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'Alpha Dog' is at it again! Putin leads biker gang in his latest macho photo opportunity
The Daily Mail ^

Posted on 08/30/2011 8:00:55 AM PDT by AfricanChristian

Politicians will usually kick off an election campaign with a rousing speech, a meet-and-greet handshaking session or a nice photo opportunity kissing a baby. Unless, of course, they are Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who joined a biker gang and led them on a testosterone-fuelled motorcade. Over-revving the engine as he sat astride a three-wheeled Harley Davidson, the former KGB tough man looked both ludicrous and very much at home in the latest of macho stunts that have punctuated his political career.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: agitprop; bikes; macho; propaganda; putin; russia
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To: Melas

I’m upgrading my bike in less than two weeks. I’m going from my 21 year old Specialized Hard Rock to a 27 year old 1200cc Goldwing ;-)


141 posted on 08/30/2011 9:15:39 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud dad of an Army Soldier currently deployed in the Valley of Death, Afghanistan)
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To: Salamander
The Saddletramps club had a large accident. A too large group and an impatient driver. A head on collision was in the offing when one of the vehicles going opposite directions veered into the large group of cyclists. I choose to avoid group rides after that incident. It's too easy for one person to set off a huge accident.
142 posted on 08/30/2011 10:05:00 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: Salamander

I’ve seen that photo a few times. A sweeeeet lookin’ ride.

Nice stone building backdrop, by the way.


143 posted on 08/30/2011 10:08:14 PM PDT by Gene Eric (Your Hope has been Redistributed. Here's your damn Change!)
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To: Dubya-M-Dees

I purchased my Kendon 2 rail trailer from a guy paralyzed from the waist down. He let go of a zip line too soon as a teen. His bike was a Harley with a side car. He used an electric winch to pull the bike onto the trailer. He sold the trailer to me when he changed to a CanAm Spyder. There’s always a way if you’re driven to achieve your objective.


144 posted on 08/30/2011 10:14:03 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: SoldierDad

I just turned 55 last Friday. Between my Harley and Kawasaki Versys, I’ve logged 30,000 miles since August 2008. I put 800 miles on a DR650SE climbing mountains in Idaho in late Summer 2008. January 2009 put a Yamaha Roadliner (1900cc) in the garage. Only 1800 miles on it because I’m never home to ride it. Enjoy life. Just do it with care.


145 posted on 08/30/2011 10:24:26 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: Myrddin

I haven’t ridden in more than 20 years. My bike back then needed too much work, and I didn’t have the money to put into it. My children were all young then. They are all grown with children of their own. The opportunity presented itself to buy this Wing for a steal. I will definately ride with care. I will take my time getting back in the saddle, especially since this bike is twice what I had before.


146 posted on 08/30/2011 10:49:04 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud dad of an Army Soldier currently deployed in the Valley of Death, Afghanistan)
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To: Last Dakotan
Sorry, you just can’t look macho on a trike.

sorry, I disagree. He looks macho & is a hottie!

147 posted on 08/30/2011 10:56:10 PM PDT by DollyCali (Don't tell God how big your storm is... tell your storm how BIG your God is!)
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To: SoldierDad

I rode a Honda CB175 in high school. Hill climb, motocross, trials, flat track...nothing was off limits. After college, I bought a BSA 500 stripped for dirt riding. Great bike. I sold it in May 1978 and lived without a bike until August 2008. Making up for lost time/miles. Commuting to work on the bike is my sanity break. It saves money too.


148 posted on 08/31/2011 12:02:50 AM PDT by Myrddin
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To: Salamander

Hey, Butch! :)

You hang out on the coolest threads... thanks for honoring our Vets!!


149 posted on 08/31/2011 12:02:58 AM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (Mr B has a new cousin on the way!)
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To: Salamander
You have a good an decent attitude towards your fellow riders, BTW.

Thanks. I grew up with motorcycles. I've seen all types, and they're (mostly) all good.

150 posted on 08/31/2011 5:03:36 AM PDT by Melas (u)
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To: Myrddin

This made my skin crawl:

“They rode in a staggered formation, the front wheel of each long bike near the side of the bike in front.”

No no no!

TOO close!

I don’t go on benefit poker runs anymore because of stuff like this.

Getting a couple hundred bikes together to haul ass over hither and yon with plenty of beer stops along the way is _nerve wracking_.

Everybody’s in a big ass hurry to get to the next whiskey bar [apologies to Morrison] and things only get worse as the ride goes on.

We were on some split lane road in WV when the riders in front of us started ‘clumping up’ and we see could a few of them weaving too much as they approached a stop light to make a left turn.

One biker looked as though he were going to drop his bike and I yelled into hubby’s ear to go around him but there was no room to do so because of fast moving traffic in the straight through lane.

Hubby just said “We’ll go over him, if we have to.”

He was *not* going to get -us- hit by traffic from the rear because of drunks going down in front of us.

Luckily the guy recovered which was great because he was somebody we really liked a lot.

