[Guest]

So I am at a bar (most of my stories start this way) last night with my girl and some friends that I ride with. The normal conversations are going on about bikes, racing, the chick with the rack, and Mods....and this guy comes up to us and asks us what we ride. It gets to me and I say Ducati. So at this point I thought everything is cool.

About 2 minutes later he starts talking about MV, Moto Guzzi, and Aprilla. Conversations fine with me....I appreciate bikes for what they are regardless of nation of origin. Here is the problem....why do people assume that because I ride a Duc that I give a shite about the other Italian brands?

I drive a GMC truck, but nobody would assume that I like Ford.

Someone explain this to me....I bought, ride, trackday and race Ducati's. Yes MV's are nice bikes...but I wouldn't buy one, yes the F4 is a good looking bike.....but....it isn't a Ducati. Never will be (which some will appreciate!). I want to be clear on this....I'm not knocking the other brands or any brand, but what is the their reasoning?

If I had grown up in LA or Oakland and had a Raiders jersey on would you come up to me and talk to me about the Saints? NO.

The hell with it, I'm going to get a cup of coffee.

 

[Guest]

Re: Italian Bikes (hearing8)

I could be wrong but it may be a taste thing. Once you break the Jap bike mold and go with an alternative bike people assume you are into all bikes of that nature. I know for me once I started getting into Ducati's I appreciated other bikes much much more. When I went to visit in-laws in upstate New York my wife's uncle had a Triumph Speed Triple. Now I don't know how many of these bikes I had seen in the past but now that I recognize "real" bike beauty I spent hours talking with this guy about the benefits of his bike and mine.

I know what you mean about people assuming you will naturally like all "Italian" bikes just because you own one, but maybe its a higher degree of bike talk... or maybe they are all just ignorants? Either way just my 2 cents... enjoy

 

[Guest]

Re: Italian Bikes (hearing8)

Do you think you might be making too much out of this? The guy is obviously an enthusiast and thought he found a common point of interest between what you guys were talking about and what he was into. There have been plenty of times I was out with the wifey and Jr and overheard a bunch of guys discussing fly fishing or bikes. We live in a cold world where you cannot just jump into a discussion so I didn't. This guy was brave enough to do it. Give him credit and appreciate the fact that other people share your interest in the hobby. Be glad this is a bike forum and not firearms. If you were taking AR-15s and not V-twins the guy probably would have called the cops.

 

[Guest]

Re: Italian Bikes (Nick D.)

Nick....I live in AZ...everyone here has a gun....including AR-15's etc...

And it wasn't so much this incident but a veritable cornucopia of experience's. I'm not knocking the guy (OK i am a little...LOL). There just seems to be a mindset that all Italian bikes and owners are in agreement to the greatness of all the Italian brands. I could be wrong in that assumption, but I am not one of them. I don't want this to digress into "character assignation or brand assgination". I just find my original hypothesis interesting.

 

[Guest]

Re: Italian Bikes (hearing8)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hearing8 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Nick....I live in AZ...everyone here has a gun....including AR-15's etc...</TD></TR></TABLE>

I am a MA resident and if you mention guns you are either breaking the oath of the secret club, or risking some soccer mom freaking out and thinking you're weird. That being said, this Wednesday I am supposed to add my first evil assault weapon to my collection: a Bushmaster AR-15 A3.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hearing8 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There just seems to be a mindset that all Italian bikes and owners are in agreement to the greatness of all the Italian brands. I could be wrong in that assumption, but I am not one of them. I don't want this to digress into "character assignation or brand assgination". I just find my original hypothesis interesting.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree that Ducati is not the be all/end all of bike brands, but it seems that once you "graduate" into something like a Ducati you tend to look around to see who else is standing around you, in this case Euro bikes in general. Not that Euro bikes are better than the rice rockets, but they are certainly more expensive and traditional, which requires more of a specific taste than the bikes that are cheaper and more accessible to kids, "stuntas" and so forth. I am sure you know the saying about birds of a feather. Comparing this to Ford vs. Chevy and Eagles vs. Pats is kinda silly. Different animals, IMHO.

 

[Guest]

Re: Italian Bikes (gnostic203)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gnostic203 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I could be wrong but it may be a taste thing. Once you break the Jap bike mold and go with an alternative bike people assume you are into all bikes of that nature. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I think this is probably the case here. Let's all face it, we love all kinds of bikes. But we are the minority in the US to own, ride, have knowledge of any bike other than the Jap bikes. I think the majority of people who ride in the US either ride a HD or a Jap bike. I have no hard data or facts to support this, but anyone here who rides can see this any time they are out. Those of us that ride anything from Europe, whether it be a BMW, Ducati, Aprilia, Triumph, etc..... ARE in the minority. I think the brotherhood of riding anything on two wheels has even smaller pockets of interest. This guy probably assumed that you both had something in common. That commonality being that you both like bikes that aren't seen on every corner, and have some sort of originality value to them.

