't even pay attention to that.

While on a scooter ride (Ortega Highway CA) from Temecula to Dana Point and back, alot of sport bikes went by . I was riding my Bajaj (Chetak). They gave me such long looks that they almost crashed head on to vehicles going the other way. On the way back, Hells Kitchen (restraunt)was open and about 100 motorcycle were there. Most of the riders chose to keep their bandanas on (probably to hide their bald head). They looked like a zebra seeing a lion. Their heads popped up, they all stopped eating and just stared as I rode by.

True riders know who they are. They enjoy being on 2 wheels. Poser's are Poser's. They don't understand the enjoyment we get riding. If they don't wave or disrespect you, just forget'em. You know the fun we're having and they can't see the smile on your face through the helmet.

I keep running into more and more people who, like me, ride both scooters AND motorcycles. I hope that trend continues. Two wheels good!

Hardley riders being @holes???? no way.............

get over it man, I would be more concerned about the white trash yahoo in the on coming bro-dozer who thinks its a laugh to drift into your lane.

I was over it before I posted about it. I too have lots of friends who ride motorcycles. They are awesome!

I was just sharing an interesting experience while riding and seeing if anyone else had any similar experiences. My purpose was not to complain. Sorry if it came across that way.

Collette wrote: I do keep my finger by my horn for when they give me the friendly blow

That's a bit TOO friendly

I was calling some shops for labor rates to change over my scooter tires.
When I called some motorcycle shops that sell the big bikes some acted as if I was just bothering them to work on a scooter. Then I found a shop specializing in preowned harleys. A Ma & Pa shop older couple who does custom work on bikes etc. When they saw I was having 12" wide whites mounted on a scooter they gave me the best rate and the Ma probably late 60's said you just want to cruise by nice a slow looking cool. You can tell they appreciate the enjoyment of the ride and what ever the rider wants to ride.

Edwub wrote:I don't get much of a response in general, but I see the opposite. Perhaps it's regional.

In Los Angeles, especially West LA and the Beverly Hills area, the "Harley guys" are friendlier than the people on sport bikes. Especially the people around here. Maybe it's an image thing?

That seems to be my experience up here in Washington too, with one exception: the closer you get to a Harley dealership, the less Harley riders wave at you.

Doesn't really bother me...gives me a bit of a chuckle actually!

I haven't yet come across rude cyclists yet with the exception of a group of twenty somethings on crotch-rockets, and they were rude to everyone. Most of the motorcycle riders, including the ones on Harleys have been okay...gotten a lot of waves and nods. The worst ones in my neck of the woods are rednecks driving pickups.... Black colored pick ups seem to be the worst... Even worse Han red. The more rust, the bigger the jerk... And they are abundant in the south- side. Beyond rude... Those guys will cut you off in whatever lane you are in. I stay clear of them. Good ole boys are okay... Rednecks are bad.

Worse THAN red.

My buddy works at our local Harley dealership. He actually asked me to bring my Stella by when I bought it. I was like "no way! I'll get lynched!"
He told me, nah we see everything here. Its cool.
So I did and everyone that wrkes there was really happy to come check it out.

I had the same experience at one of our local motorcycle shops. I buy my helmets and such there, because they have brands I favor. They sell yamaha parts and have always been willing to special order parts for my yamaha scooter.

Young 30's neighbor has an Aprilla and now a Harley.
On the Aprilla he wears brightly colored leather suit and full faced helmet.
On the Harley he transforms into the no helmet A-Hole in a black leather jacket.

It always amazing how fashion drains sensibility.

And I just don't get the straight pipe deal when guys who are clearly driving recklessly make a point of drawing attention to themselves.

By the way, don't call a Harley guy a motorcyclist. That would be a biker, or more likely a wanna be biker.

I so miss the 60s and 70s when riding Harleys really meant something.

My experience with MC riders is that some are nice and some are jerks. Some wave some don't. Some are D-bags and some are cool dudes (or chicks). The break down seems to be about the same regardless of sport bike, cruiser or dual sport. Brand doesn't seem to matter, Harley, BMW, Yamaha, Honda, etc.... People are people no matter what, they choose their bike because that is what they like. I get the fewest waves and nods from other scooter riders. Go figure! Jerks will be jerks, nice people will be nice. Ride on!!

So far, every motorcyclist I've encountered has loved my BlackJack. From the mullet-headed guys with porn-staches at the shop where I got my inspection, to the random old motorcycle dudes I find checking out my ride where it is parked on the sidewalk.

They especially love it when I start her up, and they hear the prima pipe purr.

The only people I've encountered who act like asses to me on my scooter are pickup truck drivers. What is it about guys who drive pickups that make them tend to be douches?

No offense intended to any guys with pickups on here. I'm sure you guys are perfect gentlemen.

Ed, you are referring to pickup drivers who don't ride scooters too... Nobody here like that unless we have some self-loathing scooterists amongst us
Btw... What IS it with THOSE PU guys???

ed85379 wrote:So far, every motorcyclist I've encountered has loved my BlackJack. From the mullet-headed guys with porn-staches at the shop where I got my inspection, to the random old motorcycle dudes I find checking out my ride where it is parked on the sidewalk.

They especially love it when I start her up, and they hear the prima pipe purr.

The only people I've encountered who act like asses to me on my scooter are pickup truck drivers. What is it about guys who drive pickups that make them tend to be douches?

