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Summer time and motorcycles
Ok, so this is kind of an odd subject probably. I was sitting listening to the birds singing and thinking it was pretty, but in the background is my neighbor mowing, another one is using a chain saw, and then further in the background I hear the motorcycles and it made me wonder if anyone gets annoyed by the bikes during motorcycle (events). Well, I found out people do get annoyed. Curious what you all think? Love or hate them because of the noise?
You said it in as few words as possible. You ride for transportation.... and if you dont ride, that's cool too. There are far too many people where I live that are struggling to find their niche in life and portray themselves as things they aren't. More than a few bikers around here cannot tell you what they are riding, or anything about it.
The only bikes I ever rode were dirt bikes or trail bikes... started with a Honda Mini Trail 70, moved to a Yamaha YZ80, back to a Honda 125... Ive never ridden a street bike and doubt I ever will.... maybe a dual sport in the future, but wont ride the streets around here too often. Nobody looks out for bikers, and a lot of the bikers around here are under the impression that they own the roads.... I want no part in that argument.
The only bikes I ever rode were dirt bikes or trail bikes... started with a Honda Mini Trail 70, moved to a Yamaha YZ80, back to a Honda 125... Ive never ridden a street bike and doubt I ever will.... maybe a dual sport in the future, but wont ride the streets around here too often. Nobody looks out for bikers, and a lot of the bikers around here are under the impression that they own the roads.... I want no part in that argument.
I've been riding since I was 15. I started on a Triumph 650 with kick start only and I probably weighed 110 lbs. It might take me 20 minutes of kicking to get the bike started. I rode it like I stole it. I had a Honda 360 as my only means of transportation during 2 years in law school. Before that I rode a BMW 750 but I didn't own that bike. I've had others - for instance - a custom rubber mounted chopper with an S&S 113" which is the bike I wrecked in 2005. The bike I ride now I bought new in 1991. It's a Harley Softail Custom and I swapped out the motor in 1995 for an S&S 96" Evo. I wear a Rolex too. I do have an old Mercedez - a 2001 E55 with 24,000 miles on it. I have a lot more miles on my Harley. I was in Daytona in 1992 for Bike Week and I have never attended another major rally since then. That was just way too many bikes for me.
Oh yeah, we trailer-ed our bikes. It was in January and it's cold where I live.
I don't want to be a biker. What does that mean? That your life is only about bikes?
Mine isn't only about bikes. I couldn't care less about why people ride, what they wear when they ride, what bike they ride or when they ride. If you ride that's alright with me. And if you don't that's cool too.
Biker Mike
Oh yeah, we trailer-ed our bikes. It was in January and it's cold where I live.
I don't want to be a biker. What does that mean? That your life is only about bikes?
Mine isn't only about bikes. I couldn't care less about why people ride, what they wear when they ride, what bike they ride or when they ride. If you ride that's alright with me. And if you don't that's cool too.
Biker Mike
The cowboy scenario I mentioned occurred at least once a summer for 20 years while I was in the bar business. I'm certainly not a cowboy, but had to dress the part for work.... probably why I feel the way I do about the subject. I've ridden horses, I've been a mugger in wild horse races, and as a kid (before I moved to Wyoming) I tried roping and bull-dogging. A guy I used to call Uncle Pete was one of the nations top 10 professional rodeo cowboys in the very late 50's and early 60's... he was a bonafide tough guy, real damn deal cowboy and my dad's best friend. The guy took a liking to me and tried to get me involved..... just not my bag of tricks.
As for the ranches, a lot of dude ranches are exactly as you described. Completely a tourist trap, and they are some rich guys escape from the big city and an excellent opportunity to make some money off of people who are trying to experience the life of a cowboy. Real cowboys own crappy pickup trucks, have strong hands that look like 20 miles of bad road, probably don't talk a whole bunch, skin like leather.... they look like they've done a days work. They have a horse that means more to them than their crappy truck. And a lot of them think they are tougher than everyone else. And... some of them are not very personable at all, just like people from every demographic.
RGlass, I had to laugh at your comment about wearing chaps when its 70 degrees or warmer.... I never understood that either. From function to accessories..... whatever, you won't catch me wearing them. I even asked a guy one time what the deal was, and he said "protection". I kind of laughed and said, if you fall off your bike going 60.... the last thing I'd be thinking about is road rash.... then I saw how thin his protection was and told him that I did indeed understand his concern for road rash because he literally had to protection. My guess, they are to keep splattered bugs off your jeans.
As for the ranches, a lot of dude ranches are exactly as you described. Completely a tourist trap, and they are some rich guys escape from the big city and an excellent opportunity to make some money off of people who are trying to experience the life of a cowboy. Real cowboys own crappy pickup trucks, have strong hands that look like 20 miles of bad road, probably don't talk a whole bunch, skin like leather.... they look like they've done a days work. They have a horse that means more to them than their crappy truck. And a lot of them think they are tougher than everyone else. And... some of them are not very personable at all, just like people from every demographic.
