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.