Modern Vespa

Why do Harley riders always rev their engines when riding by , and just because the go to one rally once a year does that really make them true riders, what's up with these guys and because they ride a Harley they automatically assume there tuff guys??

i stopped into one of those "rugged" harley bars once with my mp3 just to see what would happen. several "scary" looking riders came up to me in the parking lot and wanted to know all about the scooter. i showed them the independent suspension, front wheel locks, storage, parking break... i couldn't believe it, they "oohed" and "aahed" and thought it was the coolest thing ever... LOL

Those were the not all, I was driving home last weekend in the cage and a Harley rider came up on the side of me mind you there was no car in the lane next tome but he was still on the yellow as if there was an imiginary car and he was lane splitting revving his engine so I moved over to let him have his room and then he did the same thing to an elderly lady and scared her this I know because it was three lanes and she went from 65 to 50 and all the way to the slow lane I guess since he was wearing a hells angels vest he thought he was a 1% ,,, wrong,, I was furious and caught up to him and gently made go onto an exit that he didn't want to take no harm done but I'm sure he was a scared as the elderly lady he scared, in my younger years I would have done worse , but now that I'm 36 and reformed that was enough for me, and I'm prepared for the comments, sorry I was mad

I have had similar experiences where Harley guys genuinely want to know about it.
The ones that don't, just pretend you don't exist. I have yet to have anyone treat me badly though. I suppose because a good percentage these days are accountants and dentists and the like. They like to dress like pirates on the weekend.
They rev their motors cause that is what they live to do. It can also be a show off thing of course, and a sort of put down. Just ignore them back.

I get Harley riders who wave and smile (real bikers) and I get the dirty look with no acknowledgment (attitudes who happen to ride bikes).

The Harley guys, (and gals), here do alot for the community. Lots of charity rides and such. They're good folks. They just LOOK tough.

They're just folks. All shapes and sizes, good, bad and indifferent, angels and assholes, like any other societal cross section methinks. They like to dress their part, a big piece of the culture and allure. Personally all the Harley riders I know are good people, and those I don't know - yet - well, I remember that they're just folks, and they get treated as such.

I don't care how tough they act they still want to talk about their ride, and that's always a place to start if opportunity presents. When not, like next to at a red light, I give 'em a thumbs up and a grin and likely they grin back. I'm on an Mp3!! And if they don't, so what?

When I was buying my 500, there were three harley riders, well two and the woman... wearing the requisite handguns (it's legal). Well they were looking at the MP3's and likin it. I don't know if they bought one as I left before they did.

Harley riders make loud sounds because they can!

Around here there are several groups, one, banditos, are known to follow you and beat manners into you if you disrespect them. This can be for as little as passing a group of 3 or more of them on the supper slab. Others are cool as cool can be. Just never know where you death is.

Every Harley rider I've come across since getting my 500 has been totally into it. I even get the wave from them drivin' by. Good folks.

Had a couple Harley riders follow me into a gas station just to ask 1000 questions about the 500. Turned out to be really nice guys.

I believe that if some one truely loves to ride, and is interested in the technology of the machines, then they don't care what you ride and will be cool with you. People who ride certain types of bikes exclusively for the "image" of being a "biker," or whatever, are the ones who think they are too cool to check out a scooter.

I live out in the "sticks" on a country lane. We have a neighbor down the way who rides a Harley ... I don't even know his name and I've never spoken to him. My wife and I refer to him as "Vroom - Vroom" because he revs twice before down shifting right in front of our house. It just seems to be a part of the ride to make a little macho noise now and then I guess.

My harley rider poll:

The guys ask all the questions and dig it.

The gals ignore it like it's invisible....

I think they revive their engines because they like the sound of that thunderous motor and .....ut hummm..........the vibration....cheap thrills, why not have one today....

My Dad and my brother both have Harley's, and since I'm the "different" one, I have the 500. And growing up around Harley's for most of my life, I can tell you that revving the RPM's is just to announce your prescence, and you know, sound cool. I sort of wish my scoot had loud pipes too. I don't mind the loud pipes, as long as they aren't obnoxious. I've heard the pipes from choppers that make your teeth rattle. That's a bit much, especially considering the hearing damage!

I have a Harley Ultra and an MP3 500. When I posted pictures of the MP3 and a link to the Piaggio video on their discussion board, I received nothing but great replies. Most of those guys and gals have owned all kinds of bikes, they understand riding anything is fun.

All the Harley riders I've met thus far have been nice. My best friend's dad just joined their ranks (We keep asking him when he plans on getting snotty and ignoring the rest of us :lol: ) The biker chick mentality is a little different and like Jacq says even when a lot of the guys want their wives to look, I pretty much get ignored by the girls about 60% of the time. The one exception is "real" biker gang guys pretty much ignore you in large groups and I don't think they are 'supposed' to wave when they are wearing their colors.

I've also found Harley riders to be very interested in the MP3. I've had groups gather around and ask tons of questions on more than 1 occassion. In fact, on my first ride the battery died near a biker bar. They came out, correctly diagnosed the problem and were keenly interested in the technology.

Sport bike riders have been the biggest pain for me. Most are also very cool and interested but I do get a fair share who like to pull up next to me, rev it up and pop a wheelie to show off. I just laugh and think "Have fun when your bike is impounded boys."

