Show from where you came from
 

hi
Usually , when you are from rich country (i am canadian) and you are travelling, ( I am planing for south america) do you show , by small pins or small flag on your bike or case, or it's better to try to look like locals, and do something like don't shaving yourself....any other trick ?

FranK

:rofl: !!

Are you a French Canadian or a Spanish CA, Frank?
In plain language, you are not going to fool anyone.

I suggest that you read the thread in here about "why do we all hate Americans" (or something like that) and just be yourself!

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...mericans-27753


Travel well,

Don't be an apologist
 

Frank,

You should be proud of where you are from and of your country. You do not have to apologize for the fact that you are succussful or that you come from a succussful country. You do not have to boostful or arrogant either. Bullocks - I for one would shed my blood for neighbors in Canada.

hello

Yes, I am french canadien (sorry my english isn't so good )

but I mean ...I have seen lot of pictures of bikes with stikers on their case , and I don't understand ..you don't think that a visible sign of a rich country is attractive for people who hope to steal valuable object

frank

visible sign of a rich country???????
 

You mean a Bike????????

It doesnt matter if it has a Polish sticker an African/American/UK/Spanish/Canadian/French or Swiss sticker on it....... if someone wants to steal THE BIKE or FROM THE BIKE THEY WILL.

and personally......I agree with others who make the bike look as 'ratty' and old and dirty as possible. ( Cat Pee Cover was one thing mentioned on the HUBB) shiny and nice looking means money, old and crappy means not too nickable.

I WOULD NOT DISPLAY THE FLAG OF MY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN but that is just my personal opinion.

big bike is big bike
 

Why do you worry about showing that your expensive bike is from a rich country ?

In most of the country where you would really be worried about not showing to be rich, no one rides such a bike as you do, and certainly not with such luggage and protective gear. (helmet ? mx boots ? :rofl: )

And finally 20 seconds after you stopped someone will ask you 'Where are you from ?' and thats it. As long as you dont speak the local language fluently and without any accent, they will assume that you are rich.

I personally have a big swiss flag on my bike. Maybe it helps to separate me from other countries I dont want to be associated with.

I agree with the idea of keeping the bike dirty or tatty might deter those attracted by a bit of shine. A bit of gaffer tape stuck here and there helps as does small bits of string.

Turning to national flags.
Surely ones number plate immediatly gives the game away - unless you cover that with dirt or tape (latest mod used by Moscow bikers this week).

However national flags can have their use - depending on which you have and where you are, I suppose.

Riding 10,000 miles around Russia a couple of months ago on a UK bike I found having Union Jack flag stickers useful when stopped by the Road Police. Initially they were either interested in the bike or eager to extract fines/bribes- about 50/50.
I was stopped about 40 times and if I thought they were the latter, I started my routine "Angliski" and pointed at the flag stuck on screen (if I was still on bike) or the one at the rear. Pause, then "London". Another pause to let it really sink in then "Chelsea".

Generally this did the trick and I got the reply "Ah - Abramovich", smiles, back slaps, hand shakes and I was allowed to proceed - except once when they took me to see a video, on their laptop, of me doing 90kph at the end of a 70 zone. Probably Man U fans!

Also I took a supply of small Union Jack stickers which I gave away to kids, security guards, etc for keeping an eye on my bike while it was parked.

stickers
 

Put on whatever stickers you want. As a tourist , any tourist, you are automatically categorized as a wealthy person with time and money to spare...else you would not be able to galavant around .Even if you yourself are scraping by on the minimum of funds you can spend you are probably wealthy compared to most of the third world folks who see you. ..And you will also immediately be classed as a gringo or a European. Nationality stickers are useful mainly to flag your presence to fellow countrymen so you can strike up a conversation and swap stories.Just don't make a point of flaunting your " wealth " and keep your nose clean and the locals will treat you allright. Enjoy the travels.

Tony, my religion prevents me from doing this. Does "Usmanov" work well too? :) Stephan

Usmanov ?
 

Stephan

Well, I had to resort to Google to understand that :yawn:. More a Cricket and Rugby person myself :unsure: .

I did get one roads police man ask about Toot Ten Nem. Hearing it in a thick Russian accent (in the south) it also took me a bit of decyphering.

Sorry about your religion!

Me, I have little, if any - other than to tell the truth and be nice to people.

What goes around comes around. But I am now off topic....