Riding A Drifter In Harley Country is a Bit Like Being Rodney Dangerfield

mittico68 · July 20, 2016, 09:10:09 AM

Oh well, when it happens to see a man ridin' his $30and+K Harley, I just keep on thinkin' he asked for it!

Zoar · July 20, 2016, 08:50:24 AM

Quote from: mittico68 on July 20, 2016, 08:23:17 AM
The only thing I could say in their favor, it's that Harley's marketing guru's made well their job... but I dunno if that's really something to be proud of...

Exactly. That is like being proud of a snake-oil salesman who uses guile and deception to take money from hard working people's pockets.

mittico68 · July 20, 2016, 08:25:53 AM

Quote from: RockinRonny on July 20, 2016, 05:20:24 AM
About the time I found the Drifter I was considering buying a new Indian but didn't for the same reason, nice bikes , look great but expensive (more than 3 X what I paid for the Drifter) and not nearly as interesting when people find out it's not an Indian.

Yeah... and you should also consider this is the case in wich the student has surpassed the master!!

mittico68 · July 20, 2016, 08:23:17 AM

Quote from: Zoar on July 19, 2016, 13:04:57 PM
Well, they are grossly over priced and not really that well designed or made. Yet there are those who adore them. Ergo, arguably they adore over-priced inferior design and inferior quality. What kid of brain does that? (See answer above)

The only thing I could say in their favor, it's that Harley's marketing guru's made well their job... but I dunno if that's really something to be proud of...

RockinRollin · July 20, 2016, 05:20:24 AM

About the time I found the Drifter I was considering buying a new Indian but didn't for the same reason, nice bikes , look great but expensive (more than 3 X what I paid for the Drifter) and not nearly as interesting when people find out it's not an Indian.

Zoar · July 19, 2016, 13:04:57 PM

Quote from: mittico68 on July 19, 2016, 12:43:31 PM
I do agree...

Well, they are grossly over priced and not really that well designed or made. Yet there are those who adore them. Ergo, arguably they adore over-priced inferior design and inferior quality. What kid of brain does that? (See answer above)

mittico68 · July 19, 2016, 12:43:31 PM

Quote from: Zoar on July 19, 2016, 10:09:28 AM
It usually takes extreme intolerance, inobjectivity and a lofty degree of closed-mindedness to buy and adore Harley's.

I do agree...

Zoar · July 19, 2016, 10:09:28 AM

Quote from: jmbo on July 13, 2016, 17:03:37 PM
Another Harley Country story: During the Harley 100th I decided to ride into Brew City to see (and listen to ) all of the festivities. It was crazy. I could hear the "thunder" 15 miles from Milwaukee. In the city itself It was deafening. I parked my bike at a friend's bar not far from what is now the Harley Museum. Unfortunately I was not riding a Harley. Instead I was riding my '74 750 Tiger. Anywhere you look bikes were parked handle bar to handle bar. I finally found a spot to park the old girl. I went into the bar for a barley pop, chatted up a bit, then stuck my head out to watch some of the acton. And there it was. Normally Harley riders are appreciative of old Triumphs as most of the old guys remember them as their first bikes. Not this time. My old Trumpet parked in the same spot but even though parking was impossible there were two open spaces on either side of my bike. I saw bikes ride by hungry for a parking spot but pass up the open spots once they saw my bike. That was my first experience in not riding a Harley in Harley Country.

It usually takes extreme intolerance, inobjectivity and a lofty degree of closed-mindedness to buy and adore Harley's.

jmbo · July 13, 2016, 17:03:37 PM

Another Harley Country story: During the Harley 100th I decided to ride into Brew City to see (and listen to ) all of the festivities. It was crazy. I could hear the "thunder" 15 miles from Milwaukee. In the city itself It was deafening. I parked my bike at a friend's bar not far from what is now the Harley Museum. Unfortunately I was not riding a Harley. Instead I was riding my '74 750 Tiger. Anywhere you look bikes were parked handle bar to handle bar. I finally found a spot to park the old girl. I went into the bar for a barley pop, chatted up a bit, then stuck my head out to watch some of the acton. And there it was. Normally Harley riders are appreciative of old Triumphs as most of the old guys remember them as their first bikes. Not this time. My old Trumpet parked in the same spot but even though parking was impossible there were two open spaces on either side of my bike. I saw bikes ride by hungry for a parking spot but pass up the open spots once they saw my bike. That was my first experience in not riding a Harley in Harley Country.

CDNRatMan · July 12, 2016, 16:24:23 PM

never thought of that ...oh now I feel bad.......he might have been messed up......

Zoar · July 12, 2016, 14:38:57 PM

Quote from: CDNRatMan on July 05, 2016, 20:56:28 PM
Sunday was a bad day for Drifter riders.........

Bigras, GreenBarn and I were in New Liskeard for the Biker Reunion, and we were parked in a line on the curb. A Drifter 1500 purple and white went by really slow and sort of glared at us. I pointed to the curb and told him to come over and park with us, he then sort of came around and left ......snubbed us, came by later and went right past us and ignored us, then after the Freedom Ride GB and I ran into him on the main street and he just glared at us again and kept going......must have been over from the QC side.

Maybe he was actually smiling at you... but he has Bell's palsy!!!

DC · July 10, 2016, 10:45:12 AM

Quote from: greenbarn on July 07, 2016, 22:37:27 PM
DC: It was strange with the other purple Drifter guy-- it was as if Ratman had pissed him off over something -- can't imagine why...

