HARLEY DAVIDSON SPEAKS TO "DECLINING BIKE SALES”,BLAMING MILLENIALS.

GrapeApe
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5/7/2019 7:57am
early wrote:
This thread is more racist than the Ferrandis one.
JohnnyD13 wrote:
What’s racist about this?
The obvious racism
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1
ATKpilot99
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5/7/2019 7:57am
UpTiTe wrote:
If you know the scene, you know they are into bikes, just not anything Harley offers.
Honda Groms ?
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early
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5/7/2019 7:58am
early wrote:
This thread is more racist than the Ferrandis one.
JohnnyD13 wrote:
What’s racist about this?

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1
JohnnyD13
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5/7/2019 7:59am
early wrote:
This thread is more racist than the Ferrandis one.
JohnnyD13 wrote:
What’s racist about this?
early wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2019/05/07/345085/s1200_L85IbAt.jpg[/img]

My bad.

The Shop

peltier626
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5/7/2019 7:59am
Blame is the typical response to an inadequate performance or subject. But I do find this hilarious.
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MudPup545
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5/7/2019 8:00am
JohnnyD13 wrote:
Lol. Sad but true. Try to find one that can drive a stick shift.
I'll actually defend the younger generation that can't drive a stick. Why? Because they've simply never seen one. They've never used a rotary phone either and I'm not going to bust on them for it. I've never had to hitch a team of horses to a wagon so I could head into town to buy a 50 pound sack of flour. Technology changes and moves on. Hell, I can't remember the last time I've driven a stick and I actually grew up with them.
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GrapeApe
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5/7/2019 8:04am Edited Date/Time 5/7/2019 8:07am
Back in the 90's my Dad and I had a conversation about all he had done for my life. He said half-joking all he wanted in repayment was a Harley once I had achieved some success. I never forgot that conversation, and fast forward to the mid-aughts and the Harley came back up in conversation. He said he wouldn't be caught dead on a Harley. Apparently every dweeb in their upper class neighborhood had a Harley, leather vest, and newfound affinity for cigars. Totally ruined it for Dad. He settled on a Triumph Sprint GT.

What was once a cool symbol of rebellion and counter-culture, became the symbol of wealthy, vanilla older men desperately projecting a false image of rebellion and counter-culture. Harley lost its core following.
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zippytech
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5/7/2019 8:08am
sam hain wrote:
HR manager at the company I worked for in college was a Harley poser. 11months of the year he was clean cut, high end cloths, clean...
HR manager at the company I worked for in college was a Harley poser. 11months of the year he was clean cut, high end cloths, clean shaved, neat haircut. A month before bike week he stopped shaving and let he hair grow, dude would go to bike week in Daytona with a scruffy beard and long hair (dress like a pirate Smile ) and put on the Harley tough guy act for a week then come back with a haircut and cleaned shaved again. People in the company caught on to what he was doing and talked about him behind his back and laughed at him. Sad IMO to do all that shit to fit in and be someone you're not just to impress people.
Sad part is they was talking behind his back.. They should have said it to his face
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bh84
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5/7/2019 8:13am
bh84 wrote:
Millenials are between 23-38 now. I find is hilarious that we get blamed for all kinds of things when its really Gen Zers that have brought...
Millenials are between 23-38 now. I find is hilarious that we get blamed for all kinds of things when its really Gen Zers that have brought in things like the Tide Pod challenge, Fortnite, and vape tricks.

Don't lump us in with them.

Also, I wouldn't buy a Harley because they are absolute dog shit.

A couple years ago I was working the Kawasaki booth at the Edmonton bike show, the Harley booth beside us had the "new" Milwaukee 8 motor on display with a big cutout. I asked the guy there what was special about the new engine and his answer was `well, its got 8 valves, thats why its called the Milwaukee 8"

Their newest engine, and the big selling point is something that other MFGs have been using for 30+ years. nofucknthankyou
?

Gen X are like 40 to 55+. They are into Tide Pod challenge and Fortnite?

