 Re: I don't Get It
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1
Should be Riding
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OP
Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
I saw a bunch of clowns from the BIR in a bar once.
They reminded me of the Brit bike version of Harley pirates.  
Why would you want to be part of the BIR or any other club that doesn't welcome you?
If you're riding a Triumph cruiser, be happy in your own skin that you're riding a machine YOU like.   
I wouldn't want to be a part of the B.I.R. or Ton-Up (not just because I am too busy running a RAT Pack), and I am very happy in my own skin on my Speedmaster (which, for me, is the best motorcycle ever built).
And yes, the B.I.R. does kind of remind me of that, with the exception that the ones I know, can and do ride (not bar to bar either, unless the bars are 50 miles apart).
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Re: I don't Get It
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 728 Likes: 1
Adjunct
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Quote:
I saw a bunch of clowns from the BIR in a bar once.
They reminded me of the Brit bike version of Harley pirates.
Why would you want to be part of the BIR or any other club that doesn't welcome you?
If you're riding a Triumph cruiser, be happy in your own skin that you're riding a machine YOU like.
Yes, The B.I.R had a small representation at the Cambria Event, no big deal. LOL
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Re: I don't Get It
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 79
Member
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Member
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Posts: 79 |
Let me just say this....I've got a R3 Touring, and love it. I've also still got my '07 BA, which I took on a 270 miler with my gal on her '09 SM yesterday...(I hit 21,000 miles on the BA in Chelan). She ran like a champ! Anyone who doesn't like them can Suck the fumes from my "exhaust"! Just pipin' off!
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Re: I don't Get It
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,028 Likes: 8
New Tires
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Quote:
I saw a bunch of clowns from the BIR in a bar once.
They reminded me of the Brit bike version of Harley pirates.
Why would you want to be part of the BIR or any other club that doesn't welcome you?
If you're riding a Triumph cruiser, be happy in your own skin that you're riding a machine YOU like.
I've never been a member of BIR, but I know some from Bonnie forums, I've never seen them disparage Am/Speedies. They try to help when an Am/Speedie owner ask, but they acknowledged they don't know specifics of our bikes. Although a few like me own both. They always send people here, BonnevilleAmerica.com, they know this is where the Am/Speedie experts are.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
H. L. Mencken
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Re: I don't Get It
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 348
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It is in people's inherent nature to be snobby regardless. I remember having my 2006 Bonnie in the 50th Bonneville Anniversary in Gaydon, UK. The whole HInckley crew were getting the nose in the air from the Coventry crowd. There was even a rideout on Sunday afternoon just for the "real" Triumphs (Coventry Triumph). Who gives a shiiiite...ride what you want to ride.
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Re: I don't Get It
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,028 Likes: 8
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Totally agree, but having choices and choosing is always an act of discrimination.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
H. L. Mencken
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Re: I don't Get It
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13 |
Quote:
I had this argument with a few when I first joined this site and seemed most thought our bikes and the Speedtwin were almost the same bike and superimopsed a pic of one over the other. Only similarities I see are 2 wheels and a vertical twin engine.
Place objects or individuals next to the speedtwin and one can discern just how different they are from the modern 270s. Diminutive comes to mind.
***thumbnail images. click on to view full size***
Yes indeed that is Ed Turner next to the Speedtwin. The Ed Turner is not in the picture.
Always thought this play on perspectives was amazing. All are fully operational motorsickles...
Back to the future
Back to topic: Anytime a denigration occurs feelings are hurt. How dare Triumph use the name Bonneville on a cruiser? Well golly, Triumph dropped the name in 2003 (fazing out the name as the side covers were used up).
Anyone want to join the girl scouts? (Yota hush up...) Well then, a club has the right to limit membership. The attitude follows the membership rules. Huh? Ban cruisers from your click, er club and odds are that congress has no particular affections for cruisers.
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: I don't Get It
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Quote:
It is in people's inherent nature to be snobby regardless. I remember having my 2006 Bonnie in the 50th Bonneville Anniversary in Gaydon, UK. The whole HInckley crew were getting the nose in the air from the Coventry crowd. There was even a rideout on Sunday afternoon just for the "real" Triumphs (Coventry Triumph). Who gives a shiiiite...ride what you want to ride.
WOW Matt! I gotta wonder here just how many "Coventry" Triumph owners went on that ride? Ya see, because the Coventry factory was destroyed in 1940 during The Blitz, and because the vast majority of old pushrod Triumphs still on the road today were made at the old Meriden factory which started operations in 1942, I'm gonna guess that there were very few riders on that little Sunday afternoon jaunt.
(...yeah, I knew what ya really meant here) 
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: I don't Get It
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 348
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 348 |
Quote:
Quote:
It is in people's inherent nature to be snobby regardless. I remember having my 2006 Bonnie in the 50th Bonneville Anniversary in Gaydon, UK. The whole HInckley crew were getting the nose in the air from the Coventry crowd. There was even a rideout on Sunday afternoon just for the "real" Triumphs (Coventry Triumph). Who gives a shiiiite...ride what you want to ride.
