Just an Observation

[oknplm]

First let me say, I am 4 days out from starting our cross-country motorcycle trip. About 4 weeks (no set schedule or route) of total back road re-discovery to the west coast and back. Our first trip with a Uni-go and mentally I have already left.

So as I sit here trying to waste away a little time on the Internet, I find it amazing, and a little disturbing, on how much effort is spent on motorcycle brand bashing on many of the forums I visit. It’s basically; my brand is better or their brand sucks because Blah! Blah! Blah! Or all Blah! Blah! Blah! riders are Blah! Blah! Blah! because they don’t wave, or ride in packs, dress in leather, or textiles, or are snobs, or don’t use ATGATT.

There’s nothing quite like a good generalization of guilty by brand association. Though I understand why some have the need to measure their worth by what they ride, what group they associate with or feel empowered by bashing. It still gets so mundane and repetitious in its delivery.

I must confess, I do not spend a lot of time pondering why someone does not wear protective gear, does not return a wave if one is given, rides another brand or any of the other things that set us apart as individuals. I am too busy trying to lose myself to the ride, the road and the sheer pleasure of motorcycling.

What’s wrong with me?


May we never find the end of the road!

Perry Ridgway

oknplm

[deputy5211]

Perry,

Have a safe and most enjoyable trip rediscovering the back roads and yourself! We look forward to your tales of the roads less traveled when you get back.

Godspeed.

[KMC1]

You said it Perry!!!!

Have a great trip, and I second the request for some great pictures!!!

[MikeERideWNC]

Please wave when you pass me... :histerica

[rando]

First let me say, I am 4 days out from starting our cross-country motorcycle trip. About 4 weeks (no set schedule or route) of total back road re-discovery to the west coast and back. Our first trip with a Uni-go and mentally I have already left.

So as I sit here trying to waste away a little time on the Internet, I find it amazing, and a little disturbing, on how much effort is spent on motorcycle brand bashing on many of the forums I visit. It’s basically; my brand is better or their brand sucks because Blah! Blah! Blah! Or all Blah! Blah! Blah! riders are Blah! Blah! Blah! because they don’t wave, or ride in packs, dress in leather, or textiles, or are snobs, or don’t use ATGATT.

There’s nothing quite like a good generalization of guilty by brand association. Though I understand why some have the need to measure their worth by what they ride, what group they associate with or feel empowered by bashing. It still gets so mundane and repetitious in its delivery.

I must confess, I do not spend a lot of time pondering why someone does not wear protective gear, does not return a wave if one is given, rides another brand or any of the other things that set us apart as individuals. I am too busy trying to lose myself to the ride, the road and the sheer pleasure of motorcycling.

What’s wrong with me?


May we never find the end of the road!

Perry Ridgway

oknplm

Interseting observation. I find myself irritated with a lot of other motorcyclists for one reason or antoher. Usually has to do with loudness of bike or observed lack or skills or lack of gear. And it's nothing I can change. So why do I worry about others and get irritated over it? I'm not sure. I think some of it has to do with being MSF coach, although again, I am only responsible for me and my immediate family.

I hope your ride goes safely. Someday, I hope to have time to do some bigger rides, but for now am happy to just get to ride to work occasionally.

Enjoy the ride
Randy

[K1200LTryder]

Have a great and safe trip Perry ! Please be sure to log the roads you ride on, and where you put up for the night .

Best time of the year for putting the miles behind you.

:bmw:

[katnapinn]

Have a safe trip and if you find yourself in Central Texas look us up ... We're (Texas Riders)always up for a RIDE TO EAT

[johnrehder]

Perry,
Very well said. I envy you and Cheri being able to just ride with no real destination! Have a safe trip and give us nice road trip so we can live through your travels since I'm desk bound right now.


First let me say, I am 4 days out from starting our cross-country motorcycle trip. About 4 weeks (no set schedule or route) of total back road re-discovery to the west coast and back. Our first trip with a Uni-go and mentally I have already left.

