Riders Association of Texas/Triumph (RATT)

[HarleyToo]

So there has been discussion in another thread (Rider Association | R3Owners) around the lack of a real group in the North Texas RAT.

I live in the burbs North of Dallas and have been very active with a local HOG chapter (past chapter officer) and a few of us have been talking about ramping up a group.

I know the guys at RPM very well and will be checking with them to see if they would be interested in supporting a RATT Pack.

We would like to gauge interest of those in the area since it looks like there has not been a lot of traffic in this area for about a year.

Please just note for me a few bits of info;
- Interest level (Low/Medium/High)
- Location (you can be generic if you like - North Dallas, South Dallas, Houston....)
- Involvement (Light/Moderate/Heavy)
- Role Management (are you interested in holding a role with this group)

I have structured these types of groups before and they only work with involvement and a few people willing to take on a role, even if it is loosely arranged.

 

[R3Tex]

I would probably ride with the group occasionally. While I ride every day I'm not a fan of large group rides so wouldn't be interested in a lot of involvement. Tried the HOG thing a couple of times...also not my scene. I would rather take off across the country with 2 or 3 other bikes. Easier to keep together, less *****ing and more fun IMHO

 

[HarleyToo]

I would probably ride with the group occasionally. While I ride every day I'm not a fan of large group rides so wouldn't be interested in a lot of involvement. Tried the HOG thing a couple of times...also not my scene. I would rather take off across the country with 2 or 3 other bikes. Easier to keep together, less *****ing and more fun IMHO

Understandable. I ride a lot solo myself. I am comfortable small to large groups, but typically only when I have a bit of control over the ride management or at lest trust the guy who is. There are a lot of riders out there who have no idea how to ride in a group.

 

[R3Tex]

Agreed...which is why I typically avoid them. Went on a dealer sponsored ride with a friend who had just bough a new Road King and watched one guy drop 4 bikes by swerving and hitting his brakes about a mile out of the parking lot. That was enough for me. I do a big toy run during Christmas season with the San Jacinto Highrollers every year and a few group rides during RAA but that is about it. The Highrollers ride is about the most awesome thing I do on a bike. There is just something about several hundred bikers pulling up to an orphanage with a $hitload of toys that warms the heart. The place is rural and the kids line the fence laughing and waving for a half mile or so as we ride in. Best ride of the year by far

 

[HarleyToo]

Those Dallas toy runs are just a study in how not to ride!

 

[R3Tex]

Thats the only one I participate in. The MC boys keep everything peacable and organized and the ride is police escorted so we own the highway once we start rolling. The interaction with the kids is priceless

 

[HarleyToo]

Yea, I like them for what they do and I agree the the MC's do a fine job of wrangling. I have just seen the worst form of riders there. One year I told the guy who was off my six that if he didnt stop running up on me I was going to pull the plug wires from his bike and keep them.

 

[EasTexRIII]

So there has been discussion in another thread (Rider Association | R3Owners) around the lack of a real group in the North Texas RAT.

I live in the burbs North of Dallas and have been very active with a local HOG chapter (past chapter officer) and a few of us have been talking about ramping up a group.

I know the guys at RPM very well and will be checking with them to see if they would be interested in supporting a RATT Pack.

We would like to gauge interest of those in the area since it looks like there has not been a lot of traffic in this area for about a year.

Please just note for me a few bits of info;
- Interest level (Low/Medium/High)
- Location (you can be generic if you like - North Dallas, South Dallas, Houston....)
- Involvement (Light/Moderate/Heavy)
- Role Management (are you interested in holding a role with this group)

I have structured these types of groups before and they only work with involvement and a few people willing to take on a role, even if it is loosely arranged.

Hello HT, I noticed you mentioned RPM Cycles & was wondering if you would share your thoughts on their mechanical/Technical abilities aside from the down time problem I saw you mentioned on another thread concerning getting your detent spring replaced (long time, no ride - that sux) as I am due for 30,000 mile svc, which I have done most of myself, but stopped at my ability (or desire to perform) limits for: valve clearance check, ECM check, Throttle body balance. I am also wanting to install Ram Air system but computer intelligence challenged as to not be able to add "tune" to go with the Ram Air change. Do you know if they have tech's there that could do that correctly?
BTW, Interested in the RATT group, but with interest level = to R3Tex due to lack of time
Thanks

 

[HarleyToo]

Generally, RPM has been very good to work with. They have expanded recently and where they used to be Triumph, Moto Guzzi, KTM, predominately, they have now added Honda and maybe another I am forgetting. I think that my time delay is more due to this increased volume of manufactures to service, as their service bay is not huge. That and I am an impatient bugger to deal with.

My experience, to date, with services related work has been good (quality wise). As far as what they are willing to do from a modification standpoint I am not sure. I do most mod's myself and I have not had them do any tuning work as yet.

I think that in general I have grown sour on dealerships beyond the buying experience. Everyone is out to make a buck, and I get that. Shop rates have risen quite a lot in the past few years across the board and this seems to be doubly true with foreign bike shops. I think Harley stays generally below $100 per hour due to shear volume. Most now have the capacity to keep 10-20 bay's going full time. That ends up being a lot of scratch from service.

I have used both shops in town (RPM and EuroCycle), and have had pretty good luck with both. RPM is close to my house.

 

[rjkusse]

You know I'm interested! I'd say medium to heavy involvement.