[sdsting]

Been patroning this local brewery here in San Diego for about 15yrs now, getting to know the regulars extreely well. Since I’ve been riding my Stryker down for happy hour for the last year it’s become a bit of a regualar member itself amoung the staff because I park it along side the window outside the door (with the approvoal of the manager as long as I don’t rev the engine to annoy the patrins when I leave like a Harly Davison rider would annouce his departure.. Anyway one of the regular old guys (with a grey handlebar mustache) tonight looked out at my bike and told me to “get a real bike.” Guess what he rides..

 

[strykenshane]

Did you tell him you have a real bike, one that when you leave you know it'll make it to and from your destination without fail? Those bastards really piss me off

 

[richard3]

Shoulda knocked him off his stool ! I m sorry but I have no tolerance loud mouth s especially the ones with beer muscles .

 

[Mr monte]

... Anyway one of the regular old guys (with a grey handlebar mustache) tonight looked out at my bike and told me to “get a real bike.” Guess what he rides..

You almost have to feel a little pitty for the guy as all he knows a "real bike" must leak oil, run rough & break down alot.

 

[Strykeback]

Did he ride his there or did he get into his import car and drive home? I will never understand why it seems they (HD owners) seem to feel so threatened by other cruisers. Would he have said the same thing to a victory owner? Instead of building a bond between a fellow motorcyclist he chooses to judge by the brand. Very powerful KoolAid in that marketing.

 

[Jeremyf073]

Unfortunately, you'll get that from time to time. Its pure bike envy at its finest. You should be flattered and pity the poor guy at the same time and heres why...
HD owners are usually pissed off all the time because the payment on their scooter is almost as much as a new car so they really cant afford to eat and drink like we do. That jealousy compounded with the fact that he knows there is a good chance that his HD will break on the way home, his wife is banging the neighbor kid who rides an R1, his kids hate him because the only thing on the table to eat for supper is late payment notices from HD, and his pitbull dog named "Harley" just pee'd on his front wheel and now he has to wash it before it rusts.

When Harley guys start running their mouths about my Stryker, I usually just smile and let it go but if I've had a beer or 10, I usually smile and simply reply..."Oh I dont need a Harley...My penis isn't tiny!"

 

[Strykeback]

That was funny. Note to self: Do not go drinking with Jeremy at Sturgis.

 

[mkohnen]

thanks Jeremy, i needed that today!

 

[Jeremyf073]

Thank you, thank you...I'll be here all week...Please tip your waitress

 

[delta470]

So far everywhere I ride in San Diego I've got nothing but compliments on my bike even without any mod's. When I was looking to buy though I had several people tell me to buy a Harley and my reply was that I want a bike that runs and that I don't need to make up for the size of any body parts.

 

[savage9]

i just tell em that i also have a 02 road king and the styker is just more fun and way more reliable.. they cant back talk since i have one too and have an educated opinion.... and if they do they get dropped ;D

 

[middleagecrisis]

Did you say anything back to him? When someone says something along these lines I just say, "I can appreciate the love you have for Harley. I actually considered buying one, but I found that to get the same type bike in a Harley I would have to spend nearly twice as much. To me a HD just is not worth all that cash. Plus my bike can pretty much out perform the majority of the HD's out there on the road. Just say'n"

 

[Guest]

I just tell those type of people that I couldn't find a Harley that had the same features, style and overall presence. Nothing against Harley, per se. But not smitten with the name either.

 

[BillyD66]

Just like in politics you have hardliners (Democrats and Republicans) and rest assured you're never going to change their minds so save your breath. In regards to the whole "Buy American" theme I just assume those that really push it don't fully understand the whole global economy concept and trying to explain it to them will likely only start another argument.

My purchase decision was mostly monetary. Since this was my "first" bike in decades I wasn't even sure how much I'd like it. I took my MSF class at a HD dealer(great class btw...) and tried(well sat on) a lot of bikes. Started with the sporties and while the 1200 custom fit nice with the forward controls it's a smaller frame and riding 2-up would have been a challenge IMO. Looked at various metrics and bounced all over. Almost got the vstar 950 and then like in Blues Brothers "I saw the light" and it was pointing at the Stryker 2 bikes over. Came home and got the spousal OK for the extra dough and living happily ever after. The Harley that is most comparable for me is the Dyna wide glide. Nice bike but 7K more Technically I got the Stryker out the door for probably a little less than the HD sporty 1200 custom.

Give HD credit for exploiting and nurturing a marketing niche. Apple does the same thing and both companies are pretty darn popular and profitable!!

Now I'm sure I'll get jumped on for this comment but it also appears some of us are hardliners as well. I know getting challenged about your decision to purchase X instead of Y is annoying but sometimes the replies just seem to continue to fuel the fire.

