Snobs on Triumphs.

**tri boy** · 25th July 2010, 15:26

I'd like to call them wankers, but I don't know if they do the group "soggy biscuit" gig together, but today I was surprised that a bunch of aging baby boomers on restored, shiny bonnies, Nortans, Ariels etc didn't have the decencey to even say Gday at one of the local watering holes.
Sure, they saw me pull up on an unwashed, clay splattered scrambler of recent manufacture, sure, I look like a hat full of arseholes on my best days, but sheesh, when did wankers start crossing over to the Triumph side of life.

I got over it quite quickly, downed my pint, and chatted to a couple of regulars, one on a 1925 New York police Indian, and the other on a late model Yammy road bike.
The Indian dude is a cool ol coot, and can spank that beastie when required.

Might be time for me to search out another marque. The wankers have assimilated with the Trumpy folk.

**Motu** · 25th July 2010, 15:37

Looks like you haven't been taught the special Triumph wave - I would teach you,but seeing as they seem to be offended by your mere presence I better not...or else they won't speak to me either.

**avgas** · 25th July 2010, 15:52

Meh... aren't they all grumpy old sods?
I mean women are grumpy when they leak every month - so how do you think a bonnie 650 owner feels.

**Paul in NZ** · 25th July 2010, 16:57

Well it sounds like all the wankers were not just on Triumphs - ie some nortons in there too ;-)

Stress less, there is a bit of discord between people who have had the old meriden bikes for some time. I;m afraid it stemmed from the rejection of the RAT club about the time the new triumph co really dissed the old bikes. I lot of folks got really put out about it (the company quickly realised it was a big mistake and back tracked a bit)

Look - its the same everywhere and goes both ways. I've been ignored and made fun of a 100 times on my old shitters by the modern bike guys (including triumph owners) You were having a good day before you met them and if they had not been there it would not have mattered anyway. Don't place your happiness in the hands of others - that never works out well!

Besides, all us old triumph dudes are wankers eh? ;-) Well at least I did seek you out at the Triumph rally in rotorua so maybe not all of us all the time?

**tri boy** · 25th July 2010, 17:26

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

Don't place your happiness in the hands of others - that never works out well!

We need more blokes like you Paul

I'm over it now.

(That 25 Indian is sommit though. Unrestored and ageing nicely.)

**oldrider** · 25th July 2010, 17:30

Bikers in the "old" days were always pleased to see other bikers, even just to say g'day!
I must admit I have noticed big changes in the attitude of a lot of today's bikers though!

**gonzo_akl** · 25th July 2010, 17:38

Paul,

Any chance you can elaborate on this a bit more. I've seen reference this Meriden v Hinckley triumphs but haven't managed to find a source to explain it.

Cheers

Stress less, there is a bit of discord between people who have had the old meriden bikes for some time. I;m afraid it stemmed from the rejection of the RAT club about the time the new triumph co really dissed the old bikes. I lot of folks got really put out about it (the company quickly realised it was a big mistake and back tracked a bit)

**Big Dave** · 25th July 2010, 17:47

Nah - it was just that 20 years ago some of them had a stick up their arse about the new bikes not being as good as the old ones. They were wrong.

The TOMCC now has an assortment of Hinckley and Meriden bikes and nobody takes exception to either. They just have preferences.

I tipped them off about Triboy.

**Paul in NZ** · 25th July 2010, 18:10

Originally Posted by oldrider

Bikers in the "old" days were always pleased to see other bikers, even just to say g'day!
I must admit I have noticed big changes in the attitude of a lot of today's bikers though!

Um! Nearly.... I'm pretty sure none of the old school clubs ever invited the Honda 4 owners club around for drinks... Burning a jappa on the bonfire was a regular at certain rallies for a while.

**Jackal** · 25th July 2010, 18:17

Probably not alot to do with the type of bike the guy rides but the type of bloke he is himself. I have a mate who rides a Triumph and when we go on trips together I have to add a few hours to our ETA as he stops and talks to anyone on a bike!!!

**Paul in NZ** · 25th July 2010, 18:42

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Nah - it was just that 20 years ago some of them had a stick up their arse about the new bikes not being as good as the old ones. They were wrong.

The TOMCC now has an assortment of Hinckley and Meriden bikes and nobody takes exception to either. They just have preferences.

I tipped them off about Triboy.

I'm sorry - thats either just plain mischievious or poorly informed.

Not long after the first generation of new triumphs were released there was naturally a lot of curiosity from riders and the media and in general the company was treated kindly by all. But at the time and just before we saw the first bikes here the newly revised logo was revealed AND Mr Bloor and co sent letters to the companies that had been providing mugs n tee shirts n stuff to us regarding copyright infringements. thing is, most of these guys had also been making the spares that kept us on the road for many many years. This was well reported and the tone was very heavy handed. A great many long time Triumph people were utterly gutted and in some cases guys who had even been dealers in the past and were keen to do so again were treated very shabbily.

This happened in the UK and later in the USA and yes - I was actually there

Very quickly - some clever soul realised that this was a big PR mistake and pissing off the people most likely to buy the bikes so nothing more was ever heard of it again. In some cases there has been a campaign of making this unfortunate incident disappear...

Dave - I was TOMCC member number 5. The club was in many ways destined to provide a place for the guys who rode meriden because they felt abandoned by the company at the time. Sure, time has thinned the ranks and the new bikes are wildly and deservedly popular but trivialising the hurt does not make it never happen.

As an explanation - being of an age where we had to make our own stuff at home to keep our bikes going I was pretty annoyed at the time, I could not give a toss now. Strictly from a design point of view I disagree with some of the new bikes features and am unlikely to buy one. Not because of bitterness but simply because they just don't excite me - It is an opinion I'm apparently not allowed to have according to many but there it is. BUT I do note that used examples are quite cheap now and getting to the point where purchasing one to modify is possible.

One sad upshot of all this is the trivialisation of what the originals meant, the real history of the bikes and stupid prices of the restored ones and how no one seems to realise that they really can be fantastic riding bikes if given care.... I cry for them sometimes, they deserved better.

**Crisis management** · 25th July 2010, 19:16

Originally Posted by tri boy

Might be time for me to search out another marque.

Come over to the dark side Brent...I'll give you a hug

**Brian d marge** · 25th July 2010, 19:19

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

This happened in the UK and later in the USA and yes - I was actually there
.

me to and i know who you are talking about , he was mighty pissed after being loyal to triumph for years

Stuffed if I can remember his last name though

BTW , the Enfield crowd takes and will talk to anyone

The took me

Stephen