Often asked what bike I ride by none bikers, if I say one of the Jappas it frequently brings on this response (oh OK). If I replied, a BMW, I was often asked if it was the Rolls Royce of bikes, not sure why, a name they recognise from the car world must make them more worthwhile than the yamasuki tiny little Jap companies.
Finally Harleys, tell none bikers the world over you ride a harley and it's generally met with recognition and a smile, like there's some unspoken understanding that you've reached the pinnacle of motorcycling just because they are actually familiar with the name, it's almost like people want to give you a knowing wink, quite odd really.![]()
Oh bugger
What I think happens is that the people asking about what kind of bike you have probably have some indirect interest in them, for example they probably have a friend of family member who is into bikes. This friend or family member being a typical motorcyclist, does what we all do and is constantly talking about bikes to anyone who will listen (we know it and we love it).
As a result there are thousands of people out there who are interested in bikes but have a very narrow field of knowledge about them, usually restricted to info on the kind of bike their friend or family member has and anything else they have learned through TV, internet etc etc
SO when they ask what kind of bike you have, what they mean is 'do you have a bike that I know about', if so then you'll have a nice chat about bikes, if not then it is your responsibility as a motorcyclist to educate them further on bikes and why they are so great.
It is odd Mrty (opps theres that txt thread creeping in) but, tell them the model and the wink becomes astonishment, raised eyebrows and that wonderfull line..''Aren't all Harleys the same''???
''Are all airplanes the same''?? ''you sit in them and they fly yes, but thats where it ends''.
What a great post, well thought out and put together.
Quite a few house's I work have a bike/s (of some description) in the garage and thats always a good starting point with the customer. One old chap had a CBX and an older Sporty under sheets in his garage, the CBX was the the first one I had ever seen and what a bike!!
The best ones are the ones who ask... then feel they need to inform you on "those things are dangerous you know"
and i'm like "fuck really? i better stop riding then, i never knew apart from every blind tard in a car pulling out infront of me"
had a guy at a gas station once pull in and hand me his business card...
"i sell wheel chairs, you'll need one riding one of those things"
to which i replied...
"be cheeky like that and ill drag you out of that car and beat you until you are in one"
he drove away rather fast.![]()
What I keep getting when I tell people I ride a bike, is some sad bloody story about how their mate, or cousin, or brother in-law, or ex-gay partner had a bad crash and is now a vegetable... at which point I tell them to piss off...
Otherwise, they ask me what sort, and can you imagine trying to explain to someone what a Cagiva is? I just say "two-wheeled"...
Then they leave me alone, muttering in the corner of the room...
.
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"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Edmund Burke
I avoid talking bikes with people who are just making conversation.
Sort of my point, at times I cant wait to put the ear muffs on and kick the grinder into life.
But when I have transformed thier grotty old floor into a thing of beauty, they see me in a different light...
Some customers will even have me back....
I did a job for an old guy once, he was a retired bike machanic, Triumphs mainly, years ago....got into buying them and rebuilding them. He talked way too much about bikes.![]()
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