Maybe you mean Gen Z?
thats the one.
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endurox
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5/7/2019 8:13am
The millenials are smart enough to not buy an overprice relic. The millenials don't need to boost their ego with a paint shaker.
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sam hain
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5/7/2019 8:16am
sam hain wrote:
HR manager at the company I worked for in college was a Harley poser. 11months of the year he was clean cut, high end cloths, clean...
HR manager at the company I worked for in college was a Harley poser. 11months of the year he was clean cut, high end cloths, clean shaved, neat haircut. A month before bike week he stopped shaving and let he hair grow, dude would go to bike week in Daytona with a scruffy beard and long hair (dress like a pirate Smile ) and put on the Harley tough guy act for a week then come back with a haircut and cleaned shaved again. People in the company caught on to what he was doing and talked about him behind his back and laughed at him. Sad IMO to do all that shit to fit in and be someone you're not just to impress people.
zippytech wrote:
Sad part is they was talking behind his back.. They should have said it to his face
They weren't stupid, he was the HR manager HA. If they had, they would have been jobless.
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77Moto
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5/7/2019 8:16am
HARLEY DAVIDSON SPEAKS TO "DECLINING BIKE SALES”,BLAMING MILLENIALS. The reasons for the slump in sales at HD are not President Trump's fault, or Harley Davidson's. Apparently...
HARLEY DAVIDSON SPEAKS TO "DECLINING BIKE SALES”,BLAMING MILLENIALS.
The reasons for the slump in sales at HD are not President Trump's fault, or Harley Davidson's.

Apparently the Baby-Boomers all have motorcycles. Generation X is only buying a few, and the next generation isn't buying any at all.

A recent study was done to find out why Millennials don't ride motorcycles:

1. Pants won't pull up far enough for them to straddle the seat.

2. Can't get their phone to their ear with a helmet on.

3. Can't use 2 hands to eat while driving.

4. They don't get a trophy and a recognition plaque just for buying one.

5. Don't have enough muscle to hold the bike up when stopped.

6. Might have a bug hit them in the face and then they would need emergency care.

7. Motorcycles don't have air conditioning.

8. They can't afford one because they spent 12 years in college trying to get a degree in Humanities, Social Studies or Gender Studies for which no jobs are available.

9. They are allergic to fresh air.

10. Their pajamas get caught on the exhaust pipes.

11. They might get their hands dirty checking the oil.

12. The handle bars have buttons and levers and cannot be controlled by touch-screen.

13. You have to shift manually and use something called a clutch.

14. It's too hard to take selfies while riding.

15. They don't come with training wheels like their bicycles did.

16. Motorcycles don't have power steering or power brakes.

17. Their nose ring interferes with the face shield.

18. They would have to use leg muscle to back up.

19. When they stop, a light breeze might blow exhaust in their face.

20. It could rain on them and expose them to non-soft water.

21. It might scare their therapy dog, and then the dog would need therapy.

22. Can't get the motorcycle down the basement stairs of their parent's home.

23. Steady income needed for payments.
dirtmike86 wrote:
Isnt it your generation that raised these fools?
He's spot on except he could add "Liberal Arts" to the degree list.



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richter28
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5/7/2019 8:17am Edited Date/Time 5/7/2019 8:31am
I worked at a HD dealer that was owned by one of the biggest motorcycle dealer groups in the country. We also sold KTM's, which was my department. Harley came to our dealer meetings to explain basically exactly what the OP said, blaming it on everything else besides their outdated technology and the changing desire for outrageously priced chrome and leather. Their main point was "how can we get the kids involved in motorcycles again?"

At the time, we had a Friday night series that had a packed 50 class every race, with all sorts of events, awards and banquets that made an impact on these kids. We had an AX team and the pro guys came to our races and events, so the kids went crazy over them. I can't tell you how many people stopped by a race to check it out with their kid, and were in the shop in the next few weeks getting their first bike and all the gear.

I sat in the back of that meeting, where every other dealer was an HD-only dealer, and was in shock, like "Hey, we are doing literally exactly what you can't figure out" but they only look at the bottom line at the end of the month and compared us to a Harley dealer money-wise and laughed. It's interesting that they bought Stacyc, that's a good idea in theory, but man, we literally got so many kids and families into that shop that were customers for life. But trying to tell a Harley guy to change is like talking to a wall.
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77Moto
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5/7/2019 8:22am
JohnnyD13 wrote:
Lol. Sad but true. Try to find one that can drive a stick shift.
MudPup545 wrote:
I'll actually defend the younger generation that can't drive a stick. Why? Because they've simply never seen one. They've never used a rotary phone either and...
I'll actually defend the younger generation that can't drive a stick. Why? Because they've simply never seen one. They've never used a rotary phone either and I'm not going to bust on them for it. I've never had to hitch a team of horses to a wagon so I could head into town to buy a 50 pound sack of flour. Technology changes and moves on. Hell, I can't remember the last time I've driven a stick and I actually grew up with them.
But most millennials can't think for themselves.

