Long Way Down wannabees

[gbrand42]

Had to chuckle to myself today, sitting having a brew at my local bike dealer / café, (Kent motorcycles on the A2 between Canterbury & Dover ) Up rolls 2 absolutely immaculate GS Adventures both on 62 plates so a couple of years old, I would guess they had no more than one or two thousand miles on their highly polished clocks. The guys dismount in their immaculate adventurer style textiles, and literally look down their noses at me like I'm a piece of dog sh1t.

Once they had got their cups of tea they sat at the table next to me and I couldn't help overhearing them saying they were planning on getting up to the Ace sometime this summer like it was some kind of epic road trip (probably 60 miles tops from where we were sitting). I was dying to ask them whose turn it was this week to pretend to be Ewan and who was pretending to be Charlie.

Each to their own I suppose but I took exception to being regarded as some sort of biker scum in my slightly road-weary gear and dirty boots.
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Yamaha RD50M, Honda C90, Yamaha RS100, Yamaha RD125LC, Honda XL125 V9 Varadero, Honda NT700VA, Honda VFR800X, Honda CRF1000L, Honda ST1300 Pan European

[gavbriggs]

People take from life what they want from life. I've learned that over the last 3 years or so with the horses. My ways and methods are not always right for others nor do some agree with my methods. I do get good results and only being around horse for three years and getting good results and making things look easy puts a few noses out of joint but that's why I love horses, no one knows it all because there's so much to know.

It's true of many hobbies or interests or even things like bringing kids up. You don't have to agree just accept. That way you will always learn a little, even if the only lesson is that it's not for you!

60 miles though is not a big journey!

[P.addy]

I'm not too far from that cafe

Random insight.

[Rogerborg]

[sabian92]

Eh, it's their money and they're free to do as they like. Doesn't mean they won't look like knobheads doing it but I suppose we all look like a knob to somebody who doesn't agree/like what we do.

I don't particularly like people who look down on others but that isn't a bike thing, that's a general courtesy thing. Something I've found a lot as I've got L plates is "big boy bikers" generally ignore me which is fine, their choice.

They were exactly like me once though. One bloke the other day on the opposite carriageway responded to my nod with a slow down gesture because there was a scamera van hidden a few hundred yards up the road, so there are some gooduns out there, just as there are some dicks out there. I get exactly the same treatment riding my push bike - individual guys will acknowledge me but the same guy on a club run will ignore me. Doesn't bother me, if he wants to be a miserable cunt then that's his prerogative. God forbid if you're on a road bike without lycra - you're the spawn of satan! It's a bit pathetic really.

I'm happy for people to pretend what they want to be - we all did that as kids didn't we? Only now some people take it far too seriously when they can afford to

I like Long Way Down/Round - okay, not the best TV show in the world but it's what lit the fire under my arse about bikes and my missus who was really dead set against them watched it and enjoyed it so I can't say it's done me much harm.

[Rogerborg]

[sabian92]

[sabian92]

Whoops, double post.

[-Matt-]

[gbrand42]

[thx1138]

bike covered in mud and me covered in mud head to toe on my road legal dirt bike today, got blanked by 95% of road going bikers today

[-Matt-]

[thx1138]

as for that sticking the leg out thing they were all doing in France, well I'm afraid that went straight out the window when I visited, get cramp in my hips doing that

[Llama-Farmer]

I think the wannabe Ewan McCharleys have too much money if they buy a GS and kit it out with round-the-world-spec hard luggage and matching textile outfits and enduro helmet, then ride it exclusively on road.

But it's their money to do as they please, it's not harming anyone, if they enjoy it, who are we to hold it against them.

There are a small minority of bikers who look down on other bikers, very small minority. I've been to a few meets and ride outs, or just general open days at dealers, and the vast majority of other bikers are pleasant people full of stories, advice etc.

In fact, of the two most pleasant ones I have met in such circumstances, one was on a GS Adventure, and the other on a brand new blade. Neither were show off types at all. The least pleasant on the other hand was someone on a Bandit with a chip on his shoulder about something who had something bad to say about virtually everyone there just based on the bike or kit they had.
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Current Bike: 1999 Honda CB600 FX Hornet
Next Bike: I want a CBR-RR. And I want an F800 GS-A. And a VFR 800. Can I have all 3?
Dream Bikes: Honda VFR750R RC30, Honda NSR500, Ducati 996 R

[Pete.]

I don't like to stereotype by bike make usually but I saw one of these chumps not making his way through traffic a week ago or so. He had such large hard panniers he almost needed a car-wide gap. When he couldn't get through a gap the width of the Panama canal he started weaving (for some reason) and revving then waving his arms about like Magnus Pike, but when cars DID see him coming and moved over the idiot pulled up alongside them and hung around to give them a massive Selwyn Froggitt thumbs up. The queue or bikes behind him were getting nowhere.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Rogerborg]

[CaNsA]

I heard that a 125 Varadero is the prov-licence holder, poor man's BMW GS Adventure.

[gbrand42]

[evoboy]

[janner_10]

This is why I dont go to bikers nights.
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Yamaha FZS600 (Now gone to heaven) > CBR600F4i (SOLD) > '99 YZF-R1

[Llama-Farmer]

[FretGrinder]

We usually refer to them as "Long Way Homers"

[gavbriggs]

I'm not sure why we feel the need to nod tbh, I have blonde hair and I'm a bit chunky but when I'm out shopping I don't nod to chunky blonde people!

I always acknowledge other on two wheels. Mainly in the hope they will progress and get more powerful machines to share the enjoyment I get from mine!

[Wonko The Sane]

[_mjs_]