Motorcycling Blues

Bill Walker said:
When I moved to America in the late seventies I sold my Bonneville to a local lad.

I visited the UK just before covid and funnily enough I was in the Hunters tavern in Stalybridge and during the night he walks in.
Obviously we both look a lot different now but I recognized him. Had a chat and eventually said what happened to the Bonnie?

He says ohh I've still got it, take it out every weekend just has regular service, still looks the same as when you sold it me.
Shows me a picture on his phone.
After he walks away I'm left feeling sick as a chip.
I sold it to him 45 years earlier.

Look after an old British bike it'll last forever.
Click to expand...
I totally understand mate.
But, and here's the thing, he's looking after it, cherishing it, respecting it, and in a way, he's respecting you by looking after your bike.
We never really own them anyway, we just look after them for a while, until circumstances dictate otherwise.
Can't keep them all Bill, I'd love to know my bikes will be treasured and looked after when I no longer own them.

Edit. You're last sentence is so true
 
If anyone's interested at all in British bikes, I'd recommend a trip to the museum in Birmingham.
It's fucking brilliant.
Even if you're not particularly interested in British bikes I guarantee you will come away from this place gobsmacked.
They have halls full of British bikes, and the history is fascinating.
Some of the machines on display are just stunning.
They have, amongst many other exhibits, the first ever tt winning bike, which is an eye opener to say the least. Many Triumphs, Norton, ajs, matchless, bsa's etc etc.
It takes an afternoon to get round it all, longer if you're an anorak like me
 
crublue1 said:
If anyone's interested at all in British bikes, I'd recommend a trip to the museum in Birmingham.
It's fucking brilliant.
Even if you're not particularly interested in British bikes I guarantee you will come away from this place gobsmacked.
They have halls full of British bikes, and the history is fascinating.
Some of the machines on display are just stunning.
They have, amongst many other exhibits, the first ever tt winning bike, which is an eye opener to say the least. Many Triumphs, Norton, ajs, matchless, bsa's etc etc.
It takes an afternoon to get round it all, longer if you're an anorak like me
Click to expand...
Next time I'm over..

Wife will love it...... NOT :)
 
Bill Walker said:
Next time I'm over..

Wife will love it...... NOT :)
Click to expand...
It's not a place to take anyone who has no interest in bikes.
I'll be honest Bill, when I first went, (yes I've been a few times) I had next to no interest in British bikes other than knowing what a bonneville was.(and the stories of oil leaks and so on)
I left the place feeling completely different, it educated me, informed me, and feeling a bit stupid that I had next to no idea about the history of British bikes.
I wanted to buy one, I still do, and I probably will someday.
When the time comes and I have to sell my litre bikes and daft two strokes, and I have a few grand to spend on one bike, it will be a Bonnie, and not a new one :-)

Edit, next time you're over, I'll happily go with
 
crublue1 said:
It's not a place to take anyone who has no interest in bikes.
I'll be honest Bill, when I first went, (yes I've been a few times) I had next to no interest in British bikes other than knowing what a bonneville was.(and the stories of oil leaks and so on)
I left the place feeling completely different, it educated me, informed me, and feeling a bit stupid that I had next to no idea about the history of British bikes.
I wanted to buy one, I still do, and I probably will someday.
When the time comes and I have to sell my litre bikes and daft two strokes, and I have a few grand to spend on one bike, it will be a Bonnie, and not a new one :-)

Edit, next time you're over, I'll happily go with
Click to expand...
Great post that mate, I've been to the NMCM and it really is an amazing place. Get this, they got NO funding over lockdown, whilst Jazz museums and museums of African culture got plenty of support. Being a biker is like being a City fan, in that we get sneered at by the majority. I had a smash on the KTM in August, non-fault claim as the guy pulled out on me on the A217, his fault, had the helmet camera on, footage clearly showed his fault and liability was admitted. The bike was written off, and I am still waiting for a settlement. My insurance was due and my broker (Bikesure) doubled my premium and raised my excess to £1000, so went elsewhere. In the meantime I had to replace the bike out of my own pocket. Insurance is a scam.
 
I loved bikes when I was younger, Honda SS50-CB100-CB125-CB250-400/4-Cb550-Kwaker 550 etc etc etc...... didnt get my first car untill I was about 23 & kept riding bikes up until around age 50, have been looking recently (I am now 60) to get another one but sadly my hip is playing up so I dont know if I would be able mount one again (ohhhh matron!) + my eysight is not to great now :-(
I genuinely feel sorry for people who have never riden a bike properly, it really is something else to ride reasonably fast down a twisty A road constantly working out road conditions, where to be on the road, which gear to be in where to brake etc,
Funny thing is when I was younger & family were trying to talk me out of biking as being to dangerous I used to tell them I will have plenty of time for driving cars when I am old & Knackered, I think I might have got there!
 
J.G.Blue. said:
I loved bikes when I was younger, Honda SS50-CB100-CB125-CB250-400/4-Cb550-Kwaker 550 etc etc etc...... didnt get my first car untill I was about 23 & kept riding bikes up until around age 50, have been looking recently (I am now 60) to get another one but sadly my hip is playing up so I dont know if I would be able mount one again (ohhhh matron!) + my eysight is not to great now :-(
I genuinely feel sorry for people who have never riden a bike properly, it really is something else to ride reasonably fast down a twisty A road constantly working out road conditions, where to be on the road, which gear to be in where to brake etc,
Funny thing is when I was younger & family were trying to talk me out of biking as being to dangerous I used to tell them I will have plenty of time for driving cars when I am old & Knackered, I think I might have got there!
Click to expand...
Same here
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top
✖
  AdBlock Detected
Bluemoon relies on advertising to pay our hosting fees. Please support the site by disabling your ad blocking software to help keep the forum sustainable. Thanks.