Brand Bashing is for the birds

I get my balls busted all the time for pretending my Harley is an ADV bike. After owning more than 25 bikes from America, Japan, China, Great Britain, Austria, and Spain - Scooters, Enduros, MX, street, and sport - I have yet to ride or own a motor-driven cycle that hasn’t given me a whole buncha good times. Some have been super crappy and unreliable, some have been freaking rad, but all have supplied substantial amounts of joy to my life. I’ve also taken every single bike I’ve ever owned on terrain that is totally and completely unsafe, incapable, and unsuitable for that type of bike.

Brand bashing is likely one of the lamest things that anybody does. Yes, there are some seriously junky manufacturers, and those factories have put out some real turds. But every single bike on the planet is a sport bike, ADV bike, touring bike, etc… depending on the size of your cajones, or your imagination.

One of the most fun bikes I ever had was an 80’s model CT110. You know, the scooter / trail / paper-route machines of the 80’s and 90’s. These bikes have a high and low gear, and are still super fun. Dudes come to our salvage yard and pick parts for these things every week. During middle and high school, between ditching school & heading into the hills, and then spending weekends in the desert, I put at least 5,000 breakdown-free miles on that stupid/killer but super reliable CT110, and all were super fun.


I ride Harleys now, and I have for years. Everybody knows that Harleys and dirt / sand / rocks / snow typically don’t mix. I’ve taken all sort of crap for it, but it’s never stopped me from at least trying to get to where we’re goin. I’ve had my Dyna on the ground plenty of times (usually in the dirt, but nobody’s perfect, dudes) – but the memories and fun are worth every scratch, ding and dent. I do my best to have as much fun and see as many rad places on my bikes as possible, regardless of brand, platform, terrain, etc…


I know a girl that's circled the globe on a GSXR, and a dude that's taking an Enfield to Everest Base Camp. I've seen guys on Honda Elite scooters in the sand dunes, and I've had a 1980's nighthawk miles deep into the singletrack trails in the mountains of Utah. I've ridden a janky barely-roadworthy vespa on the freeway in rush hour - None of these were really the "smartest" things to do, but definitely not the dumbest things on my list of accomplishments.

What’s the most ridiculous inappropriate place you’ve had your bike? I have too many stupid situations to list, but all were fun and made memories to last a lifetime

Happy trails my friends, keep the dirty side down!

I suspect Harleys and KLRs get about equal disrespect online. Doesn't seem to happen face-to-face.

I may not have had mine in ridiculously inappropriate places, but muddy trails in mud season do become difficult when it's set up with highway gearing, street tires at street pressure, a load of extra tools to help a friend, and a full 6 gallons of gas (OK probably only 5.75 gallons).

I've said for many years that:
I'm an asshole when I ride a Harley
I'm a douchebag when I ride a BMW
I'm a dweeb when I ride a restored Honda.
I'm a pathetic old man trying to recapture my youth when I ride a CT90 or 70.

Ride what makes you happy. The hell with anyone else's bullshit.

The most inappropriate place I've had motorcycles is on ice. I've gone over my head with an ADV bike and a cruiser and paid the price.

This makes a point I agree with. It's not the motorcycle, it's usually the rider I bash with my prejudices, generalities and stereotypes.

Yeah, but have you been from "Tucson to Tucumcari, Tehachapi to Tonapah?" And are you still Willin'?

Sorry, just seemed like that last line needed some music...

Hater's gonna hate.

While I agree there is a lot less of it face to face, I've certainly had it tossed into my face.

Adventure can be had on a city street. Ride your own ride. Enjoy. Never chose a motorcycle to please anyone 'cept me.

“I've been kicked by the wind, robbed by the sleet
Had my head stove in but I'm still on my feet
And I'm still willin'

Hey, at least you know it.


Really, the only time I brand bash is if someone else is and usually it isn't bashing the brand, it is bashing the basher...got all that?

The thing that is disgusting is the people bashing anything just because of the name or where it comes from. A good Chinese company can make high quality, a bad American company can make junk - and vice versa.

I don't care what people ride, but sometimes certain people get tiresome. Those who constantly post about lawless behavior, miles ridden, or using the wrong tool for the job to draw attention to themselves, with the attitude that those who don't do the same are somehow lacking.

Riding is supposed to be fun, not a competition, or status symbol.

I do not care what you ride. Disappointed that a few "elitist" brands don't return the greeting/wave.
Had a 2008 Harley Electra Glide Classic. Front fairing mounts broke the first year I had it. Dealer wanted me to pay for repairs on what I feel to be a known problem with those mounts. For that reason, I have zero desire to have any product from them. If asked, I will offer my opinion.

I don't bash the brand, I bash the attitude.

A wise man on this forum once said: "I don't care what you ride. I only care what I ride."

I think the KLR platform is great.

damn you. that will be playing in my head all day.

I'm an old fart and if it's got 2 wheels and an engine I dig it. As long as I don't have to pedal it, I would ride any and all. Why I come home with a headache for 3 days after looking over all the coolass stuff at Barbers Vintage event!!!!!!!!!!

True. The gnarliest adventure i've been through was on a city street.

i Agree 100%.

Fail, not ATGATT