NOT SORRY TO REVIVE THIS THREAD HE HE LOL maybe im in the 1% but hell what a buzz TO SWOOP PAST A GAGGLE OF HD's an see their front ends wobble as the hurricane disapeers otta sight !!!sorry bros what a rush HELLS BELLS IT'S THE SAME HERE (HD BASHING) AN NOT WAVING

* Last updated by: bean07 on 3/23/2011 @ 11:41 PM *

Yeah totally agree Bean, only drama is they are usually big ugly mean f@#$ers, and seriously lack a sense of humour, but then I guess that's even more inspiration to gun it.

I have noticed most of the same things.

There is a lady at work who rides a HD and last summer she started giving me shit about ricerocket this and crotchrocket that. Her main premise was sportbikes are involved in the majority of fatal motorcycle accidents. I don't know why she thought that, other than to prove her brand and ego were superior.

Its not just men who turn into assholes when they buy HDs.

So over the rest of the summer, several times a week, I found news clippings online in the tri-state region around us of motorcycle accidents. After three months, I handed her the stack. She said, what is this, JR? I said, the last two months worth of motorcycle accidents. 70% of them involved HDs. 10% involved mopeds and scooters. 20% involved sportbikes. And I pointed out that HDs only represent 10% of total motorcycle ownership. That could be wrong by now.

She has never since started that worn out rant again.

Then there is the guy in my MC with the built HD, and I have to admit, for an HD, that engine is sweet. He probably has 140 hp at least. A couple of times on rides he was sweep, and I was in front of him, and at T intersections, he'd try to keep up with me if we had to wait for a few cars and the group got a ways down the road. It always pleased me to be up with the group and see his light vainly trying to keep pace. He stopped doing that after a while, too.

See, they aren't really stupid, just slow.

I'm not going to get on the HD bash bandwagon, but I think it's funny when the mainstream media or just folks talking refer to the 'recent sport bike crash' (which seem on the rise the last few year here) and condemn us all for making the roads a dangerous place to be. What they don't want to admit is every sport bike accident involves one person and normally is not the result of a collision with another motorist but rather a missed turn and a guardrail! Yet how many times have I been out in the boonies cruising along minding my own buisiness when all of a sudden the local bar lets out and a dozen HD roll out in front of me with no regard, actually disregard, for me and I follow them as they swerve drunkenly, shouting back and forth at each other, the women on the back tossing things to each other, and doing whatever slow speed they happen to manage with four pitchers of Busch Light clouding their vision. I never ever hear anyone in the media or in conversations talking about that. It's like we got Orange County Choppers and Monster Garage and all of a sudden HD bikers are the way they are and we love em for it and expect no less so it's ok.

My very good friend has a bagger and he and his wife and my wife and I love to go on bike rides together. He started life out on Hondas so he has more of an open mind. Myself, I've had every type of bike minus the HD. But someday when I settle down more and can afford it I would like an Ultra Classic for myself. But I noticed when I had my 1600 Roadstar with straight pipes we all had a much better time because he felt more comfortable and when I sold it they wanted to see me get a HD. When I was shopping for a new bike last year I looked at the Ultra Classic because I wanted something my wife and I could ride together on with comfort but I just couldn't justify the expense for what I was getting at this point in my life. So I got the 14 and made it work for half the price. Well I found out that my friend was talking amongst his HD brethren and made a comment that he just couldn't understand why someone would need so much power and that eventually it would get the best of me. I think I was more offended that he had so little faith in my riding skill than his contempt for my bike, but it made me realize one thing. We all chose the bike that best fits our particular tastes. However, I think there are people who don't think they can handle too much performance because they don't trust themselves with it and that means a lack of discipline which to stay alive is a prerequisite riding the monster of all motorcycles!

So when it comes down to dealing with HD riders or anyone who seems like they have a chip on their shoulder for my preference, I treat them with pity like a dog with three legs.

Yes, your a dog just like the rest of us,
but you'll never be capable of running with the best of us. :)

* Last updated by: Edgecrusher on 3/24/2011 @ 6:27 AM *

just approaching my first year with my zx14 I will say it amazes me. I rode sport bikes in the late 70's to the early 90's and been on my harley since then the last 20 years. This bike has more power then I can use but I love the feeling of it accelerating out of a corner. I totally understand the allure of the HD, not necessarily the baggers but I like the custom lowriders with drag bars. Fun at 45 mph. however when I ride my FXDC I'm always taken back a bit by how poor the handling is compared to the ZX14. Then I settle in for a nice slow putt around the country side. for a excitement the ZX14 is far ahead its not even funny

South Park Harley FAGs

Damn that cracks me up every time

throttle jockeys crack me up! Unfortunately, there are plenty of SB riders who do the same thing.

You guys will hate me for this post... Well, I hope not anyhow..I am a fan of Sportbikes and Custom Cruisers. To me they each have their place in my life. My biggest problem is I enjoy riding both bikes. I certainly haven't bought into the HD lifestyle, nor does it interest me much.
The V-Rod gives me the Hot Rod, cruiser fix when I need it and of course my 14 takes care of everything else AMAZINGLY! I do wish there was more acceptance out there amongst all riders as riders, not so much what you ride. It's ashame that some guys have to be a!@#$% holes out on the road and judge you for what your riding. I wave to everyone regardless of what their on.
Funny pulling up to get gas last week on the V-rod, and getting a few punk ass looks from a GSXR 600 guy. Thought to myself "If you only knew what else was parked in my garage" LOL I'd love to have a custom license plate frame that says "My other bike is a ZX-14!"

So this is my "Dark Side" ride. This came about because I got a good deal on it, and basically the previous owner spent all his $$ doing 90% of the mods I would have done to it. Basically, I bought it solely for cruisin' and well when I wanna stare at some completely overpriced chrome parts hahahaha.

* Last updated by: kdii02 on 3/24/2011 @ 9:18 AM *

Sweet bike....do you feel snubbed by Harley people because your engine isn't the usual hawg V, always figured they discriminate against that Porsche design...especially since its superior

Thanks man, Oh definitely, The V-Rod is the Outlaw HD!! LOL The real "HD Bikers" hate it when I fly on by with a full face Shoei to boot!!
But I like it that way. At least when I crack the throttle on it, it does move out pretty well. Nothing "Hyperspeed" like the 14, but I never expected that when I bought it either.

Edgecrusher wrote:

throttle jockeys crack me up! Unfortunately, there are plenty of SB riders who do the same thing.

Sometimes I pull up beside a bike at a light and they are blipping their throttle.

I look at them, wait til they look over, then say, "Whats wrong, won't it idle?"

Nobody has taken real offense, yet, so Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson haven't had to be introducted to anyone.

Then you have a bike like many of us have, that lopes at idle, and anyone that knows engines can hear the horsepower.

I always seem to need to let my engine scream when I pull away from Harley bars ......huh....just seems like she wants to say bye to those nice folks standing around outside

"Scream when pulling away from Harley Bars"...."lopes at idle"...youse guys...funny stuff

When them yayhoos pull up next to me at a traffic light and start blippin the throttle, I just start smilin inside my full coverage helmet. I like to let them go ahead and pull out first with pipes blarin and kind of stay off the throttle until they hit about 80 mph and start runnin out of motor....then I light the afterburner and suck them clowns into my wake vortex.....yeeeeeehaww! I can just see 'em when they get back to Billy Bobs or Redneck Heaven or whatever watering hole they congregate at...."you shoulda seen me, I pulled a ZX-14 off the line today.....yea right!

Personally, I love most anything motorized on two wheels (and sometimes three). What kills me is the folks that are judgemental because you (meaning me) haven't bought the H-D Kool-Aid and instead opted for cheaper, faster, more efficient/economical. Now, while I may like most anything on two wheels, that doesn't mean you'll likely see me owning a cruiser any time soon. They're just not my bag. Concours? FJR? Spring GT? Maybe. There's just something about having your feet so far forward that's wrong to me. I feel more in control on my bike.

My mate warned me last time we went out in the hills ! Steve I seen those HD's way in front (I couldn't help my self I had a run-in with some many years ago (1985) they called me "Space Cadet" ( CBX750F )I gave one of them a race 8ks down the highway and back to the pub I got my gear off and a pint then went out side to laugh at him in front of a group of still well known outlaws HD f-heads anyway he turned up got off an proceded to bash me,lucky for me this really big dirty guy said SAID TO LEAVE ME ALONE AS HE BEAT YA FAIR N SQUARE) I have more so a hate to all outlaw bikie gangs! they mostly straddle HD's AN HOG THE LANES, anyway to cut my long story short last year I seen these bikers in front of me, and just had to real them in very quick and scare the dickens outta them then gradually my mates caught me, we stopped to get a coffee etc. an Goody came up to me an said you better stop doing that! I said he said dont ya know know their starting to have 1-2 with the big-bang R1's ! ya joking mate! he said nah a friend of a friend said their sick of SB's doing what you/us do so their arming them selves with R1's! bullshit mate! nah true dude,that was on my 04BB was quick but new R1 ,s I know not all that ride these antiqated buckets are from gangs, it,s more so the mass of underworld type I dislike alot for obvious reasons,I USED TO WAVE/NOD at any bike rider in the past but draw the line when it comes to this sort,which seems to be most of em!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERE4J7JxZ4s

* Last updated by: blue07 on 3/24/2011 @ 8:24 PM *

ELLOQUENT blue07

A number of years ago when I had my '98 ZZR1100 a mate had a Harley, nice looking bike I have to admit, although I'm no expert I believe it was a Fatboy. Anyway a popular ride over here in Perth is the Mundaring Weir Road, country road that leads to a quaint little country pub, we swapped rides for a Day. Anyway long story short I was shaken to bits by the vibrations, deafened by the noise and scared shitless by the lack of brakes. An exercise I really dont want to repeat. Deano my mate, traded the Harley a few week later on a shiny new ZZR.

And the moral of the story is not all Harley riders are wankers (although I agree with Bean, most are)they just havent been educated yet

You mean to tell me they got these idiot, wannabe outlaw packs mounted on H-Ds in your country too? I thought the whole H-D, bad boy, out law thing was confined to the U.S. but it sounds like a world wide phenomenon.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 3/25/2011 @ 6:36 AM *

assist for blue
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERE4J7JxZ4s

What kills me is the folks that are judgemental because you (meaning me) haven't bought the H-D Kool-Aid and instead opted for cheaper, faster, more efficient/economical.

I know a couple of great guys that just happen to own an H-D but I've also noticed that they don't dress up like pirates on the weekend and don't hang out in packs at the local watering hole/topless bar. They're just regular Joes who like to ride and settled on a Harley. Non-judgemental, they ride their bikes and keep any comments to themselves and that's fine, to each his own. The pack guys are the ones that tend to have the "Harley attitude" and I try to steer clear of them (when I'm not blowing them off the road..LOL!).

Oh yeah, about half of my buddies all ride cruisers and most of them HD iron....my best buddy rides a big dog...and he wants a Busa...but we all know he would kill himself so we dont go there...but you know theres racism even in the family..LOL

I quote the OP:
Lots of noise coming out of his pipes, but no perceptible increase in his speed. So he's probably 400 pounds heavier than I am and has 100 fewer horsepower.
I pass him like he's standing still and I have plenty of time to brake for a safe entry into the next corner.
So here's my question: Why do they even try ??? -bg

Oh I DO miss these Harley threads from the days of yore. I had a pickup truck pass me and the passenger turn all the way around and look at me so of course, I'm obligated to give them a show. I noticed there was some other bike closing on us too. So a quick downshift and ZOOM around the truck way out in front, hammer a couple hard downshifts and put on the machine gun fireworks display for them as I come to a stop at the light. The truck stopped behind me. The bike came rolling up and I peered over after a few seconds. It's an old weatherbeaten guy on a low slung Harley. He nods amicably and I smile and nod back. Not wanting to be a bully, I waited to see what he was going to do after the light turned. He took off fast, for sure. I hit the juice and felt the handle bars wiggle hitting second gear (man what a rush and proves to me that steering damper I currently have off the bike actually does something more than look cool). I caught up to him with no trouble and shifted into third. He's still trying so I opened the throttle and shot up astride him. Didn't want to pass because I know the road narrows to one lane pretty soon and I'm planning to turn off anyway. So I backed off and the Harley guy kept going full bore. So maybe that's why they try. Sometimes they think they won because we don't trust them enough to pass. Maybe I should have proven him wrong. Maybe next time.

I don't really get anybody trying with the 14 but I have 2 ZRX's that people like to pick on. I have more fun next to someone acting like I am really trying along with the power shift and let them pull me a little on their top end. More than once after we pull over I hear them tell their buddies they beat a ninja.
I guess all jap bikes look alike