Stupid World

[Grumph]

Do the Mothers still put on a day at Manfield ?

That used to be well supported so I was told.

[pritch]

Strange times when Iran is the sensible world citizen and Israel are the nutters risking WWIII.

[jellywrestler]

Do the Mothers still put on a day at Manfield ?

That used to be well supported so I was told.

they are no longer an entity

[Laava]

Strange times when Iran is the sensible world citizen and Israel are the nutters risking WWIII.

Do you think they might light up some hypersonics? Iran I mean.

[nerrrd]

Do you think they might light up some hypersonics? Iran I mean.

Seems to me like they’re trying very hard not to give the current Israeli government what they want, namely an excuse to escalate things even further.

[R650R]

Strange times when Iran is the sensible world citizen and Israel are the nutters risking WWIII.

It’s seems everyone is a student of Tsun Zu these days. For those who’ve not read it’s about choosing the time and place of battle and making your strengths and weakness appear as opposites to your enemy.
All war is bad let’s hope everyone comes to their senses. The one thing saving the world is the eastern culture of trade being number one. Their economies do not profit from war like us in the west.

[husaberg]

It’s seems everyone is a student of Tsun Zu these days. For those who’ve not read it’s about choosing the time and place of battle and making your strengths and weakness appear as opposites to your enemy.
All war is bad let’s hope everyone comes to their senses. The one thing saving the world is the eastern culture of trade being number one. Their economies do not profit from war like us in the west.

So just How much is your old favorite Vlad Putin benefiting from the war at the moment then.

that said..

Russia won’t invade anyway. There troops on border are like patched gang members sitting in a car in street while the prospects go do dirty work and collect debts.
,,

Many people don't understand the Russian military doctrine. They are very smart and don't play the same gameplan as the west.Russia is all about defence, they have seen the economic and military disaster that the Americans have created for themselves, heaps of expensive overseas bases with resupply issues.
Russia will never invade anyone, they will provide very rapid support for chosen allies in a massive no nonsense manner.
They have spent over 400 billion in last ten years modernising their armed forces. Stories of decay are same propaganda plants as the ones about usa F35 being a lemon etc.....
Watch ISIS turn and run, no CIA paycheck is big enough for them to face the Russian war machine, they will quickly fall apart with out American resupply. Guess they'll be a whole lot of Toyota hilux's going cheap soon....

While western media has championed international mercenaries going to fight for Ukraine it seems Russia is going to play that card too... we all know what they will be called...Quite ironic that western security will be threatened by a mechanism they helped build....
The resulting lawless bloodbath will prob see Russia welcomed in as peacekeepers.. we all should have seen this coming...
After all this blows over Eastern Europe will end up as a haven for unemployed terrorists like Afghanistan.... maybe Putin has done his homework after all...4Dchess????
The plot thickens....

[R650R]

Man buys $35k Harley trike.
Man crashes Harley and injures girlfriend after it veers off road unexpectedly when brakes lock them selves.
Man gets bike repaired for $25k, claims bike faulty Harley says no.
Harley issues recall for very similar thing.
Man has recall done.
Man crashes same way again but girlfriend dies this time.
Man asks harley for 53k medical costs, they decline.
Man sues harley gets awarded 290 million!!!

[pritch]

Been watching videos featuring the down town areas in British cities almost totally boarded up. The comments refer to the advent of new super stores as the cause, you park your car and can buy almost anything you'll need at the one huge shop. I think Brexit may also be a major contributor to the malaise. The boards are indicative of minimal economic activity. Britain is a self inflicted economic basket case. The last remaining steel works in Britain is closing and that was a predicted Brexit outcome.

Closer to home for us, big motorcycle dealerships are closing and that can't be attributed to the new superstores. When I first became interested in bikes a typical arrangement was the owner was salesman, bookkeeper, parts guy, and mechanic. The only other staff member was the apprentice. These days there may be a receptionist, office lady, salesman or men, parts guy or girl, and a team of mechanics. That needs a high level of business to be profitable. If money stops coming in the costs escalate quickly.

In Britain big dealerships are failing: Sheffield Motorcycles has closed, Kawasaki Colchester closes at Christmas. Three major dealership chains have entered administration. The overall mood is very depressed. Articles are appearing on the death of motor cycling. That may be too extreme but at least we can understand why.

I hope it isn't contagious.

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/...tion-concerns/

[R650R]

I think the world is still trying to stagger to its feet after the economic damage of virus/lockdowns/war. That combination has pushed done big changes in work practices, disrupted supply chains and driven costs up. And on top of climate hysteria insurance companies reaming us deep as they can get away with.
Meanwhile in the background China whose top people we trained in our technologies at our universities are now doing there own thing and pushing ahead in a lower wage economy. To top it off they practically own the world supply chain.
Yes brexit it prob had an effect but we’ve been idling in our research, restricting our growth with safety and climate concerns while China has the foot to the floor drifting burnouts in front of us.

Anyhow motorcycling has mostly been a luxury addition to our lifestyles with it always being slightly more expensive if your buying the good gear and good tyres compared to a car. But now everything costs a lot more and cars built ten years ago can fairly well match a big bikes fuel use unless you ride like a complete nana.Everyones making sacrifices and it prob doesn’t take many sales losses for over stocked dealerships to suffer.

[roogazza]

I don't feel like I have many more years of riding sadly. But hey at 75 I reckon I've had a great run starting in 1965.
I wave to other bikes still, all the time, but waves back are getting fewer .

Maybe we bought bikes for different reasons back then, (like cheap transport ?)

But if you are honest, NZ racing is fading as well ?

60 years riding for me so far and I consider myself bloody lucky.
Make the most of it fellas' it's been a fun generation to live in.

[pritch]

I don't feel like I have many more years of riding sadly. But hey at 75 I reckon I've had a great run starting in 1965.

We can lower our sights? Just came cross a YouTube channel from a man of somewhat mature years. He tours Britain on Yamaha YB100/XSR125. He picks his routes and outings to suit his bikes. We may need to slow down but we don't have to stop. I find 300cc scooters are gaining in appeal.

[Berries]

I wave to other bikes still, all the time, but waves back are getting fewer.

Try waving at the riders instead grandad.

[Laava]

We have an 88yr old riding a BMW750GS in our group. We were all watching some geezer on an electric trike trickling past at one of our stops and he said, "that'll be all of us when we get older" 😂😂😂😂 fucking classic!

[R650R]

I don't feel like I have many more years of riding sadly. But hey at 75 I reckon I've had a great run starting in 1965.
I wave to other bikes still, all the time, but waves back are getting fewer .

Maybe we bought bikes for different reasons back then, (like cheap transport ?)

But if you are honest, NZ racing is fading as well ?

60 years riding for me so far and I consider myself bloody lucky.
Make the most of it fellas' it's been a fun generation to live in.

I got an itchy boots style wave from another ride couple weeks ago (full arm extend welcome to Liberia!)
Gave me a chuckle as I imagined her voice saying welcome to the fertiliser works we were passing.
Kill them with kindness keep waving, same for saying hello walking to shops or working in front garden.