English-speaking motorcycle riders

Let's see if we can generate some information on English-speaking motorcycle riders with the idea of getting together for some weekend rides when the weather is decent.

So start your engines.

Damn!!! Can't believe everyone uses cages to get around or public wheels. Sure, its cold now, but soon (but not soon enough) it wil begin to get warm and the sap rises and so does the desire to hit the road (figuratively speaking of course). Where is the adventuresome spirit of living dangerously, the wind in your hair (or at least under your helmet), and bugs on your teeth? There is nothing so nice a cruisin' the autobahn at 150 kms on two wheels, or the back roads and smelling the freshly cut hay. Come on, ladies and gentlemen...As the song goes "head out on the highway."

Sorry to say it, but I suspect English-speaking motorcyclists in Schleswig-Holstein are likely to be a very rare breed. I fact, you might even be the only one. I'd be happy to be proven wrong though.

A few years back he wouldn't have been, unfortunately my last bike had to go in 1998 to fund unexpected problems during the renovation of a 250 year old house.

Ken, why not check out any local clubs around your area? There are many great family-friendly motorcycle clubs in Germany that have no connection with anything illegal or rough. My husband is a member of an independent Harley club (not officially HOG affiliated) and there's all sort of activities from day outings to weekend rides to longer trips down to Italy or France. Many smaller clubs will have a few English speakers and will let guests come along a few times without any membership commitment.

So what do you ride? My husband has a Buell, and I've been toying with the idea of getting a Harley for myself, though lately I've started considering the Ridley just to piss him off.

If I win the Lotto one day (unlikely, as I don't play) Buell would be on my list of possibles, admittedly behind Ducati, but nice bikes nonetheless.

My Egli-Vin (as in my avatar) ran against the Buell in Daytona in the 1988 BoT race, but I can't remember (or find in the internet) what place the Buell finished. We finished 19th out of 50+ starters, not bad for a bike whose frame at the time was 17 years old and the motor 34 years old, considering a large part of the competition were work's machines, including the work's Honda which finished 20th - to finish first, you first have to finish!

@ Bipa - thanks for the advice. I was a member of a local club in Hamburg for a couple of years, but my inability to converse in German finally got to me and I dropped out even though there were two English speaking members besides myself. But I couldn't expect them to just translate or just talk to me, so in the end, I dropped out. Unfortunately, I am just not a language person. I can manage short conversations in German and French, but only short ones.

I ride a Kawasaki 1600 Nomad (Classic Tourer in EUR). Do get a license and joint the two-wheeled crowd. You will then kick yourself for not doing it earlier. Great fun. Ken

Too bad you live so far away, or I'd tell you to come on down to our summer clubhouse party in July. But I doubt you'd want to drive 750km just for one evening. Our club doesn't have any chapters up in northern Germany, but rather in B-W, Switzerland and Italy.

You're just gonna have to move south

edit: RMA, my husband did consider getting a Ducati, but the club rules state that members have to own either a Harley (or a Buell), or an older English bike. At the time he had a fully modded FX soft tail with upside down forks etc etc and was starting to get tired of it and wanted to go back to stock. Found a good home for it, but I can see our garage getting a Ducati some time in the future as a second bike. Or maybe third if I go through with it and get one myself. My girlfriend says I should just get myself a fast scooter, and paint it pink with a "Harvey" logo on it

@ Bipa - my apologies for not replying sooner but with two left hands and being busy and all...hey retired folks can be busy as well, you know. Unfortunately, not into groups now after a rather bad experience (well, not sooo bad). But I do like to meet up with folks and ride together. Its just more fun in my opinion.

Nice collection of cruisers on your club's site. Yeah, you are a bit south for me. I will be in the Frankfurt area come this July so perhaps I could mosey down that direction...how far would that be? Ken

I'm american and live in luneburg. I have a Suzuki GV1200. I try going to most of the motorcycle events in this area. So if you would like to meet up somewhere for a day ride I'd be happy to meet you and spend a few hours riding around.

Sorry for the veryyyyylate reply, but I'm in Frankfurt until october, but would love to link up and ride after that.  Send me your email and phone number.  You can contact me at <krygwy@rocketmail.com>.   Ken