RGlass, I had to laugh at your comment about wearing chaps when its 70 degrees or warmer.... I never understood that either. From function to accessories..... whatever, you won't catch me wearing them. I even asked a guy one time what the deal was, and he said "protection". I kind of laughed and said, if you fall off your bike going 60.... the last thing I'd be thinking about is road rash.... then I saw how thin his protection was and told him that I did indeed understand his concern for road rash because he literally had to protection. My guess, they are to keep splattered bugs off your jeans.
I too had to laugh at the cowboy wanna be scenario. Where I live we too have lots of the real Mccoy. Real cowboys who make their living on ranches outside of town, are heavily involved in the rodeo circuit etc.
Every year in July we have something here called the Calgary Stampede. I believe it is one of the biggest Rodeo's in North America..huge big deal. It also turns the city into one big party for 10 days. So we get all the guys coming into town, add a cowboy hat and alcohol...well, safe to say they also tend to get themselves in a tad bit of trouble..lol. Think they are the real thing cause they stayed on the mechanical bull for 10 seconds. It's pretty funny to watch.
The bikes and bikers don't bother me at all. I personally am terrified to get on the back of one..lol. But I really don't have any opinion one way or the other. We have some of the more serious organized groups in town and I find they don't tend to bother others. And many do a lot of great work for charity, particularly the childrens charities. Anyone that does that is a good person in my book.
Every year in July we have something here called the Calgary Stampede. I believe it is one of the biggest Rodeo's in North America..huge big deal. It also turns the city into one big party for 10 days. So we get all the guys coming into town, add a cowboy hat and alcohol...well, safe to say they also tend to get themselves in a tad bit of trouble..lol. Think they are the real thing cause they stayed on the mechanical bull for 10 seconds. It's pretty funny to watch.
The bikes and bikers don't bother me at all. I personally am terrified to get on the back of one..lol. But I really don't have any opinion one way or the other. We have some of the more serious organized groups in town and I find they don't tend to bother others. And many do a lot of great work for charity, particularly the childrens charities. Anyone that does that is a good person in my book.
awwww stop I love that tough cowboy image ..and the real American biker image ..dont spoil it for me ......lol
ha ha ok, I had to laugh at the cowboy thing. Some of us will never be a cowboy(girl) but do have a romantic image of the whole thing. (obviously because we are not the ones doing the work). You can thank television and books for our fairytale image of cowboys and girls. (all look great and all stand up for whats right). My guess is the majority of people that show up playing dress up, are just wishing for a taste of that fairytale. I love reading about the old days. I think things seem more peacefull and their beleifs were closer to mine, but I know its an image and not reality. Still, I tell my husband when I get healed I want to go to Montana, or Wyoming and experience a working horse ranch for a week. Just a silly dream. I have looked at the ranches on line and they look nothing like what I had expected. They look like rich people with fancy homes they rent out to us suckers. Some of the people are quite overweight, and old, and dont look like they do manual labor- and -well nothing like I envisioned.
I am sure the pretenders dont mean to insult the real deal. I would be honered if someone wanted to dress up like me (ha ha it would be quite easy )--anyway--- if I ever make it your state, I may wear a cowboy hat, but you will have no problem knowing I am not the real deal. I will be the one in the jeans and hat standing next to the horse getting my picture taken. ha ha did you get that? (next to-- not on) LOL Who knows though, maybe I will actually have the courage to do what I have always wanted to do, which includes riding). If only I could look like Faith Hill too. lol
Do you do any writing? I saw the scene in my mind a I read that sentence.
(The real cowboy will often pick up the other guy, dust him off, put his little hat back on him and tell him "welcome to Wyoming". )
I am sure the pretenders dont mean to insult the real deal. I would be honered if someone wanted to dress up like me (ha ha it would be quite easy )--anyway--- if I ever make it your state, I may wear a cowboy hat, but you will have no problem knowing I am not the real deal. I will be the one in the jeans and hat standing next to the horse getting my picture taken. ha ha did you get that? (next to-- not on) LOL Who knows though, maybe I will actually have the courage to do what I have always wanted to do, which includes riding). If only I could look like Faith Hill too. lol
Do you do any writing? I saw the scene in my mind a I read that sentence.
