Confirmation that I am a dinosaur of a biker

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O.K., perfect riding day here in S.E. Iowa USA yesterday, a benefit ride was scheduled for a 30 year young chap with a
brain tumor. His father has ridden for sometime, but I only met him once several years ago. Three of my friends had
stopped by Friday late afternoon that turned into late in the evening. They were trying to convince me to join up on
the ride as the route the group was taking would be coming down the main road heading south round noon time. I am
not keen riding in a huge herd of people that I don't know, I.e., (their experience) I'm primarily a solo rider 99% of
the time. And these days, it's enough of challenge to go for a ride and not encounter some idiot cage driver not
paying attention, distracted by their phones. I decided I would join up til the first stop at least to visit
with my mates, and avoid them trashing me the next time I saw them for not showing up. I got on the Commando
and awaited the coming thunder at the corner. Quite a showing, a good 125 or more, the guys I knew were up front as the one had helped coordinate the ride. Pulled out and caught up quickly.
Our first stop was a 25 mile ride. By the time we got the bikes parked quite a few were in the bar, and it had to be
packed inside, I never did see my pals, as I didn't go into the sea of people. I opted for a different pub, and went
in and got a soda, came back outside and hung with the Norton. There were still plenty of people just milling about.
Most of them in very clean, new looking shiny leather, and newer Harley-Davidsons. I noted a few BMW's and a smattering
of Japanese branded sport bikes. That was about it for taking the census of brands. Not one person stopped to b.s. with
me. There was one guy standing in my vicinity, and appeared to be in his mid-20's. I certainly wasn't there to wow people
with my bike, or expected it, but I thought just maybe there were people that would at least discuss it, being it was
obviously the oldest (oddest ?) thing on two wheels there. NOPE. So I turned to the young man and announced I was
totally in the minority. He responded by saying "how's that SIR ?" I said, I'm the only one on a British bike, and most
certainly the only one with a kick-start ! He said, You are probably right, SIR. I told him furthermore, if I had decided
to ride my '74 Super glide, (bought in March, 1980) I would have been the only one a shovelhead there ! (I'm not convinced
that he even knew what that was...) I decided I had had enough, kicked it once, and out of there. The bike had run flawlessly running 70, while in the pack,
it almost felt like I could have really given it the "onion" and passed the whole group. No one asked what it was, how old
it was, nothing. Now I can see how the attitudes come about concerning "Harley riders". Back in the day guys I rode
with, on shovels and panheads, Triumphs and BSA's, and some Japanese brands were not 'snobs', they just liked all
bikes, as long as Your knees were in the breeze. Now, it's all about the newest, shiniest (chrome won't get You home),
and the general attitude seemed to be if not on an H-D, You ain't S*%#. Kind of eye-opening, they don't have a clue
of what riding was like 30 or 40 years ago. Or seem to care. Plus, I'm guessing the majority of them are screwed if
they have an issue and have to take them to a dealer to get "plugged in" for a diagnosis...all of my bikes among​
several in the stable, manufactured from 3 different companies, are kick-start equipped, along with points and a condenser.
Don't get me wrong, new bikes have their place for sure, and I guess I can understand those that can afford to have
a newer bike to just jump on and go. The purist in me cannot, however. Worn, non-shiny leathers and all......
dinosaur....
 
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Around 10 years ago I went to the bmf rally bike event in the UK
A bloke from work convinced me to come along with him and his mates all on big sports bikes
Obviously they left me standing on the straight bits of road but not for too long
But when we got there I was the only one on a British bike let alone a Norton
Nobody to chew the fat with
Just endless pointless drivel about the latest stuff out
And the trade stools reflected that
The evening bands were good but that was about it
 
I know there are folks that are anti-Harley, and their riders, ( I get it after yesterday)
But I assure You, if You were to meet me in person, You would realize that the
stereotype doesn't match with me. I failed to mention, in spite of my commentary,
that I hope they did well with their fundraiser of course.
 
I always try and let who ever I meet show me who they are , no judging here … try to go with the old saying “ give ‘em enough rope to hang themselves then wait to see what happens” certainly hard not to judge some these days , my old rides only interest me now and that okay with me …. I do prefer EI to points/condenser though ….
 
I have a bit of a different story.

