"The Power of the TEST RIDE"

[Veloce-Fino]

I am way over the "don't wave back" thing from the Harley crowd. My new motto: First wave, then finger.

seriously?

[duccarlos]

You're all a bunch of poseurs and I don't wave at pousers. Or is that posers? Either way...

[poseur]

I'm the real poseur....

[Speedbag]

As far as HD, I would consider owning a VRod.  That's about the only one that I *really* like.  Most VRod owners are more sport bike crowd types it seems from those I have encountered ~

JM

My '06 VRSCR (the one that handles, feel free to google) remains my favorite overall bike ever.

[the_Journeyman]

The HD crowd thinks I am a squid. The Jap bike crowd thinks I am an old guy with an expensive bike (mine really isn't that expensive).

I get this.  They wave back when I'm on my M750 (round headlight fools 'em ) they won't wave back when I'm on my 900SS since I'm just another "crotch rocket."

Many people come up talking about how much the bike must have cost.  They don't realize I by cheap, used bikes

My '06 VRSCR (the one that handles, feel free to google) remains my favorite overall bike ever.

I've only ridden one, that it was back before there were 50 different variations to choose from.  It handled great, but I was a little uncomfortable since the owner had put forward controls on it and my not-so-tall frame could barely reach the foot controls 

JM

[dennisd]

A few points I'd like to make before I comment on this subject.  First, I'll not Harley bash; as you can see from my signature, I own and ride one.  Harley makes a bike that does what it was designed to do and it does it fairly competently.  But I must also say, Harley is a VERY good marketing company.  It was their accessories and clothing lines that saved them from going under right before the buy out by Willie G and the other execs.  I'd also like to point out that while I do ride one and have owned others in my life, I don't worship at the alter of Harley like so many do.  I also would like to point out that the most passionate owners seem to be the new rider.  The new rider does seem to fall prey to all the hype that surrounds Harley.

That being said; why wouldn't Harley take advantage of the hype when trying to get someone to buy their product?  And again; this is especially true of the new rider (or even a former owner of another brand that is moving to a Harley), why not use the hype to their advantage?  It's smart business.  What would you expect them to do?

Now one final point I'd like to make.  I witness more and more that the Harley rider has an attitude about his riding skill.  I see it more in the new rider with 3 years or less experience than in a seasoned rider, but they seem to feel that since they are riding the "ultimate" motorcycle, their riding skills must be the ultimate also.  Their attitude seems to get in the way of wanting to learn riding skills.  That is what I find most distressing.

[duccarlos]

A few points I'd like to make before I comment on this subject.  First, I'll not Harley bash; as you can see from my signature, I own and ride one.  Harley makes a bike that does what it was designed to do and it does it fairly competently.  But I must also say, Harley is a VERY good marketing company.  It was their accessories and clothing lines that saved them from going under right before the buy out by Willie G and the other execs.  I'd also like to point out that while I do ride one and have owned others in my life, I don't worship at the alter of Harley like so many do.  I also would like to point out that the most passionate owners seem to be the new rider.  The new rider does seem to fall prey to all the hype that surrounds Harley.

That being said; why wouldn't Harley take advantage of the hype when trying to get someone to buy their product?  And again; this is especially true of the new rider (or even a former owner of another brand that is moving to a Harley), why not use the hype to their advantage?  It's smart business.  What would you expect them to do?

Now one final point I'd like to make.  I witness more and more that the Harley rider has an attitude about his riding skill.  I see it more in the new rider with 3 years or less experience than in a seasoned rider, but they seem to feel that since they are riding the "ultimate" motorcycle, their riding skills must be the ultimate also.  Their attitude seems to get in the way of wanting to learn riding skills.  That is what I find most distressing.

Funny how if we replace "Harley" with "Ducati", it still makes sense.

[avizpls]

maybe for some. I ride a ducati. and a triumph. and a kawasaki. And a honda. and another kawasaki. And....a harley.

They are motorcycles. The "lifestyle" is the same for all of them. At least it should be.

[needtorque]

I have nothing against Harley.  They are a business and as such use the most effective means possible to make money.  For Harley (and in a large way Ducati as well) this means selling an image.  What I will say is this, I have met and been subbed by riders of all makes and models but Harley riders seem to be the most frequent source of a snub. 

I wave to other riders in 99.9% of situations.  I will not wave if it causes me to be unsafe for any reason but most times I try to.  I cannot remember the last time a Harley rider waved back.  Kids and lidless morons on Jap bikes will always wave back but Harley riders dont.  If one gets behind me for a bit and we happen to stop side-by-side I might get a nod from him (likely in recognition of the sound) but other than that there is zero recognition from them that I am a fellow enthusiast. 

I am left with the feeling that perhaps Harley riders lack the confidence to even remove a couple fingers from the bars for fear they will lose control of the motorcycle.  There are some stuck-up riders in any brand but from what I have seen even us nerdy Ducatisti will talk about our bikes with anyone who asks. Obviously if they are asking the mindnumbingly retarded questions such as: "how fast does it go?", "who makes that?", "those are expensive" then they might get a smartassed reply but most people lately seem to be getting more educated about Ducati or maybe I have just been more fortunate recently. 

[Rameses]

I see it more in the new rider with 3 years or less experience than in a seasoned rider, but they seem to feel that since they are riding the "ultimate" motorcycle, their riding skills must be the ultimate also.  Their attitude seems to get in the way of wanting to learn riding skills.  That is what I find most distressing.

We all know what happens next.

[M1100]

I don't know how this got from a "test ride" thread to a "he won't wave at me" thread, but I like it   

Here is my $0.02, I always wave at a motorcyclist unless I cannot due to my or others safety being compromised.  When I am on either of my bikes, I wave....  I almost always get waves back from all categories of motorcyclists.  Maybe it is just that I wave first???

Here are my rides.




Before tail tidy....

[muskrat]

man, don't know where everyone lives but apparently the area is full of assholes. 
I always wave and 99% of the time they wave back whether on my Harley or Duc, hell even the Vespa gets waves.  Time for you guys to move to "nicer" parts of the US. 


Duccarlos
"
Funny how if we replace "Harley" with "Ducati", it still makes sense."

How true. 

[M1100]

I'm in Denver--everybody is happy here! 

[duccarlos]

I'm in Florida that's full of NY assholes.

[muskrat]

I'm in Florida that's full of NY assholes.

move to AZ.