Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Go your own way

Well a friend of mine let me borrow his Torque and handed me a CD "Motorcycles
Accessories Clothing 2007".

Well RAT has really gone their own way as not sending this advertisement to members who renewed their RAT registration after Dec 1 was quite ill founded! What were they thinking? To those of us that found ourselves without the latest edition of Torque, the write up on the America and Speedmaster had one point that was good. Roland Brown authored it. How about more photos guys? Torque remains well within it’s usual top notch sorted order.

Post deleted by Grump

I didn't renew until early last week and somehow got the mag/DVD late in the week.

Awww, you'd b!tch if the bike was free, too.

Disclaimer: The following is not meant as critisism - But is only intended as a voice of reasoning.

I understand what y'all have been grumbling about, but in fairness to RAT, understand that when they changed the enrollment requirements last year, there was an expiration date, it was no secret. I believe the reason for the change was that they could save a substantial amount of time, money, and unneeded hassle by limiting the effort to those that truly expressed an interest in receiving the magazine – i.e., those that renew.

Also of some possible interest, my Torque just arrived two days ago. I had not yet renewed my subscription (The initial, timed subscription was slated to expire in January of '07, and I suspect they are still honoring the initial expiration date until it expires or I would not have received the magazine. That may indicate that those of you who had unexpired dates may still have a magazine in the pipeline.

If you do not receive one, and have had some displeasure in not receiving one, I can only suggest you may take the time now to renew and find some way (Outlook Calendar, nail through your ear lobe, ribbon on your finger) to remember when to renew in the future.

To continually rag on the magazine and then gripe when we don't get it doesn't make much sense – especially when all we need do is renew each year. Although the magazine may be lacking in what some seem to believe it should be, it does represent a small common thread that connects each of us that passionately own and ride Triumphs. If we continue on this path, I envision that it will only be a matter of time when the hassle outweighs the benefit of publishing and mailing to even those that chose to subscribe.

I didn't renew and I'm not gonna. Still, got my copy and DVD yesterday

Sorry piper,

I'll let me subscription expire. When the rag I rag on turns into a rag, I'll ask for it again. The reason it's free is nobody wanted to read the advertisements and pay for it too. The election to provide it free was to help it turn the page to greater exposure. Saving money was not a goal. If so they would have walked away from it. Ya think they publish the Torque one week before delivery? i.e., one week after I renewed? I bet that when Triumph sends me the recall notice for the rear brake issue, I'll start getting the Torque again.

After getting just 1 or 2 issues of Torque last year, and not having a RAT pack within 120 miles, plus seeing that the nearest RAT Raid this year is about 1,000 miles away in the hill country of Texas, I've decided not to renew my RAT membership even though it's free.

Torque is an advertising and promotion publication for Triump. That's really all it is. It's intended to promote and sell new Truimph motorcycles and accessories. Their distribution methods are a little mysterious to me, because they seem to be preaching to the choir. You can't get Torque unless you already own a Triumph, but the purpose of Torque, really, is to get you excited about buying Triumph products.

I'll remain a RAT member, because it doesn't cost me anything. I don't have any expectations. BTW, I haven't gotten a Torque mag since the fall issue.

Cody

PS I thought this post was about an old Fleetwood Mac song.

Derek, Its about 800 miles to Hill Country from you. If you ever do the ride, I will put you up.

I thought a few of the articles were worth reading.

Voice of reason? Bah!

This is one sad way to keep their tribe working. The people who own the bikes are their best advertisements and promoters, to not treat them well is weak. This publication and the RAT itself really isnt run too well. It shouldnt be an issue as to have to re-up in order to get the rag. As for the RAT, the locals seem quite inconsistent in getting people involved, the networking is weak, and they need to see if they can cater to smaller events to gain more comradery.

Well offhand I'd say that the very subject line of this thread("Go your own way") and a Triumph sales slogan that goes back years, pretty much explains why those who ride Triumphs by and large don't "network", Todd. I've always felt that in addition to the relatively small numbers of Triumphs out on the road, the reason Triumph riders don't "wear colors" or generally participate in H.O.G. Chapter-like comradery such as RAT Packs is for this very reason...we generally DO like to "go our own way".

Cheers,
Dwight
(that of course doesn't mean we can't occassionally fly or ride across the country or the world in order to meet a few of our fellow Triumph enthusiasts though, right?!)

