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Iron Butt
Posts: 935
Rockford, IL | Bit of an interesting read...... http://www.coolhunting.com/archives/2009/08/sonny_barger_x.php
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Great article, worth highlighting again -- http://www.vision-riders.com/bb/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=4166 |
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Cruiser
Posts: 101
| Dave Good enough for Sonny must be good |
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Tourer
Posts: 496
Scottsdale AZ | As posted in the other thread, I live near Sonny and a short three or four miles from "Cave Creek" that was a focus of the "Cool Hunting" article about the biker bars. I ROTFLMAO when I read the paragraph about the experience of the articles author on the "Cave Creek Bar Scene" cut and paste below---
"Living in San Francisco my entire life and having traveled the world, I've never experienced the palpable tension of the motorcycle culture in Phoenix and the nearby Cave Creek area. Over the course of our forty-eight hour stay, every bar we went to seemed like a biker bar, but a true biker bar, not what we call "biker bars" in California. These were real gangs with real beef and real violence between them and it was everywhere. There was an air that something was amiss at all times. Large stacks of motorcycle culture magazines littered every corner of every cafe we stopped at and on every road guys in black leather vests ripped around corners with no helmet to protect them from the hot dry heat or the asphalt."
No, we don't have a helmet law in AZ, a few colors sometimes, no trouble, with just a whole lot of local and destination bikers that are what I will call just like you and me. The guy makes it sound like a war zone with all the stuff he wrote. "Real gangs, real violence" give me a break. Do I like the bars and atmosphere?, yes, would you? I'm sure you would; I meet new bikers all the time. Am I afraid and shaking in my boots? not in the least. They do get hundreds of bikers in Cave Creek every weekend. A lot of them are destination "The Hideaway" supposedly a would famous biker bar.
I will take some pics of the Hideaway and the other two or three popular stops in Cave Creek and post them here. Maybe even catch Sonny at one. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | I'm shakin' in my boots. FYI SandCamelJungleShortsJim, I've road with BikerTrash666 and LotzaFun and neither one of them would have called me a TRUE BIKER. Matter of Fact, I believe the comment was, "Does he look like he's even been in a bar!" Something like that. DesertJim, you would have loved the commentary! Especially, since it was in my direction.
I went on my first official Bar hopping adventure with these two guys. Didn't even wind up at the TA-Ta bar neither. Went to a few places, that were definitely off the beaten path. Then of course, wound up at the "Boar's Nest" with a replica charger sittiing on top of the place like it was jumping. What a hoot!
I'm a real Biker, with real Violence, and I'm in my own Gang! Anybody wanna verify that, not that I need your justification for me being a biker though. Just sayin'! |
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Tourer
Posts: 496
Scottsdale AZ | Pooootieee- Well I guess we are going to get into what is a TRUE BIKER. I know you have your own gang- nice family BTW. I am going to qualify my comment of "guys like us" including you Poot, that are in a fairly large box of 1.) Love to ride and talk motorcycles. 2) May or may not stop at every bar. 3) Don't shoot or beat up others for no reason 4) Aren't in a Vespa club 5) Might or might not know everything about their bike 6) Like to browse and post on this and other friendly MC forums 7) Might or might not like oil threads. 8) Like to meet other bikers and share stories. 9) Are nice to our Women, kids and family ---and--- 10) think that Varyder is not really "a man of few words" (quote by him)
BTW, hope to ride/meet you LotzaFun and BikerTrash666 on your next ride together, to make my own conclusions. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | Them thar fellas is way up in WINDY CITY CHICAGO, Me I'm a way down south of there. But I'm a thinking I'd like to get me a ride in myself. Oh, gotta go, works over, riding home in the rain, hopefully no rain. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 623
| why does everone think that because this criminal rides a Vision it makes our bike legit???? im just sayin |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | jeffmack - 2009-09-24 5:21 PM why does everone think that because this criminal rides a Vision it makes our bike legit???? im just sayin oh, the irony of it all... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 101
| Don't get my post wrong I did not mean because of the life style or what the man started. My intent was a man that is whole life he
was HD and there were no other brands out there |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Bikertrash666 - 2009-09-24 7:07 PM Don't get my post wrong I did not mean because of the life style or what the man started. My intent was a man that is whole life he was HD and there were no other brands out there Albeit Sonny B. required that all 81ers owned a HD in "good working order" it was only because of the image aspect. According to some reads regarding this felon of the highway, he didn't necessarly prefer HD himself and is self admitted to that fact. Arlen has him quoted as saying the Vision is the most comfortable bike he has ridden.... |
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Tourer
Posts: 363
Goldsboro, NC | Much as I appreciate uhhh.... "validation" of the Vision, I am also with jeffmack and varyder on this one.
It is a real contest to see who hurts the motorcyclist image/PR rep more: the squids weaving and lane splitting at a buck fifty if not stunting on public roads... or the "real gangs with real beef and real violence between them". Between the squids making calamari of themselves and the occassional bystander, and the "real bikers" in "real gangs" making headlines with drug and firearm busts, murder, and sundry violence, you have the portion of the motorcycling demographic that is at once the most mentioned, the most glorified, the most reviled and the worst representatives of our community.
These are the Nancy Pelosi's and Robrt Byrds of the motorcycling world, yet the press holds them up as "real". <Wait... let me get someone to try to touch me... damn their hand went right through... I must not be real> WTFH !?!?
Even though the article writer might have had a cool experience worth writing about, I think it was unwise to glorify the small segment that paints motorcyclists with the worst brush.
Edited by trailbarge 2009-09-25 11:16 AM
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Cruiser
Posts: 79
Memphis,Tn. | "These are the Nancy Pelosi's and Robrt Byrds of the motorcycling world..."
You and I see the motorcycling (and political) world alike. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | Jeffmack,
The event that validated the purchase and ownership of my Vision happened at Arlen Ness's shop in Dublin, CA in September of 2007. It was the first time I had seen a Vision in person. I was smitten to say the least but that was not enough.
My wife climbed into the back seat of the Vision and said "Coooooool!"
That was it. Validation!
I just waited till my truck was paid off and bought the Vision.
The thing about the "Sonny Barger rides a Vision Story" is that it is a nice to mention when misinformed people dismiss the Vision as a motorcycle that no "Real Biker" (Whatever they think that means. It is their perception not mine.) would ever ride.
These are generally the same people that will say "real motorcycles" do not have.....
Windshields
Electrically Adjustable Windshields
Floorboards
Fairings
Radios
Parallel Twin engines
Water cooled engines
Speakers
Turn Indicators
Electric Starters
Heated Grips and Seats
Tubeless Tires
Brake Lights
Mirrors
Back tires smaller then 300 mm
Or even Front Brakes!
So then I might mention to them that Sonny Barger rides a Vision. I just hope that they do not embarrass themselves by saying, "Who is Sonny Barger?"
In some ways I feel that Mr. Barger would be a better statesman then most of the criminals elected to office in the United Sates today.
Ride Safe |
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Tourer
Posts: 506
Woodland Hills, CA | The thing about the "Sonny Barger rides a Vision Story" is that it is a nice to mention when misinformed people dismiss the Vision as a motorcycle that no "Real Biker" (Whatever they think that means. It is their perception not mine.) would ever ride.
In some ways I feel that Mr. Barger would be a better statesman then most of the criminals elected to office in the United Sates today.
Ride Safe
Bravo! Well put! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 97
Okeefenokee Swamp | Myself, I dont worry, nor do I care if my choice of motorcycle is validated by anyone. I am more happy with my Vision than any other bike i have ever owned,and yes, they were all Harleys. I am also not a big fan of laying out ground rules tha state you must do this or that, and you cant do so and so if your a real biker. As far as i am concerned, if you are riding through life worrying bout how you are percieved by others, you have more to worry about besides wondering if people will think your a real biker.If this is how you think,you have some large self esteem issues. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 140
| Who? |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | lowtone9,
Here is a better story on Sonny Barger. He was a founding member of the Oakland Hell Angles.
