Nomads, Harleys, A Canadian Perspective

[Loafer]

Originally Posted by Poppy

http://www.mtcvoyager.com/

Thanks for the link Poppy. :)

[Bdog]

Way way up north were oil is the currency..all most all bikes up here are Harleys. The nearest Nomad in my area is voyager which he is 2 hrs away. I find 98% of Harley riders are really friendly up here. Most are interested in the Nomad because it looks like a Roadking classic and weren't even aware Kawasaki made it. The snooty riders are goldwingers then bmw riders with the rare occansional Harley rider in my area. As for the jibberish spewing out of the odd wanna be weekend warrior..it doesn't bother me at all..actually that person is doing me a favour by letting me know that he/she is not someone to piss on if they are on fire!..Bdog

[cactusjack]

I attended a big 2-day rally today to benefit Boys and Girls Clubs of Yavapai County. It was held at Cliff Castle Casino in Camp Verde, about 100 miles north of Phoenix. Today they had a poker run, which I went on. Thousands of motorcycles, 98% were HD, I saw maybe 3 or 4 Nomads, a couple of other Vulcans and some Stars, Hondas BMWs and sportbikes, even a couple of Indians.

No snide remarks about Jap bikes, either.

[cdneh]

I was riding today with 11 others for children's charity and in our group were 3 Goldwings, 1 Shadow, 3 Yamahas, 1 Susuki, 2 Kawasakis and 2 Harleys. Shows you in this small sample that Harleys are not dominant. The last 5 bikes in our general riding group were 2 Goldwings, 2 Harleys and 1 Voyager. Everyone enjoys learning about other bikes with most conversations around the Goldwings. We are generally a cruiser group and so the wings are a little different and interesting to compare to a cruiser. Only 1 rider who switched to HD started to show attitude and he no longer rides with us.

[Loafer]

Originally Posted by cdneh

I was riding today with 11 others for children's charity and in our group were 3 Goldwings, 1 Shadow, 3 Yamahas, 1 Susuki, 2 Kawasakis and 2 Harleys. Shows you in this small sample that Harleys are not dominant. The last 5 bikes in our general riding group were 2 Goldwings, 2 Harleys and 1 Voyager. Everyone enjoys learning about other bikes with most conversations around the Goldwings. We are generally a cruiser group and so the wings are a little different and interesting to compare to a cruiser. Only 1 rider who switched to HD started to show attitude and he no longer rides with us.

He doesn't ride with you anymore? Because he doesn't want to, or he isn't asked to?

[flavor]

A lot of Harleys in RI. I would say easily the majority. A spattering of all other bikes. But what I found interesting is a friend of mine who moved to Florida says the majority of bikes down there is easily Japanese bikes with a spattering of Harleys.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Still a lot of HD riders here in my part of the country. Most are friendly enough. I have never had any problems with any of the.

[Kawhead]

I certainly can't knock somebody for having for having pride in the bike they ride. I think the Nomad is the greatest bike on the road! So far,other riders have been just as complementary as they could be. Most of the people I know ride HD's and we trade friendly jibes back and fourth, but thats with anything we do.

[elvis]

To add to the Canadian perspective, my personal experience with HD owners in the Lower Mainland, British Columbia hasn't been a positive one and that's okay by me.

I think HD is an icon for most Americans, 100+ years of history of building V-twins and I can understand an American rider's patriotic stand when it comes to the choice of bikes. But when I see similar attitude by a Canadian, it's kind of ridiculous, kind of ironic...

People own/ride bikes for various reasons: Some hardly ride but polish their chrome, some patrol the busiest streets and show off their expensive toys, some enjoy the wind and ride as far as they can go. I think it's all good, it's their money, it's their life but I get ticked off if they make a remark on my ride.

My current ride is a beautiful 08 Nomad and if I'm not with my wife I go solo, 99% of the time.

My next ride might be a beautiful ... Glide and if I'm not with my wife I will go solo, 99% of the time.

E.

I love the smell of burning rice in the morning!

[ponch]

Even the HD isn't 100% made in the USA. It burns all sorts of things...

Originally Posted by bshwetz

I love the smell of burning rice in the morning!

[cyclecat]

You're right ponch, 75% of the engine parts on a new HD are made by Kawasaki so who's burning rice? HD's are American assembled but by no means are they American made.

[ringadingh]

A lot of their accessories say made in China now. It seems that a lot more of their customers are loyal to made in USA, too bad the company directors arn't that loyal.

[cnc]

Funny here in Quebec there are plenty of Harleys. They far out weigh all the metric cruiser brands combined yet I personally have never noticed being treated differently based on the type of bike I drive. The only time I ever had a rude comment about not having a Harley came from my cousin and she does not count as she nor her husband have never owned any motorcycle and has always projected an air of snootiness anyway. But that in it's self brings up an interesting point. While the perception that it should be a Harley or nothing is out there, perhaps it is partly driven by people who are full of themselves anyway. If they were not into bikes, it would be some other brand of product that they felt was Superior and compelled to associate themselves with.

[drno]

I really really like my 1700 Nomad. It is a great bike.

Listening to everyone bitch about them gets a bit long especially when its clear they havent a clue about the bike.

I like some Harleys. I really like the Ultra Classic Electra Glide Limited. - When I win the lotto...-

When someone dosn't wave at me comming the other way I have no way of knowing why they dont. I'm not them, Im not privy to thier thoughts at the time, and any idea I have about why they didnt, is purely based on perception which can more often than not be way wrong. Of course this is different when they give the ole single finger salute..... But what I get out of that is that they are so embarrased about what they ride that they have the need to be rude in order to make themselvs feel better about the poor choice's they have made in life and If I can be of help to these poor unfortunate persons who have no identity of thier own I'm ok to provide this service.