The rest could figure out how to hitch the horses to the wagon. Why do you think newer cars come with tire pressure monitoring systems?

Most can't use a tire gauge or know how to read the door jamb label or the max tire pressure on the tire. They need a screen to tell them to go to the dealer because the tire is low.


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TeamGreen
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5/7/2019 8:23am
As implied by others...

I blame the douche-bag "My kid is the brightest and smartest" helicopter parents.

Remember RIDING YOUR BICYCLE TO SCHOOL?
Remember trying out for upper-division sports/teams?
Remember when THE WINNERS got the trophy?

Well, under "who's watch" did that all change?

Oddly enough, how much do you wanna bet that more than a few of these helicopter parents work at The Catalog Cruiser Company? (That's my name for Harley Davidson: it's not about the bike...it's about how much crap you bought from the catalog of chrome insanity...)
Laughing
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2
5/7/2019 8:25am Edited Date/Time 5/7/2019 8:29am
*Broad generalizations follow. If you're a boomer making 40K a year doing manual labor and working 60 hours a week you're not Harley's target demographic anyway.

Of course a boomer in charge of the company would think the problem is with us. Do they forget about cash strapped millenials that went in to a destroyed workforce ruined by greedy boomers in 2008? His generation created the situation my generation had to walk in to and now they're blaming it on us! LOL!. My generation put our lives on hold while the boomers bailed themselves out and the repercussions were passed down to us... a bunch of entry level workers with little to no assets being asked to help rebuild and "just do what we did" in an economy that changed decades ago.

Reasons why my generation doesn't care about those pieces of shit.
1. Student Loan debt
2. Medical Bills/Health Insurance
3. Underpaid entry level jobs created by Boomers after 2008.
4. (see 4) You now need a 2 income home to afford childcare costs and bills.
5. Overinflated housing/rental market.
6. Overpriced cars/trucks/SUV's catering to the Boomer market.
6. No room for corporate growth because the high earning Boomers stack cash instead of retiring and passing the earnings down. Due to increased quality of life they'd rather work until they're 70 so they can afford lavish shit like a vacation home.

Get back to us when we're 50, all the Boomers have retired, and their over inflated salaries free up some money for the rest of us.
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TeamGreen
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5/7/2019 8:25am
richter28 wrote:
I worked at a HD dealer that was owned by one of the biggest motorcycle dealer groups in the country. We also sold KTM's, which was...
I worked at a HD dealer that was owned by one of the biggest motorcycle dealer groups in the country. We also sold KTM's, which was my department. Harley came to our dealer meetings to explain basically exactly what the OP said, blaming it on everything else besides their outdated technology and the changing desire for outrageously priced chrome and leather. Their main point was "how can we get the kids involved in motorcycles again?"

At the time, we had a Friday night series that had a packed 50 class every race, with all sorts of events, awards and banquets that made an impact on these kids. We had an AX team and the pro guys came to our races and events, so the kids went crazy over them. I can't tell you how many people stopped by a race to check it out with their kid, and were in the shop in the next few weeks getting their first bike and all the gear.

I sat in the back of that meeting, where every other dealer was an HD-only dealer, and was in shock, like "Hey, we are doing literally exactly what you can't figure out" but they only look at the bottom line at the end of the month and compared us to a Harley dealer money-wise and laughed. It's interesting that they bought Stacyc, that's a good idea in theory, but man, we literally got so many kids and families into that shop that were customers for life. But trying to tell a Harley guy to change is like talking to a wall.
Thanks for sharing that.

I think you're right on the money.
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dirtmike86
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5/7/2019 8:30am
JohnnyD13 wrote:
Lol. Sad but true. Try to find one that can drive a stick shift.
MudPup545 wrote:
I'll actually defend the younger generation that can't drive a stick. Why? Because they've simply never seen one. They've never used a rotary phone either and...
I'll actually defend the younger generation that can't drive a stick. Why? Because they've simply never seen one. They've never used a rotary phone either and I'm not going to bust on them for it. I've never had to hitch a team of horses to a wagon so I could head into town to buy a 50 pound sack of flour. Technology changes and moves on. Hell, I can't remember the last time I've driven a stick and I actually grew up with them.
77Moto wrote:
But most millennials can't think for themselves. The rest could figure out how to hitch the horses to the wagon. Why do you think newer cars...
But most millennials can't think for themselves.

