Topic: The snobism of the parking lot

[brooze72]

Good on ya Terry, seems there are no limits to what will do for a brother, wish Ihad one.

[750K]

I guess that's sort of the glass 1/2 empty view, when I'm too old & decrepit to hold the CB up, I will go test ride one of those  . At least the wind will still be in my face 

CanAm's are just plain stupid but a trike on the other hand is pretty killer, or a bike with a side car. I love that stuff, my neighbor has a 1930 Harley flathead with matching side car, man is it sweet. You can bet your ass that when I'm to old and decrepit to ride on two wheels I'll have some sort of three wheeler.

[Terry in Australia]

CanAm's are just plain stupid but a trike on the other hand is pretty killer, or a bike with a side car. I love that stuff, my neighbor has a 1930 Harley flathead with matching side car, man is it sweet. You can bet your ass that when I'm to old and decrepit to ride on two wheels I'll have some sort of three wheeler.

I've never ridden a Can Am Spider, but I'm going back to NSW next month to do another Explosives course, and when I was there last time I drove past a Can Am dealer every day, so I reckon I might take a test ride.

A "friend of a friend" was killed on one last year though, when he hit some gravel in a corner and it spat him off, so I don't know if I could be convinced to buy one, but I do like new toys..............

I've only ridden a bike with a sidecar a couple of times and it was scary, that's why I've decided on the "Voyager" kit for my 'Wang, there's a lot of skill required to ride a sidecar outfit, and I don't want to scare my brother off, plus because he's missing his right foot and lower leg, it'll be easier for him to get on and off a trike. (our sidecars mount on the left side) Cheers, Terry.

[dave500]

years ago i rode a vw powered trike dirt #$%* box(for five minutes),all home grown with hand shift and foot clutch,didnt like it,the owner got it mobile though,anything in gravel can go wrong,canams are like those sedgways to me?they are built and sold just because you can or some #$%*?what if some prick parks a sedgway in the way??

[Terry in Australia]

When I was a kid a local bloke build his own home made VW Trike Dave, it actually went pretty good from memory, but back then, all bikes handled like crap, so no-one would have noticed anyway.

I like those Segway thingies, (but not enough to buy one, have you seen how much money they want for them?) but I wouldn't class one as a motorcycle anymore than I'd call a mobility scooter a motorcycle.

Of course, a mobility scooter would be allowed to park in a handicapped car park, but most of the ones I see are blocking the doorway of the local RSL...........

[trueblue]

Yeah, I think most folks are snobs when it comes to Trikes, which is a little sad. My older brother has diabetes, and had to have his right foot and lower leg amputated just before Christmas.

Even before the operation, he couldn't hold a bike up as his legs had pretty much withered away, so he's decided that he'd like to get a trike because he can't hold a bike up any more.

He's not wealthy, so he won't be buying a new Can Am etc, so I'm thinking about converting my 'Wang into a trike for him. There are a couple of options, I can either use a car rear axle and build a "proper" trike, or build something similar to the "Voyager" kit, which effectively adds a set of "Training Wheels" to any bike. I think I'll go with the "Voyager" style kit (I just bought some plans on eBay) as I can remove the kit and convert it back to a bike when he's done with it.

He'll have his new prosthetic foot by then, so most guys won't know that he's handicapped, so he'll probably be the subject of snobism from some bike riders, but I don't think that'll wipe the smile off his face that being back in the wind will give him. Cheers, Terry. 

Terry, there is a local fella here who rides an old Triumph around, he lost his right leg at mid thigh in a bike accident on the very same Trumpy about 30 years  ago.  The bike is standard other than he has rigged up a clake on it so he can use his rear brake .

[Terry in Australia]

Yeah, if I lost a leg I'd still be able to hold my bike up Blue, but my brother is pretty crook, and his legs are about as thick as my wrists now, so he couldn't hold up a C50, let alone a 'Wang. Cheers, Terry. 

[trueblue]

I realise that Terry, it wasn't a suggestion that you just give him the Wang as is .  I know how debilitating diabetes can be.  It can be as cruel or worse than the big C.  I was more just stating my awe at the fella who is keen enough to ride with only one leg .

[Terry in Australia]

Yep, when I went to school our local bus driver rode a little Honda monkey bike to and from the depot with a hand shift because he'd lost most of his left leg in WW2.

Then there was Jake Bulmer, one of the local bikies who rode a Yamaha 650 with only one leg, he'd been hit by a train when he was a kid, and lost a leg.

I don't remember being in awe of these guys, back then we had a lot of partially handicapped people around town, many of them were badly injured in WW2, or were farmers or mill workers who'd been injured at work.

The more I think about it, (war injuries aside) OH&S or WHS as we refer to it now, is probably a bloody good thing, I don't see anywhere near as many handicapped people nowadays as there was back then. Cheers, Terry.

[70CB750]

Well we do here; US Army gets people out of the battlefield that would die in previous wars.  Quite normal to see a man walking with one artificial leg.

As far as Can Ams, it is a yuppie thing in my neck of woods, seen old lady on a wing trike too, but Can Ams are for the youngsters, seems like it is catching up with minorities as an alternative to crotch rockets.

[trueblue]

More the fact that this guy, unlike so many people around here who go on disability pensions when they get a hurty knee, he is actually still working and riding his bike .  When I first saw him I was about 12 and suprised that anyone with only one leg could ride a bike .

