"So, do you ride a Harley or a metric bike?"
When people find out you ride a motorcycle, that's often the
first question they ask. Actually, now that I think about it, that question sucks for a number of reasons. For one thing, there are a lot of bikes out there that are neither. Harley isn't the only non-metric bike in the world, nor is it the
only American made bike. Victory and Buell are American; Excelsior and Indian (before they went away) were American brands, not to mention the bazillion custom-made bikes that are out there. However, it's not that simple either. Many parts on
those bikes are made overseas, and many metric bikes contain at least
as many American made parts as a Harley. So, as far as the modern motorcycle is concerned, it truly is a global market, no matter what it says on the side of the tank. When it comes right down to where the rubber meets the road, it's a
question of personal choice which includes a number of factors, such as cost, performance, look and feel, reliability, availability; and, of course, sound. Once they finally make a decision, every rider thinks their bike is the best, so if you
want to piss someone off in a hurry, make a disparaging remark about their bike. Go ahead. Limbs have been broken, teeth have been lost and global wars have been started over those remarks. Okay, maybe not global wars, but certainly turf wars.
I looked at the bike market very carefully and decided to buy a Honda VTX1800. It's made in the USA (mostly), it looks beefy as hell, it's an absolute screamer with 1800 cc's of pure unadulterated V-Twin power, and I could afford
it. Yeah, there are some things I want to change, like the paint, the pipes and the seat, but other than that it's perfect. (Is any bike ever really finished? I don't think so, but don't ask my wife that question.) Now just because I chose
to buy a Honda, doesn't mean I have anything against Harley's. Almost all of my buddies ride a Harley. They make some good bikes. (I particularly like the Road King. If I were to ever get an HD, that would be the one.) And for the most part,
my buddies don't have anything against my metric bike. Sure, there's some good natured ribbing, but that's what guys do. (I just tell 'em "You're ugly and your mother dresses you funny.") But really, the only time anyone has ever said
anything really rude or idiotic about my choice of bikes, they were a non-rider. Real bikers recognize that we're all brothers (and sisters) under the badge on the tank. We all run the same risks on the open road, and we all know the great
feeling we get cruising on two wheels. So I really don't think it matters what you ride, as long as you're happy with it. Just ride.
