In all my few years of riding I've never seen this happen, but sometimes I thought that it could. I've always rode OTH (other than Harleys) motorcycles, except once when I rented one in Tampa. Today, I've had a perfect ride, and it still was in spite of what happened just moments away from my house on I-95. Now, I don't suppose this person knew me so I don't take it personal, but I'm still perplexed why it even happened. I was tooling up I-95 within 5 miles from home, making me think this was an accident since that is where most happen. Okay, I'll get on with it... I'm heading northbound and I happen to see a Harley batwing on the southbound side. Having no intentions of waving, I caught a glimpse of his hand move as to wave, so I do so in response. Instead however, of a wave, what do I see coming back at me but this guys IQ way up high. I immediatley think there is no other reason that this is happening except I'm riding the other American Motorcycle Tourer. Now I would call him a 1%er but that would be disrespect to the real 1%ers, but I hope certainly he is a 1%er. That is the 1% who thinks their manhood is between their legs and if you ain't like them, then you ain't one of them. The snubs are fine, but the IQ sign is a little out of line. I just don't understand what his beef is except his Old Lady left him for a Victory rider, or all his friends have gone over to Victory and he refuses to give his up Harley until they pry it from his cold dead hands.

As I said, a perfect 325 mile ride to see my daughter and granders, and the weather was perfect. I had just stopped at a store and as I was saddling back up three older ladies was parked next to me. One couldn't help but comment, "We were just talking what a nice looking bike that is, and 'so and so' (didn't catch the name) said, the bike is nice but check out the man on the motorcycle." Still made for a great day. I just hope that dude gets over his problem.

Teach - 2008-09-21 1:15 AM Huh, I read this pos and then had the compelling urge to ask myself why would you post something like this? Or more interesting.... Is there some dorkwad over on the HD forum typing about flipping off some Victory rider? Who Cares? I often wonder why folks would get upset because some total stranger didn't wave, or because they got an offensive wave. Wave or don't, get flipped off or not it makes no difference. You took a nice ride which YOU chose to have ruined by someone you don't know, kinda silly when put that way ain't it.......... JMO ps... He was NO 1%er.... Had he been and was offended by your wave, he would have shot lead, not a finger

Not sure what your point is TEACH and I called a him a 1%er of those who think their manhood is between their legs, not a true 1%er as the definition would hold, they have much more respect for others. The point is I saw no provocation in what he did and it is sad that he, this individual would do something like that unprovoked. By no means did it ruin my day whatsoever, just perplexed at this moment. When I saw his movement I responded thinking he was one of the good guys and then he flew his IQ. Just made me wonder.

I was actually soliciting to see if anyone else had ever had a reponse such as this unprovoked as I have never seen this before. It seem that you are the only one here trying to stir the pot and makes me wonder if that wasn't your alter ego on the southbound side of I-95.

Peace, out.

varyder,

I used to work with a guy who used to flip off any bike that wasn't the same model as his.  He rode a dyna wide glide and would flip off anything with bags, windshields or fairings, Harley included.  Said it was fun to watch their reaction.  Never could get anyone to ride with him (go figure).  I think you just met him.

Teach - 2008-09-21 12:48 PM varyder, my point was this: I've been around bikes more than 40 years and seen just about everything tossed that could be. Your post here is really what needs examined. So the guy was on a Harley..... and NOW it becomes "us verses them" because some jerkwad flipped you off. It might have been someone on a Goldwing, or another Victory, or really any OTHER brand. You see there are jerkwads that ride every brand. YOU had a great day out riding, and you let some PUNK who tossed some cash down on a brand wreck your day. I take it you are a motorcycle enthusiast and ride with the rider rules of the road in mind (aka stopping to help a stranded rider, waving, etc...). The dude who flipped you off was someone who OWNS a bike, thats it. You shouldn't let these types get to you and we dang sure should NOT let these types start brand wars because they are NOT real riders. Fortunately they are few. I'll tell you a little story from the past. When I first took up riding (always rode Honda's) you could BANK on one thing; If some dude was riding a Harley, he could RIDE and I mean really ride. ALL of the AMA motorcycle instructors (back then) when the AMA first came out with a MC course were HD riders. In addition if you found yourself stranded on the roadside, you can bet it would be some shaggy looking dude on a Harley that pulled off to give you a hand getting back on the road. NOW every swinging D**K with a few dollars down is riding a Harley and they do NOT know how to behave. In other words they have the bike, but don't understand the brotherhood of riders. So the long and short of it all for me is FORGET to mention a brand name, a jerk on any brand is a jerk and the brand did not make him that way, he WAS a jerk before the bike....... Ride safe....... T ps.... If you want to know where these REAL riders all went? Try to keep up with a pack of BMW riders

