<DIV>Ya'll know I ride a 77 GL1000. You may not know that I also ride a 2006 Harley <EM>(That I can't sell for the life of me!) </EM>My Harley gets lots of attention and people have been stopping me for years with comments and questions. When I am off the bike people always ask "<EM>You ride? Do you have a Harley?" </EM>They ask with such enthusiasm. Still surprises me how excited people get about the Harley. I never thought my old 77 GL would draw any attention. It does! Not for it's condition as it just an old bike and very much shows it's age in lack of luster and polish. Even though it's not nearly as shiney or fresh as my Harley, I think it gets MORE attention. Guys on race bikes, guys on crusiers and even people in cars. Some ask what it is. Everyone asks what year it is and many have a story about how they know someone that used to have one just like it. It is such a great conversation starter. I still love riding my Harley. I love riding ALL bikes but riding this old GL is just plain fun. A real treat for me!</DIV>
<DIV>I see a couple people have mentioned "<EM>1800 snobs</EM>". I can honestly say I have never seen or heard of anyone on an 1800 make any bad comments. Oddly most of the people I run into that make negative comments about any bikes are people that don't ride at all and think that the Harley is the ONLY bike to have. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG> "You ride a motorcycle?"</STRONG><EM> (with enthusiasm)</EM></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> <STRONG>"Yes I do!"</STRONG></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> <STRONG> "Is it a Harley?"<EM> </EM></STRONG><EM>(with even more enthusiasm)</EM></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> <STRONG> "No it's a Honda Goldwing."</STRONG></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> <STRONG> "Oh." </STRONG> <EM> (as if let down)</EM></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Most bikers I run into here in TN seem to appreciate all bikes. I say <EM>"most"</EM> not<EM> "all".</EM></DIV>
Again 100%!<BR>The very same here in Germany. It is cool to ride a Harley, but not so cool to ride a Jap bike...that is the typical view of people who do not own any motorcycle.<BR>I remember the days back in the seventies when I was a skinny little boy on an adult bicycle, all summer barefoot and in shorts only, sunburnt, dirty and not one penny in my pocket.<BR>There used to be a bike meeting not far from my dad's house, and when we kids went there, we always looked for a Harley. There were only a few, say one or two of a hundred bikes.<BR>And the guys who rode it were bearded and looked dangerous. You could see on their bikes and fingers that they were fixing everything on their own. The Harleys were far from showroom condition. Nowadays we would say rat bikes, but at this time they were the only ones. That was really cool. Today when I talk to Harley owners, it seems to me for them a Harley is coolness You can buy.<BR>If You are not cool, buy a Harley, then You are. Maybe they are snobs, I think it is an effort to be somebody special for a moment. I also enjoy the attention when I stop somewhere, who doesn't? But it wasn't the reason why I bought my wing.<BR>Maybe this is the main difference between backyard members and "snobs".<BR>CU<BR>Ray
<DIV>Hey Dave,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Seems we have somewhat similar tastes in bikes... )</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Ron</DIV> <DIV><IMG height=749 src="http//groups.msn.com/isapi/fetch.dll?action=MyPhotos_GetMBPhoto&ImageID=nIwAAADgM68FG0yfa2rtneuYdza6VQa225MuOZuYi3ERsgTA9QVoa0WMlAEvhNXbgx8Mt4KTYjGY" width=1024> </DIV> <DIV><IMG height=690 src="http//groups.msn.com/isapi/fetch.dll?action=MyPhotos_GetMBPhoto&ImageID=nIwAAADkMDsJG0yfa2rtneiLTBN0YUKaWnfpqIs1ZD9Hfwa9SRgs6gbiWKIBJudm!Z!9U3BW4U2o" width=1024> </DIV>
Sorry havn't been in for awhile , just getting my health up , Much better now all . Anywho ! I have been asked that all important question also " do you ride ? " and yes , What ? and because of the thought of the general public I tand to answer " Oh just a honda GoldWing . and as someone above had said the people answer back with what seems to be disapoinment ( " Oh " ) and leave it as such . But alot still tend to ask what is that I ride . Twice I was actually asked what year my harley is !!! My 82 GL till this day has never let me down , making me very proud of my bike . I do tend to shy away from our place of bikes and coffee nights as mine is the oldest looking ride there , I do love the knew Harley Cross-bones that is out this year . The HOG chapter here has often invited me out , most don't mind what you ride as long as you ride . So Ride safe all , have a safe riding season .<BR><BR><BR> Gary . aka . Zryder