Triumphrat

Spota · 07-21-2005

I just joined this forum a day ago, allthough i have been enjoying it for a while. Great info here, thanx to you all!

As my first post i would like to share one of the things that has happened to me while enjoying my 03 BA.
I had it parked in front of my home, cleaning her up after some pretty hard weather, riding back from Madrid to Barcelona. I went up to my appartment to get some extra rags (and drink a beer). As i came back, i noticed an old man sitting a little farther, glancing at me while i was wiping the tubes. From time to time he gave an occasional grin. I was like "okay, my pretty Bonnie has made another fan, though of the wrong sex and way to old".
Next thing the guy stands up, leaning ona walking cane and he walks over. He asks me if the bike is mine. I was all ready to explain him about the BA and how great Triumphs are and how much I enjoy it, but before i had the time he tells me: "I'm 84, and was a motorbike mechanic most of my life. I serviced and sold Triumphs, Impalas, Bultacos and Nortons for many years back then. I was very surprised and thrilled to see one of these new models parked here, and that you young guys still dig those brilliant pieces of engineering. You made many memories come back to me..."
I was absolutely awed and honored of this old man's appreciation and intelligent comments. I made quick maths right there and thought: this guy was 18 in the Spanish civil war, i'm talking to living history, man!
What other bikes will get you to live this kind of encounters, wich generate the same amount of fidelity and appreciation?
It was one of those moments when you know you must have made something right when buying it!
:-D

lunus · 07-21-2005

And when you're 80 and there's this chap cleaning his Triumph you'll be able to tell him about the 80 year old chap who came up to you when you were cleaning yours. Then when that next chap is 80 ...

Lovely story,

Cheers

L.

OD6 · 07-21-2005

Great story, I get the same responce when I ride my
T-100, and stop somewhere, it's a great machine.

CarlS · 07-21-2005

Great story and welcome to the forum. Enjoy that ride!

dazco · 07-21-2005

Nice story. I was detailing my speedmaster a week ago and was suprised when a little old Armenian man with a heavy accent and probably 75 or so strolled by walking his dog and stopped to compliment my bike. You could tell he had no idea whats what as bikes go, but he was just impressed with how beautiful it was. You know it's a nice machine when you get compliments from types who otherwise wouldn't even take a second look for lack of interest in motorcycles. I shoulda taken him for a spin......then he'd REALLY have been impressed ! :-D

Grandpaul · 07-21-2005

Welcome to the forum.

ponycorn · 07-21-2005

I had a similar situation when an old man who used to ride a BSA Goldstar talked it up with me at a rest area for a while.

He was happy there were still motorcycles made the way they ought to be made, etc.

He made a coment about how he's glad someone still rides a bike that sounds like a motorcycle should. I felt a bit embaressed though because I still have my stock pipes and I don't think he had heard me pull in.

cal6n · 07-21-2005

I was cleaning my Bonnie today and had a similar conversation. An old boy was looking longingly at my bike and we got talking. He was reminiscing about thrashing his Rudge (with a 4 valve head, no less) up and down the A23 before WWII. I guess it's pretty much universal.