So I took my wife out for her first real ride on Sunday, father's day. Earlier in the day I had stopped at the Harley shop on my MP3 to look at helmets. They were having a big father's day ride. It was crazy how many Harleys they had there.
So a couple of hours later we start out on our ride. I'm on my MP3 and she's on her Mandarine Buddy. We're cruising down the road, turn a corner and BAM! We're right next to all of the Harleys from the father's day ride. We're in the next lane so we pull up about mid-pack.
Now I'm expecting some serious razzing and laughing. But they all start pointing at my wife's Buddy and nodding in approval. One guy had his wife on the back and he was saying she could get one of those. They couldn't stop talking about it. And this is with my red MP3 sitting 12 inches from the Buddy. It's like I didn't exist! I'm supposed to be the one getting all of the attention
We ended up riding next to the pack for a couple of miles and I swear everybody was checking her out. One guy even had this full on custom ride (damn nice looking one too) and he wanted to talk to us about our scooters.
All in all it was a good daily affirmation for the Buddy.
As has been mentioned here before, "Harley guys" get a bad rap, and many are surprisingly supportive of all types of riders. I think the amount of derision that comes from another 2 wheel rider is directly proportionate to the level of their own self consciousness about how cool they are thanks to buying into whichever bike culture. Uh... Does that make sense?
Eric // LA Scooter Meetup Group // Stella 4T // Vespa LX // Vespa LXS // Honda Helix // some, uh, projects…
One funny thing that happened to me at a gas station. First I stopped to visit my dad at work and he asked me to deliver some cases of pork ribs to one of his friends. Then my sister asked me to take her employees a five gallon jug of water for their watercooler. And I picked up a packed from UPS. I finally had to stop at a gas station for gas with the Buddy loaded up with 90lbs of pork ribs, my UPS box with my Vespa parts in it and I got the water jug on the floor board between my legs. Three Harley guys walk over to me and I thought they were goin to make fun of me but instead they all say "that's cool". They were totally freaking out at how much crap I had loaded up on the little Buddy and I still managed to keep up with 55mph traffic. They thought they could carry alot of stuff on their Harley's but they were really surprised at how a scooter could be loaded up. I think scooterists are getting more respect than before here in the U.S.
I work at a "Biker Friendly" establishment (bar) on bike night , and everyone there was VERY excited for me to bring my new scooter up this week. I can't wait to take it up there Thursday night! One person did suggest that I put my picture on it while it's parked so no one trys to mess with it, but he was just picking at me They are all very respectful!
Harley riders get it. Those bikes don't come cheap and they certainly aren't bought on a whim. To invest so much in a bike (both money and time) is love. I think they just love seeing new riders join the fold.
I'm happy to see that my experience is not unique. It's tough out there. We don't need to be picking on other people just because they don't subscribe to your particular bike culture.
Although I do like to tease you all about your missing front wheel
I think its obvious but I'll try to explain. Ericalm wrote: "As has been mentioned here before, "Harley guys" get a bad rap, and many are surprisingly supportive of all types of riders. I think the amount of derision that comes from another 2 wheel rider is directly proportionate to the level of their own self consciousness about how cool they are thanks to buying into whichever bike culture. Uh... Does that make sense"
scullyfu wrote:
pleasefeedthedog wrote:Thats okay MikieTaps. Life is a journey and we all get to finish it one way or the other. Its all about choice. Nuff said.
pleasefeedthedog wrote:I think its obvious but I'll try to explain. Ericalm wrote: "As has been mentioned here before, "Harley guys" get a bad rap, and many are surprisingly supportive of all types of riders. I think the amount of derision that comes from another 2 wheel rider is directly proportionate to the level of their own self consciousness about how cool they are thanks to buying into whichever bike culture. Uh... Does that make sense"
scullyfu wrote:
pleasefeedthedog wrote:Thats okay MikieTaps. Life is a journey and we all get to finish it one way or the other. Its all about choice. Nuff said.
WHY RED IS RED!
I don't even know what you're trying to explain. I think the confusion was over this, which introduced a scenario not discussed in the OP or any other post:
pleasefeedthedog wrote:I guess I'm very naive but if someone is on the road and the appear to need a hand I would help if I can.
Um, okay. I should hope we all would. Now, moving right along...
Eric // LA Scooter Meetup Group // Stella 4T // Vespa LX // Vespa LXS // Honda Helix // some, uh, projects…
Yesterday at a light a girl who couldn't have been more than seventeen said "nice bike" to my Buddy. Then asked for a ride. Of course I had my full face helmet on so she didn't realize I could be here grandpa!
2 weeks ago i rode in a 120 mile poker run with about 1000 harleys and i waqs the only scoot afterwards a lot of people told me that they couldnt believe i kept up.they were all real cool.
Eazy wrote:Me and some of the local scooterists went and rode in the motorcycle awareness rally.
7 scooters and 800 bikes.
We forced out way into the pack and everyone was way cool to us.
I even wore my fighting shoes, and didn't even have to use them. It was awesome.
there is a place called 29 dreams motorcycle resort about 25 miles outside of town. i went with 2 big mc and 2 scoots. i got more attention than anyone.
one woman riding with someone said, i could ride that. i told her if she did she'd probly not get one the back of another bike.
during the experienced riders course last week i was the first scooter they'd had take the course. again i got lots of questions from most all the big bikes. all were impressed with gas milage, highway ability and manuverability. but 180 mph, i had to leave that to the triumph rocket.
I didn't find the response that abstract. Put another way. I did not feel that feedthedog's original comment was that far off that one couldn't grasp his/her intention. I will admit that it didn’t fit in easily with the flow of the discussion; and to make matters more difficult his/her decision to create a proverb out of the second response was not going to win anyone over either.
I hope you all aren’t offended, but I'm 73 years of age and I find some of the things that are going on today to be detrimental to our cultures future. It has been my observation that a lot of younger people today need to have things spelled out for them. It kind of makes sense to me why a statement like "Why Red is Red" has taken on a life of its own. I can see where it is helpful, but I also see that our language has been oversimplified and can be a mere distraction to real open and honest communication. Its sad to think that we might just be headed for a world of grunts and groans. Not that grunts and groans are all bad either . . . But if you are looking for quick easy answers, turn on FOX news. HA.
UXO wrote:
I hope you all aren’t offended, but I'm 73 years of age and I find some of the things that are going on today to be detrimental to our cultures future.
Wow, straight into politics. Guess it's on everyone's mind right now. I would respond but it's forbidden here, with good reason. Tempers flare quickly.
Problem is 60 moves isn't uncommon for a chess game. So it would have to be played as a team. Each team would make 5-10 moves, 1 per person. the board would be recorded then either moved or algebraic notation radioed ahead.
Rinse and repeat.
I see some major problems with it like a 4 move checkmate, or a 130 move game, plus the fact that most people don't know how to play chess.
I've only been scooting in town for 4 days, but I have recieved the "Harley Wave" from 5 bikers already. Also had a pair of HD riders gave me the head nod to indicate I should turn in front of them when they clearly had the right of way.
HD drivers get it. Sport bike guys, not so much. The more 2 wheeled vehicles on the road the better for all of us.... HD Riders AND Scooterists.
I have yet to get any guff from any motorcycle riders. My wife, on her pink Buddy 125, gets nothing but positive attention from Harley riders or even sport bike riders. I get a little bit of "wuzzup" from crotch rocket riders 'cause they think the Blur is one of them at first glance. But more often than not I get a return on my wave to other riders. I think that scooters are getting more and more common and so the novelty of it isn't as threatening to the insecure guys riding down the road with their compensation between their legs. I know it happens, but I've been lucky enough not to have any negative experiences with big dudes in black leather.
My other ride IS a cruiser, so I can say with confidence that scooters aren't dismissed out of hand.
Although we did think bike shops who become scoot dealers would get a whole lot more walk through and sales....
HD is a booming place to be sure, but a scoot would bring in more business...lord knows it was hard to walk away from a SWEET multi-season armored mesh/fabric/liner jacket...
NathanielSalzman wrote:I've been lucky enough not to have any negative experiences with big dudes in black leather.
i am one of the big dudes in leather i wear a leather vest when riding and sometimes i wear a flamed helmet with a row of spikes its priceless when im in a bar shooting pool takling to other "bikers" and go hop on the scoot and head out
NathanielSalzman wrote:I've been lucky enough not to have any negative experiences with big dudes in black leather.
i am one of the big dudes in leather i wear a leather vest when riding and sometimes i wear a flamed helmet with a row of spikes its priceless when im in a bar shooting pool takling to other "bikers" and go hop on the scoot and head out
OMG! You MUST post a pic! The visual I am getting is making me snort giggle...
bunny wrote:I like bicycle riders, too! I just bought a new inner tube for mine because I had a popped one...
I'd wave at a bicycle rider if I saw one...of course, they seem to be in their own world on the bikes so maybe i wouldn't get a wave back?
they prolly think scoots are just motorized bikes anyway...
I actually haven't yet come across a bicyclist on the road that waves/nods/whatever.
I think it might have to do with they are working their butts off to go at a speed a scooter can do with a simple twist of the wrist. At even slightly faster speeds, a scooterist can look around and enjoy the view. But a bicyclist can't really do that, they have to keep low to reduce drag, stay off to the side which is generally pretty dangerous with rocks and sand and sudden shoulders, and all sorts of bumps from improper road laying, etc. They have to keep a rhythm going and all sorts of other stuff as well.
And this doesn't even take into account that they have the same or similar concerns about cars/trucks as scooter drivers do.
But this is on country and back roads. I'm not sure about city/town riding.
Lovvvved long distance cycling until my hip wore out. Many cyclists are their own worst enemies and cause cagers to have bad attitudes towards all. Lotsa cyclists think they don't have to obey the rules of the road and create problems for themselves and others. They are not really cyclists, but rather bicycle riders.
I know, I know, but just because the blue haired one ran you off the road doesn't mean all blue hairs are evil and just because the red neck in the old pickup truck threw a beer can (half full) at you doesn't mean all red necks are like that and just because the guy in the Beemer stopped, jumped out and told you to get off the road and ride on the bike path where you belong which is where Biff and Muffy were riding their cruisers with cup holders containing their beers while each were holding a 20 foot leash for their cute little weiner dogs to run back and forth and their nephews were skate boarding one way and looking another and you had been doing 24mph (into the wind) on the road is no reason to think that people don't understand how dangerous those paths can be to a roadie.
Some of you may know from some of my other posts...
But in my experiences Harley crews seem to always be excepting of my buddy. It's the crotch rocket crew that are mean!
mandyscoots wrote:Some of you may know from some of my other posts...
But in my experiences Harley crews seem to always be excepting of my buddy. It's the crotch rocket crew that are mean!
The biggest segment (if not all) of the crotch crew is testosterone driven. Add to that the fact that so many of them still believe that everything bad happens to someone else and they are immortal. In other words, a young bunch.
Harley guys just want to cruise to the next rally, or maybe tow to the next rally. Besides the lifestyle image thing most of them seem to be pretty laid back.
I was touched... a friend of mine who rides a Road King HD asked me to ride to one of the springs with him. I couldn't do it, but that image in my head always makes me smile. I should do it someday, maybe the Buddy will get more respect.
" You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought " - Leia
They are all very respectful!
