Can't we all just get along?

Question

So I've been lurking around here for quite a while now and I've noticed some sincere hatred between the Harley guys and the crotch rocket guys. I find it amusing ...and I can dish it just as well as I can take it. I'm a jap bike guy because I like the speed, handling and performance. Much of my time is spent on the racetrack, and that's what i love.
I ride with harley riders, european bike guys and (mostly) jap bike riders.
So why the animosity? Jap bike riders think harley riders are posers and Harley riders think the same about jap bike riders.
We all agree that 2 wheels is better than 4, so why all the fighting?

Answer 1

we could. . .

Answer 2

You need to review your Motorcycling history haha. This goes back to the late 60's when biker gangs were all the rage. Harleys were notriously unreliable but that is all that was available at the time. Then Honda came out with thier little 305 and ran an unbeleiveable ad campaign. All of a sudden "ordinary folks" were riding motorcycles and the biker types didnt much care for that. That plus the fact that the little Hondas were faster handled better and were far more reliable then any Harley or English bike caused quite a dust up. It even got to the point of being dangerous for Jap riders to stray into Harley land.
Things have changed from that perspective but the ribbing goes on. Now it's more of a good natured thing. What you see now though is many Harley "riders" are indeed just pretending. It had become a status thing to own a Harely wether thety ride or not. I have ridden all kind of bikes for many years and don't give a damn what one rides. Getting in the wind is what counts.

Answer 3

Good question. It's tough to say, but I was in Madrid Spain recently, and I have never seen so many motorcycles in an everyday city environment. Every block had at least 10 bikes parked on it. My background is in sport riding, and there were tons of sportbikes for me to feast my eyes on. YES I am guilty of a few Harley jokes in the past - but when you are away from home overseas the sound of a Harley makes you feel American quicker than ordering a burger and a Coke ever could. The few Harleys I saw there were loud and proud. I definitely had a huge grin hearing them and watching them. It also must be said that both sides of this conflict have alot of posers. That's just the way riding goes nowadays. Most people fueling the debate are small fry posers.

Answer 4

Apparently not, even though some try.
I rode three brands of japanese cycles, while everyone around me had Harleys. I used to tease the guys all the time. I never razzed anyone about thier Harley, just the fact that they weren't riding it. Rainy day comment: "Honda weather", When the local HD shop puts up the spring service special sign: "Time to wash the Honda"........ So, now that I'm on a Harley, did I stop teasing them? Heck, no. I'm still the same person, and I still ride when they won't. I did drop the "Honda" from my comments, but the rest is still there. Rain is still "Liquid Sunshine". I'm not particular, the the Yamaha, Star, and Victory guys get it too. Sorry, no Kawaskis in the lot. Nobody is immune.

Answer 5

This must be some Northern thing ,Basically most guys/gals here in the south wave to one another weather your on a cruiser are a sport bike plus its not uncommon to see each riding side by side ,but with that siad you see more of the sport bike guys riding in huge groups together and cruiser guys riding solo are 3-4 at a time , Why some one riding any kind of bike has an attitude about some body elses bike is flat out stupid ,I mean good grief if you ride a Harley 883 your not considered one of them Harley riders , Thats what I keep seing on here ,Who gives a rats a*s*s what you ride /

Answer 6

Many Harley owners (Notice I did not say bikers) ARE posersI hate it when I get lumped together with them. I've been into bikes for 40 years and I don't give a damn what the Hell you ride but don't start that crap about "All Harley riders..." I own a stock Harley and 2 I chopped myself. I've got more miles under me than most anybody here so don't start equating me with some poser wearing official Harley-Davidson Motorclothes@ from head to toe. 15 grand and 15 miles don't make you a biker.

Answer 7

Probably not, I have been riding for about 40 years(since the age of 5) .I grew up on Jap bikes and did my share of racing,motocross on Hondas and production class G.P. at Willow Springs on Yamaha RD 350s.
I always liked Harleys (and custom cars) but when I was younger Harleys did not suit my riding style and * I couldn't afford one even if it did.*
I 15 or so years ago got my first Harley and fell in Love, I continued to ride my Honda in the desert and on the fire trails right up until a couple years ago, but I am now fully immersed in the Harley thing , building bikes and big inch V-twin drag racing.
I was not aware of the extent of metric bikers animosity toward Harley riders until I happened across this forum(Answers) but in retrospect it explains some attitude I've encountered.
The huge amounts of B.S. spewed by the Harley haters has forever tainted my opinion of metric riders, because I think of the dickheads from here when I see their kind on the roads.
From where I come from it does not matter what you ride but from where I am today what you ride reflects what kind of beliefs you carry.
I am disappointed in the prejudice I've developed, but I have.

