Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Haircuts and Triumphs

I went over to "Mark the Barber's" place this morning for my monthly after payday haircut. I'm wearing my blue Triumph/Made in England T-shirt from Lowbrow Custom, some of you all have one.(I wear Triumph and BA.com Rally shirts so often I forget I have them on) This lady around 39 was sitting there with her son waiting on Mark to finish up her husband's cut. The first thing she said before I could even pick up a magazine was. "Do you have a Triumph?" I said yes a 2002. She then proceeded to talk in great detail about how her Dad had a 1960 classic Triumph that had been in storage for 35 years and they are re-building and a TR6 Triumph car she cut her teeth on when she was a teenager. Automatic rapport. I told her all about the BA America/SM and some of the other products and that how Triumph has a bright future. Every once in a while the husband, Michael, joined in. Even Mark the barber said he had an old Triumph chopper that he and his wife took on a long trip and she's never forgiven him. It was one of the most enjoyable haircuts I ever had. It never ceases to amaze me how much some people just love Triumphs and feel a bond with other Triumph owners. The only thing I regret is not riding my bike to the shop. It's been stormy here today and there was a lull in the storm but I wimped out anyway. I hope I didn't put anyone to sleep since is an old theme.

Nice story, Paul! Yep, it's pretty cool when a different demographic(such as a 39 y/o LADY, instead of a 60 y/o DUDE) starts up a conversation about old Triumphs with ya out there, isn't it?!

It does happen alot. As soon as they see TRIUMPH they stop. Alot of the first comments are "They still make them?" They are liked. I did notice alot of Harley riders who ride the older stuff really like them too.

Yeah, John. But next time you're at your barber, PLEASE tell him that you're ready for a whole new look!

(that mullet o' yours needs to be gone, dude!)

You meet the nicest people on a Triumph.

+1 on meeting nice people on a Triumph (I guess??). I was at a local watering hole today getting ready to leave when a couple of rough looking chaps on HD's rode in and parked next to me. As they swung off the bikes I noticed they were three patch members of the Warlocks. Kind of took me by suprise because we typically don't see colors around here. Anyway, one of the older looking guys looks over and say's "Son a ****! That is one good looking bike". Then he proceeds to tell me what most of the folks do "I had a Triumph back in the day, leaked oil like crazy, etc... etc...). Anyway, he and the other guy were very complimentary about the bike and the brand (not so much about several other rice burners types parked around). Was nice to see some of the hardcore types showing some respect for the Ole Triumph! Pretty cool...

Hope they don't like it too much.

I had a business lunch yesterday (yes, on a Saturday) in a neighborhood diner. I didn't know this guy well, and bikes weren't on the discussion menu. I'd ridden my bike to the diner. When we left the diner, I went to my America at the curb. "You have a Triumph," he said. "I just got one given to me." No kiddin', I said. What is it? I think he said it was a 1969 Trophy, a 500-cc, single carb bike that sat in a garage for a long, long time. He said it has 11,000 miles on it and it's now in a shop for rebuilding. We talked bikes for about 10 minutes, and that was way more interesting than our business discussion. Maybe I've found a Trumpy riding partner.

Jeff

I'd love to have a 500cc single. That'd be way cool.

I get the feeling over here people like Hardlys because they are not made in the UK, do you think people feel that way in the US?????

I actually had a guy follow me home...I was on my '05 America, had my "Triumph of North Georgia" shirt on, and he pulled out in front of me, so I went around him...after several turns, and into my subdivision, he's still following me. I pull into my driveway, and he pulls up to the front of the house and gets out. Ready for a confrontation, he says, "I seen your shirt, and was wondering if you could help me get parts for my old Triumph. Taken aback, I shared my concern with him following me home, and he apologized, and took him into my garage and showed him my '72 bonneville. "That's the same bike I have". I eventually went over to where he had the bike stored, and it was a sad scene. There in a cold damp crawlspace was a all original 1972 Bonny, still in original everything...just wasting away. Engine seized, I offered to take her in, just to get it out of that environment. He said he would bring it over, but never did....As far as I know, it's still sitting there...I think the $1500 it would take to get her going scared him off, still sad to see it just withering away...May just go over there with my truck and rescue it....

Without question, Ray, there are always a pathetic segment of humanity that loathes their own countymen and their products. There was some of that over here, but not so much anymore. I think now we are pulling together to boycott the endless flood of Chinese junk.
Nevertheless, over here in the Colonies, there are doubtless many HD owners who bought their rides either by herd instinct or because they are "made in America". There are also those who separate from the herd and want something different, like a nice BA/SM, regardless of country of origin, as long as it is quality built. Personally, I cannot abide any buggers who ride down their own country. I believe one can respect the HD loyalists without disrespecting the gerbils or us Hooligans.

I think you better check the flowchart again, Paul.

YOU are only ONE of my Assistant Instigators around here, young sir!!!

AND, I feel I must inform you that that Jackson kid down in the Texas branch has been doing yeoman instigator work for us lately, and so you better start puttin' that nose of yours to the ol' grindstone or else he'll be taking over my CIO post(that's "Chief Instigative Officer") around here once I call it quits and they give me my Golden Parachute!!!

I've been riding Triumph most of my life and there was no other choice. I like HD but it's over priced and just not for me. I would love to buy American but as far as my bike went it had to be a Triumph and until they came out with these air cooled twins it would have been early 70s or older. Made in UK means something to me too if they were not made in England I wouldn't have bought it, just wouldn't have been right in my eyes.

I wonder how many parts of a HD are actually made in America.

My Speedmaster has Japanese Carbs(made where)?,Japanese Brake Calipers(made where)?, Metzeler Tyres made in Brazil. I imagine the list is endless.

It is probably the same with HD's.

FrankW

Can I just ask .... what's a barber shop?

Here you go: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barber

Sheeesh!
The implication was that I didn't have need for one due to lack of hair ... ah fagedit

Oh sorry...I didn't know you were folically challenged.

Good one John. Keep the jokes coming...I'm trying to work my way through a deep and dark depression because I can't go to the Ga. Rally this year.

I'm just pulling FT's leg, he's a good old boy and welcome here anytime.

jh