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Monday, June 08, 2009

American World Harley Davidson Festa

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Nothing says America like a big fat dude on a big fat Harley Davidson motorcycle. This brand actually has a pretty big following in Japan. Out on the road I've come across quite a few rider's, American muscle the only thing between them and the road. It's a dream thing. Harley has been embedded in our minds as the ultimate freedom machine. Modern advertising pushes this to the limit, but I think it goes back to Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper, and those sweet, sweet machines.

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I'll admit it, I've never ridden a Harley, but have this secret desire to drop a huge sum of cash on one and ride from California to New York, hitting all 48 states in the process.

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But, Harley's have a bad reputation. You pay a lot more for that Harley charm, and they have a tendency to be fickle machines. Hardly Able-sons is a common moniker.

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Really damn expensive. The whole process of buying a Harley involves buying the bike, which is a 20 to 30 (or 40 in the above shot) thousand dollar ordeal. Then comes the customization. Chrome ain't cheap. Performance parts ain't cheap.

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$2000 for some shocks. Yeah, every brand is pricey to customize, but somehow Harley comes out on top... way on top.

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Anyways, I heard about this Harley event and had to go. Selling points:
  • Free entrance and gifts
  • Only about 15km from my door
  • Test ride some bikes
  • Country line dancing
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The free present was these sweet rain ponchos. Rock on... in style.

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As for the test rides, I went straight for the V-ROD. I've been in love with this bike since they introduced it back around 2003. It's all kinds of cool, and I think the styling is so bad ass. I sat down, wiped the childish grin off my face, and started the engine.

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We all know a simple fact in life. Harley's are seriously loud. Like deafening loudness. So when I started the V-ROD and my first comment was, "Is it on?"... that's not good.

That's the reaction you want from a Toyota Prius.

Revving the engine elicited similar ennui. The test drive as well. Oh well. I think all the bikes here were severely limited. There can't be any other explanation.

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The food was more hard core than the bikes. That's rice with taco meat loaded on top... and a hot dog. The word メガ, mega... makes it good.

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There were some games to play. In this one, you have to shoot the 酔っぱライダー. A play on words meaning drunk riders. バンバン! Bang Bang!

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The "gun" is the exhaust from the back of a bike. It's like you're in front of the bar, doing a burnout, and shit is flying out of the exhaust and killing all the drunk bastards inside.

I won some stickers for my murderous efforts.

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License in Japan... you're doing it wrong!

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Mild mannered English teacher at a girl's High School by day, bad ass who wears clothes like this at night.

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This was the first time in my life that I have heard live country music. In Japan. And for someone who has only listened to this genre when driving in the countryside of California, I seemed to know all the words to the songs. (Achey Breaky Heart, Country Road, Rodeo)

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Kid's Heaven? Isn't that were little boys and girls go when they die?

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Ladies Beauty Square? Isn't there where perverted Japanese business men who like groping girls on the train go when they die?

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I should also mention that I test drove a Buell Lightning. Buell is an offshoot of Harley. Pretty much a sport bike built with a Harley engine. I was Kick Ass. I capitalize to make a point. The bike almost made me numb from the shaking. No way I could handle a long haul, but I really really want.

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This event changed my life. I had dreams of driving a Yamaha R1 sports bike, but this has been replaced with a Buell Lightning sports bike. I also had dreams of driving a Harley cruiser, but this has been replaced with a "anything not Harley" cruiser.

But Harley will always hold a special place... on funny Youtube clips!

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous9:16 PM

    Harleys in Japan need to have adjustments on the exausts because of noise regulations... that's why the sound.. or the lack of it anyway...

    ReplyDelete