Posted on 08/30/2011 8:00:55 AM PDT by AfricanChristian
Politicians will usually kick off an election campaign with a rousing speech, a meet-and-greet handshaking session or a nice photo opportunity kissing a baby. Unless, of course, they are Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who joined a biker gang and led them on a testosterone-fuelled motorcade. Over-revving the engine as he sat astride a three-wheeled Harley Davidson, the former KGB tough man looked both ludicrous and very much at home in the latest of macho stunts that have punctuated his political career.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
I’m upgrading my bike in less than two weeks. I’m going from my 21 year old Specialized Hard Rock to a 27 year old 1200cc Goldwing ;-)
I’ve seen that photo a few times. A sweeeeet lookin’ ride.
Nice stone building backdrop, by the way.
I purchased my Kendon 2 rail trailer from a guy paralyzed from the waist down. He let go of a zip line too soon as a teen. His bike was a Harley with a side car. He used an electric winch to pull the bike onto the trailer. He sold the trailer to me when he changed to a CanAm Spyder. There’s always a way if you’re driven to achieve your objective.
I just turned 55 last Friday. Between my Harley and Kawasaki Versys, I’ve logged 30,000 miles since August 2008. I put 800 miles on a DR650SE climbing mountains in Idaho in late Summer 2008. January 2009 put a Yamaha Roadliner (1900cc) in the garage. Only 1800 miles on it because I’m never home to ride it. Enjoy life. Just do it with care.
I haven’t ridden in more than 20 years. My bike back then needed too much work, and I didn’t have the money to put into it. My children were all young then. They are all grown with children of their own. The opportunity presented itself to buy this Wing for a steal. I will definately ride with care. I will take my time getting back in the saddle, especially since this bike is twice what I had before.
sorry, I disagree. He looks macho & is a hottie!
I rode a Honda CB175 in high school. Hill climb, motocross, trials, flat track...nothing was off limits. After college, I bought a BSA 500 stripped for dirt riding. Great bike. I sold it in May 1978 and lived without a bike until August 2008. Making up for lost time/miles. Commuting to work on the bike is my sanity break. It saves money too.
Hey, Butch! :)
You hang out on the coolest threads... thanks for honoring our Vets!!
Thanks. I grew up with motorcycles. I've seen all types, and they're (mostly) all good.
This made my skin crawl:
“They rode in a staggered formation, the front wheel of each long bike near the side of the bike in front.”
No no no!
TOO close!
I don’t go on benefit poker runs anymore because of stuff like this.
Getting a couple hundred bikes together to haul ass over hither and yon with plenty of beer stops along the way is _nerve wracking_.
Everybody’s in a big ass hurry to get to the next whiskey bar [apologies to Morrison] and things only get worse as the ride goes on.
We were on some split lane road in WV when the riders in front of us started ‘clumping up’ and we see could a few of them weaving too much as they approached a stop light to make a left turn.
One biker looked as though he were going to drop his bike and I yelled into hubby’s ear to go around him but there was no room to do so because of fast moving traffic in the straight through lane.
Hubby just said “We’ll go over him, if we have to.”
He was *not* going to get -us- hit by traffic from the rear because of drunks going down in front of us.
Luckily the guy recovered which was great because he was somebody we really liked a lot.
And do you think that slowed anybody’s alcohol intake down one bit?
Nope.
And that was the last one I ever went on.
I already saw one friend I loved run down by a drunk sow driving a van and it’s screwed up my head permanently.
Don’t need a “refresher”.
I wonder if they ever found the Civic driver?
I know I couldn’t live with myself, knowing I’d caused people to die.
Thanks.
That’s the beautiful old stone chapel at the big cemetery in Frederick MD.
It’s amazing place full of old sculptural monuments and historic burials.
Hey Gramma!
It’s ~my~ honor to honor *them*!
[you thought this was a dog thread, didn’t ya?]
;D
I’m getting to just generally liking you.
:)
I think I owe Salamander an apology. He’s right. It’s a free country and people can and should ride what they want.
I have my strong opinions. I ride ATGATT on a R1150R and my favorite thing is being leaned hard over (peg scraping if I’m ballsy enough) in a corner. Nothing brings a bigger smile to my face. I’m a motorcyclist, not a biker. If I were a rich man, I would fill my garage with marques like Triumph, Aprilia, Ducati, BMW, and KTM.
Melas, you’re right about one thing, a Sportster isn’t a girl’s bike. But I don’t get the H-D thing. It just seems heavy, overly chromed, poor handling, styling that’s a throwback to the 40s. I shake my head at choppers, especially the ones with ginormous rear tires. I don’t understand why anyone would ride a motorcycle to a bar. I don’t understand why anyone would ride bare shouldered, handed, etc. or with just a do-rag to protect the noggin.
I guess I would classify as RUB, but I ride because I like to ride not for any other reason. I’m learning to wrench on my own bike because it’s fun and satisfying to do my own repairs. I don’t do it for any image. I have enough man points in the bank to drive a pink miata to work and not give a hoot.
But I don’t want to be snob either. And I think I crossed the line with Salamander and should’ve kept my comments to myself. Life is too short to be an a-hole. If I ever change my mind and find myself in the market for a trike, I’ll have to look him up. Since I get a discount :)
Salamander is a she. She’s right. Silly internets.
I've done a small "group" ride with my wife and son. We have a favorite loop that is 67 miles long. It's a pleasant trip with mountains, meadows and lots of wildlife.
I had one other critical requirement. I like to take a bike to San Diego as my "sanity break". The others are in the garage at home in Idaho. The bike must be in a size range that permits me to load/unload unassisted. I don't have any helpers on either end of the trip. My Harley and Versys fit this specific requirement. The Roadliner has never been packed up. Not certain if I could get it off the trailer.
No grudge, here.
Keep it shiny side up, bro.....;)
We’ve gotten down to sticking with our little “pack” of two, sometimes three if our one particular buddy is around.
(he doesn’t drink so no excessive worries there)
I’m in agreement about those rides getting progressively worse as time goes by.
You’d think some folks live in mortal dread of their livers drying out between bars.
Booze and bikes are a bad combination, IMO.
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