Cowboys & Indians - there is no a difference!

Those who know me could use the term "Harley Snob" to describe

me. I'm a person who slavishly admires the Harley-Davidson brand and can be condescending or overbearing to others. (But I'm definitely not this version.)

As a horse crazy kid growing up in the somewhat wild-west of Northern California back in the day (1970's), I always played the part of the cowboy, even though there is supposedly a small amount of Potawatomie blood in my veins. Tom Boy, always in the dirt, looking for trouble, never quitting, and my mom had a tough challenge getting me in a skirt or dress pretty well sums up my childhood. It was no real big surprise to anyone in my family that I became a fan of Harley-Davidson motorcycles from an early age as well.

"But there is this one motorcycle brand that gets my gears grinding practically every time I hear or see their commercial...."

This does not mean that I believe all other motorcycle brands are crap. Honestly! I still have friends that ride metric bikes and the occasional 
Spyder rider. And I will do a "Biker Wave" to all on two or three wheels.

Especially since FX Caprara Harley-Davidson also has Honda Motorcycles, Can-Am/BRP and Arctic Cat Snowmobiles & ATVS under our roof. (Side note: all manufacturers had to give their permission to do so, and each brand is clearly separated in it's own area.)

But there is this one motorcycle brand that gets my gears grinding practically every time I hear or see their commercial, and it's because of Indian's claim that they are "America's First Motorcycle Company." 

"I read it all the way through, but it's when I got down to the last two paragraphs that I was reminded about one simple thing...."

Even though they started in 1901 (whereas Harley-Davidson started in 1903), they actually closed the doors to their factory in 1953. Since then they've gone through six - count 'em! - SIX corporate successions, with Polaris Industries (who got their start in snowmobiles) being the most current.

Harley-Davidson is the oldest, continuously operated motorcycle manufacturer in America. Hands down. Period.

So, when I saw this blog titled: I can't let Dad sell his Softail about the author's dad asking him out to an Indian Demo Event, my blood pressure went up a notch. I mean, let the man sell his Harley for any other brand of motorcycle except for an Indian!

I read it all the way through, but it's when I got down to the last two paragraphs that I was reminded about one simple thing: 

It really doesn't matter what you ride; 

it only matters that you ride.

To all those who I may have offended in the past with my condescending attitude towards any motorcycle without a Bar & Shield, my sincerest apologies. I offer my 'Biker Wave' in peace and say, "Let's go Ride!"