So as I sit here trying to waste away a little time on the Internet, I find it amazing, and a little disturbing, on how much effort is spent on motorcycle brand bashing on many of the forums I visit. It’s basically; my brand is better or their brand sucks because Blah! Blah! Blah! Or all Blah! Blah! Blah! riders are Blah! Blah! Blah! because they don’t wave, or ride in packs, dress in leather, or textiles, or are snobs, or don’t use ATGATT.

There’s nothing quite like a good generalization of guilty by brand association. Though I understand why some have the need to measure their worth by what they ride, what group they associate with or feel empowered by bashing. It still gets so mundane and repetitious in its delivery.

I must confess, I do not spend a lot of time pondering why someone does not wear protective gear, does not return a wave if one is given, rides another brand or any of the other things that set us apart as individuals. I am too busy trying to lose myself to the ride, the road and the sheer pleasure of motorcycling.

What’s wrong with me?


May we never find the end of the road!

Perry Ridgway

oknplm

[kola1]

Perry, Forget about the few haters out there. Most riders are much like you but sometimes the haters make the most noise. You are blessed go enjoy your ride that most of us wish for. You are a lucky person. I look forward to read your tales of the road. kola1

[CalLT]

I have friends who own both Harleys and Beemers. I only hate them half the time.

Kidding of course. I never understood the animosity either. Good post.

[bemmerbiker]

Interseting observation. I find myself irritated with a lot of other motorcyclists for one reason or antoher. Usually has to do with loudness of bike or observed lack or skills or lack of gear. And it's nothing I can change. So why do I worry about others and get irritated over it? I'm not sure. I think some of it has to do with being MSF coach, although again, I am only responsible for me and my immediate family.

I hope your ride goes safely. Someday, I hope to have time to do some bigger rides, but for now am happy to just get to ride to work occasionally.

Enjoy the ride
Randy

Why you ask.
Because you know when those that do not wear ATGATT or most of the gear all the time. The political left well pass a law to stop us from enjoying what we like to do.

Their way of thinking is they have he right to protect all of us. When they should be penalizing only those who don't wear MOTGMOTT or ATGATT.


Everyone enjoy the RIDE.

[Tallyho]

First let me say, I am 4 days out from starting our cross-country motorcycle trip. About 4 weeks (no set schedule or route) of total back road re-discovery to the west coast and back. Our first trip with a Uni-go and mentally I have already left.

So as I sit here trying to waste away a little time on the Internet, I find it amazing, and a little disturbing, on how much effort is spent on motorcycle brand bashing on many of the forums I visit. It’s basically; my brand is better or their brand sucks because Blah! Blah! Blah! Or all Blah! Blah! Blah! riders are Blah! Blah! Blah! because they don’t wave, or ride in packs, dress in leather, or textiles, or are snobs, or don’t use ATGATT.

There’s nothing quite like a good generalization of guilty by brand association. Though I understand why some have the need to measure their worth by what they ride, what group they associate with or feel empowered by bashing. It still gets so mundane and repetitious in its delivery.

I must confess, I do not spend a lot of time pondering why someone does not wear protective gear, does not return a wave if one is given, rides another brand or any of the other things that set us apart as individuals. I am too busy trying to lose myself to the ride, the road and the sheer pleasure of motorcycling.

What’s wrong with me?


May we never find the end of the road!

Perry Ridgway

oknplmI just hope you didn't post this with an Apple utlizing Firefox in your pajamas! :rolleyes:

Some of the best people I know ride Harley and Goldwing. What's funny to me are the people that don't know bikes at all. Those that think my LT is a Harley or that I have something less than a real bike by not having a Harley. "When are you going to trade that cheapy plastic bike in for a Harley? Don't you think you deserve one?" HD has done a great job marketing their brand even to those that only wear their T-shirts and put their stickers on their trucks. I don't like to see people hurt or ride behind loud pipes any more than anyone else. We recently had an elderly gent on a Goldwing pulling a trailer walk up to us at gas station while we were in full riding togs. He asked us if we were planning to fall down and laughed all the way back to his "rig." He was wearing shorts and a golfshirt. We pulled up next to him as we were leaving and I asked him if Medicare covered skin grafts. ;)

[the_rocketman]

[font=Verdana]I must confess, I do not spend a lot of time pondering why someone does not wear protective gear, does not return a wave if one is given, rides another brand or any of the other things that set us apart as individuals. I am too busy trying to lose myself to the ride, the road and the sheer pleasure of motorcycling.

