Once a Biker, always a Biker

[Love my Bonnie]

Went for a quick ride out to Waikaratu today, for lunch at the Nikau Caves Cafe.
Got to talking to an old dude about bikes, as you do.
He was telling me about riding the desert road in 1950s on his 350 BSA, the desert road was gravel back then, leather helmet, gum boots.
Awesome old dude.
Turns out it was his 82nd Birthday lunch with his family.
He spent more time talking bikes with us, than with his family.
In the end, someone from his family came over & told him off.
Brilliant!!!!

[Milts]

This is one of the things I truely love about riding. It's a common connection with so many people, it opens up so many conversations. I sometimes find I pull into a station for petrol and end up staying 15 minutes just chatting with the guy on the desk who happened to ride motorbikes back in india.
It's almost like age, gender, ethnicity is secondary to "hey, cool you have a bike too!" I know that's pretty optimistic/naive of me, but there's some truth in it.... love it.

[Ixion]

So what does he (old bugger) ride now ?

[CookMySock]

In the end, someone from his family came over & told him off.
Brilliant!!!!Bwahahaha funny!

Yeah this is true about bikers. There are a few that don't want to talk, or sometimes even make eye contact. Maybe they are having a crap day or my bike is the wrong colour or something.. Ya can't figure everyone out ay.

Steve

[Swampdonkey]

One day in years to come.....that will be you ,grinning ,waveing yourr arms around, telling some leather clad pimple face about your old trumpy....Ahhh those were the days

[slofox]

"Once a Biker, always a Biker"

Have to agree. Even in the years when I didn't actually own a bike, I always knew I'd get another one and never thought of myself as anything other than a biker...

[YellowDog]

One day in years to come.....that will be you ,grinning ,waveing yourr arms around, telling some leather clad pimple face about your old trumpy....Ahhh those were the days

Original Bonnie rider meets retro Bonnie rider meet Retro Retro Electric Bonnie rider.

Met a guy at the gas station yesterday who wanted to talk all day about motorcycles whilst his missus was tooting the car horn and waving angrily.

He said, "If I was still on a bike and wearing a helmet I wouldn't be able to hear the nagging old trout".

[fliplid]

He said, "If I was still on a bike and wearing a helmet I wouldn't be able to hear the nagging old trout".
One of the benefits of ear plugs as well:innocent:

[Motu]

At least you believed him and talked to him.When I say ''All these roads used to be gravel and I rode them all on my old BSA'' I can see them get nervous and thinking ''Well they aren't gravel now,and my bike is a hell of a lot faster than your old BSA''.Then they put on their $1200 helmet,jump on their $20,000 motorcycle and ride away.

[Pixie]

Bwahahaha funny!

Yeah this is true about bikers. There are a few that don't want to talk, or sometimes even make eye contact. Maybe they are having a crap day or my bike is the wrong colour or something.. Ya can't figure everyone out ay.

Steve

Yeah,they are called BMW owners:lol:

[crazyhorse]

We are a different breed alright. I always say hi to all I meet and other bikers are happy to greet you and before you know it, you've made more friends and talking about bikes etc. Its a part of the bike world that I love.

Good on the old fella. 82! good innings too :)

[allycatz]

I have a lot of the residents at work that were all bikers or pillions once upon a time. One of my ladies husband sold his bike to buy her an engagement ring. I have to say Id prefer the man to keep the bike than another ring but kinda romantic gesture none the less

[sinned]

So what does he (old bugger) ride now ? Zimmer Frame?


One day in years to come.....that will be you ,grinning ,waveing yourr arms around, telling some leather clad pimple face about your old trumpy....Ahhh those were the days Triumph is unique in that it is an old name that has endured and is recognised even though ownership and technology are different. I had some interesting interactions with some real old guys (ie older than my 60+) when I had the Speed Triple.


"Once a Biker, always a Biker"

Have to agree. Even in the years when I didn't actually own a bike, I always knew I'd get another one and never thought of myself as anything other than a biker... Same here although I ventured into boats and fishing for 7 years as an escape - then when my boating buddy bought a HD I sold the boat. Best decision for years.


Yeah,they are called BMW owners:lol: I have to agree - there is something odd about those BMW owners with all the matching gear etc.

[Edbear]

I have a lot of the residents at work that were all bikers or pillions once upon a time. One of my ladies husband sold his bike to buy her an engagement ring. I have to say Id prefer the man to keep the bike than another ring but kinda romantic gesture none the less

LOL!!! I had to sell my old T500 to get married! Her engagement ring was only $32.50 back then from an antique shop. She fell in love with it and it still gets comments today!

