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Post by JerryScript on Mar 16, 2014 22:48:25 GMT -5
My buddy who rides a custom bobber was over today, and as always the conversation at one point turned to two wheels. We were talking about the ways riders treat each other at stop lights, and I mentioned how some guys on here had modified their scooters so that they beat some motorcycles off the light. He said everytime he pulled up next to a scooter, he intentionally let them take off faster than him for 20 yards or so before blasting by them and rattling their teeth with his exhaust. He said everyone deserves that moment of triumph, so he gives them those first 10 seconds before bringing them back to reality. Aside from all the social aspects related to HD riders, and he is a hard core old school biker who has earned his patches, you gotta admit, he's pretty considerate giving them those 10 seconds, considering he's riding a 800cc beast with a tranny that's low end all the way. That's as far as his snobbery goes, he just likes a big bike that let's the next town know the light just turned green, otherwise he could care less about scooters or their riders.
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Post by RapidJim on Mar 17, 2014 9:01:22 GMT -5
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Post by RapidJim on Mar 17, 2014 9:25:43 GMT -5
If all Harley riders were like OldChopperGuy there would not be a problem. The point is most of us "OLD" riders are just like him!!!! I have live in big metros like Denver and in small towns like I do now (800 people), most of your "Harley Snobs" are just that SNOBS! They are "snobs" in other aspects of their lives too! I have ridden with some folks that a lot of people would cross the street to avoid walking by them. What these folks didn't realize is that they would have given you the shirt off their back if you were in need. I remember years ago in Denver, where over 100,000 bikers ( mostly Harleys) met at the Denevr Broncos Statium road together to raise over $350,000 for Jerry Lewis Kids. Or at Christmas time, one of the local Harley Dealers did a Charity Run for Toys for Tots, a yearly event where no one cared what you road as long as you road and participated, patch holding 1%ers riding long side of a Honda Dream. The local Harley shop in Cumberland, Wi ( now out of business) where you felt like you had teleported back into the 60's, local Chief of Police shooting the bull with a local patch holder, drinking a beer. Local Bike show in Milltown, Wi, where I put my Magnum Trike in for show, just for the heck of it and got all kinds of great comments from HD Riders and have a 2nd place trophy for it to prove it. Hertel, Wi where the local Vietnam Vets M/C did charity runs. The list goes on! The problem isn't the Machine, it is the person riding it !!!!!!!!!!! |
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Post by 2wheelfun on Mar 17, 2014 12:20:11 GMT -5
It's still cool to pizzazz HD riders right? Are HD riders now playing the PC card? This is funny........................
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Post by 2wheelfun on Mar 17, 2014 12:22:29 GMT -5
I talk here but if I went to a biker bar that would NOT happen. I like getting older.
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Post by JerryScript on Mar 17, 2014 15:40:52 GMT -5
When it comes to those wearing patches, the only people who need to be worried about them are those wearing other patches. The only time I have ever felt uncomfortable around a group of bikers was when another set of colors showed up.
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Post by RapidJim on Mar 17, 2014 16:02:25 GMT -5
When it comes to those wearing patches, the only people who need to be worried about them are those wearing other patches. The only time I have ever felt uncomfortable around a group of bikers was when another set of colors showed up. Yep now that could get interesting if not on neutral ground |
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Post by JerryScript on Mar 17, 2014 19:05:24 GMT -5
I live in Vegas, and it is supposed to be neutral ground. But here and 30 minutes south in Laughlin, neutral ground means open warfare. Just google it, you'll see what we've been through the past decade alone, River Run Riots with shoot outs in a casino, highway retribution killings, wedding chapel stabbings with honeymoon spent in the hospital, every instance it was one patch against another, mostly Mongol vs 's Angels, never biker on civilian. Even Sturgis, which is the ultimate neutral ground, had two stabbings between these two groups in 2011. Hence my apprehension when I see different colors in sight of each other.
Otherwise, a biker is just a dude on two wheels just like you and me!
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Post by danno on Mar 18, 2014 4:22:09 GMT -5
I went to my weekly Bible study last Thursday evening. I pulled up on my Burgman and I got a response from one guy who said and I quote..."If it had been a Harley, I'd been impressed." I then asked him what he rode and he said, he used to ride a Harley but, his wife made him give riding up years ago when he was involved in two incidents back to back. I said..that's not "cool"
Then at the end of the night, another guy approached me as I was getting ready to pull away, he thought my scoot was really cool. Then the next day two women complimented the bike as I was filling my tank up.
Moral of the story...some guys like things BIG, especially here in Texas. For whatever reason they think BIG is cool. BIG pick-up trucks are very common. It's a macho thing imo.....some guys must be motivated by some sort of psychological insecurity they possess. They have to prove to everyone bigger is better.
Personally, I love all the storage room the Burgman possess.On guy on You Tube had his Burgman 400 clocked at 170 KM.....that's 106 mph to you an me. I'll never need to go that fast, but it's nice to know it can. I also think the Burgman is safer to ride. No downshifting in case of the need for a sudden stop. Yea, sometimes I have to deal with the "cool factor"...but, hey. at 54, "coolness" is not a priority anymore. I'm riding, and the Harley guy with the wife....well he hasn't been riding in years.
