My neighbor has a Harley and biker friends etc etc. He's pretty much into anything on two wheels or three. He actually bought one of those 650cc trike trucks. I can't remember the name of them...Anyway, I don't care what people think. I actually will probably look silly on one but I am more concerned about having fun than what people think.
is anyone also finding a lack of interest?
- Thread starter crassius
- Start date
LOL, thought it funny and at least I'm not alone seeing the wannabe Harley types up close and personal. I had a neighbor, recently moved, but he and his wife rode Harleys. Five days a week this dude was and investment banker, drove a nice BMW sedan, his wife drove a high end Lexus. But come the weekend they became 'hard core bikers'.
I mean hard core. Tattoos, do-rags, muscle shirts, leather and friends with bikes, choppers and hogs that would have been at home at any Texas road house. Mufflers were unheard of with this bunch and speed limit and stop signs in the neighborhood were ignored.
They got enough complaints from neighbors and the homeowner's association that they finally sold their home and moved. Good riddance. Phoney, plastic people like them aren't welcome anywhere except with their own.
I can only imagine what the real bikers must think of these weekend warriors who want so bad to be like them but end their day on the road in their hot tubs and air conditioned homes, sipping expensive wine and comparing their stock portfolios.
Tom
I mean hard core. Tattoos, do-rags, muscle shirts, leather and friends with bikes, choppers and hogs that would have been at home at any Texas road house. Mufflers were unheard of with this bunch and speed limit and stop signs in the neighborhood were ignored.
They got enough complaints from neighbors and the homeowner's association that they finally sold their home and moved. Good riddance. Phoney, plastic people like them aren't welcome anywhere except with their own.
I can only imagine what the real bikers must think of these weekend warriors who want so bad to be like them but end their day on the road in their hot tubs and air conditioned homes, sipping expensive wine and comparing their stock portfolios.
Tom
Last edited:
come down to newport beach, tom. it's ridiculous out here. 
i stopped at the local harley "store" to pick up a seal for my roommates bike and had to wait 45 minutes till the "parts guy" was done selling tshirts and bandannas to fat rich people.
our garage has a totally restored 1931 indian, a new-ish wide glide, a sporster for the 4' tall japanese girl roomate, a custom panhead chopper that just got rented to a movie studio for a major movie, an ol knuckle, another old pan in pieces, a servi-cycle in pieces, and enough parts to rival any vintage shop.
then theres my toy mopeds and bikes.
the local weekenders don't even look at us when they ride by anymore. they used to stop when someone was working on something, but after 2 minutes they have no idea what we're talking about.
i think my next project is gonna be a real bike. theres a coupla nortons i've been looking at.
basically, i think my interest in motored bikes is waning. probably build a race bike and a cruiser, but craahing and getting a 65 convertible caddy so i don't have to rely on my bike has kinda changed my perspective...
i stopped at the local harley "store" to pick up a seal for my roommates bike and had to wait 45 minutes till the "parts guy" was done selling tshirts and bandannas to fat rich people.
our garage has a totally restored 1931 indian, a new-ish wide glide, a sporster for the 4' tall japanese girl roomate, a custom panhead chopper that just got rented to a movie studio for a major movie, an ol knuckle, another old pan in pieces, a servi-cycle in pieces, and enough parts to rival any vintage shop.
then theres my toy mopeds and bikes.
the local weekenders don't even look at us when they ride by anymore. they used to stop when someone was working on something, but after 2 minutes they have no idea what we're talking about.
i think my next project is gonna be a real bike. theres a coupla nortons i've been looking at.
basically, i think my interest in motored bikes is waning. probably build a race bike and a cruiser, but craahing and getting a 65 convertible caddy so i don't have to rely on my bike has kinda changed my perspective...
I myself have always been a car guy. My last build was a 79 Caprice Coupe with a 383 stroker. I could go on and on about that car. Spent a lot of $ sweat and tears on that thing...Lost it in a shootout yes the gun type shootout LOL. Motorcycles were always preached against when I was kid growing up so I was scared to death of them for the longest time. The first bike I ever owned was a 250 Enduro and I loved that thing. I liked I suppose because if you didn't have a Harley, you were a loner and that's pretty much how I am now. I've always been a loner.
In LA, there is absolutely no lack of interest in motorized bicycles at all. I get constantly asked:
1) How fast is it?
2) What's the MPG?
3) How much does it cost?
I'm trying my best to increase #1 and decrease #3, cause I'm seriously lacking in both. LOL
1) How fast is it?
2) What's the MPG?
3) How much does it cost?
I'm trying my best to increase #1 and decrease #3, cause I'm seriously lacking in both. LOL
I'm currently lusting after 2 bikes;
A Yamaha TW200 that I can ride to the local state off road park
A Triumph Bonneville because...well you know -
A Yamaha TW200 that I can ride to the local state off road park
A Triumph Bonneville because...well you know -
When I built my first motorized bicycle (and it was a pretty good looking bike) about 5 years ago now I was riding it uptown. At a stop sign a guy on a motorcycle came from my right and turned into the parking lot across the street. As he made his turn I could see the profile of the motorcycle. Unmistakably and old Triumph.A Triumph Bonneville because...well you know -
I went across and parked next to him to have a look. It was a 750 Bonneville. Condition was not quite 'showroom', but very good. I said, "Well, how about that? A classic Triumph!"
