Bandit Alley
GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MOTORCYCLE => Topic started by: suzbnd12 on July 24, 2005, 01:41:34 PM
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After taking a 12 year hiatus from motorcycling, it sure is good to be out there enjoying the hell out of it once again. You don't know what you are missing until you leave it for a while and come back.
One thing that I have noticed is how much more friendly all the riders are regardless of what brand of bike they are riding. It's like a true family scene at small grocery stores in little, out of the way towns with people talking and checking out each other's rides. Even the Harley guys wave back now. I remember when you were lucky to get the bird back when waving at an H-D person!!!
I'm glad to see this "evolution of brotherly acceptance" spreading. Makes you proud to say "Yeah, I ride". :motorsmile:
Bill
'05 B12S
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Welcome back to cycling, from a fellow 05 B12S rider. Enjoy yourself and be safe.
:banana:
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Glad to hear it's better in TX, the HD crowd still ignores everything else up here in WA 90% of the time.
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I get the Harley Wave at least 90% of the time. The cynic in me assumes it b/c of round headlight on the B4 - they think it's a cuiser from a distance.
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Same up here in Beaver Land
HD guys RARELY wave back to peasants up here.
You get sorta good at recognizing their profile.
Trouble is, the odd one will wave back and if you haven't, you feel a little down. Then you wonder if he wasn't a Harley visual Clones, ie some of the Jap Vtwin cruisers.
What I have observed is that a troup of HD will pass. Past the middle of the group they start waving, particularly the gals on pillion, (2 up).
You figure it out.
By the by. It has been over 90F with 90% or so humidity for most of 8 weeks up here. Anybody care to comment? What's it like just south of the border?
Sweltering
Baked
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It's hotter, Mike.... :shock:
I wave some of the time.
I'm anal enough to be miffed when I wave at a cruiser dude, and you know they see you, but they don't wave back.
I take a little comfort in reminding myself that they probably aren't much of a rider, and need to totally concentrate on going in a straight line, at a slow speed, or they're worried that some of the flappy fringey stuff has fallen off........ :shock:
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My theory on Harley guys who don't wave back goes like this:
They're probably guys who are having a mid-life crisis. They went out, got a bike, and now ride with that Bad to the Bone song in their head.
I've found the seasoned riders will wave back, no matter what they're on. They ride to ride, not to pose.
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I don't sweat any respone. If I'm not concentrating on the cagers yacking on their cell phones oblivious to the traffic around them, I'll wave to any biker. If they don't wave back, I just figure their concentrating on the cell phoned brain dead cagers around them,and I just go back to enjoying my ride.
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:gatlin Poser suck!! We are all out riding! If you doen't have the control to flick your hand out or to nod your noodle then piss off....what makes you so great? :rant2: OK OK I'm letting it go
:congrats: On the new ride I hope it is the ride your looking for, cause IMO that's what it's all about :motorsmile:
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I find almost everyone waves back around here.
My wife and I ran into a VERY seasoned rider last year during a pit stop. We sat and talked for probably 1/2 hour with him. He had a mid-70's harley, leaking oil like there was not tomorrow, all beat to crap, his bike certainly wasn't polished every day. Had the look too, long beard, tattered leathers, he was probably in his 60's. Or maybe 40's, or even 80's. I couldn't tell. One thing was obvious, he has experienced a lot more than most people at any age . I suppose he doesn't fit into the group we are talking about, it wasn't about image for him.
Riding really is his life. That is all he does. I forget exactly how far and how long he has been on that particular trip, but I remember how amazed I was. It was weeks and thousands of miles at least. He also asked about us and our bikes and was generally interested.
That is why I wave to everyone, because I don't want to miss my chance to pay respect to guys like this.
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Most people around here wave as well. I'm just starting to see some of the "custom cruisers" (Jesse James Orange County ect). None of those guys wave. I figured it's just because the handling sucks so bad they're afraid to let go of the handlebars. :monkeymoon:
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some days I`ll get sick of waving. Other days no one waves back, the funny thing is when I ride with my buddy.He was a 800 vulcan (harley look a like) I`ve noticed that if he is a little in front or a little behind the H-D guys will wave to him and then put there hands back on the bars. I figure they just can`t keep one hand off the bars that long. :lol: :stickpoke: but I say 85% of the time everyone waves.
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Here we go. Another, Let’s beat up on the Harley guys, theme.
Here is a little history lesson for you youngsters. Back before riding was cool (50’s and 60’s) and before everyone was jumping on two wheels there was a very tight knit group of individuals called “Bikers”. Most citizens feared them but to each other they were all family. It didn’t matter what you rode. Harley, Indian, Norton, Vincent, BMW, etc it just didn’t matter you always waved because it was you against the world that didn’t understand you and feared you.
