Kinda funny I am just seeing this thread. Coincidence that I did something today at lunch that fits right in with this topic, more on that in a minutes.
First, here is how I deal with it and I get it a lot! I first change the subject on them and really get them confused. But it never fails, the same people time and time again have something to say every time they see my bike, me on the bike, me talking about the bike or even just seeing another person on a bike and I happen to be around!
So as I grew tired of repeating my self over and over, I turned to actions rather than words. Here is a fine example and what happened today.
I am leaving for lunch and my 2 bosses are leaving at the same time. One of them looked to the sky and asked if I didn't look at the weather this morning, looks like rain and how dangerous it is on a bike in the rain, don't you get wet, ect.
So this is what transpired next, I need to set up the scene first for you. I added floorboards and a chrome side stand a couple weeks ago. Well I had to add the Kury side stand extension or I would have to raise the board every time I wanted to put the side stand down or up. Problem is, that sucker scrapes WAY early before anything else does!
So I figured I would have some fun with the boss. Down the road at the light, we both have to take a left turn onto a 10 lane road. This means I get to make a long sweeping left crossing over 5 lanes and a median before I reach the first lane of eastbound traffic.
I don't know if that nice shiny chrome extension makes sparks or not, but I rolled on the throttle, tossed the girl over on her left side and scraped concrete through the entire turn. That thin chromed plate makes one hell of a noise when it scrapes.
When I got to lunch, I examined the part and I have now bent it up where the board will hit at the same time I think. So that's one point in my favor.
When I got back to work, my boss asked if I was crazy because I was grinding off my expensive Wing on the road like that. I responded, it's just a bike, I'll get another one once this one is used up!

Of course we all know that looks can be deceiving when it comes to the wing. There are not many things as impressive as a Goldwing tossed over in a curve with sparks flying!