I for one love all things with two wheels. Whether it be Jap, American, British, or Italian. But I do find it more interesting to talk about bikes that are not seen every day.

 

[Guest]

Re: Italian Bikes (Nick D.)

Nick,

Let me know how you like the A3. I have had mine for a few years (bought it before they banned them here in Cali) and absolute love it! Bushmaster A3= Good times.

 

[Guest]

Re: Italian Bikes (CaliDuc)

Hearing8 what bar were you in?

 

[Guest]

Re: Italian Bikes (brettmess24)

The hide-a-way...somewhere in Cave Creek

....but I prefer the TT Roadhouse...gotta love Punk Rock and Isle of Man videos and posters!

 

[Guest]

Re: Italian Bikes (hearing8)

My thought is that they assumed based upon your choice to own a Ducati that you were probably knowledgeable of the other brands as well. Owning an Italian motorcycle is like owning an Italian car, not everyone has the luxury of being able to afford one, and inevitably will draw attention. This is not necessarily a bad thing, I ride an Aprilia (am I allowed in here?) everywhere I go, people pull up to me and question me about my bike, I find it flattering. I guess the point is that people should not Assume, because when you Assume, you make an ASS out of you and ME. just my

personally I love Ducatis, couldn't afford the 999 at the time I bought my Mille, next bike 4 sure, or maybe an MV, or a Benelli.
Ciao
One forty

 

[Guest]

Re: Italian Bikes (topgear140)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by topgear140 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My thought is that they assumed based upon your choice to own a Ducati that you were probably knowledgeable</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thats the first time I have ever been accused of that!

 

[Guest]

Re: Italian Bikes (topgear140)

The last bike I owned before my first Ducati (M750 Dark) was a Honda 750 VFR. Great bike, and I loved it, and I certainly knew I was in some club. I was young and I thought I was cool. Well, I was cool, but..

Then a friend, who rode (and still rides) a HD Road King, started working at Winchester Motosports, which sold Ducati, Moto Guzzi, Victory and Triumph. So I'd go see him some weekends and look at the bikes...and I saw something. Something my friend helped me understand; the art, the tradition, the heritage...that these were handbuilt bikes crafted not just of steel and aluminum, but of the same stuff that gave us David and the Mona Lisa.

I had owned 2 Italian cars by then, one of them a Lancia Scorpion...known to have started rusting before they got off the boat! But there was something about that twin-cam 2-liter with webber carbs, the high redline, the handling, the roughness around the edges...

Then my friend bought a Moto Guzzi V11 LeMans, and it was after riding it that I "understood". Yeah, I ended up with a Ducati, then another, but now, years later, I know more about MV Agusta, Moto Guzzi, Aprilia and Ducati then I EVER knew about Honda, despite having owned several.

So now, when I see someone on a Triumph or a BMW, or a Duck or a Guzzi, I know that they probably have a special kinship with their bike, a special knowledge, a passion for motorcycles and motorcycle riding that the average (and I stress average) GSXR-Whatever owner will never know or understand...

When you own a bike---or a car for that matter---that needs more from you than just getting in or on it and turning the key, it's because there's a bond; a kinship between man and machine that has nothing to do with maintenance intervals or "practicality". If you get in a Ferrari and go to 7-11 for a six pack, there's no doubt that the same mission could be accomplished in a Kia. That's just not the point.

So yeah, I get why the guy made certain assumptions, and I get why he just figured he could chat you up about any ol' Italian bike. He knows the passion you have, that all of us have, and he knew how that sets us apart from (but not made better than!) the "great unwashed".

It is passion, it is love, it is respect and appreciation...for the commitment we make to our bikes, and all that they give us in return.


Modified by DesmoBob at 6:02 AM 1/30/2005

 

[Guest]

Re: Italian Bikes (DesmoBob)

 

[Guest]

Desmo Bob hit the nail on the head. the Asian bikes are perfect machines that start/turn/stop without fail. they have no soul. the euro bikes have enough quirks (sometimes too many) that they take on a personality. before the Hotrod M944 i owned numerous Asian bikes. they came and went and there was no passion. i liked riding them but they did not stir the soul like my Duc does. i hate covering it up in the winter because i love to look at it. i have pics of it all over the house (much to ginainwi's chagrin) so i can see it. we assume other's that own euro bikes share that passion and in most cases it's true.

now lets talk guns. i fully enjoy ripping thru a 40 round clip with my Bushmaster Superlight AR-15. here i am pre coyote hunt.

collapsable stock, tactical fore grip, illuminated scope, titanium tin nitrade coated firing pin, truglow open sights. YEEHA!

