There is a bike rally here this weekend. Lots of nice bikes of all makes. Lots of way too clean bikes. I started asking fellas where they were from and if they drove the bike(s) here. Out of the 25 or so i asked most were from 150 miles of here... actually most were within an 1.5 hour drive of here. 18 of them trailered their bikes. This morning I watched one guy unload his immaculate clean shiny Ultra Classic from a covered trailer. He had full chaps, the HD vest, the HD boots, the HD helmet and the HD bandana. He drove it 400 feet to spot where it is only motorcycle parking near all the "events". I left for a few hours and came back to pick up a patch. As i was getting off my bike this same fella was just starting his up and leaving. I noticed he headed back to where he came from in the morning. I bought my patch and took a walk down the street where the trailer was parked. Low and behold he was loading his bike back on.

Why bother?

My bike had mud on the rear tire where i spun out this morning in the wet grass, a wind shield covered in bugs, my chaps had dirty knees from cleaning the mud off the treads and my shirt i had on smells 'cuz it's the shirt i always wear when i am out for a cruz and forget to take it in the house to get it washed....

i know i know... to each his own. But really...?

Milateket wrote:
There is a bike rally here this weekend. Lots of nice bikes of all makes. Lots of way too clean bikes. I started asking fellas where they were from and if they drove the bike(s) here. Out of the 25 or so i asked most were from 150 miles of here... actually most were within an 1.5 hour drive of here. 18 of them trailered their bikes. This morning I watched one guy unload his immaculate clean shiny Ultra Classic from a covered trailer. He had full chaps, the HD vest, the HD boots, the HD helmet and the HD bandana. He drove it 400 feet to spot where it is only motorcycle parking near all the "events". I left for a few hours and came back to pick up a patch. As i was getting off my bike this same fella was just starting his up and leaving. I noticed he headed back to where he came from in the morning. I bought my patch and took a walk down the street where the trailer was parked. Low and behold he was loading his bike back on.

Why bother?

My bike had mud on the rear tire where i spun out this morning in the wet grass, a wind shield covered in bugs, my chaps had dirty knees from cleaning the mud off the treads and my shirt i had on smells 'cuz it's the shirt i always wear when i am out for a cruz and forget to take it in the house to get it washed....

i know i know... to each his own. But really...?

+1. and they wonder why they have "that" rep.

I like going to rallies from time to time but I'm in for the ride. I like to see new ideas, new products & see the customizing on the bikes. Usually a day is way enough for me. I like the looks of my scoot but in 35,000 miles I've got lots of scratches & such. I want her to be a good ride but I'm not into the polishing & primping. But to each his own!!!

Just to clarify: I am not brand bashing here. I spoke to fellas that were driving Hondas/Yamahas/Suzukis that were trailering 100 miles for the weekend. It just so happened to be what it was. I think what struck me the most was the guy was all dressed for a ride -- and all he did was drive it 400 return and walk around/sit/eat or whatever decked out in his attire...

It's not just the HD riders that are that way. I've run into a fair number of Star (and every other brand) owners who do the same thing. A lot of HOG members are somewhat annoying with their 200 patches and pins on their vests, but many of them DO ride a lot of miles. I always get a bit of a chuckle when someone who rides less miles a year than, say, 3500 (my interval for oil changes) tells me with great authority that I'm running the wrong kind of oil, and I will certainly blow up my bike, or the wrong kind of tires and I will only get 2500 miles from my Dunlops or Shinkos. I just nod, say thanks and walk on. The internet has made us all 'experts', and not necessarily by virtue of pounding out real highway miles. It's "cool" to be a biker now, and somewhere along the way we've forgotten how to wrench, how to ride long distances and really camp out in a field with the stars over your head.
John Scribner

I just don't get it either. Trailer or bike? C'mon. How crazy it that?


Seriously, I trailer when I want my toys (cooler, tent, grill, etc.) with me at an event. I've still put on over 6,000 actual bike miles. It's just an added convenience of goodies to make the rally's even better. I trailered to one location (only 100 miles awaya) but was the life of the event when everyone hung around my trailer playing cards and drinking mixed drinks. I can even spend the night in it in a pinch. Not to mention the Beloit M&G where we all enjoyed it.

I get your point. Why trailer a bike, dress the part, and put zero miles on it only to return home? Just the same, I love my trailer for what it enhances and adds to my riding experiences.

Ride safely!

HUH

I for one, don't feel a bike should be treated as an accessory to your "outfit" as part of a matching ensemble. I also feel a well a weathered bike looks better than a bike that's pristine. What's the point of owning a bike if not to ride? After all, it's all about the journey.

There called RUB'S guys lol....Their Bike owners not riders! Huge difference!

Ultimate RUB story? Before buying my R* I rode an antique Shovelhead,I restored her to ger full glory from boxes of parts I purched out of a garage.

I was out one evening at a local watering hole and started up a conversation with a seemingly nice enough guy sitting on the bar stool on the side of me. We where talking about our bikes. I mentioned I had a fully restored shovelhead he insisted he wanted to see it.

We went out side and I pointed to the indigo blue beauty sitting in front of the bar....He looks at me with this completly serious face and says to me in this very condescending tone.....Thats not an F'in shShovelhead thats a Harley! I nearly ruptured myself laughing so hard.

True story Folks!


Like I said....Some people own and others ride!

..


As long as they're payin some custom indy shop guy lots of money to have their trailered bikes serviced and upgraded, I'll pat him on the back and admire his patches and pins, call him 'Killer' and even pretend to flirt with his rhinocerous wife while I buy him a beer.


The old style bike rallies are still there, they're just on a much smaller scale at your's or your friends garages. They happen every time you ride from garage to garage, workin on bikes, swaping parts and talkin girls, bike magazines, and guns .. just like we did when we were kids with bicycles, comic books and bb-guns.
That is after all what we are doing here right, just a continuation of what we've been doing since we put on zip-up pants and stood to pee.


See ya'll at the next rally in front of my garage !!
..


Max