http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSN1616088020080317 |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Kornbread - 2009-09-26 6:58 AM Myself, I dont worry, nor do I care if my choice of motorcycle is validated by anyone. I am more happy with my Vision than any other bike i have ever owned,and yes, they were all Harleys. I am also not a big fan of laying out ground rules tha state you must do this or that, and you cant do so and so if your a real biker. As far as i am concerned, if you are riding through life worrying bout how you are percieved by others, you have more to worry about besides wondering if people will think your a real biker.If this is how you think,you have some large self esteem issues. KB I had a great laugh with a lot of folks yesterday over HD image, and even the HDer that were not image minded laughed at those who were. They even told of one guy who went from HD to Wing and was loving riding again, but his buddies ragged on him so much that he sold the Wing and went back to HD. They were astonished at this and told him not to listen what other folks say, it's all in fun. Eventually he sold his HD and no longer rides, such a sad soul indeed. But I would say that folks who ride the Vision isn't concerned about image and the Sonny B. story only goes to highlight that though this man sets his own image, others who do not understand true freedom doesn't understand individuality either. Personnally I bought a Vision before I even knew anything about Victory or who Sonny Barger is and still put up with the "negative" comments concerning Victory or the Vision. I finished a sentence for a guy who was trying to say that he had difficulties with the looks and was trying to think of a name to discribe it. I finished his "it looks like a...a..." with "spaceship?" We both laughed and were still friends. I didn't say nothing when he was complaining about his Harley and not able to ride long or having trouble parking it on the gravel. Riders are just a small portion of folk who have image problems in this world. Anybody want to by $30.00 pair of tennis shoes for $200.00? I've go one H-D T-shirt from Mexico I'll sell for a Hundred Dollars...
Edited by varyder 2009-09-27 7:04 AM
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Cruiser
Posts: 140
| Yeah, believe me, I know who he is, and don't care what he rides. Don't care what kind of car Larry Hoover prefers either.
What's so cool about a gang? If you want to be a career criminal, grow a pair and do it on your own. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | ....
Edited by varyder 2009-09-27 7:16 AM
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Cruiser
Posts: 192
Republic of Tejas | varyder - 2009-09-27 7:07 AM
....
+1 ;-) |
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Cruiser
Posts: 162
Extreme Southern, AZ United States | lowtone9 - 2009-09-27 5:04 AM Yeah, believe me, I know who he is, and don't care what he rides. Don't care what kind of car Larry Hoover prefers either. What's so cool about a gang? If you want to be a career criminal, grow a pair and do it on your own. Are you a cop? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 140
| No, are you?
I even "hung around" awhile, a long time ago. Not for me, I don't think of prison as a good career choice.
To each his own though. If you think of Barger as a Great American, standing for freedom, that's very fine. I disagree.
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Cruiser
Posts: 249
Montreal, QC Canada | I had to google "Larry Hoover". I guess thats shame on me! Maybe he's better known south of the border.
Edited by kenandpen 2009-09-27 4:31 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 62
Des Moines | kenandpen - 2009-09-27 4:31 PM
I had to google "Larry Hoover". I guess thats shame on me! Maybe he's better known south of the border.
Me too. First thing that popped in my head was the President of Delta from Animal House, but his name was Robert.
"They confiscated everything, even the stuff we didn't steal! " |
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Tourer
Posts: 363
Goldsboro, NC | Wizard523 - 2009-09-25 9:19 PM
In some ways I feel that Mr. Barger would be a better statesman then most of the criminals elected to office in the United Sates today.
Heh, heh, heh... true. If nothing else, Sonny appears to be the sort that believes in handling his problems by himself rather than whining to get government involved. ("There oughtta be a law blah blah blah..... why doesn't somebody DO something blah blah blah")
Yes, the beltway crowd could certainly use a couple doses of at least that.
Good point |
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Cruiser
Posts: 162
Extreme Southern, AZ United States | No, are you?
I even "hung around" awhile, a long time ago. Not for me, I don't think of prison as a good career choice.
To each his own though. If you think of Barger as a Great American, standing for freedom, that's very fine. I disagree.
No I am not. The reason I ask is you call it a gang. That is very offensive to those of us who believe in our lifestyle. I am also in a club, no I am not an Angel. The HA sell a support patch that reads "Motorcycle Clubs are NOT street Gangs." Sonny doesn't need me to defend him, and I will not. He is his own man as am I, and we both ride the best Vision, Black!!! By the way, I have been in clubs for a long time now, and I have not spent a day behind bars for anything I did with the club. |
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