Bikes and D Day, war memorials generally an' stuff?

[Ribenapigeon]

WTF is th eobsession with bikers and D-Day and hanging around european war memorials? Do any of those guys who populate every bike magazines Readers Rides pages with pics of themselves posing on their BMW GS's next to a war grave have any sense of irony? Almost every time a magazine does a tour advice article they do the whole "battlefields of WWI/II" thing. Where does this all come from? I dont mind if people have an interest in the wars and I do recognise the sacrifice made by those who experienced the wars but I dont see that it has any particular relevence to me as a biker. The culture is so strong though that Help for Heroes chuggers come bounding up to me as soon as they clock my gear and helmet obviously with the assumption that im going to fork out cash for them.

[TheSmiler]

Maybe also it's ex soldiers showing their respects to fallen lost past comrades. Personally I'd go to the war memorials in a group ride, it won't be long before that generation is completely gone.


EDIT: Ah I see now this is just another rant because the charity you were working for has docked your pay. Get with a better company then.
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CB125>CG125>GN125>ER5>K100RS>R1100RS>K100RS
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[CaNsA]

because they want to prove how most rememberingester they are.

[Poseidon]

I highly doubt this is isolated to bikers. Once could say the same about coach passengers, motorhome owners, tent owners, car drivers and cyclists... Many of whom I have seen photos of next to the memorial/graves etc.

I think the problem lies more with why these twonks feel the need to share with everyone, which is where Cansas point comes in. There's probably a level tablespoon of "Look how Charlie and Ewan I am" about the whole thing too.

I do plan on travelling through the first and second world war sites at some point, but this is due to having read a few bits about both wars and having spoken to many elderly folk about their experiences (driving buses there's plenty of them who share their stories without you even having to ask). It's nothing to do with remembering the glorious dead or some such, more a morbid fascination with the land where it all happened coupled with trying to get a sense of scale of the wars. As a biker, I will most probably do it on two wheels as it's my favourite way to travel.
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1977 Honda CG125
2002 Ducati Monster S4 (currently restoring)

[Ribenapigeon]

[Rogerborg]

[Dave500]

It could be because it's an anniversary of the D-Day landings this week and 100 years since WW1 started.
I personally love learning about all this stuff last year my dad and I went to Caen in France and went around the pegasus bridge and saw how skilled,brave and talented these men were.
I personally give to H4H but if you don't want to give to them you can always say no.
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Bye bye Z hello Versys

[drzsta]

I'm 22 and love hearing about old colonial escapades and seeing WW1/2 Memorials, Cemeteries and Battlefields.

Men were a different breed back then, certainly wouldn't be crying to strangers about how much of a fanny they were IRL.

Until you have been to a commonwealth war graves cemetery its hard to understand the total serenity and respect you feel.

As for bikers, well - If you have a bike its just a tad more enjoyable to take that to europe rather than the car.

[Copycat73]

because its fading from livin memory & the people who have the ears ;of the powers that be ;are terrified we`ll stop fillin their charity boxes an give them a cushy ride.. so its beein force fed down the throats of the next generation.
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Whatever I post I have no citation and no intention of providing one..
caveat emptor

[drzsta]

[Dave500]

[hedgehugger]

My step-dad is off on a war field tour thingy in a week or so. Nothing to do with bikes and all to do with the battlefield where his grand-dad fought.

[raesewell]

Lest we forget
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Yamaha FJR 1300 Normanton West Yorkshire

[Copycat73]

here comes the righteous indignation.
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Whatever I post I have no citation and no intention of providing one..
caveat emptor

[BravoCharlie]

i'm 21 and have a keen interest in ww2 history - always had the interest since primary school when we first began to learn about it. Bike's came later.

however, since i've got my bike, i see it as a good idea to ride to Normandy and other places for a look. why not combine two main interests?

i think i kinda get what you are saying though. there was a soldier killed recently and the papers saw a good opportunity for a scoop when two 'burly biker blokes' turned up to pay their respects by having a can of beer at the memorial. it gives it a whole 'this story is so sad that it's even touched the spirit of those big bad biker men' twist. fair play to them for paying their respects, but the press will twist anything.
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[HotdogMcDraw]

[Rogerborg]

[BravoCharlie]

[Mario_Kempes]

I despise help for heros and the poppy appeal (or what the poppy appeal has become in recent years, at any rate).

I automatically think less of a person when I find out they support this crap. Much like when someone says they're religious. Can't help but think they're a bit simple.

It doesn't surprise me that many British bikers are right into all that crap. There's a generic, simple minded, union jack flashing, BNP voting, "2 world wars and one world cup", got a tattoo of Lee Rigby, sun-never-set-on-the-empire strain of biker wankstain in Britain. Help for heros and suchlike will be right up their street.

[andys675]

probably a fair bit to do with the british legion riders association, an ex forces motorcycle club
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[Dave500]

[Mario_Kempes]

[Dave500]

[Rogerborg]

[qarka]