No offense intended to any guys with pickups on here. I'm sure you guys are perfect gentlemen.

Having a pick up here in Wisconsin makes sense. If you gotta haul a load of cow sh*t ya don't wanna put it in your Lexus SUV. Why does anyone in Boston need a pick up?

gr8dog wrote:

ed85379 wrote:So far, every motorcyclist I've encountered has loved my BlackJack. From the mullet-headed guys with porn-staches at the shop where I got my inspection, to the random old motorcycle dudes I find checking out my ride where it is parked on the sidewalk.

They especially love it when I start her up, and they hear the prima pipe purr.

The only people I've encountered who act like asses to me on my scooter are pickup truck drivers. What is it about guys who drive pickups that make them tend to be douches?

No offense intended to any guys with pickups on here. I'm sure you guys are perfect gentlemen.

Having a pick up here in Wisconsin makes sense. If you gotta haul a load of cow sh*t ya don't wanna put it in your Lexus SUV. Why does anyone in Boston need a pick up?

Because they want to feel like a "real man" but are too wimpy to ride a motorcycle?

ed85379 wrote:

gr8dog wrote:

ed85379 wrote:So far, every motorcyclist I've encountered has loved my BlackJack. From the mullet-headed guys with porn-staches at the shop where I got my inspection, to the random old motorcycle dudes I find checking out my ride where it is parked on the sidewalk.

They especially love it when I start her up, and they hear the prima pipe purr.

The only people I've encountered who act like asses to me on my scooter are pickup truck drivers. What is it about guys who drive pickups that make them tend to be douches?

No offense intended to any guys with pickups on here. I'm sure you guys are perfect gentlemen.

Having a pick up here in Wisconsin makes sense. If you gotta haul a load of cow sh*t ya don't wanna put it in your Lexus SUV. Why does anyone in Boston need a pick up?

Because they want to feel like a "real man" but are too wimpy to ride a motorcycle?

To quote the fabulous Joe Diffie, "There's just somethin' women like about-a pick-up man"
JUST KIDDING! (I believe that most of them are, ahem, compensating for something... and yes, are too chicken to ride a motorcycle, or their wives won't allow them to... ZING!)

I used to drive our family's brand spankin' new RAM1500, while I kept it nice and shiny the best I could, I did use it to haul hay from our farm to our horse barn at our house (there was a good 15 miles between them) a couple times a week. Otherwise we all had other vehicles to use for our daily needs.

I do see a ridiculous amount of pick up trucks around my area that are made to be useless as a pick up truck though. Either because they are jacked up so high that you wouldn't be able to get anything into the bed of it, or the opposite, they're lowered so far down, with big ridiculous wheels, that if you put anything in the bed it would be dragging all the way down the road.
Even the ones that aren't modded to hell rarely get used for their intended purpose.


Now on to my next point:

To all of you bagging on Harley riders, simply because they ride Harleys-- do remember there are some of us here too! ...that actually ride, and appreciate scooters!
....and you are behaving no better than others who hate on scooters just because they are scooters.
(and there are other cruisers out there that aren't Harleys, and are ridden by major d-bags.)

Anywho, in my experience, with both the Buddy AND the Sportster-- it's not "Harleys against the world", it's "some of the big old Harleys" against the world.
The only people that intentionally do not wave to me on either bike, are the guys that are on OLD big twins. The bikes are usually a little beat, modded, and loaded down with old leather, streamers, studs, the whole 9 yards.
That said, even the "Wild Hogs" guys around here that ride the big twins wear decent helmets-- it's how you can tell them apart from the a-holes. The big old Harley guys that you don't want to mess with/expect to be a-holes wear skull caps if they wear anything at all, and I live in a DOT-approved helmet law state.
BUT there are a lot of old guys (including the big twin enthusiasts) out here that wave to me on either bike-- the thought that I feel fits best is that two-wheel riders really need to stick together, no matter what we ride.
Some people get that, some don't. Shame on the ones that don't.

All of this said, I haven't had a single bad encounter with anyone.
Most people are super interested about my scoot because they've never seen anything like it before. I do get the "is it a Vespa?" every once in a while, but more often I get "oh, a scooter, so like a Vespa?" I think it's mostly because people don't acknowledge that Vespa is merely a brand, like band-aid, kleenex, q-tip, etc, and that there are indeed scooters out there that are not part of that particular brand.
I try to be the scooter ambassador that is most likely to tell anyone who asks about everything BUT a Vespa. Not because I don't like them, I do, but because there are indeed other great options out there that people just plain don't know about.

(I was actually proud of one of my hick friends last night, we stopped by the autoparts store where he works and told him about my scooter, since that's what we were buying stuff for-- he said "oh, so like a Vino?" )

A jerk is a jerk no matter what they are driving or tailgating you with.
I have a vintage car and there are many jerks in that world as well some tell you their car is a real car and what you are driving is not. Even if their
car is a rust bucket.
Perhaps there could be something like the Sturgis rally for scooters that HD has in the summer for them.

...like Amerivespa.

EDIT: A lot of scooter clubs do their own local rallies throughout the year, but the big one is Amerivespa. There's also the Cannonball going on right now, and a few others that I'm probably missing.

People are pretty friendly at least where I scoot around the Boulder area. I get waves from people riding all kinds of bikes.