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Stereo systems are like Harleys

You'll never see two exactly alike. They are an expression of the owners ideas on design and performance, usually within the construct of a budget. Often put together over time with new and used parts.

I love that about this hobby. How boring would it be if we all had the same ideas of how a system should sound or look?

When you go to any kind of a rally, be it a poker run, charity ride or whatever.... it's customary to just walk around, checking out other peoples rides and chatting it up. It's a great way to meet people and have fun. Oddly, those bikers who's stigma is to be rowdy and obnoxious, are the nicest people I've met. Never once have I ever heard comments like DUH you should done this or that with your bike. Everything and everybody is accepted as is.

Perhaps some folks around here could learn a thing or two from the bikers. 


treynolds155
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,788 posts
 

Stereos may be like Harleys, but audiophiles are not like bikers.

The band I was a member of in '75 got hired by the owner of a motorcycle repair and customizing shop on El Camino Real somewhere between San Jose and San Francisco to play at a party he was throwing in the shop. The band played Jump Blues music, a very danceable genre.

Seeing a bunch of burly guys with beards and long hair, black leather jackets over Levi jean jackets, stiff blue jeans and motorcycle boots dancing without female partners was a sight to behold. I kept my bemusement to myself ;-) . 

All the guys were chugging bottles of beer, using it to wash down whatever pills they were swallowing. It didn't take but about a half hour for things to turn ugly. Altamont came to mind. Aggressive personality traits mixed with speed creates quite a little monster. The shop owner came to the band's rescue, and the party was over.

Audiophiles, on the other hand, are a bunch of p*ssies ;-) .

speakermaster
738 posts
 
Yeah we all have our own ideas but not only that diferent experiences and ears make the differences as well, but the main difference is listening time to music the more you listen the more you will know what good sound is.
greg10
5 posts
 
Thanks,  millercarbon !
wolf_garcia
6,695 posts
 
I lived in Redding CT for years and I was 10 minutes from Marcus Dairy in Danbury that had become a Sunday morning mecca for bikers from all over...hundreds of every type of bike (and a couple times a year sponsored "special event" Sundays with easily thousands) with greasy egg sandwiches to help that Sat nite hangover...I had two interesting bikes and got many useful tips and stories from strangers. Sadly the place was gone by 2011 (I had moved away in 2000), but nobody around that scene will ever forget it. There's nothing in the audio world remotely like that...nothing.
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,608 posts
 
First bike, S90 Honda....learned how to make small cc work for you.
Second, RD350.  Keep the nose down, and fly away. 2 strokes pissed some off and best left behind.  Spouse inherited it...
"You let your wife ride an RD?!" (common comment)
She completed college @ SF State riding a 180 Yamaha scoot and wanted better brakes and handling...and was the right size and weight for it.
3rd and final, 550 Vision V twin '83 with the fairing, shaft drive, daily ride to work and weekend wanders with spouse.
We rode down to the 1st GP @ Laguna Seca to watch the real runners qualify and drag knee.  Got to walk the entire track the night before the races on a lovely warm night.  Still remember standing on the corkscrew and considering the transition it presented....
Stopped riding in Houston, a bit too warm for proper attire and most roads too straight.
Would love to get back into a saddle, but blood thinners make me leak too easily and I bruise if you look at me hard...
But I can still pick out the sound of a Duck 1/2 mi. away....*G*

Audio and bikes held nothing in common for me, other than the sound of a well-tuned (or badly needing) high RPM yowl. ;)
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