TMRA 2 .. DFW Chapter

I have to agree with you about the Shadow, especially the earlier
models. I wouldn't mind owning one myself and when I went bike
shopping last week I was hoping to find an early 80's model that was
in my price range. Unfortunately those that I could find were several
hundred miles away and I don't have the time to spend a whole day to
go out and get it. I ended up getting a 1981 GL500 Silverwing that was
right here in town for $1,000. It's in great shape and only has 7,700
miles on it. My dad used to have a CX500 when I was learning how to
ride bikes so I'm familiar with how well the engine and drivetrain are
made. The bike isn't a powerhouse but it will work okay as an in-town
put-put till I finish the old BMW R90/6 I am restoring. <g>

Anyhow, my point to Albert was that while the newer Shadows look a lot
like a Harley just because a person owns one does not mean they are a
Harley wannabee. You have one because you like the history of the bike
so his comment means nothing to you and I don't blame you.

Ruppster
sportster at dodge-semis dot com

 

Check out ABATE.. or the Triangle..

 

Start one.. Organize it and get it up and running..

 

ROTFLMAO.... Damn.. Nurick.. you've jumped back and forth on this fence to
many times to count.. What's up with all that fence jumping, can't you make
a decision.?

 

Just because someone doesn't know every little detail about every bike
doesn't mean they are "unwashed". Up till a few years ago I thought
every metric cruiser was a Harley copy because to me they all looked
like Harleys. But at the time I had no interest in Harleys so I never
paid any attention to the details on a Harley even though I was in to
bikes. But metric cruisers looked close enough for me to make that
assumption. It wasn't till I got hired by a Harley shop that I started
to pay attention to the details and was able to see the differences.

Yes, the Japanese fill a void in the market. If the void wasn't there
then they wouldn't be there. My point was just because someone has a
bike that has features a lot like a Harley doesn't mean bought it
based on the Harley like looks alone. Yes, there are a lot of people
that own them for that reason but that doesn't mean every single owner
of a Harley clone is a Harley wannabee.

Exactly my point. Only a small handful of riders with a Harley like
bike do so to be a Harley wannabee. But just owning a Harley like bike
is not grounds to classify the owner of a bike as one based only on
what they ride. At a Toys-for-Tots run in Florida a few years ago I
saw a Kawasaki Vulcan that looked like it had Harley-Davidson written
across the tank to help give it the Harley look. It wasn't till I saw
that it really said "Hardly-Drivensome" in Harley like letters.

Just because someone has a Harley doesn't mean they did so just to be
a bad-ass. When I had my Harley I got tired of the comments I got from
both metric and Harley owners that I won't "fit in" because I didn't
wear a leather jacket or a beanie helmet. I didn't have a Harley for
the "look".

 

"Brian Walker"

I can see you put conciderable thought into your responce, Brian, lol.
I'm just curious why you clipped from it, this exchange I had with your
father:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------

Bill:

Vic:
Hmmmm, lets see if I understand you correctly, ok? You knew exactlly who I
was talking about, even though you claim everything I said was a lie? Seems
to me, if it was all a lie, you'd have no idea who I was refering to. Could
it be that you're not as pure as the driven snow in this matter as you would
have us believe? Come on Bill, you can't have it both ways. You can either
claim that you didn't do what I said you did, in which case you'd have no
idea who I was refering to, or, you knew all along who I was refering to
because I hit the nail on the head, and it pissed you off. Which is it?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-

Or this one:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Vic:
I told you why I wouldn't disclose his name. I offered to show you exactlly
where you could find the information that backs up my original post. The
offer still stands. I guess it's like you mentioned earlier, maybe when you
grow some hair on your balls, you'll take me up on it, lol. The offer still
stands for everyone else too. Just drop me an email.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Look Brian, you and your dad can google it, and get the facts, or you can
continual jumping up and down like a couple of irate 3rd grader, shouting
'Liar, Liar, pants on fire". The choice is yours. I must say though, if this
is the only thing you've found to take issue with, from my original post, I
can live with it, lol. It's far more then I expected from the both of you.

Vic

 

No, I don't think he knows anything about what I was talking about and
that's why I typed my response. If I thought he was completely right I
would not have made a reply. He was making the same assumptions I made
years ago. None of us are perfect and I'm just as guilty. Anyhow,
since I've learned a few things over the years I was just trying to
pass on what little I knew based on his comments. Whether he reads it
with an open mind and learns from it is up to him and not for me to
say.

I've seen a lot of people on rec.moto put down Harleys due to their
ignorance and I have tried to point out that things are not as they
think. Most have gone on to ignore my comments and act like nothing
ever happened. I just write them off as truly ignorant idiots and move
on.

Ruppster

 

It may be illegal there in this time of patriot acts. Are you *sure* the "T"
doesn't stand for "terror"?