TEACH, forgive me for even replying on this but you are out to make a point about brands. No facts are argued here and I know all the ins and outs of riding, and all the different classes of riders, despite my less than your years of riding. They range from strictly owners, maybe once a year riders if the conditions are right, to the true Live to Ride, Ride to Live folk and anything goes in between. The bottom line is there is a passion to riding if you are really a rider. I take it as a compliment when folk call me a biker or when those who sit on their Harleys, sorry for a brand mention, and reply in amazement that I can log 300 to 500 miles in a weekend without batting an eye. For some reason you are offended because I mentioned a brand and that brand is a Harley. It has been my experience that most folks who ride have problems with other riders only because of brands. I'm starting to shut the mouths of folks who have "always" ridden a motorcycle, but log less than 5k a year because I don't ride their brand, Harley Davidson, and log over 25K a year no matter what I ride. My CB750 in 1984 - 1988 I logged over 75K on that old girl and should I mentioned I was in Korea for a year in the middle of that. On my 84 GoldWing I logged over 38K and had it for less than 2 years, but wait, it had charging problems and blew a headgasket that hindered any great amount of miles. I rode that to south Texas in 36 hours, logging 1,600 miles in that time. Too me, I'm just average joe rider that rides back and forth to work daily, year 'round, and trips to see the family. I've not done Myrtle Beach, Sturgis, Daytona or any other sundry bike meca's that I can put a patch on for. One day I might, but I have many other things going on that those things would take me away from, and it isn't work.

So there is a passion to my riding and I meet a lot of riders, who, because of brand wants to put a crack in there about what I ride and they don't even know me. So when a distinguishable Brand rider gives a gesture of disdain to  a rider on a distinguishable bike I think the brand thing is evident. I mentioned and even hightlighted not once but twice that he is among that 1%ers who think their manhood is between their legs. I definetly don't mean the real 1%ers, and again, I have great respect for them because they ride. That is not labeling EVERYBODY, especially not the gentleman I talked to last night in length, or should I say he talked to me. He rode up to my bike on a Harley UC and shut off the motor and the first thing he said was "How do you like your Victory?" He swung open wide the door for me to tell him. I think he is glad I did, because the brand he is riding is never comfortable enough. He told me he logged over 6k on a trip from the east to west coast, on a whim. He rides every year the ride to the wall from California, has done all the legs back east. He is looking for something better and is hoping a Vision will fit the bill because he is getting old. But as he told me the stories I knew I was listening to a true old schooler, yet one brand was not better than the other. He said he was looking for comfort and GoldWing dealers could not accomadate him, because he is shorter than most and they would not lower a Wing for him, so he went to the next best thing, HD. He said he wasn't getting rid of his old harley because of the time he spent on her, by the way, it is not the ultra classic he rode it was one of those other less dressed version of HD he put on the miles. He was looking for something with comfort so he could continue to ride. His passion is riding, not being miserable, the same as mine. But to me evidence is evidence. There are only two groups of riders that has given me flack over my Vision, you guessed it, HD Riders and GoldWing riders. They'll both asked me something about the Victory, just so they can gnaw on it about how much better their bike is. Now mind you, it is not everybody, but there is a direct correlation. Kind of like those who use the cell phone while driving the most around my town and have a tendency to cut you off because they are not paying attention. So far the rule of prejudice I have for that type of people has ever been disproven to me. If I see a car cut me off, two things, they are talking on the phone and they fit a certain description. But if I to tell you the description then I would be wrong to label. But that does not mean everyone talks on their cellphone and cut people off.