WOW Matt! I gotta wonder here just how many "Coventry" Triumph owners went on that ride? Ya see, because the Coventry factory was destroyed in 1940 during The Blitz, and because the vast majority of old pushrod Triumphs still on the road today were made at the old Meriden factory which started operations in 1942, I'm gonna guess that there were very few riders on that little Sunday afternoon jaunt.
(...yeah, I knew what ya really meant here)
I must have had a brainfart as I meant the Meriden crowd...not the Coventry crowd. Stupid on my part but the situation did not change. The Meriden crowd gave very little kudos to the Hinckley Triumphs and do not consider them the "real" Triumph motorcycles. The rideout was mostly the Meriden Triumphs and keep in mind, all they rode to was a housing community....there is no factory left standing where the Meriden factory was...it's just houses now. So a few hundred old Trumpets went blazing through peoples front yards to show their "love" for Triumph. Myself, and three good friends decided that was stupid and rode through Shakespeare country and ended our ride at the Hinckley plant. Care to take a guess on how many rode out to Hinckley?.....
4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nCb9GeCamI&feature=related
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Re: I don't Get It
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,028 Likes: 8
New Tires
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I thought the street signs in that neighborhood all have Triumph relevant names. I imagine the residents are use to riders looking for the right street sign for a photo op. 
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
H. L. Mencken
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Re: I don't Get It
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61 |
In the circles I travel in the rivalry between Triumph and HD is mostly in fun. 99% of the real bikers and older guys respect and can appreciate Triumph old and new. It's the young clueless guys trying to be cool and tough that usually can't see past HD. I like HDs and Triumph along with quite a few other machines. Triumph is my favorite and my choice but I always loved my friends bone stock 1950 EL or my 64 R50 etc.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: I don't Get It
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1
Second Wind
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Second Wind
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1 |
Their is nothing to get. Most people are so narcissistic that they are bordering on sociopathy. So nothing you do that is even slightly different is not only frowned upon but also castigated.
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
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Re: I don't Get It
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 348
Adjunct
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Adjunct
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Quote:
In the circles I travel in the rivalry between Triumph and HD is mostly in fun. 99% of the real bikers and older guys respect and can appreciate Triumph old and new. It's the young clueless guys trying to be cool and tough that usually can't see past HD. I like HDs and Triumph along with quite a few other machines. Triumph is my favorite and my choice but I always loved my friends bone stock 1950 EL or my 64 R50 etc.
I think this is spot on and has been my experience as well. There was a time when Triumph would get the "nod" of approval from HD and Indian. I have also found that the other list of Brit bikes such as Norton, BSA, Brough Superior, etc...fall into this category. It is the modern day boutique riders that need to have their heads surgically removed from their arse because of the infliction known as cluelessness.
I just recently returned from Alaska in support of an aircraft exercise. It has been about eight years since I have been back to the states and I went to the local Harley shop as there was no Triumph dealerships. I couldn't believe what I saw...there was more merchandise than there were bikes. You could even have a mailbox made up to match your bike. You could buy just about anything except the bike itself. I quickly felt like a fish out of water. I started riding when I was six years old and actually wrench on my equipment because I had to in order to keep on riding but I have quickly found out that I am now the odd man out when it comes to this scenario. I will continue to hunt out carb'd Trumpets and work on them myself to keep them running as I do not care for the EFI bikes nor the "new" breed of riders. With that said, it makes me proud that I don't get the acceptance from a crowd like that. They can put their leathers on and "rumble" on down 10 miles to their stealership and drink their lattes...not my gig.
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Re: I don't Get It
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,028 Likes: 8
New Tires
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New Tires
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Quote:
Quote:
In the circles I travel in the rivalry between Triumph and HD is mostly in fun. 99% of the real bikers and older guys respect and can appreciate Triumph old and new. It's the young clueless guys trying to be cool and tough that usually can't see past HD. I like HDs and Triumph along with quite a few other machines. Triumph is my favorite and my choice but I always loved my friends bone stock 1950 EL or my 64 R50 etc.
I think this is spot on and has been my experience as well. There was a time when Triumph would get the "nod" of approval from HD and Indian. I have also found that the other list of Brit bikes such as Norton, BSA, Brough Superior, etc...fall into this category. It is the modern day boutique riders that need to have their heads surgically removed from their arse because of the infliction known as cluelessness.
I just recently returned from Alaska in support of an aircraft exercise. It has been about eight years since I have been back to the states and I went to the local Harley shop as there was no Triumph dealerships. I couldn't believe what I saw...there was more merchandise than there were bikes. You could even have a mailbox made up to match your bike. You could buy just about anything except the bike itself. I quickly felt like a fish out of water. I started riding when I was six years old and actually wrench on my equipment because I had to in order to keep on riding but I have quickly found out that I am now the odd man out when it comes to this scenario. I will continue to hunt out carb'd Trumpets and work on them myself to keep them running as I do not care for the EFI bikes nor the "new" breed of riders. With that said, it makes me proud that I don't get the acceptance from a crowd like that. They can put their leathers on and "rumble" on down 10 miles to their stealership and drink their lattes...not my gig.
