[leeinva1]

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1. How much chrome should someone add to his his bike before it starts to look trashy? Thinking of adding a few items to dress the bike up a little.

2. How many of you ride with a group or club. I have been a member of a group for about ten years now but they are starting to wear thin. most of them ride harleys and their version of a ride is to go from point A to the nearest harley dealership, also, i reall don't like riding in a large group, seems like i spend more time concerned about other members then i do enjoying the ride.

 

[Davebave]

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I don't care about how the chrome looks as much as I care about not being blinded by the reflection! I think a lot of people don't think about the consequences of chroming the whole dash!

I have long thought of riding in some groups around here. I have ridden with friends but the idea of a bigger group seems totally the opposite of whyI ride, to get away to think and relax by myself or with my wife. Same reason I hunt.

 

[exavid]

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I prefer the chrome and other riders pretty much the same way, not a lot of either. You don't see much chrome on a Rolls! As for group riding my idea of a group maximum would normally be no more than three. Most of my riding is with a group of one. If you have a like minded friend it's pleasant, with a group unless it's for some specific purpose it gets to be a workout and animosities develop. At least for me!

 

[Guest]

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Yeah not too much chrome and not too many riders. :clapperrefer to ride on my own. :weightlifter:

:jumper::18red::jumper:

 

[Goldwinger1984]

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I have minimal chrome on my bike, although when I first got it it was loaded with every shiny trinket you could think of. I prefer the clean, simple,uncluttered look, but, I have to admit that it is impressive when I see some friend's bikes all decked out with every available chrome option.

Riding carefreee all alone is always nice, but, it's always especially nice when large groups (200 or more) get together and we all go for a ride. It gets even more fun when these rides have a police escort and we don't even have to stop for red lights or stop signs. It's nice to be part of a group where off duty police and prison guards ride bikes because it gives a little extra meaning to road safety and security. Typically on these bigger rides everyone is instructed onsafety andrules of the road and to this point it has always been a lot of fun if everyone respects the others road space.

Vic

 

[agoguen]

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I tried riding with a group, but found to many feelings.
Positioning seems to be important to some, and improper
lane control for another.
I only started riding with a group of 4-6 resently and
already I have been chewed out for not staying in my slot,
one thinks they should be in a certain slot and if you
move into it they are affended.
I am thinking of giving up this group thing unless its with
the whole club (Southern cruisers) for a charity of
something like that....
I don't ride to have to put up with ego's....so I think
solo is best...
My .02 worth...

 

[Jerryk]

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One of the guys in the chapter has his 1800 decked out with everything JC Whitney and other companies sell. He has lights everywhere and the bike looks like a rolling pimp mobile. Go to a few of the meetings or group ride. When you see a bike that makes you want to pull to the side of the road and toss your cookies, that's when you know there's too much chrome. If street women ask you to betheir pimp, it's too much chrome. If you go out in the daytime and can't get near the bike because the sun is too bright, it's too much.

Just my opinion, but sometimes less is more.

Jerry

 

[firefighter61]

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I agree with the other guys, I love the look of a nice, clean Goldwing with just a little chrome.

Riding with a group......hmmmmm I just like to be off by myself or with one or two friends, set my own pace.

 

[JOHNO]

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A little chrome is always nice to personalise your bike

Riding in groups is good on occasions like charity etc but I find it's better to ride solo then meet up with your buddies at whatever venue so you get the best of both worlds.

 

[twisty]

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leeinva1 wrote:

1. How much chrome should someone add to his his bike before it starts to look trashy? Thinking of adding a few items to dress the bike up a little.

leeinva1, that's a personal thing only you can answer. Some like a lot of chrome do-dads & others like a plain Jane. In my case I like them plain as I bought my Wing to ride year round. The less chrome the easier the bike is to keep clean & the less the bad weather tends to rust the chrome. I have owned Harley dressers that are so hard to keep clean that Iwouldn't use it in foul weather. That's whatIlike about the older Wings, they clean easily & even if left dirty no one notices.My 1200 was pretty well decked out with chrome & lights when I boughtit. It dragged bottom on every curve & the charging system couldn't even keep up at low speeds. I have removed most of the extras & am back to stock. Like I say, I use it all weather & some days I'm the only one on the road in my area on a 2 wheeler.

2. How many of you ride with a group or club. I have been a member of a group for about ten years now but they are starting to wear thin. most of them ride harleys and their version of a ride is to go from point A to the nearest harley dealership, also, i reall don't like riding in a large group, seems like i spend more time concerned about other members then i do enjoying the ride.

Most of us have probably ridden in a group at one time of another. It has it's good points & down sides. Riding in a large group of varying talent tends to not be much fun if you are an experienced rider. There is also the safety issue, some of those group riders shouldn't even be driving a car let alone a motorcycle. I do occasionally ride with a smaller group but that is usually with people I am familiar riding with. I refuse to ride beside or with someone I haven't ridden with before as they are unpredictable. There is also the group's slow speed & "does one does all" aspect. I like to cruise along in the high 80's & even 90's at times & that just won't happen in a group. I sure like my twisty tight radius back roads & that is a single riders event. I do attend some group events but usually take another route & meet the group at the stop points or events. I do ride some large parade type events, or rolling thunder eventsoccasionally but take my old Harley for those. I still meet the group rather than ride all the way there with them.


(Added)- One thing I have noticed is; if you attend group rides on cold, rainy, foul weather days the group as a wholetends to be more experienced with a lot less Harley's. New riders & decked out Harley's usually only come out in nice weather.


Twisty

 

[Guest]

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Yeah a lot of guys and gals have their :18red: :15red: :12red: :11red::1000red: looking like xmas trees.

