I have been riding for 43 years and have NEVER seen someone trash someone else or me, for what I was riding. Yes, in fun, but none serious about it. While I know/acquainted with many who "embrace the biker outlaw image" I have not see them degrade other peolpe's rides.
Sorry I just don't agree what anyone says about HD riders. There are just as many jerks on Jap & European bikes as on HDs - in my opinion, even more. Why do I say this? The bulk of the bike bashing comes from those people, not HD riders. You can prove by looking at any forum.
Well, I didn't mean to offend anyone with what I said. I've been riding for 40 years. Several stretches in there a motorcycle was my sole form of transportation. Today my wife and I own a small truck and two bikes. She drives the truck and I ride one of the bikes. It's my choice. I'd rather ride than drive any day. I switch off between the Harley and the Honda. I do see a difference in how other riders react to me depending on which one I'm riding. I've never had anyone "trash" me or my bike. It's more a lesser degree of acceptance if I'm riding the "wrong" bike and it isn't limited to Harley fans. There's also the fact that I spent most of my adult life in EMS with a couple of side trips carrying a badge and my view of riders was probably influenced by dealing with them in one of those capacities. Not only were the drink beer, ride, and I don't need no helmet crowd, regardless of what brand they were riding, harder to deal with when conscious but they, along with sport bike riders some of whom have more horsepower than good sense, were the ones I was most likely to have to deal with in the first place. I've seen enough road rash to cover I-35 from here to Dallas. And while I agree that a helmet and protective gear should be an individual choice I've seen the result of that choice both ways. I taught rookies to think of it as evolution-in-action. Those who make the wrong choices often remove themselves from the gene pool.
I have to admit that I don't understand the need to dress in outlaw biker clothing. I don't understand the whole loud pipes thing either. Both make a statement but it isn't a statement that makes bikers in general well thought of by the public. But to each his or her own.
Storm