I recently finished a Combat build and took it out for a test ride. I stopped to check something and a guy probably in his late twenties with his little girl came running to see it. The man thought it was beautiful and asked a lot of questions. He was shocked when he found out it was older than his father and that I built. The little girl, probably 5, kept studying it and finally asked for a ride. I told her didn't have a helmet to fit her and sat her on the bike. She asked what everything was, did what she could to try the controls, and touched everything (lots of fingerprints to clean up). You should have seen her face when I started it and let her "varoom" it (her term).

Then, I went to the nearest gas station. A lady at one pump and man at another both came to look at it and ask questions. The lady had an idea that t was old, and the man just thought it looked "cool". They both knew there was something different about it and neither had heard of Norton.

I get lots of this, but rarely from others who ride. It may be that they think old bikes are silly.
 
Kinda sad when it's non-bike people that want to visit. I do have to say when that's the case
for me, most of them say they have never heard of our brand. I admire inquisitive people though,
and will gladly visit about it if they have taken the time to want to know.
 
My experience is similar, Greg. Though the bikers I ride with (mostly Harleys) all seem to admire old Brit iron. Maybe because mine has a lot of bling :)
I've had other riders pull up along side to give me a nod or a thumbs up. One day as I pulled into a parking lot a young fella on a rice rocket and wearing matching leathers rode in behind me, gave the Norton a good looking over and said "Dude! I could so rock that!"
Umm.. I think it was a compliment.
 
1977years said:
O.K., perfect riding day here in S.E. Iowa USA yesterday, a benefit ride was scheduled for a 30 year young chap with a
brain tumor. His father has ridden for sometime, but I only met him once several years ago. Three of my friends had
stopped by Friday late afternoon that turned into late in the evening. They were trying to convince me to join up on
the ride as the route the group was taking would be coming down the main road heading south round noon time. I am
not keen riding in a huge herd of people that I don't know, I.e., (their experience) I'm primarily a solo rider 99% of
the time. And these days, it's enough of challenge to go for a ride and not encounter some idiot cage driver not
paying attention, distracted by their phones. I decided I would join up til the first stop at least to visit
with my mates, and avoid them trashing me the next time I saw them for not showing up. I got on the Commando
and awaited the coming thunder at the corner. Quite a showing, a good 125 or more, the guys I knew were up front as the one had helped coordinate the ride. Pulled out and caught up quickly.
Our first stop was a 25 mile ride. By the time we got the bikes parked quite a few were in the bar, and it had to be
packed inside, I never did see my pals, as I didn't go into the sea of people. I opted for a different pub, and went
in and got a soda, came back outside and hung with the Norton. There were still plenty of people just milling about.
Most of them in very clean, new looking shiny leather, and newer Harley-Davidsons. I noted a few BMW's and a smattering
of Japanese branded sport bikes. That was about it for taking the census of brands. Not one person stopped to b.s. with
me. There was one guy standing in my vicinity, and appeared to be in his mid-20's. I certainly wasn't there to wow people
with my bike, or expected it, but I thought just maybe there were people that would at least discuss it, being it was
obviously the oldest (oddest ?) thing on two wheels there. NOPE. So I turned to the young man and announced I was
totally in the minority. He responded by saying "how's that SIR ?" I said, I'm the only one on a British bike, and most
certainly the only one with a kick-start ! He said, You are probably right, SIR. I told him furthermore, if I had decided
to ride my '74 Super glide, (bought in March, 1980) I would have been the only one a shovelhead there ! (I'm not convinced
that he even knew what that was...) I decided I had had enough, kicked it once, and out of there. The bike had run flawlessly running 70, while in the pack,
it almost felt like I could have really given it the "onion" and passed the whole group. No one asked what it was, how old
it was, nothing. Now I can see how the attitudes come about concerning "Harley riders". Back in the day guys I rode
with, on shovels and panheads, Triumphs and BSA's, and some Japanese brands were not 'snobs', they just liked all
bikes, as long as Your knees were in the breeze. Now, it's all about the newest, shiniest (chrome won't get You home),
and the general attitude seemed to be if not on an H-D, You ain't S*%#. Kind of eye-opening, they don't have a clue
of what riding was like 30 or 40 years ago. Or seem to care. Plus, I'm guessing the majority of them are screwed if
they have an issue and have to take them to a dealer to get "plugged in" for a diagnosis...all of my bikes among​
several in the stable, manufactured from 3 different companies, are kick-start equipped, along with points and a condenser.
Don't get me wrong, new bikes have their place for sure, and I guess I can understand those that can afford to have
a newer bike to just jump on and go. The purist in me cannot, however. Worn, non-shiny leathers and all......
dinosaur....
Click to expand...

