Well, not really a "run in" but had to have "the talk"
I was parked at a convenient store taking a break enjoying the great day we had on Monday in the Northeast. Saw a lot of bikes out that day. Well a chopper pulls up and parks in the space on the one side and another loud piped twin parks on the other side. I'm there hanging out fiddling with my phone, eating some snacks, etc. My back is to the one bike and I hear him say something. I'm like oh boy, here we go. So I turn around and greet him with a "great day for a ride!" hoping that will establish some common ground for our totally different bike styles.

"Is that a VStrom?" Shocked he knew what it was, I said yes, it's a 650. We chatted for quite a few minutes and he was impressed with the V Twin design and liquid cooling. He cautions his friend that it could kick their butts in the twisties even though it's a 650. Even knew there was a 1k model and brought up other similar bikes he had heard of. I tried to justify why I chose it as my first road bike due to it's seating position and mild off road capabilities. The other guy piped up with "you can take any bike offroad if your drunk enough". They were pretty cool dudes and actually had a nice chat.

On the road there doesn’t seem to be quiet the comradery though. I rarely get a wave from the “lifestyle” riders.

__________________
'08 Wee

Almost any encounter I've had with motorcyclists of any stripe have been cordial at the very least.

It helps to know a little about cruisers, too.

__________________
Sent from my Hewlett-Packard 75C, using the Flying Merkel motorcycle app.

Stromin'Nroman NC28729, USA

DL650A K7 (Greywolf Moto Lab's R&D test mule) June 1, 2012 - present
DL650A K7 April 23, 2007 - January 6, 2012, RIP

"Look here brother, who you jivin' with that cosmik debris?" Frank Zappa, 1975

Not all those harley riders in the leathers and skull caps are posers. Some of them ride long and hard. Some of them know everything there is to know about bikes. The ones who don't wave are probably the posers.

The only people I don't wave at are the local moped(DUI no license) riders.
I you ride a bike you're a friend.

__________________
1981 Yamaha 650 Special(first ride)
1986 Yahama Fazer 700 FZX(sold in 99)
2005 DL 650( best ride so far)

Most riders are good people and nice to talk to; especialy if you establish some common ground or show interst in their bike.

I think a lot of posers and casual riders are attracted to Harley's but I bet that there are more hard core riders that do serious miles on Harley's compared to any other bikes out there.

..Tom

__________________
Road Toads Charter Member - 2006 V-Strom DL650: 202,000 km 125,500 miles, 2012 DL650 New March 2012 50,000 km


Why Cars don't see bikes (SMIDSY)
SMIDSY detailed report

yep, my dad put me on my first moto at the age of 4. It was a little Honda Trail 70 and I rode on the back with him piloting us around the neighborhood. We've both "grown up" and a few years ago he took his fully dressed Harley on a four corners of the continental US tour. What a cool dad!!

__________________
Wherever you go, there you are.

Here is someone to respect.

I have ridden many of the places where V-Tom's tires have left prominent marks. I have gone more slowly, and skidded a few times, and tried to keep up, and generally failed. When V-Tom speaks, listen. Again, LISTEN.

Clever fella, V-Tom. Do you sell peaches, or pumpkins, or perhaps Pontiacs?
Well, V-Tom sells Porsches. When you can top that, and ride as well as he can, then sound off.

Man. I look forward to riding again, and again, and again with him.

Takes a while, because I start from way down here.
I am trying to psyche myself up for the April (or May I hope) ride.

See ya.
Keith

P.S. Oh, yeah, we were talking about waving.
If it has one light, I wave. I sometimes look to see if it waves back.
I don't care a lot whether I get a wave in return.
After all, we are all on the same team. <- that was the main idea.

__________________

It's true from what I've seen in New England, whether it was 15 degrees F, or pouring down rain on a cold October day.

__________________
-Tom (DL650AL2) (KA1TOX) (E-I-E-I-O)

This message and images are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. http://creativecommons.org

"you can take any bike off road if you're drunk enough"

Now I know what my problem is......I'm trying to do it sober!

__________________
Ock. in Oz
Australia, NSW, Windsor
ockerstrom@rocketmail.com

Member of The McGrath's Hill Mob.

Shiro Nakama Ju San

White '09 V-Strom DL650ABS, Blue '87 Kawasaki KLR650 [Sold]
Green '94 Kawasaki KLE500

"Normal" is only a cycle on the washing machine.....

If you wait, all that happens is that you get older.

so wait, you wont wave at another V?????

__________________
______________
'08 DR650
'07 DL1000