The Future of Harley-Davidson

[Stijloor]

As a Harley Rider myself, you wouldn't believe the amount of people who don't look when they are driving a car. They are driving with their cell phones in their ears staring with glazed eyes as they swerve around the road. "Load Pipes do Save Lives". When a Harley is around, people do hear them and then they turn their heads and look. I have seen it more than I can say. Also, I have seen people driving cars who are pulling out from a side street, staring blindly one way or another and starting to pull out right in front of me; then stop as I pull in the clutch and really rev the engine. Their expression changes and their looks are "Oh there you are, I didn't see you. Wow, I almost pulled out and hit you!!"

Harley Davidson disagrees with you.

Stijloor.

 

[Jim Wynne]

As a Harley Rider myself, you wouldn't believe the amount of people who don't look when they are driving a car. They are driving with their cell phones in their ears staring with glazed eyes as they swerve around the road. "Load Pipes do Save Lives". When a Harley is around, people do hear them and then they turn their heads and look. I have seen it more than I can say. Also, I have seen people driving cars who are pulling out from a side street, staring blindly one way or another and starting to pull out right in front of me; then stop as I pull in the clutch and really rev the engine. Their expression changes and their looks are "Oh there you are, I didn't see you. Wow, I almost pulled out and hit you!!"

I think it's pretty funny that so many of the people who think "loud pipes save lives" refuse to wear helmets.

 

[Sidney Vianna]

I think it's pretty funny that so many of the people who think "loud pipes save lives" refuse to wear helmets.

Jim, for some people, wearing helmets is a total waste of money and effort. Pay close attention how this safe-conscious rider wears her helmet:

What is she protecting? Her hair?

 

[Randy]

I think it's pretty funny that so many of the people who think "loud pipes save lives" refuse to wear helmets.

I think it funny when they wind up with a plate in their head if they survive. As a police officer I scraped a bunch "grey matter" off of the pavement, cars and phone poles after someone exercised their right to freedom of choice. Afterwards scrambled eggs w/hashbrowns and ketchup could help me finish off my day.

Back in my day that young lady would have had a knot tied in her butt by my former agency.

 

[Wes Bucey]

Jim, for some people, wearing helmets is a total waste of money and effort. Pay close attention how this safe-conscious rider wears her helmet:

What is she protecting? Her hair?

I think it funny when they wind up with a plate in their head if they survive. As a police officer I scraped a bunch "grey matter" off of the pavement, cars and phone poles after someone exercised their right to freedom of choice. Afterwards scrambled eggs w/hashbrowns and ketchup could help me finish off my day.

Back in my day that young lady would have had a knot tied in her butt by my former agency.

As I look at the photo, I get the distinct impression the rider with the backward helmet is just ignorant of the correct way to put it on.

My "root cause" itch is tingling and I have a whole list of suspects who should have set her straight, beginning with the first [and last] police who noticed this error and didn't stop her to educate her on the proper method, just as they would stop some guy driving a four-wheeler driving in the dark with lights out or on the wrong side of the road.

Gender doesn't get a call here, although I can't produce a photo to document my experience, I have seen some big hairy guys riding bikes (even Harleys!) with helmets so small they didn't come down over their ears (apparently in some misguided attempt to comply with a "helmet law")

While we're on the topic of foolish practices by bike drivers, why is it every state has a law about how tinted a windshield on a four-wheeler can be, but allow bike riders to ride at night with blackened face shields on their helmets? I saw a crew of six riders on rice burners one night last week, looking like extras from a Ninja motorcycle assassin movie - tight black leathers, black helmets with black face shields - except for the faint glow from the tail lights, they could not be seen in the blackness of our unlit rural roads from more than twenty feet away. They were on a cross street (running the stop sign on their street - no stop sign on mine) and it was only sheer luck that I slowed to read a sign or I would have clipped at least one of them from the side at 45 mph.

 

[Randy]

The tint on car windows is directly related to the safety of a law enforcement officer... We like to see what's going on inside...Safer for the people inside as well...Less potential to become a statistic if they can be clearly seen.

Oh yeah...The helmet in the picture is clearly marked at the bottom and the label states, among other things, UP and there are snaps in the front for a visor....visors don't go at the neck....The helmet worn in this fashion would need but very little impact from the front to crush the cervicle vertabrae causing a hangmans fracture (Notice the angle on the neck).

 

[Wes Bucey]

The tint on car windows is directly related to the safety of a law enforcement officer... We like to see what's going on inside...Safer for the people inside as well...Less potential to become a statistic if they can be clearly seen.

Oh yeah...The helmet in the picture is clearly marked at the bottom and the label states, among other things, UP and there are snaps in the front for a visor....visors don't go at the neck....The helmet worn in this fashion would need but very little impact from the front to crush the cervicle vertabrae causing a hangmans fracture (Notice the angle on the neck).

I'm just curious how well a rider SEES at night with a blackened face plate. The "stupid" parts to my story:

1. black outfits, black bikes tough for four wheel drivers to see at night (I'd like them lit up really bright, front, side, back, maybe reflective stripes on clothes and helmets?)
2. running a stop sign, just to keep with the group
3. I have tinted windows in back and side (not a super dark tint) and it's tough for me to see through at night

 

[SteelMaiden]

All I know is that I'd much prefer to hear a Harley in the lane beside me than some baby-g with a huge azz set of speakers in his trunk spewing out the derogatory filth that passes for music for some. If I have to listen to some idiot talking (rapping) about how he will @#$% the @##$%#@ out of the !@$#@@$ biotch and then @#@#$% her till she @%$#$%!, I may turn into one of those road rage statistics, you know, the commitor, not the recipient. I know, I know, my parents thought that the music I listened to as a teenager was satanic, but crikey, I didn't listen to stuff that promoted physically violating women. I also don't think the Harley would be any louder.

 

[Rebecca Bowes - 2010]

Thats nice.

 

[db]

Careful now Andy....some of our friends here at The Cove are proud owners of a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Stijloor.

You can now add me to the list. I picked up my 09 Road King last night.