Confirmation that I am a dinosaur of a biker

I didn't know what the term meant. Apparently you didn't either, but that didn't stop you from using it.
Now you do know, If you think it's OK, just ignore me, carry on. There is also a Forum ignore feature that can be used.

There are ladies present , we don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable here …. Have noticed Some of the jokes lately have been sorta not for all , maybe a bit too racy ….

MexicoMike said:

"for whatever reason we choose to own a Norton, it’s not because we are being hoodwinked by some slick marketing campaign"

Of course we are! It's just that the marketing campaign happens to be from 50 years ago!
1975-norton-commando-roadster-sexy-babe.jpg

Click to expand...

The Norton has weathered the passage of time better than the rider, I suspect.

Craig said:

There are ladies present , we don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable here …. Have noticed Some of the jokes lately have been sorta not for all , maybe a bit too racy ….

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Hmmm,
I really have lost the plot here with references to ‘split tail’. I certainly have not heard of it before. Not sure of it’s intent in this context.
Yes, British bikes in particular used overtly sexualised images of woman to flog their bikes. Whilst it would be a little blatant to be acceptable today (advertising executives just have to be a little more subtle), it was in keeping with culture of the time.
I would however make the two points
1) We all seem to be very precious here today,
2) In 2022 it does seem rather politically incorrect to suggest that the ‘ladies present’ are less robust or more prudish than the males or perhaps have a poorer understanding of their anatomical structure.
Obviously we expect respect for all on this worthy forum and wish to cause offence to none but I’m not sure than undue prudery is really necessary on a forum celebrating a 50 year old bike that was an integral part of the powerful 70s counterculture .
As for racy? I must have missed that one. The Harley going like a cut cat was the raciest thing I’ve seem so far.
I think I can safely say we’re (almost) all adults here, a little humour never goes astray.
Perhaps as an Australian I’m out of touch with the morals (hate that word) and social norms and customs of members from other countries but I have not encountered the slightest cause for offence anywhere on this forum.
Just my opinion.
regards all
Alan

worntorn said:

I didn't know what the term meant. Apparently you didn't either, but that didn't stop you from using it.
Now you do know, If you think it's OK, just ignore me, carry on. There is also a Forum ignore feature that can be used.

Click to expand...

If the definition returned by google is on the internet it must be true. I'm not smart enough to believe everything I read on the internet. I know what it means to me and have for decades. It is not derogatory in my mind regardless of what google returns in a query. I did change it to protect the hearts and minds of the overly sensitive individuals.

Split Tail Swallow is my reference, and in fact even more derogatory if cherry picking the negative things to mention.

Oh, and I knew Harley made more than one model decades before you had to tell me.

Not planning to ever ignore anyone on the interweb.

The problem with todays world things have change, to the better I don't know and words that were use long ago aren't with todays words, me I think things are going to far, can't comment on a well dress lady/girl, they get upset for opening doors for them if they are behind me, some still like it but some don't but hey that's me, its the way I been bought up and to show respect, + I do it for anyone, we can't make comments without upsetting someone, call me old fashioned but times have changed and in my eyes not for the best, but offending others seem to be the norm these days and changing names that might offend some from foot ball stands to towns and suburbs and change kids stories that we all grew up with just because a few words offend, the world has changed in our attitudes and a lot have become soft, I could say we all become soft co.ks but I might upset some, so I won't say it, here in Aussie land I hear more fowl mouths from women than males and if we say the same things we get hammered for it, young kids today have no respect for others except for themselves, parent have no control no more, if we did any thing wrong when we were kids we good a good belting for it, I still respect my parents for my wrong doings and these days you can't even raise your voice to them and no wonder the kids are running amuck, youth crime here is getting out of hand and when they get caught, they get off because they had a bad upbringing, what a load of BS the only bad upbringing they had was hang around others who think they had it all bad.
Well I am not changing for no one as I am already a good person with old values, its the way I was bought up, if I upset anyone, I don't mean to, but I won't take crap from no one, I treat others the way I like to be treated, nothing more and nothing less.
To get respect you got to give respect and politeness goes a long way, well in my books anyway.

Ashley

I was just sayin’ …. Boys !

ashman said:

To get respect you got to give respect and politeness goes a long way, well in my books anyway.

Ashley

Click to expand...

Exactly Ashley !

I too get pissed off with the overly politically correctness of today and this culture of being offended, at everything, constantly (or so it seems).

In the ‘good old days’ this wasn’t a thing… we were just much more respectful and polite.

Then I kinda realise that things aren’t as different as they first seem today, in my youth the ‘rules‘ were also very complex, whether that was in polite society or in the school playground!

But whatever your take on it all, respectfulness and politeness goes a long way, today just as it did then. It doesn’t cost anything, it never hurt anyone, and it just makes the world and easier / better place. And for the majority of us it’s fairly clear what that means, and when it’s not in play.

Sites like this work a lot better when respect and politeness is the norm. Simple as that really.

This thread was far more interesting when y’all were slagging off Harley’s though…

• Thursday at 10:52 AM
• 
  
• #8

Another thread gone off into the weeds just the way god planned it.

Ha Ha ! Schwany !
Maybe.
As the original author of the initial diatribe, (never expected replies to reach 100)
I've sat back and watched the evolution of it.
As it's been 1 week to the day today...
I'm reminded of a grade school activity, at
maybe 7 or 8 years old. My class was small, maybe 19 or 20 of us young hooligans.
We all sat in a row and the first hooligan had the teacher whisper something in his or
her hooligan's ear. They then proceeded to whisper what was said to them to the next
one, etc., on down the line. By the time it reached the final hooligan, it was the complete
antithesis of the original statement. Now, don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed it, checking
in incrementally, and watched it develop.
My comments and observations were meant to be more about the lack of curiosity among "bikers" where
gathered, and a major brand from motorcycle history. But perhaps some of my cynicism is I AM
seriously in the minority, when it comes to having a group of my own kind of mature hooligans
to hang out with, help out doing a project , let alone RIDE with. My main pal is 72,
can no longer ride, muscular dystrophy in his shoulders. but had ridden for years.
He was over for a visit couple days past, He understood my points I strived to make.
Then another has a later Triumph, but he has moved a few miles further away,
so don't see much of him, other than him, no other Brit-bikes,( running; anyway) that I know
of in the entire county. Then of course, the one that helped organize that run that day. Totally into HD, and has been for years. Somehow, crazy for iron head kick start Sportsters, and knows them well. Then, of course, those that are no longer on the earth.
I've always run in a small circle, it's gotten alot smaller. Whatever the case, I will ride as long
as the Lord let's me, I don't care if they wave, they don't wave. Getting Your knees in the breeze,
in my opinion is all that matters. I know I did, yesterday. Only bout 25 miles round trip into town and
back. I had 5 stops to make. When I went to leave each place it fired right up
on the first kick every time. That gave me alot of self satisfaction, and hey, that's a good thing.
I still keep everything spot on with those dual points in that dreadful early placement inside
of the timing chest, below the right carburetor !!!
I had thought right after the original post, may be I should have labeled it
the dinosaur and his dinosaur bike... I don't really think of it as that. At 53 years old, owned
since '77, and me
at 61 y.o., we're just aging well together. I've cared for it, and it's cared for me.
Life is oh so brief, I took a hiatus from this forum, all the forums motorcycle related, on August
29th last year...(I always wondered if I had signed out of this one that weekend !) I lost my
very beautiful 29 y.o. daughter to an eating disease she had battled for years. You are not
supposed to outlive Your child. I would not wish that on ANYONE. I am not announcing this for
sympathy, She is with her Lord, in a much better place than our world has become. I will
see her again. My point is life is brief, enjoy or beasts from the wonderful "Britazoic period"
we are all temporary caretakers of them and deserve the best we can do to keep them on the road.
I had picked up my wide glide front end (I needed an axle made for it) that Thursday
from a machinist to begin surgery that weekend on my Super glide.
It had laid under a blanket in the corner of my shop since then. The past few months, my
bikes have been my therapy, once again, there for me. The operation was very therapeutic,
and got me excited about riding all of my bikes again.
Tacking on a picture of it post-op. Now, it's a Super Wide Glide. I'm pleased with it.
Make all the cracks You want about an H-D, nothin' slow about it, however.
It was stroked in 1985 from 74 cubic inches to
84 S&S get up and go inches.
My daughter loved it, and towards the end of her life,
a couple of weeks before, She asked me to take her for a ride. But She wouldn't have had
the strength to hold on. But I told her if She got herself turned around by fall maybe...
I knew the last ride I had taken her on was her last..
She loved the Commando as well. Admittedly it is my favorite....
Now, actively back on the forum(s),
and thank God for it, my "'virtual" bike mate pals. I thank You for all the help with my
2 wheels issues I've had. The more I frequent the site, the more I think I'm getting
to know You. Just wish there were more of You in my my 'real' neighborhood.
In all sincerity, this site has the most knowledgeable members of any I belong to.
Haven't checked to see if it's possible, but I'm thinking of a name change for
the forum. Never was overly pleased with my choice, but at the time there was a reason.
Thank You for Your eye time my friends, if You wanna accuse me of rambling, I would
understand, it's very late, or early, here.
Ride.