We were invited to a BBQ last night and met a couple back from the US where he'd been a truckie for ten years. He's late 50's she's mid 50's, (and a real hard case!). He's bringing back his F150 HD edition truck and a custom chopper with a 107 S&S. He's planning on importing custom choppers, he'll be operating from Foxton and getting customers to design what they want and then gets it built in the US and sent over unassembled. NOt sure which motors he's going to go with in the main as S&S are very expensive. There are thousands of custom builders over there and a big range of motors, gearboxes and frames to choose from.

[Ixion]

If u ride a classic you cannot stop without people ( mainly but not always mOe ) coming up to tell you that they had "one of those " or an XYZ . I always say " since you clearly have good memories of your motorcycling days , why do you not get another machine now ?". and then they shuffle and mumble ( bear in mind these people are often younger than I am ) . often " oh my wife would never agree" is brought out. But sometimes the said wife is there and I see the initial " oh no" give way to a calculated silence. I often wonder about the marital conversations that evening . And whethe the next tome they are out they just happen to wander past a bike shop. So sad when people want to do something and let themselves be put off because of what they think they ought to think about it.

[trumpy]

So what does he (old bugger) ride now ?

Good point. I suspect there are a goodly number of men and women in their senior years that would like to (and should) ride again but are put off by spouses, other family members, friends and living to a social expectation rather than their own passion.

There are a few that have escaped; I met a gentleman at a cafe who at 84 years old was still riding regularly. He loves big bikes but felt he was not strong enough to handle them anymore so to keep riding he bought himself a Gold Wing trike. Heard of another whose family bought him a bike for his 80th birthday, he now rides regularly with his sons........what a great family.

Continue to meet similar people almost every weekend. Great to see.

[toycollector10]

The attached picture is of Dave Dixon who is a member of the Classic Japanese Motorcycle Group here in Christchurch. Dave is 83 years old and a regular rider and attends every pub night. Rock on Dave!

[MotoKuzzi]

[QUOTE] .....and then they shuffle and mumble ( bear in mind these people are often younger than I am ) . often " oh my wife would never agree" is brought out.[QUOTE]

People have fond memories of there motorcycling days but time away from it makes them soft and less inclined to go through the routines of getting gear on and off and the discomfort and danger that goes with learning to ride again.

[ukusa]

Triumph is unique in that it is an old name that has endured and is recognised even though ownership and technology are different. I had some interesting interactions with some real old guys (ie older than my 60+) when I had the Speed Triple.

I notice this alot too. The other day while outside a pub having a feed an old guy left his table and started yakking & was commenting on my Tbird, he was telling me about his he bought new in '63. There are also alot of former Bonnie owners out there who are impressed with the look of the new ones.

[nudemetalz]

This is a great thread and really interesting.
I get a lot of comments from fullah's older than myself (not saying old-guys here as age is a state of mind) regarding my Guzzi.
They like the style and aircooled v-twin look.

[EgliHonda]

Try taking out an old bike. The combination of noise, chrome tank, convoluted start-up procedure and hand change always generates comments. From small kids giving the thumbs-up as you chuff down the street, to old blokes having a prolonged chat about bikes and life in general. Love it...
:clap:
Actually I remember my grandmother telling me about a scar on her knee, turned out she had fallen off the back on an Indian in the old days, and was too scared to tell her mother. She still loved bikes into her 80's, shame I never gave her another spin but owned a GSXR at the time and prob not the best bike for the job...

[peasea]

So sad when people want to do something and let themselves be put off because of what they think they ought to think about it.

Yes, very sad. I would have to say that if you buy/ride a bike (or don't) because of what other people might think or say (wife included) you probably need to do some serious soul searching. All the things my ex didn't want to do for whatever reason resulted in a broken marriage. (Yes, me getting another bike was one thing that wasn't going to happen.) She now has a couple of houses and I have only one, but I have a life.

It would take something way more important than someone else's opinion for me to give up my bike these days.

[Toaster]

Agreed. Its a great way to get away from the stressess of day to day humdrum life and enjoy LIVING. Its not for everyone, and budgets can halt riding for a time, but its a great thing to do, very social and COMPLETELY misunderstood by those that critize because they have never ridden a motorcycle and simply dont get it.

[peasea]

Agreed. Its a great way to get away from the stressess of day to day humdrum life and enjoy LIVING. Its not for everyone, and budgets can halt riding for a time, but its a great thing to do, very social and COMPLETELY misunderstood by those that critize because they have never ridden a motorcycle and simply dont get it.

Yes, the old adage; "If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand."

[Toaster]

I usually say, go ride a bike or come pillion - best way to explain it I think.


Yes, the old adage; "If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand."

[fliplid]

Agreed. Its a great way to get away from the stressess of day to day humdrum life and enjoy LIVING. Its not for everyone, and budgets can halt riding for a time, but its a great thing to do, very social and COMPLETELY misunderstood by those that critize because they have never ridden a motorcycle and simply dont get it.

This is very probably why the lot at work don't get it when I tell them it takes me 10 mins to get there, and sometimes several hours to get home:sunny: