Hi guys, Stu here, Road King rider,long time lurker, first time poster. I share a house with Mr Keets, so I have been fully exposed to your Triumphant act and I like it. I wish to subscribe to your news letter.

On the subject of ugly nationals, I have a couple of thoughts for you all to consider.

First, xenophobes do not travel well, they hate anything odd, different or strange, so any foreign person you meet in your country is most likely the most adventurous version of the original nationally. They will be more open to the differences they see around them, and that makes them easier to get along with, no matter where you are.

Next point is human nature. I was told years ago that 80% of the worlds population at happy to get along, 10% are leaders and 10% are the kind of people you would rather "Gas like Badgers". The scary thing about human nature is, when you remove the bad influences, one of the reasonable people from the middle group will always take the place of the trouble maker. Dunno why, it just happens, someone has to become the new joker, bully or braggard.

I think it is too late to change those who are someone they enjoy being, so I am working on the next generation. In the interest of encouraging new riders I go out of my way to chat with scooter riders, especially the girls, coz if we can keep girls riding, the boys will follow. I am also shameless and I wave to kids in cars. It is fun watching them warming to the idea of interacting with a real live "Motorcyclist".

Must admit, when my RK and Mr Keets Speedy are parked side by side, his bike gets all the looks and most of the comments. I think Australia still remembers the Triumph parallel twin very fondly. They were plentyful and affordable in the 1950's and 60's, so lots of blue collar guys where exposed to them. On the other hand HD has always been a club bike or yuppie trinket, something people were either scared of or jealous of.

It is nice that people take the time to talk to someone with a bike, we should make the effort to be nice back, so while Mr Keets and his solo seat enjoy "Onion stories" with Grandpa Simpson, I am taking Maud Flanders for a ride around the block.

Cheers,
STU

Last edited by Stueybond; 06/09/2007 11:00 PM.