I just wish we could all just get along and ride without the silly squabbles. I would hope that if I was stranded on the side of the road that anyone passing on a motorcycle would stop to offer assistance regardless of the brand they/I ride. Maybe I'm just naive but that's always how its been for me with snowmobiles, boats and the like...
Of course I still believe in the Easter Bunny if that sheds any light on mm state of mind

 

[BOOLSHOT]

I haven't seen anyone say that they would out of the blue tell a Harley rider that the Stryker is better. It seems the negative comments are usually started by the Harley guys. I have never had a problem, but I have not been around many other bikers out at bars and such. I think there are kooks on both sides. A nice bike is a nice bike.. doesn't matter to me if it's a Yamaha, a Harley, Honda or anything... Nice is nice.. ugly is ugly.

 

[deputystryker]

Unfortunately, you'll get that from time to time. Its pure bike envy at its finest. You should be flattered and pity the poor guy at the same time and heres why...
HD owners are usually pissed off all the time because the payment on their scooter is almost as much as a new car so they really cant afford to eat and drink like we do. That jealousy compounded with the fact that he knows there is a good chance that his HD will break on the way home, his wife is banging the neighbor kid who rides an R1, his kids hate him because the only thing on the table to eat for supper is late payment notices from HD, and his pitbull dog named "Harley" just pee'd on his front wheel and now he has to wash it before it rusts.

When Harley guys start running their mouths about my Stryker, I usually just smile and let it go but if I've had a beer or 10, I usually smile and simply reply..."Oh I dont need a Harley...My penis isn't tiny!"

That's awesome. When i bought my Stryker my friend who rides a Honda shadow 750 took me to a harley shop so he could buy me my bell, while he was picking out my bell i was wondering the floor looking at the bikes when i over heard a saleman talking to a customer and they were discussing monthly payments and i heard the salesman say tell the customer that his monthly payments would be between 500-550$ a month, I almost choked when i heard that. If im paying that kind of money for a vehicle I'll be driving around in a Cadillac CTS-V. Its was just crazy this guy could have drove/rode over to the yamaha shop and bought himself a Stratoliner deluxe for 13k and smoke any Harley of that style out there with that 113ci motor, but im sure he was more concerned with his rep and getting the matching t-shirt and jacket cause he didnt want to be made fun of by his friends.
I love my Stryker and I dont give a F**k if people like or not, even though i havent had anyone bash it cause its a metric..

 

[acepilot2007]

I think it just comes down to there are a lot of jack a$$es out there. I recently went to a MSF advanced course taught by two gentlemen (both harley riders) who had over 90 years riding experience combined. Before we even started the course they both told me how they thought I had a nice bike. About half way through the course they had me pull up in front of the rest of the class to show off my custom tail lights because they liked the set up so much (and the visibility. Highly recommend chromeglow led's for any custom jobs). I say that just to show that there are great people who ride every type of bike. It's usually just the jack a$$es that stand out. It's not just Harley riders either. I have a good friend who rides a Honda and pretty much trash talks anything else.

 

[strykerhulk]

Why do people do this bash other people just because of different bike we like to ride at the end aren't we are riders any way. I have been lucky in the sense people ask me what kind of Harley is that..

 

[toby]

Hey Terry, I would have asked him what his definition and description of a real bikes is and what it's performances are and then tell him what your Stryker is capable of then smile. Or if I had a few drinks I would have told him that his girlfriend or boyfriend should get a real man with a real brain.
Been riding around the past few days with someone on a Road King and another guy on a V max with his wife on the back that weighs 330 lbs and my wife on here 950, who BTW is ridding very well now that she has almost 10,000 miles behind the bars, and we all were waiting on the Harley to catch up on the free way and mountain roads. Didn't matter where the Road King was way behind.

 

[sdsting]

Yeah this guy was a real douchebag, and pretty drunk. We weren’t even engaged in converastion but he had to question me on why I parked me bike where I did and then followed it up with the insult. A few of you asked what my response was… I immediately showed my annoyance with his comment and told him he was skating on thin ice. In a drunken stuper the turned away. About 5 min. later he & his wife left and he touched my shoulder and repeated his statement “get a real bike,” I guess he thought he was being cute. The bartender asked me in a very bewildered look “what did he just say to you?” and when I told her she just shook her head in amazement. Bottom line the guy went way out of his way to make his coment and wasn’t invited to do so in any way. I’d bet odds that this is pretty rare and most likely his poor judgement was due to his drinking. But next time I see him in there I’ll go out of my way to tell him he’s a jerk. Oh and one of you asked if he was there on his bike and the answer is no, he’s never ridden it to this brewery that I’ve seen.