Now introduce the Jap bikes. They were far superior in workmanship, reliable and inexpensive. Everyone wanted one. And those that bought them would make fun of the oil leaking, rattling, vibrating hunks of iron that ruled the roads. These Jap bike riders thought that they were much better than the others and would not wave. As a matter of fact they were to good to wave. They were riding on quality equipment. They also missed the point of riding and belonging to a family.
Now introduce the sport bikes. These guys are all squids and didn’t have a clue about riding and family.
Now introduce the custom choppers. These guys are way to cool for all of us. They spend more money on a bike than it cost to build a house when I started this story. These people think that they are much better than the others are and do not wave. As a matter of fact they are to good to wave. They were riding on quality equipment. They also missed the point of riding and belonging to a family. Wait a minute doesn’t that sound familiar?? Has this thing gone full circle??
The roads are becoming more and more overrun with bikes. There are more and more of us but less and less camaraderie. Riding styles, image, cost, etc has tended to separate us into a dysfunctional family.
I own a Harley Davidson Springer Softail and a 1200 S Bandit and I wave. Not because of what I ride, but because I ride.
:motorsmile: :motorsmile: :motorsmile: :motorsmile: :motorsmile:
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:beers: Nicely said :beers:
I own a Harley Davidson Springer Softail and a 1200 S Bandit and I wave. Not because of what I ride, but because I ride.
How do you choose what to ride? Dropped a Vulcan to join the Bandit family and just can't think of when I would choose to return to the Vulcan. I love it for round town, cause I can throw it around, leap out to front or drop back quickly (avoid). I love it for long rides :blah: you get the idea. I need to take the rest of my praise to another thread :wink:
Wave high or wave low
Nod your head or flick your hand
do what you can let us know
besides showing us your rear
that you understand
why we are all here
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At times it's a tough choice. If I know there will be no high speed or twisties (just cruz'n) then it's the Springer. If we're headed for the mountains, Bandit. If it looks like rain, Bandit. No rain within two states, Springer. Need to hauls stuff, Bandit (it has Corbin bags). Need to run up to the hardware store for a couple washers, Springer.
But there are those times I'm on one and wish I had the other.
So many decisions, my life is utter turmoil.
:duh:
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Thanks Chippi. I like the new ride a lot, as it fits my need. It's comfortable for long runs, good around town, and is comfortable.
I agree with Scooter. I ride to ride, not to send some sort of message, not to show off, etc. It's my way of relaxing, getting ride of stress, and getting around. I've made many great friends because I ride, have helped other riders out when I could, and have learned almost everythign I know about bikes from other riders. I see us all as part of one family. I ride a sport tourer, but damn if I don't wish I was on a cruiser sometimes. I admire all kinds of bikes (the KTM Superduke makes me drool) and appreciate the work that people put into customizing their rides.
Do I get upset when people don't wave back? Sometimes. But who am I to judge why they didn't wave?
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A short story by me. Out for a ride on my scooter (B12) the other day I was following a couple of cool dudes on some late model japanese cruisers. About an hour down the track we came across a young fella obviously broken down on the side of the road. The guys on the cruisers in front didn't even give him a sideways glance and in fact gave their cruisers a fist full and speed off down the road. I stopped of course and asked if I could help. The young fella said that the transmission on his ride was locked up and he had been stuck on the side of the road for the last 3 hours. I offered him a ride to the nearest repair place, that by the way was about an hour out of my way, to which he greatfully accepted.
About 30 mins into the trip we spotted a couple of cruisers pulling out of a side road, the same cruisers that couldn't give the time of day earlier. Unfortunately one of them was not quick enough and got in the way of a pickup truck and found out that the road surface had more muscle than he did.
Now, I'm a paramedic by profession so it was if nothing else timely that this accident happend at this time on this particular stretch of road.
To cut a long story short, the cruiser rider had his broken legs looked after and the guy that I had picked up was delivered to the repair shop that went straight out to pick up his pride and joy Harley Davidson. On parting the two of us looked at each other and with a smile and a nod went our seperate ways.
The moral of my story is " what goes around comes around". You just never know do you!!!! :shock: :shock:
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To cut a long story short, the cruiser rider had his broken legs looked after and the guy that I had picked up was delivered to the repair shop that went straight out to pick up his pride and joy Harley Davidson.
So they young broke down guy was a HD rider too and still got no help from said cruisers? Man that's hard
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Gotta be honest, I don't see all that many waves when mounted on my B12.. I honestly think it's to far in the middle for most people. The cruiser crowd thinks I'm some punk teenager out to pull wheelies and burnouts all day on my 'sportbike'. And the true sportbike crowd sees a round headlight and lack of plastic and .. well, I dunno what they think. Maybe they think I ran out of money or something and couldn't afford the 'busa a real man would have wanted or something. At any rate, very few waves for little old me. ... I try not to let it get to me though! :wink:
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NHBubba, Next time I`m in NH I`ll wave to you. As far as the bandit goes, well, some people may get jealous because there bikes can`t play two roles. :motorsmile:
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Way back in my younger days, when peopre started out on anything from 125's to maybe a 350, we always got waves from the Harley guys. Back then it was the fist in the air. We were teenagers and thought we were cool but we always got waves. Around here (western PA) I almost always get waves regardless of what they are riding. It really doesn't bother me if someone doesn't wave. If I'm out riding, I'm happy. I don't care about anybody else waving or not.
