Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge This guy was not a "Brother".

Some may remember a post I submitted on my name day in January ("A warm smile on my face"), about a couple on a HD which came and sat near me in a deserted seaside cafe/canteen ... and then totally ignored me.

Here's an excerpt (and a link to the whole story) from that post, just for reference purposes.

Quote
Disclaimer: This is not an HD bash. To me, a bike is a bike is a bike. This is solely an expression of pride.
Ok, since today is my name day (St. Athanasius) and since the weather was perfect, I decided to leave work at around 3 p.m. and take a ride down the coastal road near where I live. I stopped of at a canteen/cafe on the side of the road overlooking a small cliff onto the Meditteranean.
I was gazing across the sea, looking south - southeast in the direction of Egypt and Israel when it hit me!
I now know where I will be headed in the winter months next year. I'll just do what the birds do and head south to Egypt, Israel and perhaps Lebanon.
Although not intentional, I have misled everyone as none of the above were the reason for this post.

While I was sitting there alone, drinking my umpteenth coffee for the day, I heard the rumble of what could only be a HD. It rolled up and parked next to my SM.
A couple got off the bike and strolled in and sat two tables away from where I was.
I looked at them, hoping to just say hello and was just totally ignored.
It may have been the extra split-second I took to look at the lady who was quite stunning, but I felt that this cold behaviour was uncalled for.
...
Unquote

Link to original story.


Well, today I took my good ladies (the Speedy being one of them, in case I have misled anyone) for a ride to the seaside resort of Porto Rafti, located around 40 km's down the road from where I live.
Other than that it was a beautiful day, the purpose of our going there was to check out and go for a ride on a good friend's new speedboat.

Whenever I ride into a seaside resort/village, I always tend to ride to the end of the inevitable strip of restaurants/cafes, checking them out and then returning to the one of my/our choice.
Today was no exception and as we were nearing the end of the strip I thought I recognized a familiar shape parked outside a cafe.
Could it be true? I couldn't believe my eyes!
As we got closer I was amazed to see it was a black/silver Triumph America (in fact a "Bonneville" America, so I guess that would have made it a 2002 model).

Why "amazed" you may ask yourselves ...
Well, what is probably not known by the members on this site, is that I own the only Speedmaster I have ever seen in Greece.
I have only ever seen one America (blue) on the road and that was around 4 years ago.

As you will probably have guessed, the choice of cafe was already made for us.

I parked the Speedy next to the America and went into the cafe thinking "finally ... a brother!".
I saw what looked like the owner (a guy in his mid-50's) sitting at a table near the entrance.
I approached his table, looked at him, nodded ... and got NOTHING!
I thought to myself "Jeez ... his other bike is probably a ... (well, you know what I mean)".
We sat at a table nearby (I was fuming) and I couldn't help thinking that perhaps this guy wasn't the America's owner.
I mean, he had seen me parking my bike and one would think he would at least acknowledge ... something!
Around 30 minutes later he got up, got on his bike, had a good look at mine and was on his way.
Picture this ... he was wearing short pants, fingerless gloves (I can't remember the correct term in English for these gloves) , a Dainese vest and a Momo helmet.
For those who don't know, both Dainese and Momo are considered "designer" products (Italian) in Europe.

Were his shoe laces too tight? Had his wife given him a bad time? Was he constipated?
Who knows?

What a disappointment.


Below is a picture of the two bikes. Who knows, perhaps it will take a long time before I can capture two beauties together again (in Greece).
I didn't take a picture of the guy, firstly so as not to possibly offend him (who cares?) and secondly I just couldn't be bothered (although perhaps I should have because he looked pretty hillarious).

Great and sad story! I also get excited at the thought of meeting up with a fellow Triumph owner. Too bad they had a chip on their shoulder. On second thought ...is it maybe a European or Greek thing that as a biker your not supposed to be friendly? Seriously...is it a culture thing?

Well Thanassis ol' buddy, giving the benefit of the doubt to the guy, my guess is that well before you arrived into that establishment the dude was served some bad ouzo or somethin', and thus not feeling particularly well was a bit preoccupied and in a bit of a hurry to get home before he blew chunks of the moussaka that he also might have consumed out in public view.


Either THAT, or his social skills are a bit lacking, and is one of the seeming vast numbers of poor lost souls nowdays who for whatever reason have never learned the simple art of conversation.


(yeah, maybe THAT'S it...forget the first guess...it was kind'a gross anyway...though notice how I very smoothly inserted the greek ouzo and moussaka references in!)

I don't think it's a cultural thing. I've been to Greece before and they are some of the most friendly talkative people I've ever met. I can't wait to go back. BTW, I wish I was siting at one of those tables in your pic instead of in front of this computer.

