A male pillion
BMW clothing
Do they make white wall knobbies? them too

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My memory is becoming that good, I should be able to organise my own surprise party soon

To Chris.


I was surprised how many people out side the UK don't wear them ( day glow top ). I have one, it a bomber jacket type. Keep's me dry in the wet, and the wind out.


Funny story. I was in Hungry. Got off the bike and was walking away. When some old lady walked up think I was something to do with the City. Started to ask me question. She got quite annoyed to find out I could not speak Hungarian. Then when on to lambast me for walking round like some kind of Official. In fact she was making such a good job of it. That a local stepped in to help me out. Even then some how it was still all my fault.
John933

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To buy petrol in Europe. Pull up at station. Wait. Get out a 20 Euro note, then ask someone to fill up the bike. Give person money. Ride away. Simple.

The first change I made to my Triumph Thunderbird was to remove the datatool alarm and bin it. Bike much nicer to use now.

The Touratech kit is gone. I can no longer see how their pricing and my use matches up. Possibly connected to the Charlies, but not directly. I use my Zega boxes in the garage for tool storage/seating/getting awkward stuff off the ground.

I'm also avoiding the "what-if" bling like engine bars, as when I look back I'd have actually come off better buying new bits for the bikes I've dropped rather than the engine bars. The hours I've wasted getting the things off on service day and the petrol used carrying bits of scaffolding about should be in there too. Is the "what if" mentality part of the fashion thing?

I am experimenting with my phone. Dumping the GPS (which i sold for more that the phone app and phone holder cost to buy!), kindle, MP3 player and often even the camera is working well. I am buying stuff to keep this on the bike, but mostly Chinese tat. Does a tank top mounted Pelican case for my Samsung make me a Fashion Charlie?

The Optimus stove and Turco-Urbano bar muffs seem to be fashionable and I'me definately keeping those.

Andy

I think if TT made white wall knobblies I WOULD pay a premium price for these. They'd match the white MX boots I have... (Hang on... I spray painted the boots black because I thought they looked daft ) Now I'm totally confused! I think I need to see my shrink again

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TBS.com

I will not spray mud onto my bike.

Honda and the is it, or isn't it the new AT, please note

TT stuff bought in the UK no thanks, bought from a very nice seller in Germany, and €uro prices, bring it on!

"Live to Ride, Ride to Live" tat, it's an occupational hazard if you have a Harley.

IMHO everyone should use what fits to his style of riding and needs and get away from this "BLING" thing, I think if you thik you do not do something because now it is called "bling" you can even go to the next Italian IceBar and sit with the others on any given Sunday to talk about what is "Blinc" and what in not really "Blinc" instead of riding somewhere...

Ps.: If you have somwthing which is way tooo "Blinky" to handle yourself, any of this TT, or BMW, or whatever brand stuff - just send it over to me and I will do something usefull with it.

From me on this "Anti-Bling-List" would go:

- a list where other people tell me what is too "blinky" to use
- when a sentence starts with "Anything from XXXX is shit" (sorry but this is really bull$$$$)
-

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Round the world by bike. www.RTWbyBIKE.com

Yes, err, ... starting this topic was just my way of making these things so unpopular the prices would fall and I could afford them.

Probably a bit late now but I should have chucked in a few more s and s as well as earlier on.

I think you may have just defined bling? Back at the start of the century I was a proper Charlie. BMW F650 with TT boxes, GPS to make sure I found the ASDA, six methods of fixing a puncture, spare heliograph cable-tied to the nuclear grade bash plate (plus special laser cut torch mount to use it at night, just in case) etc. I didn't have a clue, just more money than time (or sense) and a copy of Chris Scott's book I was (mis) using as a shopping list.

Best way to find out if you need something is to try it without IMHO.

People of course think my open face lid and flying goggles are a fashion thing related to my "hipster" Moto Guzzi. Actually I just find they fit the shape of my face and glasses and don't mist up. Can't say I care less what people think of course, but one chaps Bling is anothers useful stuff for sure.

Andy

Bling, not blink nor blinc


Definition
bling
blɪŋ/
informal

noun

1.
expensive, ostentatious clothing and jewellery.
"look at the bling he's already wearing on his left arm"


adjective
adjective: bling; adjective: bling-bling
1.
denoting expensive, ostentatious clothing or jewellery, or the style or materialistic attitudes associated with them.
"the bling lifestyle of diamond rings, flashy cars, and champagne"



and from post #4...

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TBS.com

It's all narcissism.

I want to see myself as this or that, but not this or that. I'm part of that crowd, but not that one. How this piece of kit will enhance or diminish the illusion of grandeur that I have built through all my crazy adventures and hardcore badass overlander attitude I have. How can I improve my love of myself, that great pleasure I get when I think about how awesome I am compared to all these normal people around me. Oh how soothing it is to not be ordinary, how soothing it is to avoid facing my own mortality and unimportance in the greatness and vastness of the universe.



Of course I'm sure most of you are well aware of these thoughts in your head. It's more or less part of human nature at different extent for everyone. The only reason I can express their true nature is because I'm plagued with those myself. I like to recognize it, explore it, but also distance myself from it, I guess with more or less success. I think this post is in that spirit as well.

That being said, for me it's those head light guard. Seriously how useful is that? I mean I can see that it might be for a very little niche of very agressive dirt riders, but even dakar rally bikes don't have that. Never had it on my KLR going down South America and I went through some really rough stuff, never ever feared some rock would break my headlight, not a second. It looks damn cool, I'll grant that, makes the bike look agressive, combat ready, so macho.

Anyway for most people who are touring, the money you put on the bike is money you can't put on the trip itself so:

(What I can afford) X (what I really need) = No Bling

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