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Post by urbanmadness on Mar 18, 2014 11:03:37 GMT -5
I went to my weekly Bible study last Thursday evening. I pulled up on my Burgman and I got a response from one guy who said and I quote..."If it had been a Harley, I'd been impressed." I then asked him what he rode and he said, he used to ride a Harley but, his wife made him give riding up years ago when he was involved in two incidents back to back. I said..that's not "cool" Then at the end of the night, another guy approached me as I was getting ready to pull away, he thought my scoot was really cool. Then the next day two women complimented the bike as I was filling my tank up. Moral of the story...some guys like things BIG, especially here in Texas. For whatever reason they think BIG is cool. BIG pick-up trucks are very common. It's a macho thing imo.....some guys must be motivated by some sort of psychological insecurity they possess. They have to prove to everyone bigger is better. Personally, I love all the storage room the Burgman possess.On guy on You Tube had his Burgman 400 clocked at 170 KM.....that's 106 mph to you an me. I'll never need to go that fast, but it's nice to know it can. I also think the Burgman is safer to ride. No downshifting in case of the need for a sudden stop. Yea, sometimes I have to deal with the "cool factor"...but, hey. at 54, "coolness" is not a priority anymore. I'm riding, and the Harley guy with the wife....well he hasn't been riding in years. The big modern scoots are nothing to sneeze at... They will get up and flat boogie ( I know my 500 does ). I still havn't held my 500 wide open to see what she will do... I just don't want the ticket. Fastest I've gone with it is  and she had plenty left... I see bobbers and sporters on the highway from time to time, and those guys look so uncomfortable, same with the rocket boys.... My bike is comfy and will do all the legal stuff they can do. They may be quicker, they maybe faster, but you really gonna use all that? I'd rather be comfortable. That's not to say I wouldn't be drawn to the mistiqe of a vintage Hog... As they are visually interesting and and I am admittly curious to throw a leg over and see what all the hub bub is about. |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 18, 2014 11:57:07 GMT -5
I went to my weekly Bible study last Thursday evening. I pulled up on my Burgman and I got a response from one guy who said and I quote..."If it had been a Harley, I'd been impressed." I then asked him what he rode and he said, he used to ride a Harley but, his wife made him give riding up years ago when he was involved in two incidents back to back. I said..that's not "cool" Then at the end of the night, another guy approached me as I was getting ready to pull away, he thought my scoot was really cool. Then the next day two women complimented the bike as I was filling my tank up. Moral of the story...some guys like things BIG, especially here in Texas. For whatever reason they think BIG is cool. BIG pick-up trucks are very common. It's a macho thing imo.....some guys must be motivated by some sort of psychological insecurity they possess. They have to prove to everyone bigger is better. Personally, I love all the storage room the Burgman possess.On guy on You Tube had his Burgman 400 clocked at 170 KM.....that's 106 mph to you an me. I'll never need to go that fast, but it's nice to know it can. I also think the Burgman is safer to ride. No downshifting in case of the need for a sudden stop. Yea, sometimes I have to deal with the "cool factor"...but, hey. at 54, "coolness" is not a priority anymore. I'm riding, and the Harley guy with the wife....well he hasn't been riding in years.
Danno,
I know exactly what you're talking about! Most folks around here like BIG stuff... But, check out the local parking lots, and when you find the biggest, baddest monster-truck on 5-foot tires, blower and carbs poking through the hood, straight-pipes and the "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch" bumper sticker... Watch for the driver and it will usually be a guy about 5' 3" or a "soccer-mom".
Admittedly, it's a little different with bikes, since a HUGE percentage of riders simply like the biggest ride they can afford, for comfort, speed and quality (as well as simple "pride of ownership") and Harleys are always near the top of the food-chain. Slowly but surely, the new Asian big V-twins are changing that phenomenon with the new generation, and I'm still certain the new Indians will claim a BIG chunk of the Harley market-share.
Your Burgman will certainly do anything a touring-bike rider needs it to do, and probably do so with less fuss and more convenience than most motorcycles. That makes it a marvelous choice!
In my "quest"... LOL! For the "ideal" ride to upgrade to from my under-powered Chinese 150, I test-rode everything I could. Among those were a 400 Burgman, and a 500 Kymco. I loved the performance, and they stacked up VERY well with any touring cycle. In my case though (I'm 67 and have major arthritis) I found the extra-long wheelbase touring scooters weren't as nimble in tight places as I'd like, and even the "semi-hump" floor was hard for me to climb onto.
What I needed was a lightweight, flat-floor, step-through 150 size scooter that would still run highway speeds like a motorcycle. That genre of scooter is not all that common today (outside of Italian scoots) since most of the touring scoots have gone to the long wheelbase and semi-hump-floor to accommodate the sophisticated frame.