Perhaps he was just unhappy that his wasn't the only Trumpet on the island anymore!!!

Owning, riding, or admiring Triumphs are NOT disqualifications for being an unfriendly, douche bag, stuck up, misanthropic jerk any more than owning, riding, or admiring Harley Davidsons are disqualifications for being nice, friendly, helpful, open, or self depricating 'just plain' folks.

BTW, I've always referred to open fingered gloves as 'bicycle gloves' or 'weight lifting' gloves.

What can you do with these type of people?- I dont know- maybe we should start a secret code or handshake maybe-
...
I've got it- we will approach all other Triumph Bonneville Americas and Speedmasters and use the phrase "I didn't know they still made Triumphs - What year is it?"- your response as a fully paid up member shall be "- my friend, you have travelled from a different Galaxy?- the year is 2007"

...If they then punch you in the mouth- you will know them not to be members of this exclusive forum and so ignore them while nursing your injuries!

lets put it to the vote?

Some folks just aren't chatty. (that seaside picture would just about take my breath away!)
Not me. Last week, at a travel stop on 95, I walked through a large group of HD's, saying hello, asking questions. I'm in my dress clothes for work, getting some odd looks. Than I start noticing everyone was wearing Hells Angels vests... Most were pretty decent but clearly guarded and a little taken aback a citizen would be interested in their rides.

Rod, I LIKE the "secret handshake" thing!!! AND, I like that "spy-like" initial verbal interplay suggestion of yours which would utilize those familar little code-words such as "when"/"Triumph"/"making"/"again", that we often hear asked of us, AND your proposed response of "traveled"/"different"/"Galaxy" as a verbal confirmation of being in this elite brotherhood is, well, INGENIOUS, to say the least!


However, regarding this "vote thing".....
I guess you haven't heard that this is NOW a "benevolent dictatorship" around here, and thus this form of parlimentary procedure appears to go against ALL the present AUPs at BA.com.

(let's just hope that Phil and the rest of the Moderators like your idea too, ol' buddy!!!)

As I used to ride in a harley only club I was rader suprised when I went to visit them with my new bike (BA) and got lots of nice and intrested questions, as it turns out many used to ride triumph before..I meen I prolly known some of them for 15 years and I had heard nothing of this until now..I guess it was like a ketchup bottle..when I "came out" all others also confessed..LOL

Oh well..I like a nicely build custom regardless what engine or brand it is..Oh and I talk to pretty much all bikeriders(with engine that is).
Ofcourse owners of "plastic rockets" AKA racebikes I find I have little to talk about with...they go to diffrent bike meets and what they think is a bumpy road (in lightspeed) I find a nice cruiseroad...but theres always the weather to talk about..hehe.

What if it wasn't his bike? (maybe he stole it?)

That, or maybe he did not come on to it by choice. It was offered, or available and the fact or good fortune that it was a Triumph Bonneville America did not necessarily get his emotions stirred....maybe he hadn't ridden it far enough yet?

so because you own the same bike and nod at a guy, he is then required to jump at the chance to talk to you?

if you were really that keen to talk maybe you should of

Sounds just like a plain old snob to me...we got em here too but most ride BMW's.

Jack - good to see you back in play.

Thanks Thanassis, i still cant ride but at least now I feel up to talking about it and can type with both hands. Goal now is to be in shape to ride by the end of the month.and have the bike prettied up for the road.

Hey Bedouin. The guy is a Tosser. Most likely always will be. Next time give him the bird. Maybee then he will notice ya. Ha Ha.

Think of it this way, Thanassis. The guy showed you his personality right away, and saved you time wasted getting to know him.

I dunno - maybe it's a Northeast US thing, but if I get a nod, I usually don't get up & go over & start talking to someone. I'd surmise that they may wonder, in that Northeast urban please don't kill me kind of way: "What does he want from me?"

On the other hand, If a word or two is exchanged, such as, "How do you like that Triumph?" I may talk that person's ear off.

Hey Bucky, I think I've seen that guy at the Rock Store here in L.A. a few times.

The dude also has a little black cloud sittin' right above his helmet too, right?!

Man! Talk about some bum luck, huh?!

(you see Thanassis...evidently this dude gets around unfortunately)

He's doing much better now. He retired

Hey! "retired" huh?! Well, good for him! I know the feeling well, Dude.

Why do ya think since this past May 1st I've been able to sit here, day after day, whiling the hours away at this darn keyboard???

(I only WISH I could get paid for this crap and help supplement my pension...but instead I send the wife out there to the work-a-day world so she can continue to "afford me"...Ya see, I must'a gotten all that poor slob's good luck that he went without all those many years)