-sounds like a bloody good idea to me ,Triumph should have made the Bonnie a bit more powerful in the first place .Who gives a toss what it looks like ?Most 60's cafe racers were bodges anyway .

__________________
Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

My son met a guy on the road who was riding "The Long Way Round" on a GS1150 ,following the same route that Ewan and Charlie took and wearing identical gear .The guy said that he wanted to do this ,so that he could tell the folks back home that he'd ridden the long way round !Sad ,very sad !

__________________
Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

I don't see this as sad necessarily ........... not original, but still, might be worth considering more details of the trip. Also (and no disrespect to your son) but the embellishment he may have added to the story to make it fit the usual anti E_C rant.

Damn I wasn't going to get drawn in - I don't even ride a bike!

__________________
Ollie

www.jollyfollies.com

Land's End to Sydney 2009

E and C were influential in getting me to take my bike test in the first place. I thoroughly enjoyed both trips (and have loved the Achievable Dream series); all of these have inspired me to travel by bike. The Hubb has been a great inspiration, and I'm looking forward to more Travel DVD's (Mondo enduro, et al). I've just met Sam Manicom at the NEC, and am looking forward to reading the book he signed for me (not to mention Jupiter's Travels I've also just bought). I enjoyed listening to and meeting Charlie and Sam Pavey on their Tour last year. On the back of all this, I've been to France, and I'm planning a wider tour of Europe this year and Africa next; who knows where in the future?

I suppose the point of this is that whatever we ride, however we (legally) ride them, where ever we ride and with whom (and wearing whatever we choose), we should celebrate riding in all its forms. It would appear that there's a decline in people taking their test here in Britain, and we should be grateful of anything that raises the profile of riding; we love it, and we like to share!

Whatever you're doing, have fun riding.

Why is it SAD ?

the chap is out riding a bike !

How many on here got into Bike's because they read Ted Simon's Book ?

same thing , something get's you into biking.

Do your own thing and don't worry about other's.


ps.. C and E did me a big favour, I had a old 1150 adventure with a sh1t load of miles on the clock and a old faded red Rally 2 jacket.

The TV show came out and the price of my bike went up a few grand so I sold it.
My 2 year old jacket went on ebay and sold for what I paid for it

I could do with them doing their next trip on XR400 and useing peugeot partners as a back up vehicle's.

I found Ted Simons book an inspiration as needing a compromise use every day/go anywhere bike I'd given up on trail bikes (too tall with a pillion). Starting to think along the lines than old GS's weren't that tall I recalled Jupiter was a barely modified Triumph road bike. Lo and behold a Hinckley that occasionally sports M&S knobblies much to the shock of the majority of fellow owners (note the word isn't riders!) and has done some great trips between bouts of taking me and occasionally the wife to work. I guess with my open lid, wax jacket and battered TT panniers on a Bonneville I look like a Ted Simon wanabee

The bloke following their route, on the same bike in the same gear gives me mixed thoughts. On one hand maybe he needs the knowledge that it can be done and once he gets over this little blockage he'll do his own thing? On the other hand one part of my head is screaming "stalker".

Does the rest of the world have 55 year old blokes crammed onto race replicas with their one peice leathers straining under the forces produced by 40 years of drinking , obviously thinking of Valentino Rossi as they wobble down the road? It's an odd phenomena IMHO, but each to their own and of course there are 55 year old real racers you'd only find out about if you got past the costume.

Andy

It is sad because it lacks originality , the guy had no thought other than to copy Ewan and Charlie .What did he get out of the trip ,other than bragging rights ?I doubt my son embellished the story .

__________________
Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

Dodger .... imagine the story was like this ......

John, who from the age of 7 was bullied because he never knew how to communicate with other children, spent his life crying and contemplating suicide, but was never brave enough to follow it through.

He worked in the local bank from the age of 16, and lived with his disabled father, who he looked after, for all his life. At work he continued to be bullied by the people who considered themselves cooler than others, but he continued to work because he knew no better.

When his dad died, clearing the house he found a copy of Long Way Round, and he watched it. From then he realised that his dad had dreamed of riding the world - he would follow.

Years later, he finally managed to ride his dream, decked in the same gear as Ewan and Charlie, and for the first time in his life real confidence.

Then in the bar he meets Dodger Jnr, who looks at him, listens to his story of wanting to follow E+C route, and sneers at him that he's not original enough.

In this story (not the truth and of course not the real dodger junior) there is only one sad person............

And of course you could think of a million different scenarios that this story could follow with the same meaning. To me, judging someone on such a simple, one dimensional part of someones life is sadder than copying Ewan and Charlie. After all, we have all, at some point wanted to be our heroes.

This is by no means a snipe at you or your son Dodger, simply trying to get you and others to be slower in judging people by one story, or set of clothes or bike.

All our back stories are different!!

Hic!

__________________
Ollie

www.jollyfollies.com

Land's End to Sydney 2009

Well said!

How much have you had to drink ?Draw up your own scenario if it pleases you ,but my son actually enjoyed speaking to him and his travelling companion and it wasn't in a bar .His companion was about to break company because the guy was obsessed with travelling the exact same route at the same pace and being in certain towns at the identical time as E and C .The companion wanted to enjoy his trip at leisure because he knew it was unlikely he would pass that way again and didn't appreciate being hastened ."Mr Long Way Round" also didn't like waiting for a slower bike .We make instant judgements the moment we clap eyes on people [whether we know it or not ].It's human nature .Whether we indulge our curiosity by asking questions of that person and whether we actually give a toss is the perogative of the individual and you'll never change that .You infer that I am a sad person from your comments , for that I thank you .I shall henceforth refrain from making judgement on any person untill I have heard every last detail of their life so far .But -wait a minute- you have judged me to be "sad" , we have never met ,or exchanged correspondence and I doubt you have ever seen my face .So how did you come by that conclusion ? Maybe it was from a one dimensional view of a small comment I made on this forum .As I am being non judgemental ,I shall try to understand .

__________________
Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

Aaaah, this story has brought a lump to my throat, tears to my eyes, and images of violins, played by angels in the background, are you by any chance a Social worker?
After reading your post I see E & C in a different light now, they remind me of the charactors in the Rolf Harris song 'Two little boys'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdbVogOKjUw Did the original inspiration come from you?

__________________
'He who laughs last, was too slow to get the joke'

Officially now in a minority living in London!

Dave you're right ,the song is so poignant and fitting that I now feel awful about criticising the poor orphan wearing the BMW clown suit .
I shall carry this burden for the rest of my life .
I only hope that I can be forgiven .
I look to Rolf to give me inspiration and hope I can change my ways ;
YouTube - Stairway to Heaven Rolf Harris

__________________
Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

OK Dodger - sorry to have upset you.

I'll leave this one to you, and get back to my social care .....

__________________
Ollie

www.jollyfollies.com

Land's End to Sydney 2009

ahhhhhh.. memories... (isn't that what this is realy about ?)

No sweat Ollie , just having a laugh .
I have been good for a whole day though .

Be kind to those in your care .

__________________
Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."