Answer 8

I love and ride all brands. Have for over 40 years as have some of the others. Notice that in this post alone the first slam was against the "metric riders". Most of the metric riders ride whatever fits their riding style or needs. And most have ridden other brands before. I am a metric rider! I OWN TWO HARLEYS! And all the big four... Honda,Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki. The Harleys are the only ones that leak. Yet I keep seeing the same thing... how we "metric riders are so ignorant 'cause Harleys don't leak anymore. BS Go to your local dealer and watch 'em in the service department... talk to a mechanic.. ask him about the Sportster rocker boxes that almost all sprout leaks untill a mechanic replaces them by hand instead of the robot at the factory. I've had over a dozen warranty and recall problems with one Harley! Yet Harley owners still argue about it! And flame or argue with people who point out the facts(like the fact Harleys have metric screws and bolts in addition to SAE). Now I know... that many Harley riders don't act this way. And I realize that there are a lot of "punks" on sportbikes who can act the same. But it's all too common... for the "poser"... be it Yuppie, Doc, Lawyer or such with lots of money to own a Harley and think that God rides only those too. And that sportbike riders are all punk kids. Jesus... I am over 50 and ride all kinds of bikes. However I'd rather swing a leg over my Yamaha R1 be it a 5 mile ride to the store or 500. It's the smoothest and most comfortable bike for the long haul I've ever owned out of dozens. I'm a retired AMA Pro Expert ranked dirttrack, roadrace, speedway, and sidecar rider. My father was a factory Harley dirt tracker in the 40's-'50s and the 198th Honda dealer in the US in '65. I didn't come from under a rock. Yet whenever I support a point of view from my knowledge or another "sportbike" riders I get flamed all over and given the thumbs down. Makes me wonder why I participate. And I already have the feeling from some they'd be happy if I left. Hell I had one kid e-mail me off line telling me what was a documented fact..... an '06 R1 will do 106 Miles Per Hour(not Kilometers) in 1st gear.... was impossible and that I was a "dumb**s. It was a punk sportbike rider argueing about sportbikes. So it's not all about who rides what... it's about mentality and attitude. How come Harley riders are welcome at Daytona or other sportbike events(Boy that's gonna bring a debate(Daytona being a sportbike event)) but sportbikes are sneered at in Sturgis. Attitude! Some Harley publications actually incourage their riders to flip off sportbike riders. Let alone the fact that the majority will not wave. Maybe it's just me'cause I always try to wave first at EVERYBODY but all to often it's the Harleys who won't. And those beany helmets... that a good point... what the heck is so cool about endangering you or your girlfriends life? I've got a girl right now who can't thank me enough for saving her face by prohibiting her from wearing one. She face planted herself not long after learning to ride. And chaps.... we aren't cowboys anymore! Ever seen a babes *** after shes slid down the highway in a set of those. You'll say I'm slammin' them... but I see nothing cool or intellegent about not wearing proper safety gear. Technology has come along way but many people seem afraid of it. But they know what chrome is. I have actually ridden a sportbike 1000 miles in a day. It was comfortable. How many % of Harley riders have even done that on a Harley let alone have the knowledge to preach that a sportbike is not good for it? I imagine it's may actually be a larger % than sportbike riders but that does not mean sportbikes aren't good for it. Yet they do! I will continue to wave at EVERYBODY and enjoy riding with them on any brand but I will continue to shake my head in disgust when the Harleys don't wave back or flip me off. I'd like to be friends with you all and maybe even ride with you one day so please wave and don't ignore the fact we are all human no matter what we ride. Maybe we can eliminate this animosity some day by respecting each others viewpoints, experience and knowledge instead of assuming the other rider is a "dum**s". I bet if we were all to ride together we'd get along better than this!

Answer 9

We probably can not all get along because dick heads like you give answers like this. ..............

NY1KrrMember since: December 12, 2006

Total points: 1,263 (Level 3)

Points earned this week: 43
NY1Krr


Obviously your hanging around establishments that are too high class for Harley chicks. Start cruising around near mobile homes and beef jerky stores.
Just drive out into the boonies until you notice the chicks have more legs than teeth. Then you'll nab yourself a nice Harley chick. Get a case of pabst blue ribbon and go back to her trailer... and you just might get lucky.
If that doesnt work, All hope is lost. Might as well hang out at the blue oyster with the other Harley guys.

If you do not recognize this it is one of your answers. Gee I wonder why Harley riders do not like you???? Maybe you are to slow to figure it out.

Answer 10

I have my Sportster parked right next to my Road Star. The Sportster is for solo riding and just bopping around town. If I take the OL or go on a long ride, it is the Road Star's job.

Answer 11

Well, you just haven't been around long enough. It's a game. Just the same as two high school rivals. You know the routine..."My school's better than yours..." etc etc ad nauseum.

Just like when I was a teenager..."My stuff is better than yours because I like it".

It's really all in fun. Sometimes it gets out of hand (I've heard of sportbikes being burned at Sturgis and things like that). But mostly its just a game.