[TheForge] OT-Harleys

Mon Feb 23 16:41:04 2004

I will have to admit also, that usually when I see a Harley on the road. =
 I
say that there goes what used to be my people.  They have changed (like =
the
hippies in the '60s who now run businesses and run for congress<G>), =
though
not necessarily for the best.  Harley did what it needed to do.

I will still stop on the side of the road for someone with a dead bike.
More happily if it's a rat or a chopper<G>.

I live in the country also.  I crank her up at midnight or shoot animals =
out
the bedroom window.  Wish I lived where 1,000 bikes would pass each day
though<G>.

As the Brits say, all the best.

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] =
[mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of Ries Niemi
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2004 3:44 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [TheForge] OT-Harleys

I like motorcycles- Really. And I think Harleys are cool. I would=20
probably have one- in fact, many years ago I wanted one, and I made a=20
deal with my wife that I could get one for my 40th birthday.=20
Unfortunately, 40 has come and gone, and I still have so many other=20
vices which cost money that I havent been able to bring myself to start=20
a new one.
But unless you have been up here, I dont think you can understand the=20
magnitude of the Harley phenom in the northwest.
We have a run here in September- the Oyster Run. Last year 40,000 bikes=20
came, half of which went by my front door. And about 39,000 of em were=20
big and fat and brand new, with matching leathers, helmets, and=20
saddlebags, and if they were lucky, trophy wives. Now these guys arent=20
yuppies- the average age of a harley buyer is almost 50, so they arent=20
young, and they dont live in the city- in Seattle they drive hybrid=20
cars, not bikes. But it sure seems like you gotta be some kind of=20
professional to afford a brand new Harley, and thats not even counting=20
all those Buells- ever seen about a hundred of those things lined up?=20
Lots of new Triumphs, and Ducati's, and even MotoGuzzis and a bunch of=20
BMW's as well. Almost no choppers, and the few you see look ordered,=20
not homemade.

I lived for 10 years in LA, and the reason I live in the country now is=20
so I can indulge my own desires to drive fast and make lots of noise.=20
So, as I said before, I am spoiled. Most winter days, I can drive the=20
20 miles up to Bellingham and only have to pass a couple of=20
eco-concious subaru wagons. But when the sun is out, the harleys flock.=20
Yesterday I passed, literally, about 1000 bikes in 15 miles. I live=20
near a little village of 100 people, with two taverns, and there were=20
about a hundred bikes in front of each bar.

It does seem like there is a certain type of guy on a harley, who sits=20
and putts along at ten to fifteen miles below the speed limit, and he=20
will slow down even more in the twisties, which of course is where I=20
want to put the hammer down. These guys act as if no one should ever=20
pass them, and they drive accordingly.
I drive very politely as far as motorcycles go- partly out of growing=20
up in a time when bikers were big drunk and drugged out dudes who=20
wouldnt hesitate to beat you up if you offended them, but mostly just=20
because I understand the basic vulnerability you have on a bike to=20
idiots in cars, and I dont want to add to that.
But I am also a firm believer in "lead, follow, or get out of the way".=20
When somebody comes roaring up behind me, in a porsche or on a bike, I=20
dont have any ego issues about pulling over and letting em pass.

ries

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