[Terry in Australia]

I see a few Can Am's towing trailers ridden by old farts on my side of the pond, I'm still not a fan though, if I wanted something with 2 front wheels I'd get one of these.

http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ikonsuspension.com/v1.0/images/customer-projects-jeff-morgan-lg.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ikonsuspension.com/v1.0/content/customer-projects.html&h=400&w=640&sz=35&tbnid=qkgYuqiBuNCjoM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=144&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmorgan%2Btrike%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=morgan+trike&usg=__vN69ly7sfQ_a0S6enfZtMODI0bQ=&docid=_uWMNyiSKG1zLM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=9JmDUfPGAsKwkAWnw4HwCQ&sqi=2&ved=0CDgQ9QEwAg&dur=500

[dave500]

going off topic here but just on the diabetes thing,,recently a work mate felt ill and had a puss filled boil on hes foot,he ended up in hospital and they took all the skin off it,now hes been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and had some of the bone removed from the ball off hes foot and the bone from two toes removed,hes been of work for weeks(thats why were trying out new drivers,hes position will be held),we can lose limbs because of many reasons and lets not let the loss of one keep us away from what we love,basically riding an engine in open air?you cant do it with four wheels,,two is best,,three will do i guess?

[Terry in Australia]

More the fact that this guy, unlike so many people around here who go on disability pensions when they get a hurty knee, he is actually still working and riding his bike .  When I first saw him I was about 12 and suprised that anyone with only one leg could ride a bike .

You know that they are putting long term unemployed people on disability pensions here now mate? I thought it was only in the US, but the labour state governments were apparently doing it here to help reduce the federal labour government's unemployment figures. My back hurts a bit today, I think I better go get me a pension........

[trueblue]

More the fact that this guy, unlike so many people around here who go on disability pensions when they get a hurty knee, he is actually still working and riding his bike .  When I first saw him I was about 12 and surprised that anyone with only one leg could ride a bike .

You know that they are putting long term unemployed people on disability pensions here now mate? I thought it was only in the US, but the labour state governments were apparently doing it here to help reduce the federal labour government's unemployment figures. My back hurts a bit today, I think I better go get me a pension........

  Talking about sore backs...   I have heard of the Labour governments, make the figures look good BS. 

Just a thought for the day, a kingdom is run by a king, an empire is run by an emperor, a principality is run by a prince, now it makes sense that Australia being a country...

[Terry in Australia]

A Count? Huh?  (oh wait, phonetic spelling, I get it now..........)

[Xnavylfr]

That's like the USA and their UNEMPLOYMENT figures. They say unemployment is down """" and it's only because the benefits have expired  for over 50% of those that were receiving unemployment.

A BIG BS, Jobs are hard to find , but why should you HAVE to work for 225$ a week when in this state you get $425 a week for unemployment. Unemployment is NOT something you are taking from the GOV'T , you pay every week you work something just in case you become unemployed. You are getting back money Uncle Sam has been gaining interest on for 30 years, You think I feel I deserve it, You damn right. I rode that ticket for 18 months at $550 a week because if I'd work 90 hours in 2 weeks I would have made 20$ more and been taxed on that the 550$ wasn't taxed.


Xnavylfr(CHUCK)

[RAFster122s]

That's like the USA and their UNEMPLOYMENT figures. They say unemployment is down """" and it's only because the benefits have expired  for over 50% of those that were receiving unemployment.

A BIG BS, Jobs are hard to find , but why should you HAVE to work for 225$ a week when in this state you get $425 a week for unemployment. Unemployment is NOT something you are taking from the GOV'T , you pay every week you work something just in case you become unemployed. You are getting back money Uncle Sam has been gaining interest on for 30 years, You think I feel I deserve it, You damn right. I rode that ticket for 18 months at $550 a week because if I'd work 90 hours in 2 weeks I would have made 20$ more and been taxed on that the 550$ wasn't taxed.


Xnavylfr(CHUCK)

Having lost my job last October I am in the 1st 26 wks of unemployment, AZ max is $214 week after taxes and it will reduce in a few weeks when I cross the 26 week mark to federally funded UI benefits.  Yes, people are dropping because benefits run out and they are giving up or they start working 2 part time jobs in service industry if they can find them...

[70CB750]

Been there for quite a while, exactly the truth.  The official numbers are BS, people run out of benefits and drop out of statistics.

My friend, who worked the Capitol as electrician experienced the real State of the Union.  The very minute, the State of the Union speach was over, they laid off 50% of the Capitol technical staff - no mailed notice, nothing.  It was 9PM or so and they told them to go home and not come back.

The speach was bull$hit, this lay off is exactly what state the union is in.

[strynboen]

back to 3 wheels..had this italy for 2 years..byt sold it..it only run 35 kmt..50 cc 2 stroke

[demon78]

Allways wanted one, used pass them in Portugal it seemed standard configuration was Mom, Dad, Granny in back acting as tail gunner.
Bill the demon.

[70CB750]

back to 3 wheels..had this italy for 2 years..byt sold it..it only run 35 kmt..50 cc 2 stroke

I have seen it in  Italy last summer, they definitelly have their use in right country.

[Xnavylfr]

I think I'd rather have one of these instead of a CAN-AM!!!  Looks like more fun!!!

Tri-Magnum: Excitement on Three Wheels



Xnavylfr(CHUCK)

[Reedy26]

Except mopeds and scooters, no one waves to those guys.

Motorcyclists shouldn't wave to each other anymore; the uniting feeling of shared hardship has been gone since the cruisers took over. Now it's all about division. I stopped waving at anyone years ago. I don't like it but that's the way it is.

And thats exactly why i still wave, i think i'm above all that stupid, "my bikes better than yours crap".

And Can Am Spyders......

[demon78]

Can Am? I would think if I was forced into a 3 wheeler I would prefer a URS or at the other end a Morgan/jap.
Bill the demon.
ps don't feel like pissing around with pictures this morning so look them up Helmut Fath URS and Morgan 3 wheeler.