Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Chat Forum > The HUBB PUB
The HUBB PUB Chat forum - no useful content required!

BUT the basic rules of polite and civil conduct which everyone agreed to when signing up for the HUBB, will still apply, though moderation will be a LITTLE looser than elsewhere on the HUBB.
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 17 Feb 2010
mj's Avatar
mj mj is offline
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 303
Is it just me or has the world gone crazy?

I just made the terrible mistake of returning to a BMW GS forum and actually reading a few topics posted there. It's not new to me that users there seem to be more concerned with looks of their superdupermegaexpensive bike & gear than anything else. After all that was one of the reasons why I swore never to return. However, some have managed to take it to the next level by actually asking about how to maintain, service, clean and polish their panniers (!!!!) so they still look new after two or three years. I actually had to read it twice to realize they were really talking about aluminium panniers, and how some GS riders seem to clean and polish them together with their bike after every rideout... now, the crazy thing was not somebody asking that question but the fact that immediately he received several answers how others do it, what they use to keep their panniers new and shiney, etc.

Out of interest I kept reading and looking for older threads, and realized that either the world around me has gone crazy or I have. Granted, there were no wannabe adventurers among the freakazoids (for those not getting this reference I'm referring to Ted's rant about wannabe adventurers in the Charley & Ewan thread) but your regular sunday-afternoon-ice-cream-parlor-posers who obviously need a fully equipped brand-new GS Adventure for that dangerous all-paved 2km trip from the heated garage (no kidding, there's people who actually have a heated garage for their GS so it won't "freeze"...) to the local strip.

Am I crazy for not having a heated garage, for not cleaning and polishing my bike after every rideout and for not being concerened about the looks of my Tesch aluminium panniers? What happened here, has it always been like that? I'm new to the GS world and used to ride a '89 Tenere until last November, so this is all very unfamiliar to me.
__________________
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to skid across the line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, shouting GERONIMO!"
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 17 Feb 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Nottingham UK
Posts: 227
It's along the same lines as that ikea/apartment theory from the film fight club.

Consumerist society is close to reaching the appalling but inevitable outcome - Where people devote 100% of their time, interest and energy to their possessions, rather than to doing things.


It's the whole root and nature of 'first world' society, culture and history that is to blame.
__________________
UK to Mongolia 2009, on a DR350
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 17 Feb 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 1,377
Why do you care about what other people do with their bikes??
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 17 Feb 2010
AliBaba's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Norway
Posts: 1,379
Couldn't care less.

If people want to polish their panniers, collect stamps or read books that's fine by me. Having a hobby is healthy and if it can make people get out of the sofa and do something with their hands it's excellent.

People have washed and polished their bikes and cars more or less for 100 years. It's nothing new with that, just like the need of don't understanding other peoples hobbies.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 17 Feb 2010
mj's Avatar
mj mj is offline
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 303
Don't get me wrong, I really don't care what they do in their free time. It just struck me as odd, that's all.
__________________
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to skid across the line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, shouting GERONIMO!"
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 17 Feb 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: North Lakes - UK
Posts: 159
Is it really suprising? When you pay top dollar for something that you are not really using to it's full ability, then it makes sense to keep it in tiptop shape to retain the resale value, so when everyone jumps ship to the new Super Tenere (aparently to be shown in Turkey this month) they can sell it all, and buy nice new overpriced stuff for the Yamaha...

Personally, I preffer the 'used' look, less apealing to the toerags than nice shiney ones.

Each to their own though.


Curiously though, how do you service a metal box?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 17 Feb 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 1,377
Well, you cared enough to look at a bunch of threads about it and then post here, so... In any event, just let it go--the bottom line is that some people are just like that, and if you don't like it you don't have to deal with them, speak with them, or, ahem, read their posts.

I'm sure your Tenere was a great bike, as are the GSs, whether or not you polish your panniers.

But there are plenty of BMW bashers on this site, and I'm sure that we'll hear from some of them with all of the usual crap.

Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 17 Feb 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,598
It is very easy to go down the slippery slope.
This year I have finally bought myself a £100 nice shiny primus omnifuel stove to replace my ten year old £10 gaz stove. Also a new sleeping bag! Not content with that I have finally bought a satnav. My excuse for this is that I intend to cook a little more instead of just heating food and hope the satnav will guide me through some cities as I try to avoid paying at the peages.
I am even contemplating buying a new camera on the excuse that I have my first grandchild expected in June!
I do plan to stick with the Enfield but never say never
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 17 Feb 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Oslo, Norway
Posts: 521
I have a heated garage. What's wrong with that?
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 17 Feb 2010
Mickey D's Avatar
Moderated Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: California
Posts: 501
Motorcycle "Adventure Travel" is a relatively new mass market phenomenon, in part set off by the recent Ewan & Charley "Long Way Round" films. This combined with slick marketing from BMW has brought thousands of new "Adventure Riders" jumping on board. Many are first time riders, most are fairly comfortable and apparently have free time to post in silly threads and share bike and pannier polishing tips.

Hey, everyone has to start somewhere, whether its polishing panniers on their $20,000 starter bike in their heated garage or setting off RTW on a Postie bike. Takes all kinds.