The rest could figure out how to hitch the horses to the wagon. Why do you think newer cars come with tire pressure monitoring systems?

Most can't use a tire gauge or know how to read the door jamb label or the max tire pressure on the tire. They need a screen to tell them to go to the dealer because the tire is low.


Pretty sure that's not why they invented tpms.
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MOTO732
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5/7/2019 8:33am
Well, I'm not a millennial and I have owned dozens and dozens bikes during my lifetime. I've never even considered buying a Harley. Blame declining sales on whatever you want Harley...you're bikes do not appeal to A LOT of people. Keep updating your T-Shirt and clothing line though, that's where you make most of your revenue anyway.
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Kawikid121
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5/7/2019 8:35am
JohnnyD13 wrote:
Lol. Sad but true. Try to find one that can drive a stick shift.
Also millennial at age 36. I learned and passed my drivers test with a stick shift. Patrolled the streets of Baghdad on foot for 15 months at 19 years old. Deployed to Iraq 2 more times after that for 15 months each. Went to school obtained and engineering degree. I now work for a high profile defense contractor. Own a house and 10 acres of land. Own 3 vehicles, 3 dirtbikes, and a toy hauler. I have a beautiful little family that I provide for.

What have you done with your life?
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1
5/7/2019 8:39am
You know why I won't buy a Harley?

It's an over priced piece of shit. I can go get a Honda Fury starting at $10,600 vs any Harley starting at $19,999 and the Honda is going to be more reliable.

I also like dirt way more than street. So that $20k+ for that POS Harley could buy me 2 brand new 450's or even a newer truck for me and the family. I could even buy a SXS for the price of a Harley and the wife and kids would love it way more.
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1
5/7/2019 8:41am
JohnnyD13 wrote:
Lol. Sad but true. Try to find one that can drive a stick shift.
Kawikid121 wrote:
Also millennial at age 36. I learned and passed my drivers test with a stick shift. Patrolled the streets of Baghdad on foot for 15 months...
Also millennial at age 36. I learned and passed my drivers test with a stick shift. Patrolled the streets of Baghdad on foot for 15 months at 19 years old. Deployed to Iraq 2 more times after that for 15 months each. Went to school obtained and engineering degree. I now work for a high profile defense contractor. Own a house and 10 acres of land. Own 3 vehicles, 3 dirtbikes, and a toy hauler. I have a beautiful little family that I provide for.

