In your experience or opinion, How does a sportbike club differ from a Harley club, if at all ?

Just curious what others think because these bikes are quite a bit different, but also not in the big picture

I am currently in a local sportbike club but have obviously (lol) never been in a Harley club

In MY experience with local sport bike clubs, there isn't a single guy in the club who has enough control of their machine to be a self respecting rider. Now I know I will receive a little backlash from this but it is just my experience from the local clubs. You see the long line of stretched bikes coming down the highway and there isn't a sub 10 second rider among the lot of them. Yes.. Yes.. I know it's about the camaraderie and such but still.... Please learn to control and master your machine. If not.. Then buy a Harley. I'd bet the farm against ANY club rider in my state stock wheelbase to stock wheelbase and honestly probably ANY wheelbase bike as well. I just know that the stock wheelbase one would be in the bag no contest. :)

What if you can never get to a track...I'm guessing here that you mean "controlling" by dragstripping and such.Mastering the bike...this bike...takes a long time.So many areas of mastery....then when you think you've got er down....then comes another lesson.I ride street...have no tracks anywhere.I work.I can't bop on over to the local track and run drag...or....track.All I've got are these roads...good ones for sure...but there's NO WAY to run these things like you would on a track.You HAVE to care for others on the road....so 'mastery'...well....each ride is different.EVERYTIME.I get what you're saying...but most can't shoot over on Friday night and run the drags for seconds.Does that mean we will never 'master' our 14's?Just curious what you mean...that's all....no bash against your thoughts.

This 14 model motorcycle experience(had one from 07 on)STILL surprises me.Sponsorship to fix broken parts by totally 'going for it' on the street...not to mention possible(probable)injuries to others...is not possible.You can't go all out all the time....it's like wisdom.You don't read about how to get...you get it by living and learning.That time will be cut short trying to act as if you're invincible on the street.Personally...I don't know if this bike can really BE mastered.Just sayin'...I learn something new everytime I ride...whether it's making a u-turn on a two lane road,or leaning into a high speed sweep a little farther than I did before.....You can only take er so far....On the street...that may be very wreckless and foolhardy...depending.Just my humble opinion here....so I'm not ssure I understand what you're saying...we all enjoy meeting and greeting and riding with fellow sportbikers...I do...when I can...which isn't often...I get away from the city and go rail and enjoy by myself most of the time...hell...no one wants to drive 'out there' with a guy who has a 14R...it's just that way here.

I love my stock config ninja...wheelbase and such....don't plan on changing anything like that.The flash is great.The bike runs great.That's all I need really.The suspension upgrades...icing on the cake.Mastery of my bike?Nope....not yet.But I sure wouldn't trade her for a Harley...just cause I'm no Rossi or Spies;)

There's a group of several guys here...they've got GSXR's...Yammies...700's and 1000's.Won't give me the time of day...look at me with contempt...honestly.You think I want to go riding with these guys?All ego and such.No thanks.Course...they ride wheelies down main street at 80 mph...in 25 mph zones....guess they've mastered the art of lofting;)I'm still learning.Fun...but not the reason I have my bike....NEVER seen one of em out on the road carving and all....NEVER.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 3/16/2014 @ 11:24 PM *

I joined a Harley Retro Fit Club back in the day. Well at least my heart was in the right place.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7gYNb3GSh4M/TLYY0vXahzI/AAAAAAAAWGI/1Y-b-MGR2tM/s400/5078234649_872ac8697f.jpg

What about the stunt guys in these clubs , I'd say they can manipulate there machines pretty well too. To be able to do some of the stuff they do you would have to. Now most are probably 600cc or 1000cc but still. And by stunt I don't mean the one that can do a wheelie for 2 secs down the rd, I mean the guys who got there gas tank all dented in cause they sit on it more then the seat lol

* Last updated by: thebiglebowski on 3/17/2014 @ 2:51 AM *

I won't speak for any other club, I know what the 14Nation is about though. It started because of all the garbage y'all just voiced. We wanted a club where the riders were actually seeking something. Pursuit of excellence with the machine. A greater involvement between machine and rider. Goin after it whether it be sport touring across a country or hitting the local dragstrip. Riders who want to actually learn about servicing and and adjusting their ride to achieve maximum potential. That's kinda what this particular sportbike club is about. About stoppin to help if ya see a rider on the side of the road, then if all is good, roasting the next twisty road with him watchin ya get small. About helping others learn when ya can and learning yourself when the opportunity presents itself. I am one of them fellas that absolutely positively has to be sure that it is done right with my machine. That has meant a ton of learning and doin it myself. The bond between bike and rider becomes greater. :)) just my 2c.