(The real cowboy will often pick up the other guy, dust him off, put his little hat back on him and tell him "welcome to Wyoming". )
RGlass, I respect your opinion on the matter. I personally know a lot of the bikers that have "cleaned up the biker image". I'm not trying to offend you. I don't even know you. Chances are, we'd probably get along real well. I'm not saying it is a bad thing to "be a biker", but I am saying that a huge portion of todays bikers are weekend warriors at best. And you know what, that's ok.... I just have a disdain for people who claim to be bikers and trailer their bikes to say just outside of Sturgis, then ride around for a few days. Those, in my opinion arent bikers. Those are people that ride.... there is a difference. The bikers I know ride all of the time. Their bike is their transportation
I was in the bar business for 20 years in a community that served as a pit stop for west coast people riding to Sturgis for the annual bike rally. Every year I've seen at least 100-300 middle aged dudes who put on a leather vest and a do-rag, and miraculously transform into Super Biker!!!! They try to drink more whiskey, they try to rape and pillage, and they buy tough sounding t-shirts with sayings like, "If you can read this, the b**ch fell off." These middle aged tuff guys are the one's who always thought that after a few whiskeys or beers that I would be a good guy to go pick a fight with.... Those guys are idiots and these ***-hats are exactly the reason I'd never ride. I'd hate to be lumped into a group like that. I personally don't have the time to hang out with weekend warriors, or anyone portraying themselves as something they are not. If your main mode of transportation is a Mercedes or BMW, you're really not a biker... just a guy who rides. And that is ok.
Where I live, we get all kinds of people who come out, buy a cowboy hat, and are all of a sudden the toughest S.O.B's on the planet... like some of the "bikers" I mentioned, the outfit makes them tougher. The fact of the matter is, these clowns don't know the difference between chicken and chicken $hit and quite often allow their mouths and new cowboy hat to get themselves in a lot of trouble. They'll inevitably run their mouth off to a real cowboy and then get their a$$es handed to them.... and its nothing personal. The real cowboy will often pick up the other guy, dust him off, put his little hat back on him and tell him "welcome to Wyoming".
Maybe I am getting too old at the tender age of 44.
I was in the bar business for 20 years in a community that served as a pit stop for west coast people riding to Sturgis for the annual bike rally. Every year I've seen at least 100-300 middle aged dudes who put on a leather vest and a do-rag, and miraculously transform into Super Biker!!!! They try to drink more whiskey, they try to rape and pillage, and they buy tough sounding t-shirts with sayings like, "If you can read this, the b**ch fell off." These middle aged tuff guys are the one's who always thought that after a few whiskeys or beers that I would be a good guy to go pick a fight with.... Those guys are idiots and these ***-hats are exactly the reason I'd never ride. I'd hate to be lumped into a group like that. I personally don't have the time to hang out with weekend warriors, or anyone portraying themselves as something they are not. If your main mode of transportation is a Mercedes or BMW, you're really not a biker... just a guy who rides. And that is ok.
Where I live, we get all kinds of people who come out, buy a cowboy hat, and are all of a sudden the toughest S.O.B's on the planet... like some of the "bikers" I mentioned, the outfit makes them tougher. The fact of the matter is, these clowns don't know the difference between chicken and chicken $hit and quite often allow their mouths and new cowboy hat to get themselves in a lot of trouble. They'll inevitably run their mouth off to a real cowboy and then get their a$$es handed to them.... and its nothing personal. The real cowboy will often pick up the other guy, dust him off, put his little hat back on him and tell him "welcome to Wyoming".
Maybe I am getting too old at the tender age of 44.
For the Record, I don't think any pipes are designed to operate if they suck.
I couldn’t imagine quitting riding because I don’t feel that others are living up to my expectations.. I would have to question, why I am riding? Is it because I love to Ride or is it The Image, I love to Ride.
I’ve been riding for years. The Weekend Warriors and Rolex Riders don’t bother me at all. I’ve never seen one claim to a 1%, They just want to enjoy the open road and ride with their friends (I don’t get wearing chaps in 70 Degree weather). They’ve also helped clean up the Biker image. In the 70s/80s there were several places that Bikers weren’t welcome. Now we are welcome just about anywhere.
I couldn’t imagine quitting riding because I don’t feel that others are living up to my expectations.. I would have to question, why I am riding? Is it because I love to Ride or is it The Image, I love to Ride.
I’ve been riding for years. The Weekend Warriors and Rolex Riders don’t bother me at all. I’ve never seen one claim to a 1%, They just want to enjoy the open road and ride with their friends (I don’t get wearing chaps in 70 Degree weather). They’ve also helped clean up the Biker image. In the 70s/80s there were several places that Bikers weren’t welcome. Now we are welcome just about anywhere.
I used to like bikes back in the day before they turned into the easiest way to handle a mid life crisis or when the yuppies found them. (I am not calling anyone out or pointing fingers.) There used to be a day when a biker was a biker. If he didn't build the thing he was riding, he could fix it with the few tools he had on him.
