Too Much Thinking.....

[MSTRS:Me]

New-fangled water cooled rubbish

Never understood the need for big, shiny plates on the side of the front wheel either. Twin leading shoe is where it's at....

[ElCoyote]

Too uncomfortable. The basic Hinckley Bonnie is a better bike.

The Guzzi would be more fun too.

Ah.........but a Duntstall...........swoon

[Kickaha]

I'd have to say that seeing a bike like your Triumph or Guzzi on the road and being used brings much more of a smile to my face than seeing anything built in the last 20 years

Now if I could only prise the A10 out of Dads hands

[homer]

eventually were goint to catch you up ,and all be saying them thing

Great wee post there mate

+1

[merv]

Crikey Paul and you're not even as old as me and I generally find people rather chatty. Where the heck were you at the time - Otara or somewhere else they don't speak English?

Why don't you post a thread suggesting a ride for the over 50's sometime and see how many of us turn up and then we can cruise for a day stopping places and wake up the locals to talk to.

As for your bike remember that crazy guy that took such a liking to it in Cuba Mall that time over a year ago - we couldn't stop him talking - and he wasn't as old as us.

I started riding in 1968 but must have been a modern youth because I missed totally the British era jumping straight onto plastic. My Bro' is older than me and he was a plastic man too except he did buy a Bultaco and a Benelli and then in 1992 a 1970 Triumph. Me I've never owned anything but Jappas.

Still haven't had a fuel injected bike but two of them in our garage do have USD forks.

[Big Dave]

I the yin fo yo yang motu. Everyone talks to me.

I was minding my own business in the queue at Subway Mt Wellington a few days ago and the bloke behind me said.
'Man I enjoyed that article on the Burt Munro.'

Coming back from Aus last time - covered in north queensland dust - thinking 'hello - maf might be interesting' and the MAF guy says 'Big Dave - where you been riding? - I ride a .... through you go'.

I walk up to the customs counter in my KR shirt and the customs guy says 'Big Dave where you been riding - had a good time?'.

I get pulled over by a Bike Cop - 'No, don't need your Licence - I know who you are.'

Great fun it is.

I'll still ride with you mate. You, me and the ego.

[Ixion]

Still haven't had a fuel injected bike but two of them in our garage do have USD forks.

Meh. You yuoff always think things are new.

My first bike had USA forks

See.

[Headbanger]

Old bikers never die, They just turn into grumpy bastards.

Seriously, why would you give a shit if some strokers didn't take any notice of you?

And your bike will always be worth something at the scrap dealer, I'll swap you 20 bottle caps for it, Old School bottle caps, None of this plastic crap the kids today groove to.

[Ixion]

Man, it's only when you're between them and the escape route.

They take a look at you, and reckon that chivalry demands they keep you talking until their women folk and kids have fled to a place of safety.

[Paul in NZ]

Hey - whoa..... I obviously wrote that all wrong, in a hurry and with the black dog hanging over me... I'm not giving up bikes ffs and specifically - not mine.. I think I wrote my original post all wrong....

This isn't about having a pretty bike - don't get me wrong I LOVE that bike and I'm seriously proud of it but frankly it's been prettier at times over the years and it's less pretty now than it was a week back. Time will go on and it will get shabby again and then I'll rebuild it again and it will be pretty again if I'm not wearing out the Moto Guzzi...

Its not about respect either - I don't ask for it as of right because I have an old motorcycle ffs. Last weekend some of my mates on older bikes did the Molesworth / Rainbow trip - that I respect.... Theres a ton of folks on modern bikes I'm in utter awe of!

Its about change and it's about how the things I liked and respected are getting rarer and how I don't understand why I don't care about changing to suit the times. Like I said - commentary not bitterness.

I'm not a biker, I never have been - I sold my crap black leather jacket 10 years ago and have never owned a skull ring or felt the need to get a tatoo. I'm just a silly old man that works in an office, loves his wife and loves his old bikes (in that order). To that end - perhaps I'm thinking that I have no business expressing my opinions here when I have a decreasing interest and increasing distaste in the goings on of modern biking?

This aint like me - I must be getting a cold...

[James Deuce]

Yes. That's it. A cold.

[merv]

Yeah cripes Jim we can't have someone here talking grumpier than you and spoiling your reputation, but then you are but young.

Paul just tell us when and we'll ride with you.

[Ixion]

Its about change and it's about how the things I liked and respected are getting rarer and how I don't understand why I don't care about changing to suit the times. Like I said - commentary not bitterness.

. To that end - perhaps I'm thinking that I have no business expressing my opinions here when I have a decreasing interest and increasing distaste in the goings on of modern biking?
..

As much businesss as anyone else in this world. Not much of a crack if everyone agrees with each other, y'need a bit of disagreement to get things lively and spirited.

Me, I don't approve of change. Unless I institute it, of course. Change to suit the times? Bah, humbug. I never change. One of the eternal verities . Born grumpy, and I'll die grumpy.

But the buggers will keep changing things, regardless.

They seal the roads, change the rules, stick suspension on the backs of bikes. Turn my back for a few years, and next time I look round there's change all over the place. Always for the worst of course. Never approve of it. But, I can't stop 'em. Just have to make the best of things. Societies change too. For the worse, of course. Attitudes, behaviour, turn y' back for a moment and when y'look back it's all changed. But we grumpy old gits can't change it, so we just have to make the best of it. Leave 'em in no doubt what a cockup they're making of it of course .

Ah, I remember the good old days. Wouldn't have 'em back at any price. They were shit.

Doesn't mean that you young ones aren't stuffing it all up mind. And y' need to buy me a beer , to wet m'throat so I can tell you all the things you're doing wrong. Make it a Speights.

[MIXONE]

If you ride British I'm sure you'll agree
There's more to these sickles then most people see
Electrics by Lucas The Prince of the Dark
And spots of oil to show where they park
Carbies by Amal you already know
How fast out of tune these bastards can go
But if it's a beeza,ajay or trump
The sound of that motor can make your heart thump
A bonnie or goldie or even a manx
To the Gods of Motorcycling
We offer our thanks
So if someone steps up to you and says "What do you ride?"
Just simpley say "British" and say it with pride.

Abridged.

[Mikkel]

If you ride British I'm sure you'll agree
There's more to these sickles then most people see
Electrics by Lucas The Prince of the Dark
And spots of oil to show where they park
Carbies by Amal you already know
How fast out of tune these bastards can go
But if it's a beeza,ajay or trump
The sound of that motor can make your heart thump
A bonnie or goldie or even a manx
To the Gods of Motorcycling
We offer our thanks
So if someone steps up to you and says "What do you ride?"
Just simpley say "British" and say it with pride.

Abridged.

As someone said: If it is not British it belongs on a bonfire!