My Orphan Harley - Prize Winner

[JCsman]

Your opinions, please.....what would you do.

I attended the Harley Owners Group Alabama State Rally this weekend (more on that later). My buddy Mike asked me to be a "ride captain" to help guide non-locals through the chosen paths and to help in other ways.

There was also a bike show. It was divided into classes, both custom and by H-D designation:

Sportster, Dyna, Softtail, etc.

Of course there was also V-Rod. I knew the V-Rod was less than loved in the deep south.... but holy cow. In the hundreds and hundreds of Harleys there were two, count 'em, two, V-Rods that I saw. And one was after the woman piloting it laid it down - I got to view it at the local H-D dealer after Mike and I'd picked up a broken bike way out of town and hauled it in for the owner.

But, I figured someone would find a V-Rod for the show.

When my ride ended, the show had begun. Not a single V-Rod, although there were trophies waiting for first and second place.

I went to the judges and asked. Nope, not a single V-Rod.

I told them I had one parked 100 feet away. (It's virtually dead stock, mind you.)

Their reply? For a $10 entry fee, the trophy is yours.

So, Cafe brothers (and sisters), what would you do?

What did I do?

[1MPH]

Bill has a trophy on his mantle.:eusa_clap::eusa_clap::eusa_clap:

I'm pretty sure I would.

[Sir Limpsalot]

Polish up that trophy proudly Bill. It was presented for "Best V-Rod" and yours was the best one there!

Cheers,
Si.

[Rchop]

Polish up that trophy proudly Bill. It was presented for "Best V-Rod" and yours was the best one there!

Cheers,
Si.

I agree with Si, Bill :023:

[mnnden]

I agree, I am a fan of the V-Rod and it certainly should be represented at a Harley Show, (I hope you entered), Den

Congratulations, Well Done!!

http://msnden.smugmug.com/photos/265122283_MuedD-M.gif

[jamming]

No V-Rods??? WHY???? Great motorcycles!!!!!!

Fact is you had the best V-Rod there. It's your trophy.

[JCsman]

Well, thanks for the encouragement, guys. But, in the wisdom of the Cafe I seem to have made a poor decision.

No trophy here.

I've had a few (danged few) real awards in my life. Some I'm quite proud of.

But, Best "Just Showed Up"? Seemed like a hollow victory to me. It would be like buying a trophy at a garage sale and putting it on the mantle.

Although I did strongly consider it as a conversation piece - starting point for a joke.

FWIW, Judy and son John think I'm nuts. (But they've thought that for years.)

[Donson]

:ylsuper:Bill,You should have took the trophy and tied it to Your headlight like Brando did in The Wild Ones.Then You could ride your bike into the bar,terrorize the citizenry,and act like the rest of Us leather -clad hoodlums!

[panthercity]

Good on ya, Bill!

Bein' the fastest guy in a class of one begs the question, "Are you a racer or a collector?"

[JCsman]

:ylsuper:Bill,You should have took the trophy and tied it to Your headlight like Brando did in The Wild Ones.Then You could ride your bike into the bar,terrorize the citizenry,and act like the rest of Us leather -clad hoodlums!

Well day-um. If I'd have thought of that I just might have taken the trophy. LOL.:eusa_clap::eusa_clap::eusa_clap:

[NoRRmad]

"Hey, Johnny, what are you rebelling against?"
http://image.allmusic.com/00/adg/cov200/drt000/t018/t01808ixruu.jpg
"Whadaya got?"

[Donson]

:nod:THATS what Im talkin about!

[Gord]

I would have taken the trophy and told everyone how no other V-ROD owners showed up knowing that they weren't going to win!

[DarthRider]

Guess I'm with you Bill...I'd have passed on the trophy too. One can get a trophy cheap enough at a trophy shop, if that's all that matters.
But what I would also do...find a different motorcycle club to ride & hang with. HOG gatherings have been pretty "clubby", boring disappointments in my admittedly limited experience with them. But that's also always been the same with any single-marque club, association, board, whatever...and I do have some experience there.
You might find "inclusive" clubs a lot more fun than "exclusive" clubs.
Moto-Incest is not best...IMO.

When I worked at Bikers Choice/Tucker Rocky, I once asked one of the old-school HD co-workers what he thought of the V-Rods. He sneeringly replied that V-Rods & Buells are nothing but "Jap bikes". He wasn't speaking literally of course, but his meaning was clear enough.

[JCsman]

But what I would also do...find a different motorcycle club to ride & hang with. HOG gatherings have been pretty "clubby", boring disappointments in my admittedly limited experience with them.

When I worked at Bikers Choice/Tucker Rocky, I once asked one of the old-school HD co-workers what he thought of the V-Rods. He sneeringly replied that V-Rods & Buells are nothing but "Jap bikes". He wasn't speaking literally of course, but his meaning was clear enough.

Point #1. I pretty well agree. A neutral observer (working a safety display) that knows Judy said, "Bill doesn't fit in there, does he". True enough, although I didn't know it would be as obvious as that.

I do like some of the folk, couples really, that ride, though. A HOG ride (pretty good road guys, but be warned we'll take some of the curves signed for 45 at up to 48 mph!) and in staggered formation ain't really my thing.... But, I do like the places they sometimes ride and like casual rides if Judy is behind me to share the day, the air and the point of interest. So, don't expect me to be HOG member of the year, but I plan on a couple of rides now and then.

And, point #2, yep, the V-Rod, and the Buell's aren't real H-D's to the faithful. I predict mass suicides in a few years (or less) when air cooled engines can't burn cleanly enough to be let out on the road by the Eeee Peee AaaaaY.

[DarthRider]

Point #1.

I do like some of the folk, couples really, that ride, though.

Oh absolutely! Like Canadian Dave & Anita from our Hill Country & Big Bend rides...and of course Arby's Fine Ride!
I was mainly just gigging single-marque things in general...:028:

[Donson]

I am a Hog member.I keepcurrent because of the roadside assistance program,and discounts,but I do not ride with them. First I am not a "joiner".Second,a high percentage of them are newer,less experiences riders.The Hogs I know are nice folks,not "Bikers". Mostly professional .However,I AM picky about who I ride with,and never ride in a group larger that 3 or 4.Several years ago in Amarillo,two consecutive weekend,the LifeFlight Helicopter was needed for Hog runs. One goes down,then the rest,looking cool in their leather.:thumbs_down:

[Arby]

[QUOTE=Donson;84678]I am a Hog member.I keepcurrent because of the roadside assistance program,and discounts,but I do not ride with them.

The HOG roadside assistance program is top notch, especially for the price. Plus you get excellent prices on Fly & Ride deals.

I don't belong now, but I did when I had the Buell. It was worth every penny,imo.

JC, back in the day, we used to call those "Christmas Trophys".
I think I would've taken a pass, too.

RB

[Sir Limpsalot]

He sneeringly replied that V-Rods & Buells are nothing but "Jap bikes".

What? Beautifully engineered, well finished, good handling and affordable? Cool.

Si.

[BobFV1]

I would have taken the trophy as a monument to the narrow-mindedness of the Alabama HOG in their disdain of the different.

I have a winners trophy from a 1.5 mile run many years ago. I was the organizer, nobody showed up at start time and we only had the course for a limited time - so I ran the mile and a half and kept the prize - great conversation piece!