I have found harley riders to be very interested once they see how the front end works. they still rib me a little though when the see the 250 on the side.

I get more waves from harley riders than I do motorcycle cops, but there is probably a regulation that prohibits them from waving.

I find there are two classes of Harley riders -- the guys who dress up and ride around town and the others who get out on the highway and travel.

The guys who ride on Sat and Sun around town ignore me. The guys on the open highway always waive and are interested in my bike. I think of the two groups as the "real riders" and "pretend riders." Harley attracts a lot of pretenders but most of them seem to be good guys.

>Sport bike riders have been the biggest pain for me. Most are also very cool and interested but I do get a fair share who like to pull up next to me, rev it up and pop a wheelie to show off.

The other day I was out with the G/F on the /500 doing 55 on a state hwy and as a crotch rocket passed us in the next lane, the driver popped a four foot wheelie and accelerated past at about 75. I asked my G/F if he had successfully impressed her and she said "what an a**hole."

My wife, son and I saw something similar this evening. We were heading down the road (doing the speed limit) and a guy on a crotch rocket wearing shorts and a t-shirt zipped by us. We met him at the next traffic signal. When the light turned green he popped the clutch and laid 20 feet of rubber before doing a wheelie and flying off at about 90 MPH in a 35 MPH construction zone.

None of us were impressed. I thought to myself, he must not mind replacing those $200 tires more often than he needs. The I thought, maybe he doesn't plan on living to his next tire change.

Harley riders like most other types represent a cross section of society and are mostly great folks. The vast majority wave when passing and want to talk when stopped.

Sport bike riders don't return many waves because the leaned forward position makes it more difficult to let go of the handle bar. Most do lift a finger or two to acknowledge my wave. Just not as obviouss to see.

Strangely the group I find least likely to return a wave is scooter riders

We can't assume all are like a few jerks we run across without accepting we are the same as the few jerks that get thrown off this forum.

I don't think, here in the UK, we get any 'real' harley riders? *shrug* Actually, strike that, there was a Hells Angels related killing on the motorway here not long back, so a suppose there are some quite 'serious' bike gangers out there!

The only ones I see on my commute in the city generally ignore me, but then, most riders ignore each other in this country I think.

Apart from RobJ - we always wave when we see each other - usually Rob sees me barreling up toward his mirror That wave is perhaps a "slow down, you idiot!".

I haven't had anyone be 'bad' - I guess the Power Rangers are the most troublesome - they seem to hate being passed, but most just ignore Maybe that's London. Or rather that's London traffic!

Plenty of HD riders here in the UK, most are benign. There are two criminal groups though, and their rivalry has led to several large bike rallies bring cancelled by the Police.

Not to mention what that does to the engine. I always love seeing the crotch rockets zip past two-up, both wearing flip flops t-shirts and shorts. no helmet and (obviously) no gloves. Then they pop a wheelie for no apparent reason. But see, that's what I call natural selection. Darwin Award nominee.

Like I said before though, most Harley riders are great and love new stuff. Most even wave as you pass. However, I've noticed that the truly grisled old ones don't bother, and some chopper riders won't pay you any attention because they're just too good for everybody. Hell, my brother doesn't even get waved at by these types because he's on a Harley Sportster, not a "true" Harley.

It takes all types, apparently.

Why do Harley riders always rev their engines when riding by. . .?

One reason some Harley riders rev the engine is that with the loud pipes and other mods, their engines would die on them as they downshift, if they don't keep the revs up.

Never say never and always be careful of always....

When I rode a Harley, it was unmodified. Stock everything, and I didn't have to keep the revs up to downshift. Neighbors didn't know we had Harleys' until we told them. I didn't go to rallies, rode with my heart's mate on vacation tours, and passed 50,000 miles with no tickets, no crashes.

Since I've been on the MP3 500, I've gotten a lot of interest in the scooter, from folks on all walks of life. I had plenty interest in the Harley too, some because I was a 'girl' rider, especially when riding alone.

Play nice, kids, or you'll have to wait in the car....and it's pretty hot in there.

I keep trying to rev the engine on my MP3 to impress people, but all I end up doing is shooting into the intersection....

Then they should retune or un-mod so their engines don't stall. Everyone else is suffering for their fun. However I'll bet a high percentage of the revvers have no such technical issue, and are simply testosterone-addled dimwits.

And that's not impressive?!?

Not when you fall off of the back of the bike.

Well it would sure get attention, anyhoo.

>I keep trying to rev the engine on my MP3 to impress people, but all I end up doing is shooting into the intersection....

That's because you're not holding down the front brake while you do it:

It's to easy to do on an MP3 to be impressive, or appear as an arsehole.

You can't just wear a Hell's Angels vest. Those are seious colors. If he was wearing the colors he is a HA. A good way for him to get killed is to pose as a HA.

Jacq and nubby.................

Most new Harleys have EFI, they do not stall. Most modifications require the bike to be put on a dyno so the computer can be adjusted, or the engine will be damaged. Sometimes it is FUN to rev the engine, just like sometimes it's FUN to get looks when on the MP3. As for "testosterone-addled", I do some of my best creative work in that state. Much better than estrogen addled.

Ohhh Maximus.

ENOUGH SAID.
I ride a 500mp3 & ride a Harley, & wave to all bikers, 2 or 3 wheeled! 8)