The reason no one chose to interact with you is because they were intimidated by an old timer riding one of motorcycle history's most distinctive and desirable creations.
Indeed, the surrounding crowd was both jealous and wary of one who is able to keep a 50+ year old motorcycle in reliable, safe running shape that effortlessly keeps up with their newer 2-wheeled bling AND is able to do so without paying some mechanic $110 an hour to keep it on the road.
They WISH they could be from the Cretaceous period as you are.
Dinosaurs rule!!
 
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Sounds like it was for a good cause.

I'm allergic to people, so don't participate in group rides.

Back in the 90's I went for a ride on the California coast with a Harley owner. We stopped somewhere South of Carmel in a parking lot in front of a restaurant. The Harley guy was crestfallen because my old Norton got all the attention, and nobody talked to him with his shiny Harley. I don't ride a Commando though, so maybe that's why. :rolleyes:

Oh yeah, I was not a dinosaur or a purist at the time. I am a dinosaur now, but still not a purist. I'm a motorcyclist.
 
Hmmm, I hadn't considered either of those Lineslinger and Gene, You may be onto somethin'
there....!
 
I have a Mk3- engined feet forward custom, which from the front looks a bit like a big scooter ( big fairing), so I get almost nobody asking about the motor, and very few prepared to ask what the rest of it is. This is in the UK, and I suspect that people are nervous of asking open ended questions when they see something that isn’t in an obvious category. The most common remark is usually an insult about the appearance.....
When riding, riders coming the other way rarely bother to move their head to show they have even noticed something unusual.
 
I rode motorcycles on public roads from about 1958 to 1969, then I went road racing. My road bikes were never reliable because I was always 'continually improving ' them. My whole life has been about development, both professionally and in my hobbies.
I am a member of a vintage Japanese motorcycle club. It's members are all very pleasant people. At the last meeting, I was talking to an ex-pat British person. He told ne that while he was in the UK, he rode his motorcycle to a housing estate where many people were on welfare. Some kids were looking at his bike and admiring it. He suggested to one kid that he should save-up and buy one. The kid said 'why should I buy a motorcycle when I could steal one'.
I pointed out to the guy, that kids in housing estates do not usually have fathers who provide back yards which have sheds in them.
While was at secondary school, i always had two jobs after school. Buy the time I was 18, my father's shed had 10 motorcycles in it. Back then, you could buy them for almost nothing. My first two motorcycles were given to me. - a Triumph 250 side valve and an Indian 500. I have had about 8 Triumph 650s, if you count all the engine and frame swaps.
 
I once rode a Heritage Soft-tail Harley. It did not do anything which a real motorcycle should. But it sounded really great. My friend has them and he says 'they eat the miles'. I have only ever ridden one modern Japanese bike - a VFR 400 Honda. It was excellent. However it was speed limited to 180 KPH and I did not know it. I was wondering why it would not go any faster. It was getting around moderately tight bends with great ease.
 
My 20 something son bought a Harley Sportster in the nineties and we'd ride the backroads together on weekends.
Two great quotes he gave my wife when we returned:
"Everywhere we go, everybody wants to talk to the old man about his Norton"
"I couldn't keep up with the old man"
How fast were you going?
"About 100"
I heard about that afterward.......

Invariably, something usually broke on his Harley during every ride....
He'd moan, "Once again, I'm the one limping home"
 
Just returned from a ride on my 1950 ES2 - absolutely beautiful day . While riding happily along at 55 , which it will do all day long I was passed by a small group of Harley riders . The guy out front smiled and gave a thumbs up as he passed but the rest would not even turn their heads . Caught up with them in traffic and passed most of them . The mommas on the back smiled but their men folk wouldn’t even make eye contact. What’s up with these guys ?
Hard to conceal my smirk …
 
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