BMW forums vary widely too. You can easily find one that is suitable to your "style", from the acerbic, sarcastic ADV Gspot to various BMW club forums like OTL and dozens of others.

New riders will naturally go through a learning curve and for sure changes will happen as time and riding miles go by. Look at the thousands of BMW riders on ADV who came in as BMW believers and in 6 months were "experts". Most never rode out of the USA and some had very limited riding experience before getting a new GS. Funny thing is how many of these same guys have now bailed out on the BMW and gone over to new kid KTM and their trendy 990 Adventure, SE or 690 bikes.

Most of this crowd will never be travelers like seen on HUBB and most would never ride their KTM (or BMW) anywhere solo to dangerous places.
Hey, at least they are riding and keeping the industry going and hopefully banging up the panniers some.

So levels of commitment vary. As do levels of wealth and ability to trick out your bike or take off on a year long ride somewhere. So the GS is flavor of the week for a few years and now something else takes it's place. Next year, somebody else may take over the Adventure Crown.

Some guys like dicking with old bikes and some want brand new ones. Some like driving side hacks and others like Enfields' or old bMWs or ancient British things.

But around here it seems to be that travel is central reason as to why riders hang out on HUBB. All the rest is fluff. Lots of ways to skin a Cat. Hey, my lawn mower is a two stroke!

Last edited by Mickey D; 17 Feb 2010 at 22:28.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 17 Feb 2010
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,654
Quote:
Originally Posted by mj View Post
Out of interest I kept reading and looking for older threads, and realized that either the world around me has gone crazy or I have. Granted, there were no wannabe adventurers among the freakazoids (for those not getting this reference I'm referring to Ted's rant about wannabe adventurers in the Charley & Ewan thread) but your regular sunday-afternoon-ice-cream-parlor-posers who obviously need a fully equipped brand-new GS Adventure for that dangerous all-paved 2km trip from the heated garage (no kidding, there's people who actually have a heated garage for their GS so it won't "freeze"...) to the local strip.
Don't blame me LOL !!!

I have no problem with the wannabees who are on the path to becoming "doers" We all have to start somewhere. I was wet behind the ears and bought all the bling when I started out too.

I just get wound up with the ones who are going blatently going nowhere with a load of bullsh*t excuses but still try and walk the walk and talk the talk... It's so fake and lame. I have no time for false people.

Too harsh ???????

OK, rant over !!
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 25 Feb 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 194
Not Just a Bike or BMW Thing?

Maybe it’s not just a BMW thing but a German one?

There’s quite a few on a certain forum I frequent who drool over abominations such as this thing


Some days I laugh (some on there you can have a laugh with, others get abusive) some days it doesn’t bother me and I take no notice…………..BUT when these “experts” start pontificating about how you need ORC this (just replace Tourat*** by the sound of it) , heavy duty that, blah blah and how "superior" all this stuff is
it can get a bit irritating.
Takes all sorts and all that, but I don’t really want to be tainted by association because I have and use a distant cousin to one of these.
Attached Thumbnails
Is it just me or has the world gone crazy?-hamann-typhoon-mercedes-benz-g55  

Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 26 Feb 2010
silver G's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: south Cumbria
Posts: 364
Quote:
Originally Posted by RussG View Post
Maybe it’s not just a BMW thing but a German one?

There’s quite a few on a certain forum I frequent who drool over abominations such as this thing


Some days I laugh (some on there you can have a laugh with, others get abusive) some days it doesn’t bother me and I take no notice…………..BUT when these “experts” start pontificating about how you need ORC this (just replace Tourat*** by the sound of it) , heavy duty that, blah blah and how "superior" all this stuff is
it can get a bit irritating.
Takes all sorts and all that, but I don’t really want to be tainted by association because I have and use a distant cousin to one of these.
You been at the german Russ
__________________
Chris
-----------------
"Never have a stupid argument with an idiot - he gets a lot more practice than you"
there I go again
not too hard really
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 26 Feb 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 194
Beer?

Quote:
Originally Posted by silver G View Post
You been at the german Russ
Not yet

But after a few gallons it'll look pretty good
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 28 Feb 2010
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: leicestershire
Posts: 47
I would love a heated garage to keep my bike in its so cold in my shed iv not been and done all the little jobs i wanted to do this winter which i admit involved some polishing and making some shiny alloy parts i do like my bike to look gleaming but that does not stop me from riding in crappy weather or venturing off road my years riding moto x quite often involved getting there with an immaculate bike only to throw it down the track during the day just because its shiny dont mean its not used ROB
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Is W.A in Dec-Jan crazy? Milton's Heritor Australia / New Zealand 7 23 Dec 2009 17:04
Maybe we are crazy citizensoftheplanet Europe 6 22 Apr 2009 22:38
Nice to see I'm not crazy PistolaPete Welcome to HU 9 20 Oct 2008 20:39
MZ 250: crazy? Simon Kennedy Which Bike? 11 15 May 2008 16:55
am I crazy? MZ ETZ 251 Polly Which Bike? 5 20 Apr 2007 05:47

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 18:57.