Put a little English back into it please

Today I was tire kicking at the Triumph store. They had a used 2015 Norton 961 with 300 miles on it on the front line.
Thinking of taking it for a test, there was an English gentleman in front of me waiting to try it on.
I asked him if he would mind grabbing the bars on my 71 for luck and just to put a" little English back into it". He was kind enough to oblige.
He got kind of a starry eyed look an said " this really takes me back". It was a nice moment and I think the bike is just a little faster.
Eh, I didnt wait to try out the bike, wish I had.

Nice story.

A few months back I was in the local super market foraging for dinner choices; I was wearing my "Made in England" Norton "T" shirt. An older lady (about my age) walked up to me and said that she was impressed that someone still valued English motorcycles, her accent as pure Kensington. Turned out that her late husband rode Nortons and Triumphs and that she, frequently, rode pillion. She thanked me for carrying the torch, took a business card from me, seemed lost in thought, then vanished like a shooting star (not BSA)...

Surprising how many ex English gentlemen motorcyclest are around, nearly every time I am out on the Norton they seem to come out from nowhere, but I always find the time to talk to them, once a lady pulled me up in the shop to ask me a favor, I was the only one wearing a black leather jacket in the shop so wasn't hard to work out who owned the Norton outside, her hubby decided to stay outside the shop hoping to see me kick the Norton to life, she told me it was his birthday in a few days time and ask if I could come around on the day and take him for a ride, no worries I said.
On the day he was sitting on the front veranda having a cuppa when I came around the corner, his ears popped up as I gave it a hand full (my Norton is very loud when up it) and was surprised when I pulled up, when he came to the front gate to see what was going on I just handed him the spare helmet and leather jacket, I said come on jump on, you should have seen his face.
I took him for a good ride and was surprised how well he was on the back, we were gone for a good hour before we got back, he didn't want to get off, you couldn't wipe the smile off his face and told me later it was the best present he has ever had, his wife wanted to give me some money but I couldn't take it, we became good friends after that, but he pasted away a few years later but he always talked about that day, I still get a xmas card from his wife every year.

Ashley

What a fantastic story, you're one of the good ones mate

Good man Ashley, great story.

I have always respected the olded people and any older gentlemen who use to ride British motorcycle, you be surprise that they can tell you a few hints as well or how they did things in the old days, he was the one that told me how to stay warm while riding in cold winter nights "keep your kidney warm and your whole body stays warm" one of the best advices he ever told me and I tell you it works.
Kids of today have no respect for the elderly, they only think of themselfs, I was taught very young to respect my elders and I hope I got through to my own kids about that one.

Ashley