Local Bike Night

...yeah probably wont be doing THAT again anytime soon...

85:15 ratio of Harley Davidsons and Jap bikes (although i THINK i saw a new Triumph come in)...

95% of the women were burnt (overly tan, kind of like wearing a brown leather jacket) with no comprehension of what a bra is or what its used for...

99% of the men were walking billboards for the "Motor Company"...

75% or more were walking with a long neck in their hands which leads me to believe theyll probably have another or 3 before they get on their bikes...

the first guy i talked to gave me shit because i was in the Air Force and not Army and then proceeded to give me a laundry list of things i need to do to my maxim (took it hoping to get some buyer interest) to 'detail it up'...

2+ hours later a guy complimented me on how nice the 28 year old 550H looked and that i did a good job with the paint and the polish (what little i had done)...

some nice bikes but it sure looked like they spent more time cleaning than riding...

 

I know-- My 9-year old and I took the '83 to the offshore races in St. Clair; there were a few seamless tupperware rockets and Yamaharleys but it was mostly HD all the way. Some very nice bikes, don't get me wrong-- just not my cup o'tea. My son couldn't believe how absolutely HUGE some of those bikes are. We both got a good laugh from those "big wheel" choppers whose only suspension is the donut tire and the poor guy's butt. If I spent $30Large on a bike I wouldn't want it beating my a** over every bump.

There's no accounting for taste...

 

I enjoy the Oyster Run every year. I just don't mingle with the 1%ers.

 

I love taking my XJ's to bike shows. There's a cruise-in every tues in Hamilton ( it's a "run-whatcha-brung" show, so no prizes, rules, etc...... it's just for show and fun). And there's a bike-nite every Wed down in Sherburne. I ride a different one each week and just rotate through them. I'll probably never get an award at that one but it's fun anyway. I don't drool over any harleys, but I'll look at the chrome and appreciate it. I DO make a point to spot and talk with any XJ or XV owners, though. Usually I spot one or two Viragos, only once spotted another XJ, and do get some lookers at mine.

Finally, I stay away from the rockets and the hippies and the hookers and the drunks.

Stay safe,

dave

 

I think the majority of bikes in the UK are Japanese, with european bikes gaining in popularity (Ducati, Triumph, bmw etc). There are a few HDs and these sub divide into the "Serious chopper rider" and the "Executive weekend biker".

There are a few XJs about but they get much rarer over 15 - 20 years old. Perhaps it's the grotty winters that seem to take their toll in the cycle parts?

Once I get mine back on the road I'll let you know!

 

Royal Oak?

 

The one and only bike show I've ever ridden my bike to was a small gathering of local "enthusiasts" showcasing "custom" bikes. I decided to take my X (at the time) and looked for bikes of a similar vein. What I saw was a lot of hootin' and hollerin', the usual beer drinking bruisers looking to spill some testosterone, scantily clad women with sitting astride their laps. As I drove down the road slowly (lots of idiots doing donuts, burnouts, etc) someone threw a beer can at me. It missed, but I decided to keep on driving.

The majority were decked out HD's, the monstrosities with huge fairings and tassels and studs. A few sport bikes, but nothing with any soul.

Even though I no longer have the X, I love the XJ series. Anything I've done to it, it's bounced right back. It's a shame there aren't more shows with a classic theme.

 

Luckily for me there are a few bars here that cater to HD, and pretty much HD only. Down the road from this strip mall of HD crazieness there is a new bar that popped up that has a Bike Night every wednesday. (regardless of the day I take my bike up there anyway) and every time i bring my bike there someone talks to me about it and appreciates my work. No one is Judgemental or cynical there and its awesome.
I always get the, "what year is that?" and then the wide eyes when i tell em its an 85 that i'm rebuilding. Conversation starter. Had more than 1 scantily clad woman sit in my lap on the thing Shame they were all usually drunk and I dont do that whole "uh oh she's drunk nows my chance" thing.
Diesel Country Bar. Pretty neat little place.
And even if someones got a prob with me and my bike? S$#&w em. I dont care what anyone thinks. I'm here for a good time. I Love my XJ. She's amazing. Just the right size for me. Just enough power. So you can buy a name and drop 30grand. I'll build my own Legend. And It'll be all mine. Payments? who needs em
-D Dog.

 

^Thats Right! Id rather Pay for new parts i can install myself

 

Would that be at Royal Oak on main street?
My Maxim and my riding buddy's Seca are the only XJ's I have ever seen there.
Wednesday is cruiser night-mostly Harleys and Gold wings.
Thursday is crotch rocket night.
The Thursday crowd is more rowdy while the Wednesday crowd is more subdued and talkative.
There are usually some pretty nice custom bikes there on both nights.

 

I love taking my xj to bike gatherings. A couple of weeks ago there was a large bike show in Muskeegon MI estimated 30k bikes or so. It was really cool to see people walk right passed 20k to 30k dollar hd's to check out my bike it gives you a real sense of pride in a job well done. I've noticed that the rocket guys appreciate how fast these old bikes are and the hd guys go for the looks more.

 

Know and LOVE that feeling. I used to go to the local on my '81 CB-750. I'd park it right in the middle of the HD's. All the real bikers appreicated and loved it. The posers just didn't get it. To them it was just an old Jap bike parked amongst their high dollar Poser rides. What a bunch of "maroons".

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2210/7 ... 064356.jpg

 

nah this was in port huron twp. Angry Bull steakhouse...

im sure there were a few people who would have appreciated it had it been closer to the 'action' but i parked it in the back row just to give the big boys more room...

ive been wanting to go to Bike Time for a couple of years now. my buddy goes on his 2000 zrx1100. he leaves the CVO dyna home...

i agree the maxim could use a little cleaning but id like to sell it, not spend a bunch of time cleaning and detailing it when i could be riding the 750r...

maybe ill go again before the summers out. im not into the 'party scene' though so i pretty much just sit by my bike and listen to the band. that and watch everyone else interact...

 

GAAH! No wonder. Dave, dude, there are better "bike nights" than there...

You know what? Maybe after you get the 900 back, if we ever get some HOT summer nights, we should slide down to RO ourselves on a Thursday evening and catch up with the "city" crowd?

Maz, Ahks, you guys need to get out of the city and come up here where the air is crisp and clean...

 

ive never been to a 'bike night' anywhere so i thought "jeez, its only like 3 miles straight across the black river" (yeah like there will ever be a third crossing in MY lifetime!) so what the heck...

my motivation was to see if there was any interest in a 28yr maxim 550. there really wasnt. to be honest i wasnt sure what to expect. i THINK i had a notion it might be kind of like a car show where even NON-owners (riders) showed up to look at the bikes. nope. my bad...

the 750R runs just fine! granted the 900R is considerably more unique and is in better cosmetic shape, the 750R runs just fine!

it would probably be better to meet up THERE then to come home and ride back down. THAT could make for a long day. going to the city, coming home, going BACK to the city and then riding home again. especially if ive got to work the next day...