 

[Guest]

Re: (mikeinwi.)

Very well put DesmoBob.

 

[Guest]

Re: Italian Bikes (hearing8)

all hail desmobob

could not have put it any better
the ar types are great i have a few , great double taps for follow ups little if no recoil , light and parts are every where , but i really like my fal 50.56 para model and my m1a1 for hard hitting and my 700 bdl for reaching out and touching things !

 

[Guest]

Re: Italian Bikes (CaliDuc)

I was fortunate enough to ge one of the last Colt AR-15 A2 HBars sold in CA before the bans went into efect (flash hidder, bayoneet lug the whole 9 yards). It's one of my favorites to shoot. Those Bullshit laws in CA is one of the many reasones I packed up my firearms and income tax money and went north (that and the fact I can actually GET a CCW here).

On a side note.. not sure about the Ducati === love for all Italian bikes thing. I'll talk about just about any bike (except Hondas.. they suck!

-- I know.. I had a bunch of them). OK.. so that said I still let Honda riders hang out with me, they are afterall riders first and formost.

One of the guys in our local DOC has an MV too and I gotta tell ya.. man.. every time he cruises that thing out on a ride with us I lust for one more an more. Not at all about to sell my Ducati to buy one but if the right opportunity comes along I'd pick one up in a heartbeat.

MotoGuzzi... and Aprilia eh.. not a lot there to spark my interest I guess...

 

[Guest]

Re: Italian Bikes (Nick D.)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Nick D. »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There have been plenty of times I was out with the wifey and Jr and overheard a bunch of guys discussing fly fishing or bikes. We live in a cold world where you cannot just jump into a discussion so I didn't...</TD></TR></TABLE>

That is a very East Coast attitude, so I'm not surprised. I spent some time in New England last summer, travelling from PA to Maine and back, and I noticed that in most of those places, especially Mass., if you started a random conversation with a person in line at the store (or "on line" as you say), they would look at you like you were from another planet!

So the guy wanted to talk about bikes with you. What's the big deal? Hell, I've had guys who wanted to talk about Harleys with me after I mentioned I ride a Ducati, and I wasn't offended by it. I've also had conversations with other Ducati owners where I just wanted to leave the room because they were morons. Am I supposed to feel some bond with a person just because he rides a Ducati?

Damn.

 

[Guest]

Re: Italian Bikes (AZ Scott)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AZ Scott »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">That is a very East Coast attitude, so I'm not surprised. I spent some time in New England last summer, travelling from PA to Maine and back, and I noticed that in most of those places, especially Mass., if you started a random conversation with a person in line at the store (or "on line" as you say), they would look at you like you were from another planet!</TD></TR></TABLE>

True, true, true!! Very MA/New England, and I am not sure exactly why we are so defensive around here either...must be something in the water. I visited the Iowa inlaws with PaulST4s one year (I had to put my feet in the Mighty Mississip') and it was like being in another world.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Holeshot »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I was fortunate enough to ge one of the last Colt AR-15 A2 HBars sold in CA before the bans went into efect (flash hidder, bayoneet lug the whole 9 yards). It's one of my favorites to shoot. Those Bullshit laws in CA is one of the many reasones I packed up my firearms and income tax money and went north (that and the fact I can actually GET a CCW here).</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have had my CCW license since I was 18 and consider myself lucky to have gotten it without having to put up a fight. MA has similar laws to Cali and in general its disgusting. I have a buddy who has a few Colt AR-15s: a carbine in .223 with OEM collapsable stock, match .223, and another, I think a standard A2.

I am looking forward to picking up my AR-15 on Wednesday though. Any suggestions for scopes?

 

[Guest]

Re: Italian Bikes (Nick D.)

Hey F you guys! I live in New England.

Just kidding about the F U part. I'm originally from New Jersey, Tony Soprano's neighborhood. Anywhere in the Northeast you are less likeky to run into talkative friendly folks. It's not that we don't like people or conversation, it's just we are more wary of shit talking strangers because there are more of them here. I must agree that I enjoy talking to "most" fellow Duc owners, but of course like all people we are a diverse group filled with the good, the bad and the ugly. I personally feel like I have more in common with anyone on two wheels than someone driving a cage, but I will give most people the opportunity to prove to me that they are dumb, obnoxious f#cks or not.