That's exactly it. They're painting a picture of themselves that they're the real deal, when quite clearly (to us anyway) they're not. It's not that they're unlikeable, they're just fake. Whether it's bikes, cars or anything else that I actually care about, I just can't stand people who are fake. If you're going to talk the talk, you've got to walk the walk as well and do it off your own back, not with someone holding your hand.

And so what if people's attitudes towards them are elitist. IMHO, people who have done the same trips, without C&E huge resources have earned that right.

Jeremy Clarkson is another one whose mouth has made him, in the public's eyes anyway, the definitive expert on everything 4 wheeled. Those who actually know what they're talking can see through him straight away. I can give quite a few specific examples but I'll keep it on topic. The Canonball and Gumball Rallies are full of people just like E&C, posing and trying to make themselves look like pseudo-racing drivers. Really, they're just irritating wankers with far too much money/time on they're hands.

As for the BMW GS, Bike magazine voted it the "coolest" bike ever made, whatever thats supposed to mean. Their saving grace was that they only meant ones that were battered to hell, caked in mud and still had import tax stickers on it from wherever it's owner had taken it. Ones bought for "bopping around Kensington" as they put it were definitely "not cool". So, when was the last time you saw one that wasn't cleaner than clean?