As a father of two daughters, that touches a nerve, I’m so sorry to read about your loss.

Thats a nice Shovel. It’s served you well as a motorcycle and as therapy. Ride it in the name of your daughter !

Good point about this and similar forums, as we become fewer, the virtual community will become more important.

Sorry to read of your loss.

As am I , take care , ride far ….

1977years said:

• Thursday at 10:52 AM
• 
  
• #8

Another thread gone off into the weeds just the way god planned it.

Ha Ha ! Schwany !
Maybe.

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"Maybe" indeed.

Forum politics aside

Very sad about your daughter.

Harley talk: I did enjoy riding the Harley I rode the one time. Don't know what model it was, but it was not one of the lighter weight models, and it was not an evolution motor. Came close to buying one for cruising, but I already had 7 bikes in the garage and one more would have meant I'd have to sleep out there. Wife said the Katana 1100, and '91 R100 Paris Dakar were enough cruiser bikes.

The owner of that Harley I rode was a big guy, and he would ride it with a small group of sporty bike types on occasion. It threw a lot of sparks going through corners, but he was fairly easy to get in front of. He was a lot older and bigger than that kid in the video. That kid I would not pass for fear he would lose control and take us both out. Let em go.

I finally figured out a few things (a dinosaur from the Brit-azoic era like me, sometimes it takes awhile)
There was a way to get a picture (from another file section) that was taken and sent to me on
my FLIP-PHONE () !
My wife, (2nd, shoulda been the first !), She was, is, a fantastic step -'Mum', took it the morning I was headed into town on the
Commando to make arrangements. I met my Son, and my Daughter's mother to put a period to the end.
But another riding season, is upon me, us. Praying for many more for all.
Ride.

Dave

attempt.

g

Schwany said:

"Maybe" indeed.

Forum politics aside

Very sad about your daughter.

Harley talk: I did enjoy riding the Harley I rode the one time. Don't know what model it was, but it was not one of the lighter weight models, and it was not an evolution motor. Came close to buying one for cruising, but I already had 7 bikes in the garage and one more would have meant I'd have to sleep out there. Wife said the Katana 1100, and '91 R100 Paris Dakar were enough cruiser bikes.

The owner of that Harley I rode was a big guy, and he would ride it with a small group of sporty bike types on occasion. It threw a lot of sparks going through corners, but he was fairly easy to get in front of. He was a lot older and bigger than that kid in the video. That kid I would not pass for fear he would lose control and take us both out. Let em go.

Click to expand...