 

I would like to point out both those have the letter "T" in them.
Hmmmmmm

And how do you know that the "M" in AMA isn't "Mujaha'adeen"?

I did not realize that Houston was an ABATE town. I can see why there isn't
a tmra ii chaptere there.
Wouldn't want any rumbles to break out.

 

Yes, but it is a big world and everyone has different experiences. I
can only guess that Brian's were different. Nothing wrong with that.

Don't blame you. I just got a used bike with shaft drive and as soon
as I can I plan on doing the same.

Yeah, but it is only hypocrisy if the person is truly guilty of it and
not doing it for other reasons.

Not to stick up for Bill or Brian but since I don't know what their
bikes actually look like and why they are that way I have to give them
the benefit of the doubt. If Bill has removed the stickers from his
fuel tank it might have been due to a number of reasons. My comments
about bad-ass biker wannabees were not aimed at them but at those that
dress up for the sole purpose if achieving what I consider the bad-ass
biker look. The ones that only care to play biker on the weekends
while trying to act like tough guys. It was not meant to mean that
everyone that dresses that way is only a wannabee. I know several guys
that dress that way and they can ride circles around me.

But it can not be based on looks alone. You also have to consider why
the rider is doing it in the first place. Is it only the look that
person is after because of "the image" they think it gives or do they
do it because they feel the clothes give them some protection in an
accident? Without being a mind reader the only person that knows that
answer is the person them self or if that person has made comments in
that regard. As I mentioned above since I know nothing about Bill or
Brian's style I can not make an opinion either way on whether they are
posers or not. Since Bill seems to be active in spreading the news
about things that impact our rights as riders I would have to conclude
he is far from a poser or weekend warrior. How he dresses is up to
him.

Having worked at a dealership in a large city I've had a chance to
talk to a lot of people about why they own this or that model bike and
why they wear the gear that they do. A lot of guys were doing it for
the look alone and were open about it which I have no problem with.
But I did run in to a few people that acted embarrassed to own a
metric bike and tried to hide that fact while dressed up all in
leather and wearing Harley clothes. They too were in it for the looks
but did everything they could to pretend their bike was not a Harley.
Those are the ones I get a kick out of. But as I said not all riders
are like that and just the mere fact of owning a Harley like bike and
wearing a leather jacket does not constitute a Harley wannabee.

Ruppster
sportster at dodge-semis dot com

 

Here's another little Google project to keep you busy for a while.. Take a
close look at the '86 1100 Shadow.. yup... there's a picture .. Anyone that
would mistake that motorcycle for a Harley hasn't been around many
motorcycles..ROTFL..

Here's a little newsflash for you, Nurick.. All motorcycles are not
pioneered, engineered or whatever you want to call it, for racing.. Some of
the features on the Harley engines were developed in someone's garage and/or
under a shade tree.. by some old boy that was actually riding that
motorcycle..

All that "jerking around like a puppet" that you imagine you are doing is
exactly the reason that you will never amount to any part of the Biker's
world, Nurick..

ROTFL.. hmmm... Never did find out what all this "wannabe" is about ?
Second time.. "wannabe" what ?

 

No...I've calmed down. But he better not look me in the eyes should we meet.

 

I take issue this this statement. Patently false with only a partial truth.

Based on some of your previous posts, *I* was expecting more from *you*. LOL

 

I just write them off as truly ignorant idiots and move

Truely wise.

 

Sorry Albert, my comment didn't mean you didn't understand me. What I
was trying to say was that you didn't know the same things I did based
on the comments you made at the beginning of this thread and therefore
I was trying to pass on what I knew. I wasn't trying to put you down
as I knew you were reading it for what it was meant to be.

And my point was that that is a moot comment without knowing what year
and model Shadow he has. If he has an older model Shadow then to call
it a Harley like bike is just stupid as it isn't even close.

I'll have to plead ignorance on that as I'm not a mind reader. <g>

Ruppster

 

<strut>
But sometimes it does. Just look at how bad-ass I am on *my* Harley!
</strut>

 

Pshawww... And I'm reading this .. Somebody wake me up, quick.. it's all
gotta be a dream.. 'sides..Where's Mouse... you are supposed to be outta'
here..

I don't know if you've noticed, but since I commenced representing ALL
Texans, there's been some changes in the image... Live with it.. BTW..
sorry you won't be able to make the ride with us, tomorrow..

Bill Walker

 

Man, I am really impressed with Hondas these days. Matter of fact, I'm
naming my next Harley "Honda"

No...really. I like Hondas. They provide me a safety net in case I'm
destitute, living under a bridge in a cardboard box, and had to pawn the
Harley for medicine.
At least I'll still be on two wheels.

 

I also could add that it makes a fine temporary storage area when it's
unwise to reach for your pocket.
No telling what could be hiding under some vests, yessiree.