Why would anybody even consider riding rice much less do it?

Question

Why would anybody even consider riding rice much less do it?

Answer 1

I prefer my Harley to any of the Jap bikes I use to ride. Some people like the crotch rocket bikes, some can't afford to ride a Harley and some are still in the 70's mindset that Harleys are always breaking down and leaking oil. My Harley looks great, is comfortable to ride, has never left me on the side of the road and doesn't leak oil. For me I'll always have a Harley, but it's still a free country so some will ride rice, it's their choice and in my opinion, their loss.

Answer 2

The problem with Harley is they only make 5 bikes The Sportster, Softail, Dyna, FL and V-Rod. 3 of the bikes have the same engine and 4 of them are too heavy and awkward for anything other than straight line riding if you want to go fast. The Sportster being the most versatile of the 5 can be turned into a cafe bike, flat tracker, street tracker among other things. But that can cost much more money above the original cost of the bike. Lots of people don't have that kind of money or the resources to build something like that.. Lots of people don't want to just ride in a straight line either. They want to go fast into the corners, or ride off road or go adventure touring to places where a Harley can't or wouldn't dare. Or maybe they want a bike they can ride to the track on track day and race it and ride home again. Try that on your Fat Boy!

So if I had to find one reason why someone would consider riding rice that reason would be VARIETY. Because variety is the spice of life.

Answer 3

I had a similar discussion to this last night with a few people. One was a girl (I won't say woman because of the immature attitude) and her friend who was looking to get a bike. He is caving in to her "I won't speak to you if you buy anything but a Harley" even though she's said many times he has no chance with her.

Now, the real fun thing is that the ones that give me any real problems about the fact that I ride a Boulevard are the passengers that can't ride at all. The people that actually RIDE the bike are of the attitude of "It's 2 wheels and it keeps up with our bikes." You put my bike side by side with my buddy's Heritage Softail Classic and unless you look for the logos, you can't even tell the difference, except I get better mileage and I have water cooling so I don't have to worry about mine overheating in traffic jams in the summer. The guy that has the softail has said several times to me, "You got a bike that runs with mine, looks like mine and at 1/2 the cost of mine. Now that's a deal." He's even admitted that the fabled "Harleys keep their value" is utter nonsense. He went to trade his in on a Road King and they would only give him 1/2 what he paid for the bike..which was still more than my bike cost even after taxes, tags and accessories, but he's lost 10 grand on that bike where if mine was traded in, I'd lose about 5 grand of value.

Another good example is helmets. One of the passengers won't let her husband buy anything but the Harley branded helmets. Now, these helmets are made by another company and they just stick the logo on the back. I've priced the identical helmet from the original manufacturer and it's 50% less cost. To me, a logo is never worth adding 50% to the cost of something, be it bikes, accessories whatever.

Harley makes a good bike...it's just not worth the extra money for the name.

Answer 4

It really doesn't matter what you ride. If you think it does, then not a rider, but a 'biker'.



Bikers are into the social side of motorcycling. They love the camradarie, the fun of seeing and being seen. Getting there isn't as important as being there. Function follows form.



Riders don't care about where they're going, as long as it's a good road with lots of corners and no traffic. They're not really into the social side of things until it's too dark or too cold to ride. They don't care as much about how something looks as long as it's comfortable and safe and keeps them warm. They're not as interested in what their bike looks like, as long as the tires are new, the chain is good and the oil is fresh.



Bikers tend to congregate around one or two makes and very few models. Riders can be found astride anything from Aermacchis to Zundapps.

Answer 5

Well, because this is one of life's little intelligence tests.



Since I have no desire to ride in a parade or dress like a gay pirate I have no use for a 700lb chrome plated noise maker. Nor do I desire to pay primo dollars for a supposed 'American made' bike from a company owned by the French and made from imported parts. Or be associated with the posing wild hog types that have gravitated to the things nowadays.



In 1950 there were a handful of bikes worth owning and the Harley was right up there, they haven't changed much since everything else has. Take a 1950's RCA TV and put it next to a Sony 40" HDTV, that is the Harley (brie-burner) next to rice burners.



I would rather give my greenbacks to the Japanese or the non-French Euros who give me ten times the bike for half the money. (this is the intelligence test part)



That said, I would love a 1920s or 30's Harley or Indian to add to my collection if I could find one, but I really have no desire for a chrome plated reproduction of one sold as a modern bike at rolls royce prices. And as much as I might value it and get off on riding it I certainly wouldn't feel the need to go around acting like anyone other than I need be impressed with it.

Answer 6

I think you have some good answers on this one, but I will add a bit, I may be an old timer, but still like to feel a bit frisky at time. Out in the country, on good roads, with very little or no traffic, have yo ever drifted into a corner, at 120-130 mph, pulled through at full power, just in time to straighten it up, and lay into the nest one? Ever had a short straight, and hit 185 or better? In normal riding , had a car pull out right in front of you and stop, and get on the brakes full force, and stop before you hit him? Or have one pull out of a side road without looking, and be able to swap lanes at a pretty good rate of speed, and get around him? Or ridden 600 miles in 6 hours? Or 850 miles in 13 hours? Or run the quarter mile in a bit over 9 seconds? Or 200mph at Bonneville(on gasoline, without a fairing)? Try any of these on a Harley, and you will see why we ride "Rice Burners".



Tomctexas

Answer 7

I ride "rice" because it's quicker, better handling, more comfortable, more dependable, quieter, smoother, stops quicker, will last longer & is basically a more functional bike in every area, and for much less money. And I can wear functional gear while riding, including a helmet, without breaking "protocol". For my needs, a hog wouldn't make sense. I'd be bored, broke & frustrated with one. I understand the history & legacy of "The Name" but for me, that's not enough.

Answer 8

I bought a slightly used Yammie 250 2 stroke in mid 60's rode it from Oceanside Ca to Guthrie, OK my buddy rode a 305 Honda we were in the USMC they didn't pay very well back then, these days I ride 1970's airhead BMW's guess since I don't ride HD's I ain't a biker

Answer 9

believe it or not, some people ride just to be riding. for the love of it. these days it seems that most harley riders can't ride worth a s*** and only do it to get a shot of instant badass. they are easy to recognize. all dressed in new leather, wearing chaps for a 5 minute ride to a local wannabe biker bar, and the biggest sign of all is that they are dragging thier feet on the ground any time they are doing less than 10 mph.

Answer 10

I own a 2007 Honda VTX1300R. My "rice" was built in Maysville Ohio...lol. It's a beautiful platinum colored cruiser with a well built 1300cc V-twin that's fun to ride and is always the source of "nice bike" comments. I bought it because I thought it was comfortable, sharp looking and I knew it would have Honda's legendary reliability. My car is a Lincoln MKZ...built in Mexico. Is it more "American" than my "ricer"?

Answer 11

Let me tell, before buying my Harley Fatboy I rode a Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 (efi). The Vulcan rode better, and performed better. But I gave in to the pressure of my Harley friends and bought the Harley. After riding the Fatboy, I told them that the Vulcan was a better ride, they all seemed to agree, but stated, "yeah, but it wasn't a Harley".



Don't get me wrong, I love my Harley, and wouldn't go back. But that Vulcan was one helluva ride.

Answer 12

Excellent design, performance,handling, initial cost for what you get,reliability, low maintenance,. I have been a (licensed) rider since August of 1955, had Harley's, Triumph's, BSA's, a Vincent and now I ride Honda's, with great pleasure.

Answer 13

<<<<<<<<<<, Yamaha Virago rider. Just yesterday I was behind a H.D. at a stop light. Sounded good looked good. Handle bars were shakeing so bad AT idle I doubt he could see me in the mirrors. Smooth motor smooth ride xclent m.p.g. thats why I ride a Virago!!

Answer 14

We ride what we want to, maybe a harley is out of the price range of most people. Harley made it that way crying about imports flooding the market. But as any one can see that bubble is about to burst. Harley is laying off people and sales are down. Most people who ride them now days ride to get to the bar with their Harley clothes. They use to drive BMW now they ride Harley's but they are starting to sell them in search of a new toy.

Answer 15

some people ride just to ride. thay don't have a bike so they can keep it locked up and tell everyone they have a bike. why pay 20 for a hamburger when you can have steak for 10

Answer 16

I imagine you are comparing Jap (Suzuki Yamaha Kawasaki)to American (HD, and CHOPPERS) the fact is the Jap is 100x more powerful and reliable, they handle better, brake better get better gas mileage and attract hotter girls.. the hard truth is HD and choppers are in fact rice! All show and no go. Harley's are loud and slow.so are ricer cars, Harley's are all about the looks and most of the time is is just crap slapped on the bike such is the case with OCC.. So are ricer cars...most Harley owners are ricers grown up...just a bunch of yuppie idiots who think they are tough and bad *** because they pull out their HD bike(only in fair weather) put on their black HD close and go to their f@g HD bar with their other f@g HD yuppie friends and act tough with each other. your average HD/CHOPPER chick is a old fat hag who still thinks she is hot and men care what she thinks when in fact she is a old hag who's plumbing is all wallowed out wear as the Jap bike owner has the Young hot tight girls..The fact is most Harley/chopper owners are used has bens and wanna Be's. their still are a select few, but most of the modern true bikers who live the life style partying all night, fighting all the time and screwing random hot girls is on the "JAP" bike side.

Answer 17

I'd ride a Harley, but I'm heterosexual and don't look good in leather pirate outfits. Guess I'll just stick to the good stuff instead.

Answer 18

Yup, 2 Jap bikes in the garage and if there's a Harley that can keep with my Suzuki then I've yet to see it.



Except in my mirrors perhaps.

Answer 19

What a bunch of grumpy old women! Just be happy you CAN ride and shut the heck up!

Answer 20

I ride rice in the dirt and sour kraut on the road because "hamburgers and french fries" are toooooo fat. LOL!!!

Answer 21

Why not?

If they all rode a Shovel like mine I would prob get a leadwing

I just have a hard time finding a 40 yr old classic Jap bike that is worth 6 or 7 times its new price

But nobody tells me what to ride so I dont tell them I get just as tired of their comments as they do yours but WTF

Answer 22

I'll tell you why. Because they are 10,000x better, more reliable, more good looking, more dependable and more value for money than tha hog of yours which, as a hog, behaves like a hog, looks like a hog and is only good for the slaughterhouse.

Answer 23

Beings as I'm gettin' old, cantankerous, and set in my ways, I'd have to say probably not.

Answer 24

Many of us started that way.

When the choice is to ride, or wait, we ride.

Answer 25

dont you think its something to do with them wanting to ride something thats fast reliable and good looking?

Answer 26

another "buy the icon" image harley rider, low horsepower, low i.q.

Answer 27

rice is 1000,000,000 times more dependable and affordable- harley is an overpriced status symbol- but it is the #1 choice for narrow minded people

Answer 28

aw...the old how to make friends and influence people harley rider.

Answer 29

what the hell are you talking about.