He was looking down at the moment, pulling off his helmet. He slowly raised his head, scanning my bike side-to-side, looked me in the eye and said,
"Nice bike....."
A very proud moment, let me tell you.
I was honest, though, and said, "Yeah, but not as nice as yours.." and went on to tell him why.
I suspect part of the declining interest around here is due to the number of places popping up across the lower mainland that sell ready-to-ride electrics. I often get people asking about the bike when I'm out and about still, but once you get past the 'numbers' part of the conversation most of them get that glassy-eyed look when you tell them that they do need a little routine TLC with a few tools. Most of them seem the type that take thier car to the dealership for a burnt out bulb, rather than buy a new one and spend 2 minutes changing it themselves (I just realised, I could probably start a business just changing bulbs for the lazy rich folks, lol).
I think if people actually had the chance to ride one, then there interest level would go through the roof. I know I was shocked how fast 40mph feels on a bicycle. Until you actually feel that sensation it sounds rather slow if you never have before felt it on a bicycle.
So you can have a puddle of oil on your garage floor?I'm currently lusting after 2 bikes;
A Yamaha TW200 that I can ride to the local state off road park
A Triumph Bonneville because...well you know -
Sorry....first thing that came to mind
I'd gladly put up with a little puddle of oil if I could have the 63 Bonneville that I owned when I was in high school today. Bought that Triumph new and sold it when I went into the Air Force in 65. Should have kept it.So you can have a puddle of oil on your garage floor?
Sorry....first thing that came to mind
Tom
Yeah.......but just think of how big that puddle would be by now? BP wouldn't hold a candle to that oil slick
In high school I drove a 1962 Catalina, two door, red, 389 with that crazy transmission that had Neutral where park is supposed to be and reverse where 1st gear would be, loved that car. Drove it while I was in the service and then stupidly traded it for a Z28. The Z was nice but never had the stigma of the Catalina.
Dan.
Last edited:
I think that the summer heat could be causing some lack of interest, at least around here.
I haven't felt like riding my motorized bicycle anywhere. It's too slow for quick trips to the store, but great for just exploring. I just don't feel like riding slow and exploring in the high heat and humidity. I just want to get where I'm going, and back again as quickly as possible.
Maybe, when the temps cool, and the leaves are changing colors, more people will get back into motorized bicycles just to see their surroundings up close and personal.
I haven't felt like riding my motorized bicycle anywhere. It's too slow for quick trips to the store, but great for just exploring. I just don't feel like riding slow and exploring in the high heat and humidity. I just want to get where I'm going, and back again as quickly as possible.
Maybe, when the temps cool, and the leaves are changing colors, more people will get back into motorized bicycles just to see their surroundings up close and personal.
I've never seen a motorized bicycle till i built one in the 20 years I've lived here. But I have gotten another person to build one and 2 more thinking about it. It flies under the radar in Houston.
Me too, like a casket on wheels, a hamburger machine.
My brother moved a 0.5 hour drive away, it's been a lonely summer, only hung out once in the past few months. I have no desire for friends outside my bro.
The good thing is that I do like to spend a lot of my time alone.
But even loners get lonely.
there a few people on this site from Michigan, but where i live (Shelby township) i not seen another motorized bicycle rider only one i seen over last 2 years ago in royal oak (15 miles away) and that started me on the path to get one of these motorized bicycle i said i want one of them they look good ,love the fresh air and wind in my hair/face etc when riding mainly to my veggie plot 3 miles away and shop et cetc,,it takes me back a bit (i from England) to the mod, scooter, days of the late 70s/80s in England on my vespa and parkers i wore at the time ,nice coasting along at 20-25mph on my motorized bicycle no care in the world not rushing about like everyone else ,pity it will come to a end soon when the cold weather sets in and i become a hermit for 4 months as i hate cold Michigan weather heheh .
i was in my veggie plot this morning and about 20 bikes came pass i giggled to myself and said to myself wow 10 mins before was riding the same rd if they had come then i was on the rd they would have passed me , i wondered what they would have done said heheh .
and i become a hermit for 4 months as i hate cold Michigan weather heheh .i was in my veggie plot this morning and about 20 bikes came pass i giggled to myself and said to myself wow 10 mins before was riding the same rd if they had come then i was on the rd they would have passed me , i wondered what they would have done said heheh .
Last edited:
I think this is partially true, especially for our area. Granted, this is coming from the guy that drives a 37 year old truck in 110* heat for the he1l of it.I think that the summer heat could be causing some lack of interest, at least around here.
I haven't felt like riding my motorized bicycle anywhere. It's too slow for quick trips to the store, but great for just exploring. I just don't feel like riding slow and exploring in the high heat and humidity. I just want to get where I'm going, and back again as quickly as possible.
Maybe, when the temps cool, and the leaves are changing colors, more people will get back into motorized bicycles just to see their surroundings up close and personal.
I know I haven't worked on my hubs because of the heat. Worked on my old Dodge instead.
Gotta get 'em fixed up that way I can ride both bikes come fall.