* Last updated by: Cblast on 3/17/2014 @ 8:45 AM *

If by a "club", you mean pack riding; then the difference is easy. Tandem putting and parade "profiling" or backroad scratchin' and corner "profiling"; your choice! Just joking, but there is truth in humor.

I don't think you have to be a "track master" or a "trick master" to enjoy a sport bike and join a group of like minded enthusiasts for support and mutual learning and gain. I don't think you have to be an "outlaw' or ride like a "tour guide" to profit form association with a cruiser club.

It will be a great day when judgements can be put aside and enthusiasts of any type of bike can associate as they please without "proofing" the stereotype.

If my grandma wants to ride a yamaha R1 and take 40 mphr turns at 30 mphr; I would hope you would pass her safely and give her a friendly wave! And if she wants to join in club activities without "harming" anyone else's ride;

Bikers who ride their own pace and meet at the next stop sign can be of varied skill sets and still enjoy an outing together. In the past I have ridden with some rated WERA riders and I was always the last one to the stop sign. So what? I learned and we all had fun! You can't ride side by side for this "Pace" riding and its harder to "profile" a small town when you are not in close formation; is that the problem?

Can you join a drag strip "club" without having to all go down the strip together? LMAO. Of course!

The pack mind set is dangerous, IMO, no matter the make-up of the pack.

BTW; if you don't know what "The Pace" is all about; see Nick Inetsch.

Cheers

C, you must have just waxed her, she's shining !!! Like the mirror block offs

Get with a group of like minded individuals who can one be themselves and two ride there own ride and your gonna have alot of fun. I hae never been the fastest down the track or in the turns but the guys I have rode with understand that and everyone rides to there ability and the mindset is lets just all make it back home safe!
Mav I see the stretced dudes who can barely leave a stop light but they just like looking good and getting girls so I let em, as for the guys like me who are kinda jack of all trades and master of none, well I guess I stradle the fence on some things. I like the track but can't make it as much as I would like to get my skills on par with some of my friends but I'm no slouch, I'm just saying I respect all riders and clubs and other stuff around bikes, my 2 cents.

It seems I struck a nerve. The reason I pick on stretched bikes that don't race is the same reason that people make fun of Honda Civics with a spoiler bolted onto another spoiler with a NOS! sticker on each side. It's just comical on another level to me. I will be the first to admit that I CAN have elitist jerk tendencies and I believe that is what keeps me motivated to be on par with the best out there. If I didn't care then I wouldn't be where I'm at. So you see it's a form of necessary evil that I keep deep down inside. My demon if you will.... I apologize to anyone that I may have offended, but if it's too little too late... Then bring it on. We can settle it at the track.

Interesting views.

I can relate to being the "last on to the stop sign". Lol. And I also take pride being one of the only ones to have never had a wreck or laid it down(fingers crossed)YET
I ride off and on with about 30 guys but our club consists of only about 12 . Some of the riders that shows up for our rides seem to ride hell bent for leather, but I ride as my slowly developing skill level allows.

And I think it extremely important never let the pack mentality override your skill level, obviously but in a group it's easy to get carried away

Given how many Harley groups there are, It's very cool though to be one of a big group of all sportbikes, given how cool it looks and how great a pack of in line fours sound all together, the fun of the actual ride being the best part of it obviously

Good times.

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 3/17/2014 @ 5:55 PM *

Hi Mav, good point. Some stretched riders, not naming names prey on other bikes and cars on the streets. Some, even race for money. Some just race like an animal. Some do not need the track.

I for one, want to try launching on the track...

No cord struck, just remember race oriented people are not necessarily limited to just the "track"

Just an ordinary man on an extraordinary bike!

RC's when well organized and in keeping to a high ride ethic can unite people around their love of their motorcycle. Continued refinement of riding, and events are another positive outcome. Some RC's race on the streets and some have negative attitudes.

