I think this may have been raised before, but what the hell. I am wondering if anyone else feels a twinge of offense when someone refers to their bike as a "crotch rocket," "rice rocket," or "rice burner." I have noticed that most nonriders (and pretty much all nonsportbike riders) always refer to my bike as one of the above three. However, it does not seem like there are any derogatory names for cruisers or dual sports or any other motorcycle category.
What surprises me more is when sportbike riders refer to their own bikes as crotch rockets. To me, that term invokes a lot of sentiments of squidliness and a type of mocking, as if "crotch rockets" are somehow cheap throwaways whereas 900+ pounds of American iron makes a "real" motorcycle. Of course when dealing with nonriders, their ignorance on the subject is to be expected, but I feel cruiser riders (and mainly American Iron types) say this in order to make themselves feel better about riding what they ride. It is funny though, as a lot of these dudes will spend thousands to make their bikes perform better, which still puts their bikes way below most stock sport bikes. Anyone else have any opinions?
What surprises me more is when sportbike riders refer to their own bikes as crotch rockets. To me, that term invokes a lot of sentiments of squidliness and a type of mocking, as if "crotch rockets" are somehow cheap throwaways whereas 900+ pounds of American iron makes a "real" motorcycle. Of course when dealing with nonriders, their ignorance on the subject is to be expected, but I feel cruiser riders (and mainly American Iron types) say this in order to make themselves feel better about riding what they ride. It is funny though, as a lot of these dudes will spend thousands to make their bikes perform better, which still puts their bikes way below most stock sport bikes. Anyone else have any opinions?
