So..what is the deal b/w Harley v. Ducati riders?

[CharliesAngel]

So I went on my first overnight ride to Napa, Calistoga, Mendocino, Skaggs, Jenner and Petaluma this weekend - 500 miles of awesomeness, I'm a bit sore but a much happier and slightly more experienced rider after this weekend!    [moto]

At a little breakfast joint in Mendocino yesterday, I sat down next to some Harley riders.  I had on my new Duc t-shirt and so one of the Harley riders asked if I rode a Ducati.  I pointed to my SS which was parked next to one of their bikes and we made some small talk about which routes we respectively took to get there (they rode from SF as well).  I said that I really enjoyed parts of Hwy 128 - that the curvy roads really allowed me to go a bit faster than the usual twisties that I take in Marin.  Then one of the 3 riders asked if I had on my "training wheels"...    My friend who I rode up there with quickly made some smart come-back (I am the world's terrible come-back person, I usually think of a something to say 2 weeks after the fact  ) about him needing training wheels more...we stopped talking to each other at that point...

So my question is - what is the deal between Harley riders and the rest of us?  And why don't we all wave at each other - why is it that Harley riders (and other riders that ride that genre of bikes) don't really acknowledge us on the roads?

Of course, on the ride out , we passed these guys and they waved us to go past.  Incensed me nearly low-sides going into a turn to quickly in trying to blow past one of them...that would have been really embarassing after the training wheel comment... and I know...really stupid of me! 

[ROBsS4R]

I am not sure what the deal is but I don't think it is US Ducati riders.

#1 least waved back to is Motorcycle cops.
#2 Least waved back is Harley's

#1 most A hole related Maneuvers Harley's

I wave to anything on 2 wheels with an engine. Okay I wold wave at Paula if I saw her on her bicycle but that's where it ends =)

Just the other day I was buzzed by a Harley guy wearing a Half Helmet and no gear. I was splitting lanes at a safe speed. He decided to splits lanes at at least twice if note 3 times the speed limit.

[Kaveh]

*my* experience is that the "trendy fair weather" harley riders are teh ones with the 'tude problem.  The gritty. salty hardcore Harley riders are motorcycle people first and foremost and they rather see someone one 2 wheels over 4 any day, much like us.  You should ask them how many miles they put on in a year, that'll usually shut them up.  If they actually give a number out, ask what percentage of that is on trips?  What I'm getting at is these garage queen harleys only get out once in awhile and 95% of their milage is done in big bursts.

[CharliesAngel]

Just the other day I was buzzed by a Harley guy wearing a Half Helmet and no gear. I was splitting lanes at a safe speed. He decided to splits lanes at at least twice if note 3 times the speed limit.

Well, between your Harley guy and *that* Harley guy that made that comment deserves all the big/gooey bugs that he can get splattered on his half helmetted face!

[Jaman]

Congrats on the ride, those are some great roads, and what a beautiful weekend to be doing them!!    

Hopefully, the traffic wasn't too bad...  [moto]

My take on the deal with the majority of HD guys is this:  

We ride because we love motorcycles, and for me, it doesn't matter (too much) WHAT kind of bike I'm riding, I will have fun & enjoy it.

My impression of HD guys is that they are more about image, and comraderie within their group, with the fun/thrill of being on a bike being a little further down the list.  Those not on HDs are just not quite "cool" enough, we just don't "get it".  As Ducati riders, we rate just slightly above all other makes outside of HD universe, due to the non-Japanese twin factor.

I still wave.

[CharliesAngel]

Congrats on the ride, those are some great roads, and what a beautiful weekend to be doing them!!    

Hopefully, the traffic wasn't too bad...  [moto]

It was HOT - 94 degrees inland and then 60-70 degrees by the coast.  Just bought a three-layer Rev-It leather/textile jacket and it handled the multitude of weather perfectly! 
Although I did see a gal riding cupcake and she had really short shorts on = no gear whastoever! 
The traffic wasn't bad at all!

I still wave.

A very close friend rides a Harley, he's a great guy.  Therefore I will still wave.  I hate to attribute it to this factor...but maybe...just a small maybe...it's the girl factor riding the Duc...

[duckwrench13]

Q: What do dogs and Harleys have in common?

A: They both love riding in the back of a truck.


Q: What's the difference between a vacuum cleaner and a Harley?

A: The way the dirt bag is mounted!


Q: What do vacuums and Harleys have in common?

A: They both require a dirt bag to operate!

[Desmostro]

I’ve been impressed with Hardley riders in SF. They usually wave back – some even initiate.
However, I've gotten the worst attitude from Hardley riders most consistently. Their behavior is usually demonstrative of one who’s desperate to prove something. Leaning on brand association for support they tend to tout that their brand is the best without any particular supportive argument what-so ever. What-ever. The brand identity seems to be "fat bone head." To each his own.

Squid on hog.
This weekend I was riding I 50 and ran into a big group of Hardley's from Oakland. They seemed rather banal. So I cruzed with them for a while. They road in a tight staggered line until one of them started doing giant weaves with in his lane. Everyone kind of gave him a bunch of room. Then he road within a couple of feet of a concrete construction barricade and put his hand out to brush it but couldn’t maneuver close enough. So he streeeeeeetched further out his hand and missed it. I wonder how many tenths of seconds it would have taken to grind through his thin gloves down through his skin at 70MPH.

I waved adieu and bolted ahead for lack of any reason to stick around.

[Jaman]

Q: What do dogs and Harleys have in common?
A: They both love riding in the back of a truck.

Q: What's the difference between a vacuum cleaner and a Harley?
A: The way the dirt bag is mounted!

Q: What do vacuums and Harleys have in common?
A: They both require a dirt bag to operate!

reminds me of 2 t-shirts I have somewhere "Hardley Movin Muthaf-ers" over the Harley insignia, and another that says, "if they made a plane, would you fly in it?

[MendoDave]

Where did you eat at in Mendo?

[johnc]

i don't believe the lack of a wave back from most harley riders is due to their attitude ... i believe they are afraid of taking their hand off the handlebar, for fear of crashing ... and most of them could not lift a downed bike (and certainly NOT a hog) by their lonesome self.

seriously ... most harley riders today are RUBs ... they have not been riding long, and most likely don't know to wave back.

[MendoDave]

I had one Harley rider almost become  a hood ornament on the Chrysler.

[ROBsS4R]

I got an initiated wave by a Harley rider today. Made me feel all warm and IZ_ inside 

Or maybe he was just gesturing to change lanes 

[enzo]

Ya know, it doesn't matter what people ride, blah blah blah.  There are just as many noobs and douche's riding Ducs and Honduh's...

BUT,

I was riding up 88 a couple of years ago, just like Desmostro did this weekend, and got stuck behind two cruuuusin' Harley's.  No biggie.  We all ride our ride, there wasn't a safe place to pass, and they were making no efforts.  I just waited for the next passing lane, 'cept when it came, they each took a lane and cruised it like Ponch and John in their later years.  Didn't leave me with many options for the pass, so I had no problem splitting them with as loud a roar as possible, only wishing I could do a highway speed one handed stand up wheelie so I could give them the finger with style.  Apparently one of them swerved like crazy when I sped by, so mission accomplished: sportbikers are immature hotheads and Harley riders are geriatric blockheads.

Yeah, not sure why some Harleys dislike sportbikes.

[somegirl]

I wave to them all anyway, some wave back, and the others I just figure it's a bad moment for them to let go with one hand.

The Harley riders in CA seem to be more friendly than the ones I saw in Germany.