-I don't think it's that we've lost the ability as such, more that it's so frowned upon (in comparison to many of our neighbours) in these pc times that overt pride is seen as shouting nationalism - and that's a no-no!. Anyway, apologies for diverting from the main element of the thread.

I think this PC thing is definitely part of it. As for changing the subject: No need! I'm as guilty as the next one on that count!!

__________________
Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)

sort of again but that whole stunt where they all flew spitfires into germany to challenge their german counter parts was pointless and stupid, and down right in-sensitive to glorify a weapon of war as a reason "we" are the best. I was deeply concerned when I read the synopsis for the Vietnam show, and thought it would be a load of Apocalypse Now/Platoon gags. I was glad to see it was a bit more tasteful, to the point where even the Hamster's military style helmet looked down right cool!

I guess "knocking" our neighbours in Europe and accross the rest of the world is part of what gives Britain pride. We used to be an empire dont ya know....yeah, who gives a f***!

I'm a Brit, I live in France (where incidentally Top Gear is hugely popular and even gets talked about in the motoring press), and I've had my fair share of mickey taken out of me, so I don't think it's in any way a British trait, to poke fun at the neighbours.

The British bit comes in feeling guilty for doing so afterwards.

__________________

yeah i guess your right. it winds me up sometimes as i do live in one of those nothern villages where there is little tollerence for different cultures.

back on topic though, how likely is the possibility of more bike trips/tests on our favourite motoring television show?

My point was not so much that mickey-taking takes place: I have no issue with that per se as its usually said in good humour and received likewise. Its when things are said to ridicule. Making the other look bad, in order to make one look good by default...

Taking isolated incidences is not very useful, its just an impression I'm left with... but an isolated example would be the Spitfire scene. That was not really appropriate IMO, not said in good humour etc.... it was designed to make the TG bunch look cool and ridicule the others IMO. I just think that is a bit of a crappy attitude....

Now ignore me and go back on topic: stop being so easily distracted!!

__________________
Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)

That article is funny in places but shows what a numbnut Clarkson really is. Unfortunately, there are a lot of misguided people who actually think he knows what he's talking about. His lack of knowledge is most obvious when discussing cars with guests on Top Gear who know more about the subject than he does! I do watch Top Gear but I stopped taking him seriously after his comment about putting cheesewire across a road to decapitate bikers riding near his home. Joking or not, does he not realise that people have actually tried this?

BTW, I'd love to see Clarkson riding a Ducati (slow steering, massive turning circle) around Monaco (very tight street circuit)! Did he drop it?

, and give us some more histerical roadtrips featuring a bunch of bummbling brits![/quote]

I'm almost a Brit and can bummble and often trip on roads. Anyone know how to get the BBC to pay me? Linzi.


See I'm so bummbling I can't quote proper like. Linzi

nah he didnt drop it but it was rather slow, and he admited he looked like a prat. bummbling brit was not a good descriptive phrase. i meant to say i want motorcycle TV shows to be gritty/crazy/'dan walsh'y rather than boring and samey like LWD and BAM.

I've had a look round the 'net for any footage but all I've found is stories that it was a 916, he did actually drop it (but not televised) and someone else may have actually rode the bike for some of the TV footage. Either way, it makes a mockery of him saying he's never been on a bike before.

Top Gear is ok as long as you look at it as entertainment and not as a serious motoring program. 5th Gear as better in content but not as entertaining. I love classic Alfa Romeo's and I just couldn't watch TG when they trashed the 75, classic Spider and modern GTV. The show they did with the Ferrari 308GT4, Maserati Merak and Lamborghini Urraco was near sacrilege too. The Maserati that Clarkson trashed was previously show condition and featured on the front cover of Classic and Sportscar, sometime in the late 80's/early 90's, incidentally it was in a back to back test against the Ferrari 308GT4. I still have that mag somewhere in the loft.

I agree with you about TV motorcycle shows being boring and samey. Even that Henry Cole guy who did "Riding Eastern Europe" did a crap effort. All he seemed to do is ride on motorways and bitch about the crew.

What I'd love to see a TV show about Nick Sanders RTW on the Yamaha R1. Saw Nick and his R1 at the NEC bike show last month. What a mess it was. The girl at the NEC handing out his flyers was obviously hired for her massive.. er.. personality

Year's back when I were but a wee lad, Cheryl Baker was still thin and Roy Castle still alive, Nick Sanders's first RTW was featured on Record Breakers, with a regular 5-10 minute slot each programme. Being far too young (and poor) I couldn't have a motorbike at the time, but I remember thinking, "One day, I want to do that".

I'd completely forgotten my first introduction to long distance biking till you posted that, thanks for bring it all back.

__________________

Like me, you'll also be the right age to remember watching this...

YouTube - junior kickstart

Compare that to the Teutul family building a "theme bike" for McDonald's or another random company, desperate to get their name on TV. No contest.

being even younger it was the biker mice from mars that got me into motorbikes, as well as that motorcycle chase from mission impossibe 2, oh and the who, that why i got a vespa first

Just watching Dave, (the TV channel, not a mate of mine) and saw what looked like a very young Clarkson, once again saying he can't ride a bike, comfortably negotiating his way through the 2 wheel MPV's that make up most of the traffic in Saigon. He was doing well and had a big cheesy grin on his face, but this time he was on a Honda Dream Scooter!

Funny that?

Chris

__________________
[/SIZE] "Live dangerously for as long as you can!"

Just shows how much of an act his tv persona is, i mean virtually anyone can ride a stepthru! And how badly has Mr C aged in the 8 years since then, absolutely shocking... But at least he's growing old disgracefully