What’s wrong with me?

Perry Ridgway

oknplm

Obviously you're sick sick man! :D

Seriously though I wonder (or should I say don't wonder ?) about it myself often. sure I understand brand loyalty and all and know that there are people that are highly opinionated (or should I say passionate ?) about what they belive, but sometimes it does get a bit much. Why worry if someone waves back or not? Why wonder if its because you don't ride the "right" brand (in their eyes), yet a number of folks really seem put out by it.

Since getting back into reading posts here and on MOA I started thinking about some of the very, shall we say, animated(?) posts I've read of late and started thinking maybe I could use some of them as a topic for an article for the on-line mag I write for.

In fact, just the other day I was telling my SO Jeanne that I was considering writing a piece called "BMW Riders Are Their Own Worst Enemy" based on some of the posts I've seen here and on the MOA forum. Yes I know they don't represent the majority of owners (least that I've met) but sometimes those few folks that get so upset or heated over things that I consider trivial gives me pause to wonder. Like if valve caps or the valve inside is mainly responsible for keeping the air in the tire, Huh? Is that worth a heated "discussion"? :confused: Or if the engine oil in an LT being 2-3 onces over or under filled is gonna do "Serious!" damage, What? :confused: Are these sort of things really worth the effort to go on about for page after page???

Jeanne's reaction to some of the posts I was telling her about was, "I thought BMW riders (she rides a cruiser bye the bye, and is brutally straight to the point) were so big on RIDING, but it sounds to me like they spend all their time POSTING!" Ha ha!

Point is, sure there are riders who don't wave, there are riders who don't hardly ride, and there are riders who don't go ATGATT (me included) but SO WHAT??? How it affects others is beyond me. (and don't anyone go off on the "We'll have to pay the cost of their medical care when they crash and burn" cause that just don't hold water much any more. Have you seen the cost of a Harley lately? You think the folks buying them are poor? without medical insurance, naw, don't think so. that may have been the case 25 years ago, but I doubt it now..

well I guess I should shut up now, and take my own advise and go out and ride. huh? :D

RM

(see, now I've gotten all worked up over nothing! Ha Ha!)

[gpolakow]

I agree in principle with what you say, Perry. But, it is possible to comment on the behavior of other bikers without feeling any animosity towards them. Observing people and their behavior is one of the fun and very human things to do in life. After all, you were doing just that when you wrote your post. Hating is not a good for anyone's soul. Takes the pleasure out of life.
Hope your trip is all you expected and more. Have fun out there. There are a lot of us who will be with you in spirit.

[jayjacobson]

[font=Verdana]....I find it amazing, and a little disturbing, on how much effort is spent on motorcycle brand bashing on many of the forums I visit....
Well Perry, I would like to think that it is all in fun and humor. I hope noone actually gets serious. All the boys at the station ride HD's. A few ride crotch rockets. I am the only one with a BMW.

We go back and forth and have a lot of fun M-F'n each other. It's all in fun and we're just blowin' off some steam. Point: my buddy has his salad bowl helmet with the cute little girly straps. Recently, his eye was really bothering him. He thought he had pink eye. This went on for a week. After multiple trips to the ER and various doctors, the eye specialist center found a sliver of metal in his eye! Well, you know we weren't letting that shit pass! The guy with the salad bowl and no eye protection?! He didn't hear the end of that for near on two weeks. Funny, now when dumbshit rides, he wears goggles at least!

I think the only time the fun stops is when you get someone that can dish it out, but then wines like a little bitch when it comes back his way. When that happens on the forums, or in real life, we just refer to them as the panty wadders....still smiling all the while, big shit-eating grin, of course!