Funny Story

[sportsprint]

I think this is funny. Maybe some of you might also.

I recently bought a new GT Sprint. I have had it less than 2 weeks. My wife used to ride with me, but she fell off a couple of years ago and got hurt. She no longer wants to ride a motorcycle.

As a result of my new GT, what to do with my old Sprint?? It's well over 100,000. It has some carb issues. I feel it's almost unsellable.

I have this biker buddy down the street. Looks like Paul Senior. Rides a huge Harley. Even president of a biker group.

I am not sure why this guy even talks to me, but he does. On my silver GT, I am sure I am the opposite looking of a hard-core biker.

Last weekend, I showed him my new GT. I thought he might appreciate it, but when around biker types, you just never know. He did look it over some.

He asked me what I am doing with my old Sprint?? I said I am trying to give it away. Maybe to a bike shop that doesn't mind working on it.

He asked me what's wrong with it?? I said "Nothing. As long as you want to push start it".

There is something wrong with the carbs. Several people told me they have experienced similar issues with bikes with extreme mileage on the Keihins. I told my buddy I just would not feel comfortable trying to sell a motorcycle that won't even start.

A couple of days later, he came back to my house. He said he knows a guy who has access to a lot of Japanese bikes with the same Keihins. So, I signed the title to him and gave him the bike.

Two days later, he got to wondering what riding this bike was like?? It's an older 885. He and his wife pushed it down the hill and he jumped on. It started exactly like I said it would.

Now, this is a hard-core biker. Those "1%'ers" that wear colors and everything.

He came to my house with a HUGE smile on his face!! I still never know when I meet him if he will shake my hand or start a fight. He said the 885 was amazing. So smooth. Extremely fast!! And so easy to ride. Like nothing he has ever ridden.

No, I won't let him on my GT. I think this bike would put him into brain over-load!!

Then, he said his wife sat on the Sprint. She wants it fixed so she can ride it. I am confident all it needs is a new set of carbs. It just runs perfect.

He told me she went and ordered a BUNCH of Triumph stuff on line. T-shirts, bandanna's, and what not. She is toally in love with this new Triumph they acquired.

He has an older broken Harley he wanted her to ride. It's going to be very expensive to fix it. His wife wants the Triumph!! She won't even consider the HOG anymore.

What have I done?? Can you imagine any hard-core biker after years and years on HOG's and suddenly a bike like this???

When I go by their house, it seems the Triumph is mostly gone. Someone is out riding it!!

J

[zelatore]

Good story. Sounds like the guy did what a lot of American guys do - when they think of a "motorcycle" they only think of a Harley. Those 'crotch rockets' (meaning anything not a Harley) never get a thought. Once he bought into the lifestyle, he was in a group of like-thinkers so he may well have never ridden anything else and likely wouldn't ever have. So he just never knew what else was out there.

Sounds like you've opened his eyes! Well played! Now try to resist telling him just how far things have come from that old 885(!)

[Yak1050]

That is funny! I'd let him try the GT and see if he resigned as president of the harley club!

[vitesse]

Deep deep inside every huge hogmeister there is a fun littler guy who is simply afraid to come out as his faux machismo may be questioned by his tribe.
The conformity committee of rebel non conformists.

[Allworld]

Now all they need is to figure out how to cover it in chrome.

[thap8riot]

Originally Posted by zelatore

Good story. Sounds like the guy did what a lot of American guys do - when they think of a "motorcycle" they only think of a Harley. Those 'crotch rockets' (meaning anything not a Harley) never get a thought. Once he bought into the lifestyle, he was in a group of like-thinkers so he may well have never ridden anything else and likely wouldn't ever have. So he just never knew what else was out there.

Sounds like you've opened his eyes! Well played! Now try to resist telling him just how far things have come from that old 885(!)

That's so true about anything not a Harley being a crotch rocket. A Harley guy recently told me he looked at a new triumph race bike at the showroom. He said it was a fully faired, race ready 1200. I tried to explain to him delicately that the only bike Triumph makes that is used on the race circuit is the Daytona and its a 675. He kept insisting so I just nodded my head and went along knowing full well he was probably talking about the Trophy. Oh well.

[XL1200R]

I've owned a couple Harleys, probably will again at some point. There are some things they do very well. But, you are correct in that many of the "hardcore" guys are rather closed-minded.

[sportsprint]

I revisited my hard-core biker buddy last night. He is just totally in love with my 885 Sprint!!

J

[triplestrength]

Those 885motors will go on and on my trophy has 130k miles on it and still rides fine, I brought a low mileage trident that was an MOT failure for parts for it but barely used anything yet, well done you!

Sent from my GT-I9100P using Motorcycle.com Free App

[buicknick72]

Next time you're giving away motorcycles let me know!!!

I had a Harley guy once say that his 1200cc sportster was faster than my 81 CB750F because his speedo went to 120mph, and mine only went to 85mph.