And do you think that slowed anybody’s alcohol intake down one bit?

Nope.

And that was the last one I ever went on.

I already saw one friend I loved run down by a drunk sow driving a van and it’s screwed up my head permanently.

Don’t need a “refresher”.

I wonder if they ever found the Civic driver?

I know I couldn’t live with myself, knowing I’d caused people to die.


151 posted on 08/31/2011 6:25:30 AM PDT by Salamander (Can't sleep...clowns will eat me.)
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To: Gene Eric

Thanks.

That’s the beautiful old stone chapel at the big cemetery in Frederick MD.

It’s amazing place full of old sculptural monuments and historic burials.


152 posted on 08/31/2011 6:27:42 AM PDT by Salamander (Can't sleep...clowns will eat me.)
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To: Brad's Gramma

Hey Gramma!

It’s ~my~ honor to honor *them*!

[you thought this was a dog thread, didn’t ya?]

;D


153 posted on 08/31/2011 6:29:33 AM PDT by Salamander (Can't sleep...clowns will eat me.)
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To: Melas

I’m getting to just generally liking you.

:)


154 posted on 08/31/2011 6:32:08 AM PDT by Salamander (Can't sleep...clowns will eat me.)
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To: Melas; Salamander

I think I owe Salamander an apology. He’s right. It’s a free country and people can and should ride what they want.

I have my strong opinions. I ride ATGATT on a R1150R and my favorite thing is being leaned hard over (peg scraping if I’m ballsy enough) in a corner. Nothing brings a bigger smile to my face. I’m a motorcyclist, not a biker. If I were a rich man, I would fill my garage with marques like Triumph, Aprilia, Ducati, BMW, and KTM.

Melas, you’re right about one thing, a Sportster isn’t a girl’s bike. But I don’t get the H-D thing. It just seems heavy, overly chromed, poor handling, styling that’s a throwback to the 40s. I shake my head at choppers, especially the ones with ginormous rear tires. I don’t understand why anyone would ride a motorcycle to a bar. I don’t understand why anyone would ride bare shouldered, handed, etc. or with just a do-rag to protect the noggin.

I guess I would classify as RUB, but I ride because I like to ride not for any other reason. I’m learning to wrench on my own bike because it’s fun and satisfying to do my own repairs. I don’t do it for any image. I have enough man points in the bank to drive a pink miata to work and not give a hoot.

But I don’t want to be snob either. And I think I crossed the line with Salamander and should’ve kept my comments to myself. Life is too short to be an a-hole. If I ever change my mind and find myself in the market for a trike, I’ll have to look him up. Since I get a discount :)


155 posted on 08/31/2011 7:03:54 AM PDT by jjm2111
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To: Salamander; Melas

Salamander is a she. She’s right. Silly internets.


156 posted on 08/31/2011 7:09:26 AM PDT by jjm2111
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To: Salamander
I don't think they ever found the Civic driver. My wife and I rode our bikes in a Thanksgiving fundraiser for the local vets. It was a bar hopping affair and our first ride with the local group...and likely our last. Drinking at each stop made the trip more dangerous. We went on our own way before the end of the ride. A few of the riders got a DUI ticket that day.

I've done a small "group" ride with my wife and son. We have a favorite loop that is 67 miles long. It's a pleasant trip with mountains, meadows and lots of wildlife.

157 posted on 08/31/2011 8:26:31 AM PDT by Myrddin
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To: jjm2111
My riding preferences are in line with yours. I did fill my garage with various bikes that scratch the right itch. The Yamaha Roadliner is my full dresser. 2008 Harley XL1200R Roadster is my midsize cruiser. 2009 Kawasaki Versys for commuting, canyon carving (peg scraping) and freeway riding. The Yamaha TW200 and XT250 are my little thumpers for riding in the single track trails in the local mountains. Not high performance MX bikes. High torque, low weight and well suited to replace a mule going up a mountain.

I had one other critical requirement. I like to take a bike to San Diego as my "sanity break". The others are in the garage at home in Idaho. The bike must be in a size range that permits me to load/unload unassisted. I don't have any helpers on either end of the trip. My Harley and Versys fit this specific requirement. The Roadliner has never been packed up. Not certain if I could get it off the trailer.

158 posted on 08/31/2011 8:36:13 AM PDT by Myrddin
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To: jjm2111

No grudge, here.

Keep it shiny side up, bro.....;)


159 posted on 08/31/2011 9:55:00 AM PDT by Salamander (Can't sleep...clowns will eat me.)
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To: Myrddin

We’ve gotten down to sticking with our little “pack” of two, sometimes three if our one particular buddy is around.
(he doesn’t drink so no excessive worries there)

I’m in agreement about those rides getting progressively worse as time goes by.

You’d think some folks live in mortal dread of their livers drying out between bars.

Booze and bikes are a bad combination, IMO.


160 posted on 08/31/2011 10:01:29 AM PDT by Salamander (Can't sleep...clowns will eat me.)
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