Nowadays, your tuff biker is a dentist from Aspen who lets his beard grow for a week, trailers his harley to sturgis and rides around for about 4 days..... loud pipes suck
Nowadays, your tuff biker is a dentist from Aspen who lets his beard grow for a week, trailers his harley to sturgis and rides around for about 4 days..... loud pipes suck
You never cease to amaze me.........
Thats terrible! Glad you are ok now
I wrecked in 2005 and it was quite serious - it happened on Mother's Day. Crushed my right leg and suffered severe brain trauma. That explains a lot I suppose.
I still ride.
Mike
I still ride.
Mike
Don't mind the Harley's (or other makes) with the low, smooth "rumble" - that actually sounds cool -- it's the crotch rockets that drive me nuts...........
I would like a Harley not going to happen now in this economy..but who knows in the future if small business picks up again .
<<<<<<< Harley with Straight Pipes.
Oh, thats awful! Glad you are better now!
Not so fast! Teko got rolled on a bike a few years back and has a plastic knee to prove it! I think it the most dangerous thing in the world (NOW), yep they say hind site is always 20/20, but before that happened I had a ball! Took me almost a year before I could walk normally again.....Not cool
I LOVE IT! Not surprised at all! You and Teko bikes and shotguns. lol
Well mine was not a Harley it was a Kawasaki 250 loved it , would like one again , it embarrassed my daughter that her mom rode a bike she would always ask me to come by car for the school evenings ...I thought it looked cool and spiffy swinging up in a leather jacket on a Motorbike ..kids are funny ...lol
One is annoying but oddly enuff when they get together in masses especially when doing a special event like a charity, it is pretty darn Kool, as long as they be Harleys that is.
Loud motorcycles are obnoxious and annoy the heck out of me. I'm as American as apple-pie, and as manly as they come (although I'm very much in touch with my feminine side), but those extremely loud, rumble-rumble-rumble Harley's, bug the ever living crap out of me.
I think there should be restrictions on just how loud and rumble-rumble obnoxious those things can be. If I can't smoke in public, because people don't want to be subjected to second-hand cigarette smoke (which I fully agree with and respect non-smokers and their rights to clean, smoke-free air), then I'm not sure why it's okay that my ears be subjected to the noise that some motorcycles produce.
Non-smokers can simply walk away, or ask a smoker not to smoke or to leave the area. It's difficult to just walk-away from a motorcycle that's running beside you, or in your neighbors driveway. And just try and ask a motorcycle rider to turn off his/her bike because it offends your ears.
I'm not opposed to motorcycles at all, just the REALLY loud and obnoxious ones that set off car-alarms.
And the pricks that ride them seem to get off on the fact that they're annoying people.
IT HURTS MY EARS... turn it off.
I think there should be restrictions on just how loud and rumble-rumble obnoxious those things can be. If I can't smoke in public, because people don't want to be subjected to second-hand cigarette smoke (which I fully agree with and respect non-smokers and their rights to clean, smoke-free air), then I'm not sure why it's okay that my ears be subjected to the noise that some motorcycles produce.
Non-smokers can simply walk away, or ask a smoker not to smoke or to leave the area. It's difficult to just walk-away from a motorcycle that's running beside you, or in your neighbors driveway. And just try and ask a motorcycle rider to turn off his/her bike because it offends your ears.
I'm not opposed to motorcycles at all, just the REALLY loud and obnoxious ones that set off car-alarms.
And the pricks that ride them seem to get off on the fact that they're annoying people.
IT HURTS MY EARS... turn it off.
I ride a Harley and my bike is loud but not extremely loud. I hate V-Twins running drag pipes. I won't ride behind one or in a group if there is a bike with drag pipes. Drag pipes are just brutal - they're painful.
Mike
Mike
My alarm is often set off by bikes,LOL thanks R Glass
Honestly,I love motorbikes,my son-in-law rides a Harley
Honestly,I love motorbikes,my son-in-law rides a Harley
Well, why am I not surprised with that Mr. Glass? lol
Margy? I learn something new every day. lol
Well, I have to say I actually have a soft side for motorcycles and 18 wheelers. (are they still called that?) I always think they are very American.
Ok, and without stirring up a hornets next amongst all my lefty friends, and a bit off subject, I find it refreshing to see men looking like men. (please oh please dont take my statement wrong) (of course I am not particularly fond of all of their behavior).
Margy? I learn something new every day. lol
Well, I have to say I actually have a soft side for motorcycles and 18 wheelers. (are they still called that?) I always think they are very American.
Ok, and without stirring up a hornets next amongst all my lefty friends, and a bit off subject, I find it refreshing to see men looking like men. (please oh please dont take my statement wrong) (of course I am not particularly fond of all of their behavior).
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