Hi Folks.

While I was out on my 1125r at one of my local cafe's, I bumped into the Norton Owners club. Lots of nice 750 Interstate's, 750/850 Roadsters and the odd Fastback, Combats, Dominators and a few newer models also on show. Lots of reminiscing and enthusiastic chat about the bendy commando frames and the simplicity of tuning their engines. Seemingly they have very little problem getting parts as they are all made again by small engineering firms.
Anyway during the chat I said that it was nice to meet an enthusiastic bunch of riders who chatted and were actually interested in their bikes and that I hardly met anyone who was willing to engage in conversation about mine (or theirs).
One of them replied, well maybe it's because of your intimidating bike, maybe people know how advanced Buell's were and that people who own them are like us enthusiastic and tend to know what they're talking about.
It suddenly hit me! Maybe that is the problem, most bikers now don't own and will never own their bikes, tuning parts must be fitted by dealers or pop goes their warranty, hence their lack of interest in working on them, they just aren't that interested in how they work, just that they do.
Phew! what a relief, I thought it was me Heh heh.

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Ride Safe & Stay between the hedgerows.

good points , most of the world seems disinterested in hands on fixing
after all

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Feros Ferio

No, it really is you







Only kiddin'

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'98 M2 Razorback, it's a keeper.

Yeah, Don't worry I'm suffer no illusion, I know it's 90% me.
I remember cafe stops on night rides (after the pubs) where there were hundreds of bikes at meets and nearly everyone was an enthusiast. Every one had a go at something on their bikes and weren't scared to let other people ride theirs to prove their work. Where the group I was with raced everywhere and enjoyed every minute of riding and cafe stops were a blast as everyone was still buzzin' from the rides and talking about this or that corner, who overtook who on what bend etc etc.
Despite my age, I still love riding hard and still enjoy the thrills associated with that. I like talking about bikes and what other people are doing with theirs.
Now though, it seems difficult to find a decent conversation and I know that's because most people just ride bikes, get shops to fix, service and tune them, or even get involved with anything to do with them other than that they can press the button and go.
There just doesn't seen to be the same enthusiasm for their bikes. That's why bumping into the Norton owners club was such a great experience, they were all totally invested in their rides and proud of that.
I know my rose tinted glasses are aglow here but I miss all of that so much, it makes my heart f-----g ache.
I'm just old I guess (what a drag that is) but still crawl all over the garage floor, skin my knuckles on a regular basis, make humongous mistakes, but every one of those shitty little jobs serves to get me invested more and more in this Buell 1125r.
Have I mentioned that I love it, it's the pinnacle of my biking career and I'll never part with it?

Yeah though so heh heh.

Have a great day folks and thanks for the comments. Paul.

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Ride Safe & Stay between the hedgerows.

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Feros Ferio

SO, there I was again up at my local cafe only about 20 miles from me, sitting having a cuppa and a fag watching the coming and goings. When my attention was drawn to on older guy who got off his bike and immediately slagged of some Ducati that was sitting just in front of where I was sat. Kind of person who never gave a thought that the bike he just slagged off may have been mine.
Then he sat down at a table near me but with his gob it wasn't difficult to hear the bollocks he was coming out with to his much younger friend or associate. One of the little gems I heard was how he had bought a Mk 1 escort Mexico 1984 from his friend for £180 quid! So you get the idea.
Anyway, I started to get ready to go as the two of them were parading down the lines of bikes, I could still hear the RAH RAH RAH of his bullshit.
I have to say that I very little tolerance, in actual fact a very light trigger switch for people like that, plus the fact that my Buell always leaves me shaking and full of adrenaline.
Unfortunately, I got to my bike and he made a bee line for me. I quickly got my helmet on so that a conversation was out of the question. He comes over and says, I ain't seen one of these before, what is it? A Honda? Are you gonna start it? What does it sound like?
Despite my true feelings of wanting to take him down a peg or two, I just completely ignored the ranting, ignorant, twat, started my bike and f-----d off sharpish before my darker side could take hold.
Phew!
Thanks for listening guys, told my wife as well, still raging so gonna clean my bike whilst muttering under my breath.
Have a great day. Paul.

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Ride Safe & Stay between the hedgerows.

ah reminds me of a time myself & a good mate went to a classic bike meet at a pub
me on my old XB9R him on his RD350
an "expert" ' was telling his mate about how Buell's had the fuel in the swing arm & oil in the frame...



I may have told him he was wrong , although I did use different words

life is interesting sometimes

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Feros Ferio

I think if I'd have planted him one, (like I felt) no-one would've seen anything officer. because he was such a loud and brash, know nowt, gobshite.
It is weird how some people can just make me hate them immediately. I can still feel it now!
Phew, doubly lucky for me.
It could have been a hate crime, then I'd have been truly F-----d!
Have a great day folks.
Paul.

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Ride Safe & Stay between the hedgerows.