Thank You. Regardless of the culture about HD, love 'em, hate 'em, or any other brand, IMHO, is they all have their place, in the history of our favorite mode of transportation. There's no denying Harley Davidson has had a MAJOR role. Sure as HELL has in mine,...buying it, needing lots of love from the previous owner,
3 years after buying my Commando. 1 year out of high school, circa 1980.
Ride

marshg246 said:

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.

Click to expand...

Greg,
I had the same experience but many years passed:
Regarding the gas station stops... a few(+5) years ago, I took a trip with my brother-in-law to Barber. He rode on a Honda 919. We did the Skyline/Blue ridge trail/ Smokey Mountains trip, and everyone we met, migrated to my Norton. when I was not around he was asked many times, who owned the Norton. He got tired of saying... he was the one who rode the other bike. My bike had the best gas mileage on that trip as well. despite the fact, the bike was 32 years older than the Honda. That was a long trip from Ontario, Canada to Birmingham, Alabama. 10 days round trip. It should be on your bucket list if you haven't been there yet. https://www.barbermuseum.org/
Cheers,
Tom

This Commando will vouch for that. It is getting over 60 miles per 4.5 litres and is a very economical vehicle . I waved at everyone today as we do ,although releasing the L.S handlebar while driving on the R.H. side of the road takes finesse as the bike becomes a wee bit biased.

Alan L said:

Hmmm,
I really have lost the plot here with references to ‘split tail’. I certainly have not heard of it before. Not sure of it’s intent in this context.
Yes, British bikes in particular used overtly sexualised images of woman to flog their bikes. Whilst it would be a little blatant to be acceptable today (advertising executives just have to be a little more subtle), it was in keeping with culture of the time.
I would however make the two points
1) We all seem to be very precious here today,
2) In 2022 it does seem rather politically incorrect to suggest that the ‘ladies present’ are less robust or more prudish than the males or perhaps have a poorer understanding of their anatomical structure.
Obviously we expect respect for all on this worthy forum and wish to cause offence to none but I’m not sure than undue prudery is really necessary on a forum celebrating a 50 year old bike that was an integral part of the powerful 70s counterculture .
As for racy? I must have missed that one. The Harley going like a cut cat was the raciest thing I’ve seem so far.
I think I can safely say we’re (almost) all adults here, a little humour never goes astray.
Perhaps as an Australian I’m out of touch with the morals (hate that word) and social norms and customs of members from other countries but I have not encountered the slightest cause for offence anywhere on this forum.
Just my opinion.
regards all
Alan

Click to expand...

Re this: for six years in late 70’s and early 80’s I was a single dad to my very young daughter. As such I was accepted as a sort of single mom and attended baby showers, kiddy birthday parties and such things where I was the only man. I learned that women are not gentlemen by being around their unguarded conversations.

Alan L said:

Hmmm,
I really have lost the plot here with references to ‘split tail’. I certainly have not heard of it before. Not sure of it’s intent in this context.
Yes, British bikes in particular used overtly sexualised images of woman to flog their bikes. Whilst it would be a little blatant to be acceptable today (advertising executives just have to be a little more subtle), it was in keeping with culture of the time.
I would however make the two points
1) We all seem to be very precious here today,
2) In 2022 it does seem rather politically incorrect to suggest that the ‘ladies present’ are less robust or more prudish than the males or perhaps have a poorer understanding of their anatomical structure.
Obviously we expect respect for all on this worthy forum and wish to cause offence to none but I’m not sure than undue prudery is really necessary on a forum celebrating a 50 year old bike that was an integral part of the powerful 70s counterculture .
As for racy? I must have missed that one. The Harley going like a cut cat was the raciest thing I’ve seem so far.
I think I can safely say we’re (almost) all adults here, a little humour never goes astray.
Perhaps as an Australian I’m out of touch with the morals (hate that word) and social norms and customs of members from other countries but I have not encountered the slightest cause for offence anywhere on this forum.
Just my opinion.
regards all
Alan

Click to expand...

As a young man I once supervised 40 ladies and I'll can tell you in all honesty they were worse than any men when it came to adult humour.