Are Westy drivers like Harley riders?

termuehlen

I realized this summer that some of us Westy drivers are a lot like Harley Davidson riders. In my travels this year in particular, I found myself talking to Harley riders at gas stations, rest stops, State and National Parks, etc. more than any other “type” of person. At first I figured it was just because motorcycle riders are not enclosed in a car and therefore easy to strike up a conversation with. Then I realized that I am of a similar demographic to most of these guys and ladies, i.e. middle aged white (guy with a beard…ladies not so much). But as I thought about it more, there really aren’t many people driving around the back roads and national landmarks in thirty-year-old vehicles. I found that I was out doing pretty much what many of the Harley riders that I ran into were doing…using my disposable income to see the West with a little bit of a sense of adventure. So without wanting to generalize too much here, I just wanted to say that you might find yourself in good company with the Harleys in the coming years…
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1988 Westfalia automatic Subaru OBD1
1986 syncro tintop wbx

Terry Kay · Banned Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331

One thing the Milwaukee Vibrator drivers have that the Vanagon cult doesn't.

A costume that goes with the ride.
Every day is Halloween for the Virator crew.

So no.
The VW cult isn't even close in gazillions spent on cotumes & chrome accessories.
The Harley club isn't no where as frugal on bling as Vanagonland members.

Not even close.
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T.K.

newfisher · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2015 5:14 pm Post subject:

Owning both and being employed by both Volkswagen from 1988 to 1992 and Harley Davidson from 2004 to 2009 I can say that they are VASTLY different mind sets, images, marketing, culture etc.

Yes, both have a certain cute wave when they pass each other, both get together and meet up, both strike up conversations at gas stations with others that used to own the same make and model even color and both spend money on items that others within the same group believe is pointless.

Tobias Duncan · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2015 5:29 pm Post subject:

The harleys where I live are so obnoxiously loud, its hard to imagine I have much in common with them. They say "loud pipes save lives" but ask yourself...Are those lives worth saving?

termuehlen · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2015 5:29 pm Post subject:

CessnaJon · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2015 5:32 pm Post subject:

Load pipes are irritating-on anything. Especially 2 cyl engines.
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1973 Westy (shared birthday)
1990 Westy Multivan
2015 Passat TDI 6sp
2015 Sportwagon TDI 6sp
LR-JET, Gulfstream 159

Howesight · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2015 5:36 pm Post subject:

Are we talking air-cooled Harleys or water cooled? I have noticed that V-Rod riders don't talk to air-cooled Vanagon drivers.
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'86 Syncro Westy SVX

redeyeksc · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2015 5:38 pm Post subject: The Cult

Pretty sure we have costumes of our own....

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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84 Westfalia, now with Bostig Zetec 2.0L, Manual Transmission
Alex

LemonCove · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2015 5:59 pm Post subject:

I'll always remember pulling into a turnout after climbing over Tioga pass into Yosemite and stopping to enjoy the view. Shortly after parking, a "parade of Harleys" passed by, riders in regalia, with their "safety pipes" (as noted above), some with stereos loud enough to be heard over their exhausts.

AHHH, nature's splendor.

My thought at the time was I couldn't be more different than those folks.
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'88 Bostig Westy

0to60in6min · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2015 6:14 pm Post subject:

Terry Kay · Banned Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331

Terry Kay · Banned Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331

<<they are more like BMW bike riders...
the the flat twin kind.. R50, R60, R69S, R75, R90S. R100RS/RT>>

The vibrator clan wishes they could be as half as classey as the air head BMW crew.

Not even close.

Anybody can own a Hog.
Go find a nice R bike.

Tough find, much sweeter ride.
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T.K.

djkeev · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2015 6:48 pm Post subject:

Bike riders..... Vanagon....... Not even close!

Solitary riders vs family guys vacationing with the family..... How different can you get?

BMW 2002 owners, early Miata owners etc. Wave At each other, it's part of the "club" not a common life style philosophy.

Every motorcycle rider I've seen waves at another.
Every Van driver I've encountered interacts.

That means nothing except we recognize and acknowledge our peers.

Dave
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Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos

Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

insyncro · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2015 6:54 pm Post subject:

Bikers, meth.

Vanagon owners, weed.

Worlds apart and let's please keep it that way.

Terry Kay · Banned Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331

Bikers; Buckweiser

VW Bus, Van creatures;
Weed man-- Rolling Eyes

The correlation is pretty slim, other than being highway gypsies, a grazing on the shoulders of the cement ribbon more often than not.
This they share the same similarities.
Being busted down more than the rest of the norm.
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T.K.

rlevans · Samba Member Joined: January 19, 2006 Posts: 193

Sorry don't agree that we are alike...
I want nothing to do with weekend pirates.
I ride a BMW GSA almost daily, I wave at every bike and even scooters and cyclists. Guess who the biggest group is that doesn't wave back ? Yup it's the Pirates.
I think they are trying so hard for the Jack Sparrow look that they forgot it's about riding not posing and throttle blips cuz your bike won't idle...

Wildthings · Samba Member Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50352

I have a friend who rides an ancient Harley, it was ancient when he bought it 35 years ago. He knows every bolt on that machine and has earned the right to call his ride a Hog or anything else he chooses. In comparison most of today's Harley riders don't have a clue that there is more to maintenance than swiping a credit card.

newfisher · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2015 8:04 pm Post subject:

2002 and newer injected ( had carb on some models until 05) bikes use Bosch injectors....we has a similarity ;(

Sodo · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2015 8:07 pm Post subject:

NoNameNeeded · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2015 8:09 pm Post subject:


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Are Westy drivers like Harley riders?
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