HRF is a great forum. A real haven in a storm of crappy poser biker forums. The guys here ride, and we wear out tires and engines. It's a great place!

Winter is coming for many areas of the country. We have a chance to settle back with a hot cuppa and get to know each other, whether that's sharing our winter modification plans to outight biitching. But a sad thing happens here, as well.

We see lots of guys sign up. Then they disappear. Then Badinfluence63 and I talk amongst ourselves for several weeks. Where do you guys go? We need to hear from you!

If posers can hide out in their moms' basements and never touch a motorcycle--but still think of things to say--we should be able to write volumes! Don't just sign up and wait for someone to entertain you. Contribute! Let's hear from you!

Alright.
I don't really know where to start or what to say.
I have rode since 12 years old, that 3.5 briggs minibike started the whole love of riding for me. I rode a lot of metric bikes (as Harleys are costly) and I never had anything I didn't work hard for. And I liked them fast, but as I have gotten older I don't want to ride like a race is on and I'm out to win it every time anymore. And I still like them fast, but now with style and comfort as well.
And now with kids leaving the nest one married and one in collage and only one left home, it was my time to have what I wanted (plus boss said it was ok). So I got my Harley.
And looking back I wish that I had done so along time ago now. I would have owned less bikes and saved money and had what I wanted since I was probably 24 years old, but I have one now and kinda feel like I'm not yet worthy to claim or boast about it since I'm such a new Harley owner. I'm sure that will pass but for now I'll just get into this slowly and safely.

Alls I can say is congrats and welcome to the dark side,lol. I wish you many adventures and the start of more than one memorable 2 wheeled journey. Jump right in and don't be afraid to take it all in, sorta like you just did here. Don't spend to much time here as a replacement to real life time as real life real time experience are second to none.

Welcome. The usual slang term in my area for this evolution through the ranks is termed "born again biker." Lots of boomers go through this. They had a wild youth, then did the right thing and worked, took care of their children and families and strived to be a mentor, and then got back into Harleys when the kids left the nest. Very common.

However, a guy who puts people first must often "be a real biker" and sell his bike for the good of someone else. Nothing wrong with that story. Sometimes the guys with no bike (be that for families or caring for their ill children or serving their country or toughing out jail time) become the 'real bikers' we respect the most. Like the old adage says, "Even a widow owns a Harley." It's the mental, not the metal.



And BTW DND, this is BI63. He puts us all to shame with high mileage figures. He doesn't polish bikes to make them pretty, LOL, he has to repair them from use! For example, I replaced a tire this year from a season of use. However, BI63 replaced a tire during a vacation! He is the personification of "Shut up and ride."

Oh, BI63 and I don't really hate the world, just the idiots. Yes, we know that this condition consists of 98% of the population that waste this planet's oxygen, but facts are facts, we don't hate everyone...

You have a way with words Tourist.

Its not uncommon to ride cross country and need a tire or a couple ouil changes before ya get home. Hoping to get out your way next summer and see the sights of Madison. I've only heard good things about Madison.

And donotdisconnect.. if and when you do decide to jump into the 21st century harley world as it has become remember.... "Just because you own a Harley does not make you cool" applies even more so today. Meaning there are still those wolves in sheep clothing who use the harley mystique as a foot in your door. More than one gullible new harley owner has had his bike stole under the guise of "brotherhood".

Funny, I've heard that same comment from numerous district attorneys, judges and jealous husbands.



Here we disagree. When I decide to ride my Harley it's because I wish to jump into 1936.

If you've never been to Daytona bike week go. If you've never been to Laconia bike week,go. If you've never been to Sturgis,go. If you've never been to Myrtle BEach,go. If you've never been to any of the million motorcycle swap meets thru out the country,go. Join HOG. Attend a toy run. You will be pleasantly surprised how many people you will meet who are just like you.

My advice is to choose carefully. I had more fun in South Dakota the first time (1991) than I did the second time.

Frankly, I don't care for modern bikers. For example, in watching cable channel's covering of Sturgis, you see fifty guys on bikes touring the countryside. Then you see several thousand pissed up idiots watching a bikini contest and gunning their engines at Buffalo Chip. Yeah, I get it, it's vacation time. But it appears to me it's just a foolish excuse for wannabees to let off steam all of the time pretending to be bikers.

Trust me, when outlaws want to be outlaws there's a body count, not some chick in a bikini hawking over-priced beer.

If you like bikes, go to a bike event. If your main goal is to be a asshole on someone else's property then go to Vegas. See how long that attitude lasts. Jerks are jerks. Sitting on a bike is no excuse.

Thanks for the tips BI63 and Tourist.
I will join HOG this spring, and I will go to a bike week somewhere, I'm not sure where.
But I think maybe Maine or Boston if they have that in those places. I liked both those places when I was there, plus that would be a good ride for me.
As for Vegas I didn't care for that place when I was there anyway.
A toy run you say.... I have heard of poker runs, never been on one of those either though.
I wanted to ride for our Vets there was one of those here a week or so ago but I didn't know how to go about getting involved. That will not be the case this coming summer though.

The places you mention are all good places and will provide great vacations. I also believe that charity work should be a very important part of motorcycling. Even as choir members we did blood drives and St. Vincent De Paul rides. And we still do.

My point is simple. Harleys have wheels. They roll. That's their function. Go roll the rubber off of your bike. It's the only thing that makes sense. Good luck to you. I already miss my bikes. It's freezing here today!