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Personal experiance tells me that to wave or not to wave is an attitude thing.
I know guys on HD's and Jap cruisers who ALWAYS wave and I know others who NEVER wave. There's some blokes on non cruiser bikes who NEVER wave and others who ALWAYS wave.
The blokes who wave have one thing in common, they're great blokes. They're the sort of bloke who'd give you the shirt of their backs, give you their last smoke, give you a lift home even if its hours out of their way.
The blokes who don't wave are the ones who ask you for your shirt, bum that last smoke, and will "give you lift to the nearest phone box - if you chip in for fuel"
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. And the true sportbike crowd sees a round headlight and lack of plastic and .. well, I dunno what they think. Maybe they think I ran out of money or something and couldn't afford the 'busa a real man would have wanted or something.
And don't they go away with their tales between their legs when a lowly bandit kicks butt. :banana: :banana: :banana: I love the look as they get off the full sports bike and start looking around the bike as if there is a problem. And because mine aint got no size badge on it, so many come up and say gee wiz them 1200 bandits get along pretty good. Dont they really crack it when they find out its only a 600. :lol: :lol: :lol:
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I did a few "wave back" experiments this weekend.
My girlfriend and I went out to the Delaware Water Gap area. On our rides, we're almost always in full gear, from motorcycle specific boots, to pants, jacket, gloves, etc... The bike also had saddle bags.
When we were in full gear, not once did I get a wave back from a cruiser driver.
We took a trip out to Hawk's Nest (saw a few Bandits on the road, all waved back), in jeans. Still no waves from the cruiser set. Sport bikes and standards almost always waved back.
At one point, we were heading to the supermarket on a stretch of road that is straight for about 5 miles. We were both hot in our jackets, so we put them in the saddle bags. To my surprise, almost every cruiser rider waved back at us.
Is it the gear that keeps them from waving?
Probably 100 waves went unanswered.
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Here in San Diego I don't see alot of waving. So on sunday I did the experiment also. The freeway was packed with cages so I didn't get one wave back out of about 20. I got off the freeway and headed to the beach area, stop and go with tons of bikes. I got one wave from a girl on the back of a sport bike and then out of the blue I get a guy on a custom HD wave at me first :shock: two waves out of about 80 or so. The beach area is very interesting, alot of half naked.....well never mind. :monkeymoon:
I was wearing a leather vest (jacket with sleaves zipped off) and jeans.
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Around town, I see very few helmetless riders on cruisers or sport bike riders who will wave back. Whenever I'm out riding on some great motorcycle roads, I see a lot more riders waving back. The riders who truly understand this motorcycle thing are lot more friendly regardless of what they ride. :wink:
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I'm anal enough to be miffed when I wave at a cruiser dude, and you know they see you, but they don't wave back.
I take a little comfort in reminding myself that they probably aren't much of a rider, and need to totally concentrate on going in a straight line, at a slow speed, or they're worried that some of the flappy fringey stuff has fallen off........ :shock:[/quote]
Well, I was taking it a bit personal that I wasn't getting a wave back at times, more by the Ninja crowd than HD's, but the statement above helps take the sting out of it :lol:
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I always wave when possible. Sometimes I can't. Most "motorcyclists" wave. Many "bikers" don't. I ride a 05 B12. Wes Cooley would be proud.
Warren
:motorsmile:
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It's very diffrent here in England! Car drivers hate bikes, and most of the bikers out this time of year aren't bikers - they're just posers with R1's etc and never nod or wave back. But the proper ones always do, theyre the mates you never knew!
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I ride a 05 B12. Wes Cooley would be proud.
Whaddya mean "would"? Wes is still alive and kickin' - I'm sure he IS proud. :motorsmile:
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Your right Paul. I saw a write up on Cooley some time ago. Cycle World maybe? Anyway, they had Wes ride a GSXR1000 and a Hayabusa. Cooley is a nurse nowadays. Had a drug problem at one time, but went to school and is in the medical profession now. I really liked the article. Wish I had saved it. Might have been a year or two ago that Cycle World did that piece. Cooley liked both bikes but couldn't get over the leaned over riding postions which he was not used to. He also couldn't believe how much power both bikes made in the low and midrange, especially the busa he said. It's yet another reason I like the Bandit. That engine is probably a not-too-distant descendant of the Suzuki "GS" engine in Cooley's bike all those years ago.
Warren
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I remember that article and probably still have the issue laying around somewhere. IIRC, the author mentioned something like 'don't be surpirsed if you're riding thru Idaho and see Wes on a Bandit.'