Harley-davidson convention: how to dress/act....?

Question

A friend of mine who is an avid HD rider, invited me to a HD convention in a few weeks. I'm a little nervous because I've grown up around sportbikes and I have that attitude and attire. How do I look and dress so I dont stand out like a sore thumb? And even then I will stand out, but are HD groups usually welcoming to outsiders???

Answer 1

Most of the HD riders that I associate with are fine with my chosen motorcycles, and have no issues with me, but still give me grief (playfully) about needing to get a Harley.

Anyways, don't dress or act the part, because then you're just a poser, and you're just as bad as the person who rides their bike once a month, on the sunny days.

Be who you are.  If they don't accept you as a sportbike rider, they're not the people you want to be around, those who truly ride understand that it's because you have two wheels, not because you ride something specific.

Answer 2

Most Harley riders that I know could not care what you ride. They do get a little miffed at sport bike riders that badmouth their choice of ride but they are a very small minority in the biking community. Just talk to them and you will find that the majority of Harley riders are just like you. They just prefer a different type of bike.

Answer 3

If you want to fit in, then dressing like a poser is exactly what you do.  What a bunch of cornballs.

Answer 4

dress all black and you will be fine

Answer 5

they are people, that all own or at least wear harley. Dress anyway you want and stop thinking silly. Ive worn yamaha to harley conventions , remember the son of the harley VP owns a Yamaha. I have the pic's to prove it !

Answer 6

Cruisers, rice rockets, scooters  It's all motorcycling and they will treat you just fine

Act yourself unless you are a total jerk you will be ok.  Don't matter what bike you ride it's the fact that you do ride that matters

Answer 7

Do you mean invited you to a bike rally ? or convention ?

Either way just wear what you like, 99% of us hd guy's don't care if you ride a hd or not, as long as you ride.

To each his own, i'll just about guarantee that if you are cool to them they will be cool to you.

have fun

Answer 8

Act normal.

Of course I'm sure Tom B. or Joe B. or whatever he's calling himself today will chime in and tell you that you will need to talk/act tough.

Answer 9

You don't have to act- most folks that own Harleys are just normal folks. We are teachers, doctors, lawyers, steel workers, garbage collectors, cashiers, waiters, truck drivers, ad infinitum. It isn't a club- it was a choice we made in the bike we bought- and most of us owned other bikes before.

What to wear- any dang thing that makes you comfortable. That can include the Harley tank top. Even if you came in all your sports riding gear, it wouldn't matter. Remember, there is the Buell and the V-rod. I'd still stick with jeans, t-shirt, and comfortable shoes. Boots if you are riding (of course), but not sandals- you may get your feet stepped on, if the place is crowded. Guess what? That's advice for any crowd, isn't it?

I really don't know what 'that attitude' is, though. I grew up riding enduros and motocross bikes. As long as you aren't looking down on everything you see (it doesn't go as fast in a curve, etc.,) there will be no reason for anyone to tell you, "Harleys aren't sport bikes." We know that - that's why we bought them!

Answer 10

alpinestar or icon baby all the way.

dont change who you are just because of surroundings.

roll thru in there on your sport bike and dont give-a-f***

Answer 11

keep in mind that 99% of h.d. riders (myself included) did not start out on h.d.'s.....you'll be fine  

Answer 12

These are people just like you aren't they? If you think you have to dress and act a certain way to be accepted then the first thing you need to ask yourself is "are these people worth all that?". In other words if people don't accept you for who you are regardless of your attire and how you act, what value are they?

They simply don't act like that generally speaking, there are always a few exceptions. And speaking of exceptions look no further then your own comments above, you claim you are nervous because you have a specific attitude and prefer a certain attire. That means you are the one carrying an attitude and if you present that attitude how could you realistically expect people to react towards you?

"Leave your attitude at home"

That means be yourself and accept the people you meet as people and nothing else. They aren't Harley's they ride them. You aren't a sport bike you ride them. Sometimes it's our own attitudes that create frictions, accept the people you meet as people and the people will usually accept you as a person. No guarantee, but then again just how important is it when someone else carries an attitude? Do you really need that person? Just make sure the attitude at play isn't your own and you'll be fine and more then likely glad you met these people...

Answer 13

Wear the Harley tank inside-out.  That ought to get a rise out of them.

Answer 14

just be you and have fun.I have all kinds of bikes and dont allways bring a harley to those events.