So with all that said, not even your post has upset my day, anymore than the IQ of 1 riding a Harley Davidson that wanted me to know his IQ. You start your post about not making mention of brands only to finish with making note of a brand. Come on TEACH, you love to argue and win the arguement, but realize this, I write this to entertain the reader and nothing more. I know what I am and it takes very little to shake me, especially with gestures and comments, unless you are trying to hurt my family. I am a lone wolf most of the time and find the forum a great medium to share with those who ride what I ride. I was heavy in the GWRRA when I had my GoldWing, but left out of there when I sold it. Oh, by the way, they've had their share of Clown comments and stuff like that when it comes to the Vision. We ride what we ride because we love to ride, sorry you took something personal because of a simple, yet distinct observation.  

I really do miss the early days when all we did was have light hearted banter, don' you Po?

I want to agree with you about some of the points you offer, but I think you are arguing for the sake of argument. So to satisfy that need, I'm cowering in the corner with my arm over me waiting for the next beating you are going to dish out.

Oh, I have to also mentioned again that I've never seen another biker flip me off before, that was first. He initiated the whole thing, first move and all. I waved back thinking he was waving at me. Maybe he did it because I didn't wave at him first. But it was very distinct when I looked over and saw his blacked fingered glove against the white clouded blue sky. I think a snub would suffice but didn't realize that folks would go so far to do that. I wonder what he would have done if we stopped at the same gas station or rest stop. Would he have come over to beat me up?

Teach - 2008-09-22 8:38 PM varyder, No trying to argue my friend, just trying to point out that mentioning brand always gets a rise and hardly ever a good one. Your point would have been just as well made to post someone on a bike flipped you off. I frankly never give those actions much thought and if I do the thought is normally "stupid newb." Po, I teach World History, sociology, psychology, recent American History,Criminal Justice at the High School level and occasionally teach a college term in WH and RAH. Second career after retiring from the military a while back. Oh and to make this a bit less stick for you, lol..... consider the riding climate we build with comments on a forum. Some of us (you and varyder I assume) have been around riding a while, many of the folks here have not. So when they read comments from folks who have been across the road and back.... they give those comments weight. Riding has changed a great deal but I'd sure hate to see the day when brand rivalry sets the tone. Ride safe..... T

I'm not sure what you are really trying to TEACH me, but I made a simple post with the facts and nothing more. Then you come and make sure I'm being pollolittlicly correct to say the least. You also say how I feel and so on in that it ruined my day when not even now has this even phased me. Just as I don't know why that Harley rider flipped me off while I was riding my Vision, I have no idea why TEACH is trying to TEACH me what I should say, not say and when I should say it, and how I should say it. Sorry dude, I'm not one to speak this way, but I think you are pushing it. The forum was a great forum in the start, and thankfully it still is. But there are a few that has to forum police to make sure everyone says everything just right according to them. (Po not you, LOL on your comments). I had figured that my original post would have fallen off into post land like most of my post do. But here it is 30+ later with some very interesting observations and a personal attack because I said a Harley rider showed me his IQ, unprovocked. I wasn't even talking the "wave" thing either, this was an outright "Hey dude, I don't know you and I don't like you so here's ONE for you." I shared that fact and nothing more. No more than useless chatter such as this. When I was on the GoldWing site the same thing would happen, and I wasn't even in on any of the post, so it wasn't me. The same type of tirade would take place until somebody got tired. For the most part I'm sure most of the folk here on the Vision-Rider forum truly could care less about such post and let them die off or share similar situations, chatter, mind you. But now I am faced with the Forum police to make sure if there is anything negative about a particular type bike is scrubbed from the post. The sad thing is most people if not all folks that read my original post took it for what it was, babble about a motorcycle rider on a Harley making a gesture to a rider on a Vision, and nothing more. And as where your brand rivalry comment is from, brand rivalry has always been and will always be, personnally, I will ride with anyone at anytime regardless of brand. The unfortunate fact is there is many brand loyals that will tell out right unless you ride what they ride they ain't riding with you. There are also many brand loyals that could care less. I've even heard some within a brand criticize within the brand because they do not ride their model, and yes that is even within Victory. So there is nothing to start, it has always been, it is part of the culture. But again, bottomline I love to ride and hope to ride with any and all, but after this, I wouldn't blame anyone if they didn't want to ride with me. Peace out