I have to agree who cares if someone buys the most expensive gear who cares if all they do is ride from home to work an weekends,if there doing what they like an enjoying reading about some of the exploits on here good luck to them, to acuse them of being wannabees is snobbery, theres many folks that travel to the furthest places, that dont place blogs dont write about it, because they just look at as another trip,every one to there own i think

In two words: Triumph Tiger (or Guzzi what-yer-callit)

In 198? we had four choices: R80GS, Tenere, Road bike with knobblies, off road bike with an improved seat. We now have lots of choice but have to try and work out which is the go anywhere do anything machine and which is the plastic covered, lardy, road bike in drag. If probably does no harm now as people can come here for free and be told they don't need an R1200GS like they saw on the telly, but I for one wasted way too much cash and effort worrying if my non-Touratech toilet roll would stand the strain of tough trips. (OK, I didn't, but I bought plenty of shiney ****, so why not have logo'd loo roll , I'd probably have bought it during my wannabee phase ).

Andy

I wanabbe someone whos not a wanabbe but to not be not a wanabbe then I will have to stop being a wanabbe but to not be a not wanabee I will have to have been a wanabbe in the first place to have achieved the things your not when your a not a wanabbe. Bleeding heck do I wanabbe or dont I wanabbe - that sir is the question :confused1:

are you sure thats what you wannabee

__________________
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.

I'm beyond making friends now so I'll just be honest about my feelings !!

To me, what defines a "wannabe" is what they think when they see this picture:




One group of people will think:

"What a fantastic blinged up motorcycle. That will look amazing when I go to the Touratech day and get my book signed by Charlie whiney ass Boreman"

And one group of people will think:

"What a rediculously heavy unpractical overpriced motorcycle. I could of bought a bike for £1500 and spent the other £15,000 money riding around the world on it"


Before anyone jumps on my back, I'm just pulling your leg !! Count to ten and breath slowly

It's only a laugh ! No one really looks down on newbies, wannabes or people just for their choice of bike and lifestyle ! It's an internet forum, not the G8 summit !!

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

.... and some will think:

"The guy posting this must have a huge problem".

This place is getting worse then Jo Mama.

Wish it was true...

.... and some will think:

"The guy posting this must have a huge problem".

I have many, not just one !




This place is getting worse then Jo Mama.

Whats that about my moma ??



Wish it was true..

As you're fairy godmother, I grant thy wish !

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

I still don't understand why some of you resent guys who spend loads of cash on adventure style bike and don't use it for rtw or extended travel - what is your problem with other people's choices in life?

......and unfortunately, I think some people on this site do look down on what they class as "wannabes" and also feel some kind of status if they have done a trip, so also looking for respect from newbies. Sad, really.

Humour is all well and good - but it ain't all humour and you know it.

I think you're taking this all rather too seriously !!

I don't think there is any of that on this site... Maybe a little friendly teasing and ribbing, but that's true of any forum or any gathering at pub, hubb meeting or campsite etc !!

Maybe it's my northern SOH (Or lack of it )

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

My insurance used to be cheaper because idiots fell off £15000 sports bikes, old men kept their BMW's upright.

Metal Mule etc. used to make money from people who did things. Now we are the customer from hell because we complain when the things leak while the mobile adverts above doesn't go out in the rain.

The police used to assume I knew what I was doing and could ride at 100 mph safely. They pulled race reps. Now they pull everything (except sidecars ).

People in car parks look at my panniers and call me Charlie. I don't mind Wallace and Gromit jokes as they were at least a laugh but to be constantly compared to the Actors Special Friend wears a bit thin. People constantly ask me if I've watched LWR/LWU/LWUCA etc. because they want to gush about "wasn't it funny when Charlie ****ed...". I'd rather get some plastic ears and talk Star Trek, or pull out the big book of steam locomotives, at least their fans have more to talk about.

You can't buy 130-17 knobblies in spring because they all buy them up for the "season".

It's like someone walked into the pub, bought all the , drank a pint, fell over drunk and got the rest poured down the drain while the authorities work out how to deal with drunkeness.

You are of course right that we can't object to how people spend their money and the fashion trail is now separating from the real use trail in the same way that racers don't buy from the local bike-bling place. I just find it annoying that people come along in hordes, act like fools and I get roped into it. Give it a year or three, they'll all be off buying something different.

Andy

Lets not forget that my/your opinions are just like everyone else’s. They are all personal evaluations of certain situations in a given time. Scratch every opinion and underneath it, you will find a human being, trying to defy and justify his own existence.

__________________
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.

Mate, I really couldn't give a toss what anyone thinks about any of it one way or the other. I've actually laughed out loud reading this series of posts at times.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Hilariously funny, and frighteningly true! It gets tiresome.

My advice: go someplace where you don't speak the language. Preferably, someplace where there are few (or no) television sets. Before you know it, your local interaction will consist of answering the two basic questions of gas station attendants everywhere: "How much did it cost?" and "How fast will it go?" Eventually, you might find yourself craving some in-depth analysis of Ewan and Charlie and the fantasy world in which they live.

Mark

(busily attacking the large platter of mango slices served free for breakfast, somewhere in Bahia, Brazil)