Like you, the "cool-factor" is not much of a consideration at my age... and the aging Kymco Grandvista proves that... LOL! It rates pretty high on the "doofus-scale" and isn't going to impress anyone with its style or speed... But it's just right for me. But THAT'S just ME. For someone else, a different ride would be "just right".
Amazingly, the old Kymco compares very closely to my old 1970 Harley Electra-Glide in general riding... A little faster on acceleration than the old Hog, but, a few mph slower top speed, better handling in tight places, but a similar feel on the highway. Scooters have truly come of age!
So often, here on the scooter sites, we tend to compare scooters with motorcycles. While BOTH rides can do the same thing, it's still "apples and oranges". They are just two different animals. Similar, but different. Scooters don't usually inspire "shock and awe" with thundering concussion, six-foot front-forks, 500 pounds of chrome and axe-blades, skulls, bones and spinning shredding parts glistening in the sun. And a rider straight from "The Vikings" may look a little out-of-character on a scooter.
On the flip-side, (except for some full-bodied Asian touring cycles) big twins don't usually feature sleek bodies, splash-guards, floor-pans, under-seat storage, twist-n-go trannies and nearly-silent exhausts. And collegiate-types, or business-persons may look a little out-of-character on a monster-thumper.
There ARE always exceptions... I used to ride both my chopper and my Harley bagger in a 3-piece suit to work... And, I have seen "Grizzly Adams" types on scooters... But it's not common.
Any rider will do well to ride what suits them best, regardless of WHAT that may be. The OLDER we get, the EASIER that concept is to comprehend... And, SCOOTERS are usually a LOT more affordable than big bikes... Cheaper to buy, AND insure! That is certainly something to consider...
Whatever you ride, ENJOY THE RIDE!
Leo in Texas
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Post by danno on Mar 18, 2014 18:07:13 GMT -5
Being over 6 feet and 300 pounds a Napoleon complex is not something I have to deal with.  I appreciate your post 
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Post by rockinez on Mar 18, 2014 21:53:07 GMT -5
The Burgman is a very respectable machine.
I test rode one last year, and seriously considered it. I had too many vehicles at the time to justify one more.
It is a very nice commuter. I see lots of them in the technology building parking lots in San Diego.
Burgmans and Silver Wings are both popular here for commuters. A twist-n-go with guts is a nice thing.
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Post by rockynv on Mar 19, 2014 4:40:58 GMT -5
I keep getting tempted however my current bike will cruise the Interstate and has enough reserve left to get a ticket so how much more do I need. I know some have to ride something fast enough to get their license pulled on the first offense but...
There is only one Harley rider I see regularly who is a bit of a put off and he is the one with the straight pipes going full bore off the line at every light. Chatted once and he was amazed that my scooter was just a 250 and he found it a bit embarrasing the performance I was getting with 65 to 80 mpg fuel economy compared to what he was getting (he admitted it was only 19 mpg). Told him I could probably ride for a week on the gas fumes his bike left behind on one mornings run.
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Post by spandi on Mar 19, 2014 13:07:08 GMT -5
I went to my weekly Bible study last Thursday evening. I pulled up on my Burgman and I got a response from one guy who said and I quote..."If it had been a Harley, I'd been impressed." I then asked him what he rode and he said, he used to ride a Harley but, his wife made him give riding up years ago when he was involved in two incidents back to back. I said..that's not "cool" Then at the end of the night, another guy approached me as I was getting ready to pull away, he thought my scoot was really cool. Then the next day two women complimented the bike as I was filling my tank up. Moral of the story...some guys like things BIG, especially here in Texas. For whatever reason they think BIG is cool. BIG pick-up trucks are very common. It's a macho thing imo.....some guys must be motivated by some sort of psychological insecurity they possess. They have to prove to everyone bigger is better. Personally, I love all the storage room the Burgman possess.On guy on You Tube had his Burgman 400 clocked at 170 KM.....that's 106 mph to you an me. I'll never need to go that fast, but it's nice to know it can. I also think the Burgman is safer to ride. No downshifting in case of the need for a sudden stop. Yea, sometimes I have to deal with the "cool factor"...but, hey. at 54, "coolness" is not a priority anymore. I'm riding, and the Harley guy with the wife....well he hasn't been riding in years. The big modern scoots are nothing to sneeze at... They will get up and flat boogie ( I know my 500 does ). I still havn't held my 500 wide open to see what she will do... I just don't want the ticket. Fastest I've gone with it is and she had plenty left... I see bobbers and sporters on the highway from time to time, and those guys look so uncomfortable, same with the rocket boys.... My bike is comfy and will do all the legal stuff they can do. They may be quicker, they maybe faster, but you really gonna use all that? I'd rather be comfortable. That's not to say I wouldn't be drawn to the mistiqe of a vintage Hog... As they are visually interesting and and I am admittly curious to throw a leg over and see what all the hub bub is about. That's why the Honda Helix still has so many enthusiasts to this day. In a word, COMFORT (I've heard it referred to as a Lay-Z-Boy on wheels.) |
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and she had plenty left... 