Now I wonder how THAT could happen. Maybe if he didn't show "certain" pictures to that guy, he might have reacted differently.

DC · July 10, 2016, 10:43:03 AM

Quote from: CDNRatMan on July 06, 2016, 22:30:09 PM
I'll not get on about divorce laws here but I am slowly getting back on my feet after mine......enough said.

That's no longer an option for me. There's no way I could survive seven divorces. I just deal with whatever and do as I'm told.

DC · July 10, 2016, 10:40:55 AM

Quote from: CDNRatMan on July 06, 2016, 19:53:43 PM
DC was not sure what his issue was but he just plain snubbed us.

The wives insist I keep working as long as possible. I rarely get a day off or to myself. Then of course, there's always the argument about which wife gets to go to an event I attend, although not all of them are interested in riding anyway.

Pilgrim · July 08, 2016, 08:44:53 AM

Quote from: RockinRonny on July 08, 2016, 07:28:13 AM
Thanks greenbarn, so now I know. I was wondering why he was so put off about me not making it to the biker Rally. It's not like I said " I heard you have really bad halitosis and you buy cheap beer so I can't make it". I mean how sensitive can you get?

Hate to say it, but since you mentioned it, that is the reason I didn't go...

greenbarn · July 08, 2016, 07:42:09 AM

Just whatever you do, don't make fun of him for drinking tea... $:-\$ you'll get something HOT in your food...

greenbarn · July 07, 2016, 22:37:27 PM

Ronny: I can assure you, you can take nothing Ratman says seriously ... He is the supreme chain-yanker, and leg-puller.

DC: It was strange with the other purple Drifter guy-- it was as if Ratman had pissed him off over something -- can't imagine why...

Ratman: I hate to see the Biker Reunion die off like that. It seems like it had such great support from the community (I haven't seen anything like it). I'm wagering someone will pick it up - we can hope anyway. Hmmm... You're retired now, and should have plenty of free time...

CDNRatMan · July 07, 2016, 22:21:21 PM

seems the family that started it 15 years ago has decided to bow out. Now they need someone to step to the plate, it affects, the towns of New Liskeard, Cobalt, North Cobalt and Haileybury. For years the gas stations along 11 from Temagami north have donated 2% of their bike fuel sales or their whole bike sales to the event. The campsites and motels within a 2 hour ride are booked within a few hours of the last event being completed. So a lot of people will feel the affects of the event closing down.
I have not been able to get an accurate count of the attendees this year, but people have been saying it was by far the largest in 15 years. Seeing as Monday was a work day for a lot of people many left Sunday before the Freedom Ride, the Freedom ride was over 30 mins in length of bikes.

aralph · July 07, 2016, 21:18:13 PM

Quote from: CDNRatMan on July 06, 2016, 12:21:55 PM
The last" Biker Reunion" to be held.

You mean, that's it , no more New Liskeard?

aralph

CDNRatMan · July 07, 2016, 09:31:52 AM

Sorry was nothing personal. You misunderstood.

CDNRatMan · July 06, 2016, 22:30:09 PM

I'll not get on about divorce laws here but I am slowly getting back on my feet after mine......enough said.

CDNRatMan · July 06, 2016, 19:53:43 PM

DC was not sure what his issue was but he just plain snubbed us.

Uncle Ronny, you need to retire and just smell the roses. Some of us retired people did our service to the country and wore our uniform for 42 years, so we know what it is about. Some of us do not need coffee machines either. Hydro one is a sweet peach of a deal......
We are ok with your choices everyone has to do what they think is right. You have an open invitation to drop in any time for a visit and a ride if you are in my area.......

RockinRollin · July 06, 2016, 18:07:48 PM

I remember your offer but unfortunately I burned up most of my Holidays last winter, I was in Mexico for a month remember? Some day I will be retired then I will be able to go whenever and wherever the desire takes me without a care in the world. Till then I work for the people of Ontario keeping the lights on for all those retired people who need their coffee makers every morning and their porch lights so they can show up God knows what hour of the night and find their way in.

Oh, by the way I had one day off last weekend and that was Sunday which I used to see my son over in Belleville who is handicapped and yes I needed to work Friday Saturday. 10 hour days six days a week from March till last weekend and again in Sept till the end of the year. Everybody has different circumstances in their lives. Enjoy what you have my friend.

CDNRatMan · July 06, 2016, 12:21:55 PM

Uncle Ronny if you clear your mind you also like Pilgrim were extended an invitation to attend with GB and his lovely bride and myself. But you also snubbed us. We went up on Sunday morning, and returned Sunday afternoon along the QC side of the border. see the attached map.
I had the futon in the spare room all ready made and some extra beer laid in for GB his lovely bride, Pilgrim and aralph or yourself; but I was also snubbed by the three of you and so GB and his lovely bride and myself went up and had a great time. The last" Biker Reunion" to be held. We were there. From the first OPP bike crossing the line onto Highway 11 south till the last bike was just over 31 mins.

DC · July 06, 2016, 11:42:56 AM

Quote from: CDNRatMan on July 05, 2016, 20:56:28 PM
Sunday was a bad day for Drifter riders.........

Bigras, GreenBarn and I were in New Liskeard for the Biker Reunion, and we were parked in a line on the curb. A Drifter 1500 purple and white went by really slow and sort of glared at us. I pointed to the curb and told him to come over and park with us, he then sort of came around and left ......snubbed us, came by later and went right past us and ignored us, then after the Freedom Ride GB and I ran into him on the main street and he just glared at us again and kept going......must have been over from the QC side.

Very odd. I wonder what his problem was.