I agree with Bobs and C, the 14 nation aims to a higher ride ethic.

My 2 cents.. i belong to a motorcycle club here in philly. Ive never been in or a part of a Harley club.
The club i belong to has been around and growing for over 15 years. I joined in 2004. My club is simply about a group of men who all love to ride motorcycles. Its about fellowship.. trust.. loyalty to your fellow member. Whats important is we have structure. We have guys that do race on the track and some that race on the street.. but we always have each others back. Our wives all know each other which is important as well.
Some clubs here where i live thinks its only bout who can have the flyest bike or who can score the most chicks or who in their club is the fastest but they miss the most important aspect of belonging to a motorcycle club which should about everyone who is a member being able to share their love of whateva machine they ride. Again just my 2 cents..

Not sure if there's a big difference between sportbike clubs or Harley type clubs as I've never been part of either. I do know that the crusier clubs in my area do a lot of fundraising for organizations like toys for tots or just help out a family in need. I can't remember seeing any sportbike clubs partaking in any such activities. That's probably due to age more than anything else.

maverick1441. yep

Never been a member of either but have been around a few Harley members. These guys I knew in construction were true 1%er's and completely lived the lifestyle. They would work for a while, make a little cash and then just hit the roads and stay gone for months at a time. The few I knew were good guys but probably did some bad things along the way.

There are numerous sportbike groups that I ride with that welcome and promote all types of riding, riding your own ride and ATGATT as best you can. Their is no 'membership' but just guys and gals who like to ride and talk bikes on weekend rides and the occasional bike night. These groups will also organize overnight trips to AR or Deals Gap.

Similar to Mav's experience, the sportbike 'clubs' in my area are mainly posers. Chrome half-helmets,leather vests and blinged out bikes with very little riding skills. More concerned about an image than riding well and I've noticed the 14 is definitely top dog with that crowd!

The metric group is like the GL crowd. Chapters, rules, membership dues, obey the laws.
Next sport bike club may have their colors too. Spikes are a big thing with the chrome half helmets(lol), right?

Harley Hog Group. Same as the GL crowd with the chapter and verse.

1% Harley Gang or group. Hand over the title to your bike, the club owns it now. Take uppers because you are a 'prospect' and will run errands [at all hours] for any of the members needing some shit is a club me due list, you are a slave to the club. You wanted that life style so I take your bike, share your old lady, go sell this crap on the street, here is my billfold (a wad of 100's in both boots or say one boot) who needs to work, fuck the system, how's my chopper look, it's an old hog members bike. I ripped the lower patch off his colors was rep the same lame name... I wanna be, I wanna be what?

* Last updated by: Hub on 3/18/2014 @ 11:18 AM *

Hubs right, I have heard stories (real) of prospects in 1% clubs having to ride 300 miles to get a patched
Members a pizza ! No joke ! ....

And who knows what else they have to do ......

Now, I would ride 300 miles for this : ha ha !

* Last updated by: carabuser on 3/18/2014 @ 2:16 PM *

I don't think I'd want to be in any club or group of any king bad enoughto go through such assanine bullshit.

Especially since I am not a teenager, but a grown man. Lol

Are some of them prospects actually required to share their woman. ???

Ah-!!! How wAcKy and warped is someone who would agree to that ??

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 3/18/2014 @ 5:34 PM *

They must be very lonely people, they always say that the club is their family and stuff like that ...

I can't agree with what some or most of those 1%ers do, drugs, prostitution, extortion, murder, etc ...

Would not want to be a part of any of that ...

Just a point of fact the club that i am a member is no way shape or form connected to or involved with ANY 1% club. I agree with every1s comments about 1% clubs. We dont do any of that whack ass shit to any member or prospect. Its ridiculous that they treat people that way but yet call u a brother. Ok back to the regular scheduled program.

The fact that grown men get so wrapped up in that

They must feel such a emptiness/need to "belong" to something to go along with that kind of BS

Most of those 1 percenters probably just need a hug

I have never in my life felt the need to "belong". Is this some type of personality disorder?

Wolves run in packs! MC's no disrespect, but no thank you. RC's yes I belong to one what a power knowledge wealth share for us enthusiasts. But that said everyone's different and I for one, do not disagree!
W