:walker::18red::walker:

 

[tricky]

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Crome and lighting is a personal thing, my 85 Aspy is fairly decked out with lights, of course unusable if I want to keep the voltage up
As far a riding with a group, I used to ride with a club, we would ride with groups of 5 or 7 people separated by a healthy distance. The first and last person in each group maintained CB contact to allow lane blocking for overtaking slower vehicles. The first person would ride left of the centre line of the lane and the next person to the right, seperated by about 2 seconds so there was always about 4 seconds between the bike in front. NEVER riding side by side, a dangerous practise on the open road where one might need to change direction in a hurry, kicking that other person out of the way is'nt the best thing to do at any speed
We never had any problems but when a large group assembled it would take some time getting everyone fed and watered fortunately the large gatherings only happend 2-3 times per season.
Now I ride with one or two other people. I will not ride with anyone who doesnt use a CB, I find them so usefull for passing comments and giving and taking directions on a moments notice.
I also like to ride on my own.

 

[keener]

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My 1984 GL1200A has "just enough" shiny bits. Most of the add-on stuff doesn't fit properly anyway. As for group riding, we don't. Tried it a couple of times but felt uncomfortable. At the most, we ride with a couple of friends on weekends but that's it. Mind you, we participate in the annual toy run each September with about 700 other bikes but that'sa valid exception.

 

[dean_3326]

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Hey Lee, :waving:What looks good to you is what you should strive for......Everyone has indvidual taste,,,,,what looks good to one may not to the next........I have some added chrome, but it is for the bikes protection and it looks good to me., bumpers around the saddle bags and trunk, a front fender guard, thefront rotor covers are the only thing I have that is just for looks,,,,and I am not sure if I willeven keep them or not......the rest I do not want,,,I even painted the upper parts of my handlebars flat black to get rid of the blinding reflection of the sun. The good news is a Wing looks good no matter what you do to it.....:clapper:

As far as riding with groups,,,NO Thanks,,,:gunhead: I ride to enjoy the Freedom , I don't want some idot telling me which lane to ride in and how fast to ride and where to go and when to go to the bathroom..,,,having headlighs in my rear view mirror all the time or breathing exhaust or listening to ear pierceing exhaust pipes is not my idea of fun...I like to ride once in a while witha buddy or two, but not often.



:12red::cooldj:

 

[Guest]

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dean_3326 wrote:

I even painted the upper parts of my handlebars flat black to get rid of the blinding reflection of the sun.

Hey dean_3326 :waving:Thats one thing we dont have any problem with in Ireland is the SUN because it never shines here. :whip:

:crying::18red::crying:

 

[Shooter]

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I have to agree with the majority on this one. Chrome is like color, a matter of personal prefference. I don't recall anyone asking about group riding before, and was quite surprised by the responses of so many folks prefering to ride alone.

Must just be a hidden KARMA thing, adding to a list of many reasonswhy I like this forum. I too, like to venture out solo, or with the wife. Not much of a joiner, and never cared too much for group rides.

I was even leery about joining these pages, but the friend-ship and information on the site are just too hard to pass on. Besides, I don't have to ride with any of you.... :action: 1200's FOR EVER :gunhead:

 

[exavid]

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In my younger days I never liked the sight of a bike with plastic on it. I was one of those guys in the late 50s who thought a bike should be black and chrome, period. I'd make an exception for some British green but that was it. Recently on a rainy day I was parked beside a guy with a HD. He was bitching about how much time it would take to clean up his bike. He didn't like to hear me tell him I could wipe mine down nicely in 15 minutes. Now I'll admit it gets dirty under the plastic, but that can wait for it's once or twice a year cleanup.

 

[Kyle]

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I had a buddy with an 84, tripped out on chrome, light bars, and even undercarriage lights that made him look like a purple spectre travelling along the highway at night. It was embarassing!!!!

Another buddy who is an HD enthusiast and into all the ride and shine events that HD put on. He invited me out to one of their poker runs, which is basicly stopping at numerousrural cocktail establishments and riding together as a pack. The longest afternoon of my life and the worst poker hand I'd ever been dealt.

I WILL NOT venture out on a tour with another rider. Tried it once with a very close and is still a very close friend. But we came to a mutual agreement, we will ride together, but we will not tour together, our friendship is too important. I've got what's her name with me and that's all the company I want.

There have been times when we have been on a tour and we have hooked up with another rider, or couple somewhere along the road, and have spent a couple of days riding together, and became pretty good friends who we still keep in touch with. It ends as sweet as it started, short and sweet. There have been others where we've spent days trying to outrun them!!!!!

Kyle

 

[Brojees]

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First question, What is this substance you are calling CHROME?

Actually when people try and feed coins into your ride to listen to the music, you may have a wee bit too much chrome.

I would never have bought all the individual chrome pieces Soarise has, but as she came with them....Well I have grown accustomed to them and now I am actually looking for the rare piece she has lost over the years. Yes polishing is a chore, but it does well on a quiet evening to sit in my shop on my wee rolling stool with a jar rolling around the beastie making her pretty. (By the way, be real careful with the chrome comments, I told her she is the most beautiful Wing ever created and she is so sensitive!!)

Riding in a group? Best idea I ever had for allowing my wife to accustom herself to motors. She is the reason I am on a Wing to begin with. As long as she is comfortable, she is happy. And when she is happy, I am happy because we can ride!!! Now a friend or two along that she can wave at and talk to on her CB, well it just makes her happier.

If I were single? Well first I would be living on my sailboat once again and perhaps have a old Moto Guzzi tucked away in some tropical port. But I came ashore to marry her and I will do everything to accomodate her.

 

[philcsand]

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I personaly think that chrome belongs on a harley. There is nothing wrong with having everything in good shape, and polished up, but I think people tend to go overboard. Look at it like seasoning. A little bit can pop the flavors in a dish, but too much, and it's BLECH!