I agree, but we are the ones with boutique bikes, they are as rare as BMW autos in the 50s and 60s in the US.
By the way, my mailbox is painted with a Triumph inspired motif. I've never photographed it, but years ago someone once told me that a photo was floating around the internet. Yes, I painted my mailbox, I never said I had a life.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
H. L. Mencken
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Re: I don't Get It
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,669
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,669 |
I could give a rodent's hind side what anyone else thinks! I bought my bike for ME, and for ME to ride. I did however do some comparison. So my reasons were this, I liked the style, the specs, and the price and didn't want something that everyone else had. Yes, now since owning this great machine I have become a huge fan of Triupmh, but I didn't but her for here name. If it was still the same bike made by Stanley Tools I still would have bought her. That said, the Triumph name does have a lot of history behind it and I beleive that they've been around this long cause they know what they're doing. Yes there have been headaches and heartbreaks, but thats true with anything worthwhile.
Like its been said before, come to BA.com for the bike stay for the people.
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Re: I don't Get It
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,669
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,669 |
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Their is nothing to get. Most people are so narcissistic that they are bordering on sociopathy. So nothing you do that is even slightly different is not only frowned upon but also castigated.
You gottsa sotp using all them thar big fancy werds or I'm gonna have a hard time beleiving ur really a mech-a-nic.
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Re: I don't Get It
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Here's a photo Triumph posted on FB from the BIR rally in Oregon  Wonder why there aren't any Americas or Speedmasters in the photo.
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Re: I don't Get It
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Joined: Jul 2010
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Here's a photo Triumph posted on FB from the BIR rally in Oregon
Wonder why there aren't any Americas or Speedmasters in the photo.
Because it is not a bike they consider meets their parameters and is the same reason why you won't see a Thunderbird, SpeedTriple or any other Hinckley Triumph that isn't in the modern classic family. This is taken off their site:
"The Brit Iron Rebels (BIR) was established in January 2004 as a worldwide group of individuals focused on the preservation, restoration, and promotion of true classic and retro styled British motorcycles, their related events, discussions, and camaraderie between people around the world who share a passion for the same. The BIR is a club based on the retro style of the Rockers of the 50’s and 60’s in Great Britain. Born on the Internet with regional worldwide chapters called clans, the BIR currently spans 10 countries worldwide, as of 2007."
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Re: I don't Get It
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Joined: Dec 2006
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New Tires
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Rebels? clans? Am I hearing racist 'dog whistles"? There are lots of clubs that don't want me as a member. Does it bother me? Well yes and no, it would be cool to be a member, it would also be cool to afford the dues.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
H. L. Mencken
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Re: I don't Get It
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,647
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,647 |
I honestly think they hate cruisers because they hate harleys and harley riders. In their eyes, all other cruisers are Harley wanna-bes, and so must be their owners. F-em, their loss, not mine.
06 America 904
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Re: I don't Get It
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
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I honestly think they hate cruisers because they hate harleys and harley riders. In their eyes, all other cruisers are Harley wanna-bes, and so must be their owners. F-em, their loss, not mine.
Yep Scott, I think you've pretty much nailed it here.
Just like Matt's posting of their little bylaws here and where it says...
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The BIR is a club based on the retro style of the Rockers of the 50’s and 60’s in Great Britain.
Ya see, the BIRs when THEY get together would MUCH rather dress up in their little British '50s and '60s pudding bowl helmets and their little "Leather Boy" outfits with all their little ride pins festooned upon their little jackets, THAN dress up like a freakin' PIRATE like a lot of Harley riders do when THEY get together!!!
(...yep, the whole "dress code" thing often comes into play here TOO, alright!!!)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: I don't Get It
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Joined: Dec 2006
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That's funny and mostly true Dwight. But , many don't go full "Rocker" costuming and most are pretty nice guys, at least the ones I've "met" on Bonneville sites. They are, like here, always willing to help, regardless of Triumph model. Many of them have been involved with some very innovative engine up-grades to the twins. Pro or con BIR or like me neutral, it's wise to remember that there are most likely BIR members that are also BonnevilleAmerica members, who enjoy and love both types of bike.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
H. L. Mencken
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Re: I don't Get It
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 348
Adjunct
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Quote:
That's funny and mostly true Dwight. But , many don't go full "Rocker" costuming and most are pretty nice guys, at least the ones I've "met" on Bonneville sites. They are, like here, always willing to help, regardless of Triumph model. Many of them have been involved with some very innovative engine up-grades to the twins. Pro or con BIR or like me neutral, it's wise to remember that there are most likely BIR members that are also BonnevilleAmerica members, who enjoy and love both types of bike.
+1 to that as I ride on both styles of the house. I guess it goes to full circle on the title of this thread for me..."I don't get it." If you want to be a part of a club that focuses on roadsters/cafes, then get a roadster or cafe...not rocket science.
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