What have you done with your life?
Thank you for your service Kawikid!
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5/7/2019 8:42am Edited Date/Time 5/7/2019 8:43am
dirtmike86 wrote:
Pretty sure that's not why they invented tpms.
They did it for the same reason MX manufacturers went to air forks. The technology was available and by including it, it would increase MSRP and profit. But, just like the MX manufacturers, the increase "gains" didn't balance out with decreased sales and once one manufacturer does it they all feel like they need to do it to keep up.
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RockyRider
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Nor Cal, CA US
5/7/2019 8:44am
I don't see the point to this thread truthfully. Does every generation have shitty people? Yes. Is lumping them into all one category and then downgrading them fair? Absofuckinglutely not. If I see a bunch of methed out baby boomers, would it be fair to call all baby boomers methed out, ass chap wearing, shitty bike riding grumpy fucks? No. So sir, kindly go fuck yourself if you continue to lump "us" all together. Get your old ass of the couch and use your social security money (which will be nonexistent for us) to get out and ride.
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Stuntman949
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5/7/2019 8:45am
The only thing cooler than a Harley is....anything else
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captmoto
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5/7/2019 8:51am
kb228 wrote:
People who make comments like that about millennials are really out of touch. Youre talking about a small percentage of students at berkley in california. Not...
People who make comments like that about millennials are really out of touch. Youre talking about a small percentage of students at berkley in california. Not millennials
Dead fucking wrong. Talk to anybody that runs or manages a business, The attitudes of millenials sucks out loud and isn't contained in Berkley at all.
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Sierra Ranger
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5/7/2019 8:52am
sam hain wrote:
HR manager at the company I worked for in college was a Harley poser. 11months of the year he was clean cut, high end cloths, clean...
HR manager at the company I worked for in college was a Harley poser. 11months of the year he was clean cut, high end cloths, clean shaved, neat haircut. A month before bike week he stopped shaving and let he hair grow, dude would go to bike week in Daytona with a scruffy beard and long hair (dress like a pirate Smile ) and put on the Harley tough guy act for a week then come back with a haircut and cleaned shaved again. People in the company caught on to what he was doing and talked about him behind his back and laughed at him. Sad IMO to do all that shit to fit in and be someone you're not just to impress people.
I wonder if anybody looks at motocrossers that way? (Pssst...that dude over there like to dress up in a neon costume every weekend and risks his life for a $5 plastic trophy in that sport where everybody sits around and drinks Monster Energy. What a weirdo) Woohoo
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1
77Moto
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CA
5/7/2019 8:53am
MudPup545 wrote:
I'll actually defend the younger generation that can't drive a stick. Why? Because they've simply never seen one. They've never used a rotary phone either and...
I'll actually defend the younger generation that can't drive a stick. Why? Because they've simply never seen one. They've never used a rotary phone either and I'm not going to bust on them for it. I've never had to hitch a team of horses to a wagon so I could head into town to buy a 50 pound sack of flour. Technology changes and moves on. Hell, I can't remember the last time I've driven a stick and I actually grew up with them.
77Moto wrote:
But most millennials can't think for themselves. The rest could figure out how to hitch the horses to the wagon. Why do you think newer cars...
But most millennials can't think for themselves.

The rest could figure out how to hitch the horses to the wagon. Why do you think newer cars come with tire pressure monitoring systems?

Most can't use a tire gauge or know how to read the door jamb label or the max tire pressure on the tire. They need a screen to tell them to go to the dealer because the tire is low.


dirtmike86 wrote:
Pretty sure that's not why they invented tpms.
Of course not, but did your verhicle insurance go down because now the vehicle is supposed to be "Safer" with correct pressures all the time? NOPE. And the pressure is never exact anyway. As long as it is "In range"

But it did make people dumber and spend money at the dealer.

What about lane change warning indicators, and all the other crap they add to avoid accidents?
Any of that lower vehicle insurance because you might get into less accidents? NOPE.

Insurance went UP, because the cost to fix all this shit in an accident is way more expensive to fix and you're paying to insure a way more expensive vehicle.

Have accidents decreased? NOPE. Because now instead of people looking before they change lanes, they just yank it over and take out the guy next to them. Or they rear end them hoping the rig will stop itself.

And insurance companies never lose money long term.

Seriously, I don't need my seat to vibrate and a voice warning when I get close to the lane stripes.

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5/7/2019 8:55am Edited Date/Time 5/7/2019 8:56am
sam hain wrote:
HR manager at the company I worked for in college was a Harley poser. 11months of the year he was clean cut, high end cloths, clean...
HR manager at the company I worked for in college was a Harley poser. 11months of the year he was clean cut, high end cloths, clean shaved, neat haircut. A month before bike week he stopped shaving and let he hair grow, dude would go to bike week in Daytona with a scruffy beard and long hair (dress like a pirate Smile ) and put on the Harley tough guy act for a week then come back with a haircut and cleaned shaved again. People in the company caught on to what he was doing and talked about him behind his back and laughed at him. Sad IMO to do all that shit to fit in and be someone you're not just to impress people.
I wonder if anybody looks at motocrossers that way? (Pssst...that dude over there like to dress up in a neon costume every weekend and risks his...
I wonder if anybody looks at motocrossers that way? (Pssst...that dude over there like to dress up in a neon costume every weekend and risks his life for a $5 plastic trophy in that sport where everybody sits around and drinks Monster Energy. What a weirdo) Woohoo
Probably. But who gives a shit?

Moto takes real skills, fitness, and cojones. Yes, there may be a posing component, but it is not the ONLY component like some lifestyle hobbies.
5/7/2019 9:00am
There is a 200% chance that the OP who posted this is

A. 50+ years old
B. Thought this was genuinely funny
C. Thinks chili's and Applebee's are fine dining
D. Send memes they find funny to their co-workers in an email, along with funny dog videos on Facebook

Delete your account and this post you fossil
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