When my subsciption expired after the first year of owning my TBA, and then realized I'd have to pay, I went "my own way" and didn't renew. Haven't missed it a bit, even though I guess it's free again.

Wouldn't you know that as soon as I badmouth Triumph, they send me the magazine and DVD. Got it yesterday in the mail. My only complaint now is the music they used for the Go Your Own Way part. Might just be this old man being out of touch with the music of today, but I thought it was screechingly bad.

I was a bit surprised they left in the the Thruxton racer's comment about how he[Rob McClendon] would love to help "the factory develop the 675 into a serious threat in professional racing". It sure would be great to see Triumph field a factory team in World Supersport and kick some sushi and spaghetti tail, but I know it costs a fortune to go up against the other factory teams, and it probably wouldn't sell too many more bikes in the end.

i got my mag and cd the week after i renewed. my rat is mostly cruisers and i go for local rides and enjoy them.

i think the mag is what it is, ok. i don't expect much in the way of depth. the cd was kind of fun-- but all the riders were slim and trim and had no gray.

i was mortified.

cat

wudda buncha whinnin weenie boys. Get over it fur Crysake. If ya like the d6mned thing-read da d6mned thing. If ya don't-fagedaboudit and getchur sorry arses out your miserable arses and do something yuz enjoy. Um thinkin sumayuz be p1ssed wit a winnin powerball ticket GEEEEESH!!!

Well Barry, it's winter so the b&^*&ing and moaning sets in when you can't ride. I'm one of the lucky ones with the weather I usually get.

It'd be nice though if some enterprising individual came out with their own Hinckley newsletter. Something with better writing than Torque and more substance. I guess there isn't enough money in it though. I guess that's where that winning Powerball ticket comes in. My wife bought one the other day, which she does when it gets over $100 million. She said the jackpot was up to $155 million. Hmm...I wonder if she had any luck?

I got the mag and the DVD in the mail yestaday. Some nice photos of the 07 Speedies and Americas with a writeup of same.

There are no active RAT packs in the Tucson area as far as I can tell.

Its basically just a marketing tool.

From the James Peterson article re: Kyle Petty charity ride:

"As I move across Rt. 70, two storm cells bracket the road.
The one to the south seems predatory, apocalyptic, a mushroom cloud riding a stalk of rain the color of night."

Pretty good, I thot.

Roland Brown wields a mighty pen too

Just got mine I did think it was cool that our bikes made the cover of it, heck we are usually in the back row of the pictures. You know I do wish there was a way to submit pictures of the stuff like the northeast and other other rallies we do. We seem to have bigger events then they do
shame they dont allow a place online or in the rag to show it

I always get my copy on time. I look forward to it arriving & enjoy reading it. For a free publication its great to browse. I dont expect it to be an indepth publication but just something to flick through with some interesting bits & pieces. You dont get much for free these days..

Hey Stern12...What a great picture that is! Better than any in Torque! What kind of ride was it? Why don't we have rides like that on the west coast?

Leonard that was the North East and a great time it was Pats Run

Thanks for those pictures. What a turnout you guys had! If Torque had any kind of sense they would be paying you for pictures like this turnout to place in their mag!!! The last time I met any Triumph people on the west coast was at a Cambria meet for the Bonneville people 2 years ago. What a great group of people. But it was a group biased towards the Bonneville style bike. I believe that Triumph in America would really benefit with pictures like this turnout rather than just the RAT rides posted in Torque...

Hey bigbill...Thanks for that showing me that posting. Robin and I would really enjoy this kind of run!!! Triumph people are the best! I posted a reply in that post and really hope to hear more...that is, if you guys will put up with a old biker reliving his youth on a new Triumph.

I totally forgot to renew.. just did it now.. Lord help I'm just not that bright some days

Hey Ron,

Thanks for the invite, but if I do ever come to Texas it'd be for a visit with Brent and the rest of the Texas riders when he plays host for them. In fact, I don't know if he still does that? I remember the first one he set up with a tour of his Dad's shop where the parts are made. Tried like heck to get out there for that one, but just couldn't make it.

If a RAT Raid was somewhat close to home I might go, but I'd rather spend my money by attending a BA.com rally. One of these years I'd like to make it to the Georgia Rally.