News Putin on a Harley Davidson bike (pics)

[SiberianTiger]

http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n...-on-a-harley-to-praise-motorbikes-827769.html

http://premier.gov.ru/eng/events/news/11488/

http://www.daylife.com/photo/0cpS73C7442DA?q=Europe

SEVASTOPOL, Ukraine — Prime Minister Vladimir Putin leaped on a Harley Davidson and roared into an international biker convention in southern Ukraine.

Around 5,000 bikers from Europe and beyond gathered in Sevastopol for the annual festival Saturday on Ukraine's Crimea peninsula.
Putin, in Ukraine for talks with the country's new Russia-friendly leadership, had his black shirt sleeves rolled up as he motored toward a stage along a dusty road on the three-wheeled bike.


In sunglasses, black jeans and black fingerless gloves, the Russian prime minister clearly reveled in the moment, smiling and waving to the enthusiastic crowd.


From a podium built over the ruins of old quarry in the shape of a submarine, he told: "A bike is the most decocratic kind of vehicle. It's most brave and couragous. It gives its owner a sweet feeling of freedom, so it's unarguably a symbol of freedom. People from across all Europe have gathered here, and this means that we all want to leave in common space without limits or borders. It's especially important for bikers to have at least no problems when crossing borders. But not only that, we all must live like Mayakovsky described - 'to live all together as a single comminity'. This must arise from inside, from the nations, from the citizens of the European countries."

Mr Putin left the show at the head of another convoy of bikers, which set off for a circuit around the Sevastopol ring road.

 

[Urwumpe]

He would have gotten a higher chauvinism score for riding a Dnepr or Ural bike (the Soviet copy of the German WW2 era BMW bikes). There are rumors that there are no such bikes in the world, that are able to drive.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMZ-Ural

 

[SiberianTiger]

He would have gotten a higher chauvinism score for riding a Dnepr or Ural bike (the Soviet copy of the German WW2 era BMW bikes). There are rumors that there are no such bikes in the world, that are able to drive.

Wikipedia article on Ural bike (Russian version) suggests that Ural bikes with mounted anti-tank missile launchers were used in the war between the USA and Iraq by Iraqi troops. So one can say, they met a glorious end.

 

[Andy44]

Years ago Harley Davidson was in financial trouble. They got out of it with one of the best marketing moves ever: they started marketing their bikes toward the middle-aged male sector, the guys with successful careers and possibly a mid-life crisis who have some money to splurge on a nice toy like a sports car or a boat.

Apparently their marketing campaign was way more successful than thought...

Wikipedia article on Ural bike (Russian version) suggests that Ural bikes with mounted anti-tank missile launchers were used in the war between the USA and Iraq by Iraqi troops. So one can say, they met a glorious end.

LOL! If that's the case, my hat's off to anyone brave enought to confront an M1 tank platoon with a motorcycle!

There are a lot of captured weapons from the 2 US-Iraq wars; it's possible that there are restorable examples of one of those bikes.

 

[Coolhand]

Wikipedia article on Ural bike (Russian version) suggests that Ural bikes with mounted anti-tank missile launchers were used in the war between the USA and Iraq by Iraqi troops. So one can say, they met a glorious end.

One of those beasts with anti tank rockets is probably the coolest thing ever..

But i expect the missiles were mounted far more goofily in real life than the image that popped into my head. did they actually fire from the vehicle?

I pity the fool who actually tries to use it in combat:lol:... Reminds me of Venus Wars, if anyone remembers that old anime.

 

[SiberianTiger]

One of those beasts with anti tank rockets is probably the coolest thing ever..

But i expect the missiles were mounted far more goofily in real life than the image that popped into my head. did they actually fire from the vehicle?

I found this image:

 

[Ghostrider]

But i expect the missiles were mounted far more goofily in real life than the image that popped into my head.

Was it this image?

Because you know, you love them in blue and you love them in red. But most of all you love them in blue.

 

[Coolhand]

Was it this image?

No, but wow. They sure showed those balloons / watermelons who's boss.:thumbup::lol: