Dying breed
- Thread starter Frog
- Start date
Plus we now have drones that can be guided to their target without us having to "get off the couch". But true we are still killing each other for what? Basically the same things our ancestors killed for.
I can't think of anything I would kill for. Maybe a Manx Norton. But it would want to be in really great condition.
I can't think of anything I would kill for. Maybe a Manx Norton. But it would want to be in really great condition.
Hoofhearted said:
It's not that countries within the EU are happy to knuckle down, in fact the opposite is usually true, there is constant resistance to EU meddling, and often when laws are passed countries like Italy and France just ignore them. There is a growing movement for a referendum on the powers of the EU within many EU countries but most governments are reluctant to grant one as it would put an end to the EU vision. Most people in Europe want to remain independent and not become part of a United States of Europe, apart from some of the smaller countries such as Ireland who signed away their sovereignty recently.
A few weeks ago thousands of bikers blocked a government office that has been working on new anti bike proposals, twenty tons of gravel were tipped in front of the entrance, preventing anyone getting in or out.
I think the young un's have a far wider choice of thrill seeking sports than we had, which means there is less interest in road riding, trials and motocross is still very popular, but there seems to be a limitless amount of extreme sports. If anything I think the young un's are much more adventurous than my generation, and at least they are not doing it on public roads as we did, most of my mates had some nasty crashes in the late 70's, looking back now a parachuting or high diving might have been safer.CafeRacer650 said:
620dark
You can always get it running with time or money.
Hoofhearted said:
Oh, don't worry about the complications of fuel injection and electronic controls; I grew up with that stuff and it's second nature to me and my peers. Now carburetors, what the hell were you guys thinking? ;D Frickin' mechanical vacuum feedback metering devices - give me a solenoid controlled pintle valve and a 32 bit ECU with flash memory any day. It will tell me exactly where it hurts when something goes wrong and let me rewrite the fuel tables from my laptop while I BS with you guys.
Of course, learning how to tune carbs has been fascinating and the compactness of the system is nice....
Frog said:
Yes, there are still people starving in this world. But they're fewer in number (relative to total population, at the very least) than they were a few centuries ago. And while I won't say that we can't do more, it's nonsensical to say we haven't come very far. In the past century or two we've erradicated several diseased (Polio and Small Pox, anyone?). Where else in human history have we done that?
[quote author=Frog]As for cursing at demons, we still do, but the demons have changed, we hide in our mud huts (most modern homes are still made with wood and brick, which is no more than fired mud) cursing at islamic terrorists, pandemics, and the threat of nuclear/environmental destruction.[/quote]
B.S. A home built and engineered from milled wood and mass produced bricks, then heated using electricity powered by hydrogelectric dams over a hundred miles away is not the same as a mud hut slapped together with horse dung. It's not even close and to even attempt a comparison is dishonest, at best.
Furthermore, there is a keen difference between demonizing people and actually beliving in evil spirits. I imagine very few of us believe that famine and war actually ride horses, which can't be said for our hut-dwelling ancestors. Nuclear war and environmental destruction are concerns, yes, but they are not demons. They are man-made problems with man-made solutions. Nothing supernatural about it.
[quote author=Frog]We are no more enlightened or culturally and spiritually advanced than those that went before, in fact many of us are worse, despite the advantage of historical hindsight and advances in our knowledge.[/quote]
This is just plain wrong. I can see what you're trying to say, but that doesn't change the truth of the matter. We're no saints, but it's rare in the western world to rally the troops and invade your neighbor (when compared to what happened just a few hundred years ago). We've come along leaps and bounds from declaring holy wars and invading entire regions of the globe. And the crux of the issue is that all this is possible BECAUSE we've given up such crap as spirituality. Without fail, atocities are committed by the ignorant. If you want the world to be a better place, you do your best to stamp out ignorance and spread knowledge.
scottyfunj
Been Around the Block
I think this thread has strayed slightly from anything relating to "doing the ton."
scottyfunj
Been Around the Block
Seriously, shouldn't our bikes occupy every thought that enters our minds?
scottyfunj
Been Around the Block
Good point, so we're much better off now!
The production of Manx Nortons ceased in 1961. We have been in a dark period since.
scottyfunj
Been Around the Block
Good point
The world didn't end in 1961. It signaled another dark age. If the Mayans were such hot shit how come they walked everywhere? And the best thing they could come up with was an alleged calendar?
Returning to the point, I think it's important that anyone involved in biking should encourage youngsters and newcomers, sites like DTT play an important part in encouraging new blood. One of the problems in Britain is that youngsters usually start out on 125cc bikes and there is a tendency of older riders to look down or patronise riders of small bikes.
One instance I remember well, was when I stopped at a cafe on the A1, I heading down to London on a CZ 125, there were about twenty Harley's lined up, I park up take a look at the bikes and a guy walks over and says fancy one of these when you past your test? the fact that I was riding on a motorway, didn't register with him, and the fact that the CZ was fitted with a former speedway bike engine and would have blown most of those bikes away on the twisty bits certainly didn't.
I could have explained that I had been riding for over twenty years and had owned bikes of all sizes and makes, and that a Harley would be way down my wish list anyway, but all that came out was, don't be a c**t all your life. What really riled me was that the guy was probably the stereotypical accountant who has had a mid life crises, so he bought a bike. An overreaction I know, but I was getting fed up with comments such as, why have you wasted so much time and money customising a small bike? and a CZ at that. This is why I like DTT, there is no snobbery and a good build gets respect whatever the cc or make, excuse the rant, haven't manage to get out on the bike for some time, cabin fever setting in.
One instance I remember well, was when I stopped at a cafe on the A1, I heading down to London on a CZ 125, there were about twenty Harley's lined up, I park up take a look at the bikes and a guy walks over and says fancy one of these when you past your test? the fact that I was riding on a motorway, didn't register with him, and the fact that the CZ was fitted with a former speedway bike engine and would have blown most of those bikes away on the twisty bits certainly didn't.
I could have explained that I had been riding for over twenty years and had owned bikes of all sizes and makes, and that a Harley would be way down my wish list anyway, but all that came out was, don't be a c**t all your life. What really riled me was that the guy was probably the stereotypical accountant who has had a mid life crises, so he bought a bike. An overreaction I know, but I was getting fed up with comments such as, why have you wasted so much time and money customising a small bike? and a CZ at that. This is why I like DTT, there is no snobbery and a good build gets respect whatever the cc or make, excuse the rant, haven't manage to get out on the bike for some time, cabin fever setting in.
I rode for a little while in the UK and I got a similar feeling. I was on an SR 125 at the time, and on more than one occasion I had sport bikes tear past me (in the same lane, more often than not) at 100+. Pretty sure they did it because of the L plate. No other reason to be that close to someone at those kinds of speeds.
In the US we get a similar kind of thing, but it's usually from the HD riders. I've been asked not to join rides because my bike wasn't a Harley and the word, "motorcycle", is quite often synonymous with HD on this side of the pond.
In the US we get a similar kind of thing, but it's usually from the HD riders. I've been asked not to join rides because my bike wasn't a Harley and the word, "motorcycle", is quite often synonymous with HD on this side of the pond.
danejurrous
Been Around the Block
Interesting thread so far, just read through all the comments and posts. I guess you could say I am of the younger generation at the age of 26 and looking back to when I was much younger, seeing my dad ride around on the GS750 I know own, I cannot think of a time when I was not dreaming of having a motorcycle. People talk to me about my motorcycles all the time trying to determine why I am crazy enough to ride them with the people on the roads now a days and I think that amongst the current costs of owning/maintaining a motorcycle factor in the slow decline in enthusiasts and riders.
I completely agree with Sonreir I get a lot or flack from HD riders when buzzing around on my zooks and numerous times I have had some interesting discussions with those riders. Funny thing is my step father, whom has a HD, has received some undue tension with other HD riders for going riding with me, his son. I know this is not the mentality of all HD riders and have several good friends who own them. All factors included add to the decline from what I can see. Only thing we can do is help pass on the knowledge to the next generation to keep the dream alive. I take my nephews for rides and they come help me turn a wrench in the garage periodically so hopefully with correct guidance they too will enjoy the thrill of their own motorcycle.
I completely agree with Sonreir I get a lot or flack from HD riders when buzzing around on my zooks and numerous times I have had some interesting discussions with those riders. Funny thing is my step father, whom has a HD, has received some undue tension with other HD riders for going riding with me, his son. I know this is not the mentality of all HD riders and have several good friends who own them. All factors included add to the decline from what I can see. Only thing we can do is help pass on the knowledge to the next generation to keep the dream alive. I take my nephews for rides and they come help me turn a wrench in the garage periodically so hopefully with correct guidance they too will enjoy the thrill of their own motorcycle.
