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Harley who? |
 | By Molly Snyder Edler   OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writer E-mail author | Author bio More articles by Molly Snyder Edler |
| Published Aug. 22, 2008 at 5:22 a.m. |
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The Harley 105th generates a lot of attention and revenue for Milwaukee, but that doesn't mean everyone in this town is excited about the three-day event that will bring 40,000 bikers to Brew City.
Tim Schneider, for example, couldn't care less.
"If I had my way, I'd leave town for the weekend," says Schneider.
It's not that Schneider has a problem with motorcycles. Au contraire. Schneider owns The Shop, a motorcycle repair garage in Bay View, and spends most of his waking hours servicing bikes.
Japanese and European vintage and classic bikes, that is.
"We've never worked on Harley-Davidsons," says Schneider. "I'm not anti-Harley, I'm just not into the hype."
Schneider is not alone in his belief that the Harley scene changed over the years, and that today, it's populated with more bankers than bad asses.
Mike Rose exclusively rides BMW motorcycles, and says the BMW bike scene is more genuine than what he has seen in the Harley community.
"We're people who really just like to get out and ride. It's a lot less about showing off," says Rose. "A lot of Harley riders are into making noise and being seen. I couldn't care less about either of those things."
The average age of Harley riders -- and the average income level -- has gone up in the past 10 years, and the influx in "weekend riders" has some motorcycle enthusiasts annoyed.
Schneider says the Harley scene is more of an "external" experience for most of its riders, whereas "real" riders feel an internal connection to the sport, too.
"(The Harley scene) has become so washed-out and overblown," says Schneider. "It used to be guys with way too much facial hair and real leather and they rode with meaning behind it. Now, it's less about individuality."
Schneider says often he receives phone calls from Harley riders, inquiring about The Shop's services.
"Some (callers) are shocked when we tell them we don't service Harleys. Others ask how we stay in business," he says.
Despite the indifference towards Harleys, Schneider and his staff are extremely busy. The Shop has been in business for 12 years.
"The 105th is great for Milwaukee, for Harley-Davidson and for the economy," says Schneider. "Unfortunately, the reality of it means there are way too many guys zipping up and down the road way too loudly and drinking way too much."
2631 S. Greeley
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 276-6686
theshopmilwaukee.com
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Recent Talkbacks ...
Posted by gymdawg on Aug. 26, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. (report)
CoolCat said: "They get into packs and act like they own the road and like they set the rules, completely ignoring traffic laws, common sense and decency." Actually, that sounds like a lot of bicyclists I encounter.
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Posted by CoolerKing on Aug. 23, 2008 at 11:21 a.m. (report)
I'm surprised anyone on a bike would even want to get that close to the back of a car. I was taught that motorcyclists need a "cushion of safety", which means a safe comfortable distance from vehicles all around you. But drivers need to give room also. How many of you remember from Driver's Ed that you are supposed to give a motorcyclist in front of you 2 car lengths distance compared to 1 car length you give a car ahead of you? Not too many I'd wager.
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Posted by Hckyboy00 on Aug. 22, 2008 at 9:56 p.m. (report)
why you needed to mention you ride an SUV is really beyond me, but i guess if it somehow helps the story. Chances are since you were riding a mammoth grocery mover, he was actually plenty far from your bumper, but SUVs had horrible mirror lines so you can't actually tell. But, i digress. I do agree with you that Harley riders, and more so bike riders in general are horrible people to be around on the road. For everytime i've seen a Harley fly by on the freeway, i've seen two import bikes going even faster doing wheelies through the Chicago loop. I personally, have no problem holding my lane, and protecting my self interest in letting that biker slam full on into the back side of my car, and watch him sail over my windshield while dollarsigns from an insurance check swim through my mind. The government has set up multiple ordinances, and safety guidelines to protect the greater population, but bikes still are always speeding, and have no regard whatsoever for noise decibel levels, so if it comes to it, i sit on my porch with a beer, and a pad of paper, and jot down motorcycle plates and then call the line the MPD has specifically set up to catch said people. And becuase i live on a street with a prominant biker bar not to far, 2:30 is usually ripe with burnouts, wheelies, and engines sorely pressing their gear level for at least an hour. If i could, i would leave town too, i used to live along Whitnall Park and summer were absolutely terrible with the amount of bikes that go out for 1 am joyrides that i can hear from a mile away. As it is, i have to pause my movie or tv show when i hear a bike coming from 5 blocks away, becuase i know i won't be able to hear my own TV in the living room as it goes past. Unfortunatly, as HD is one of the few surviving and thriving businesses in the Milwaukee area, little to nothing will ever be done about it. In the meantime, i would love to get a bike, but something far less compensating than the usual roadhog.
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Posted by CoolCat on Aug. 22, 2008 at 2:21 p.m. (report)
Great picture! That 750F is a fine specimen. I ride a 900F and I love it. I've been riding motorcycles for 13 years now, ever since I got my temps at 16. I'm a Honda man and haven't ever really been interested in anything else. The thing about Harleys that really turns me off is the behavior of their riders. I've never encountered a group of people as rude, selfish and dangerous as they are. When they converge on Milwaukee you can be guaranteed to be cut off, flipped off, screamed at, deafened and at times even scared for your life if you're on the road at the same time that they are. They get into packs and act like they own the road and like they set the rules, completely ignoring traffic laws, common sense and decency. Even during non-Harleyfest times they ride around with their straight pipes revving and racing around otherwise quiet neighborhoods at all hours, even in the middle of the night. Actually, it seems that they do it especially in the middle of the night, usually just after closing time. I'm sure that there are some exceptions but unfortunately they are few and far between. Just two days ago I was in my SUV on I-94 between Madison and Milwaukee and a Harley V-Rod came screaming up in my rear view mirror. It was dusk and I was already going pretty fast so this guy was really on a tear. I was in the left lane inching past a slower vehicle in the right lane and the Harley rider had no patience for that so he blasted between us in an insanely dangerous maneuver that brought him inches from my bumper. Oh yeah, and he wasn't wearing any protective gear at all. Then he flipped me off. Typical Harley rider in my experience. Rude and reckless. You meet the nicest people on a Honda, the exact opposite is true for a Harley.
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Posted by chadasap on Aug. 22, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. (report)
Bunch of poseurs who are marketing victims and like to play "dress up". I especially love the ones who put a Harley sticker on their piece of crap car. Just shows that some guys will go to any length to gain female attention.
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