Forum

[Tigger]

I have been building a bike with lots of help from Hitchcocks for some years now, and now it is finally finished and on the road thought I would take it to a REOC meet, I was advised that there would be plenty of like minded folks to make me welcome. When I arrived on my bike there were a couple of friendly faces there who admired my bike but then arrived the "experts" ploughed in - and methodically ripped my bike to pieces, this was not correct, that is not right for the year, why did I do this? what was I thinking fitting that ? not a pleasant experience, I left humiliated and will never return. Why do these supposed experts insist on being so enthusiastic on showing you how clever they are? Its so difficult to rebuild a Redditch bike and impossible so get it right on occasions - what is right and what is wrong? If there is going to be so much criticism of MY bike ( yes mine ) then I won't bother going to anymore club meets and to be honest won't be renewing my membership. Has anyone else had a similar experience? are all clubs this so snobby ???

[PeteF]

Well our branch isn't! (Humberside)

[Bullet Whisperer]

I once attended a show where you gained free admission if you turned up with an old machine. I had just completed my 'replica' of a Sports Cub, so I went on that. I had barely flicked the sidestand down, when three old codgers surrounded us and started with their hot air about the seat cover being the wrong colour, it shouldn't have those handlebars, etc. I told them that if I was sad enough to want to wait for all the correct parts, it would probably never see the light of day and that it was how I wanted it, rather than how Edward Turner wanted it and that I also enjoyed thrashing it. They were soon on their way to count rivets elsewhere ...

[Chris [Stockport]]

My bikes both have all sorts of non-standard stuff on them because I want to.
If anyone doesn't like it they can b~%%er off. To echo Pete F we've not had comments or issues like that at our (South Lancashire) meetings, people are usually interested in the actual bikes, which frequently have a variety of extras on them.

Obviously if somebody is trying to con their way and make money by pretending it is all original, that's wrong, but it doesn't at all sound like that is what you were doing.

[Mark M]

Tigger, I'm really sorry to hear that. In our Branch (Home Counties) we have such a relaxed attitude to originality we actively encourage non-standard bikes, a Branch tradition going back 40 years! You don't say where this was and I'd like to think the "rivet counters" weren't actually members (you do get folk who pop up in public places who are self appointed experts but don't belong to the club in question, the VMCC springs to mind...) I can also say with confidence this is not the attitude of the REOC as a whole, one of the most open minded marque clubs of all, I think. You don't need to name the branch but tell us where you live? And post a pic of your bike, I for one would like to see it. And to prove it, you could read the story of my Ebay Bullet, that would give the purists a heart attack!

REgards, Mark

[Revband]

REOC, VMCC, or any other club will have some ar**oles. As Mark says they may not even be members. I guess I have been lucky? as I have not been accosted by these people but they will soon be told in no uncertain terms were to go if they try. ignore them and enjoy your non compliant bike. It's about fun and life's too short.

[Martin]

Mercifully have not encountered these wearisome naysayers for some time, but they thrive in vintage 'bike
circles even over here. Next time to remind ourselves neither we, nor them, nor our pride and joy will be
around a 100 years hence, so enjoy our day in the sun with others whom appreciate our company and
efforts. Meanwhile, drop a Harley Sportster gas tank as I have on my Redditch Twin, and let these pseudo
purists stew in their misery. God, I detest them

[papasmurf]

I give such people a sex and travel message.

[Scalyback]

[center]


I have two RE's.

'Kevin' is a 1959 Meteor Minor De Luxe. That bike is as close to the original as possible, except for my addition of 1950's trafficators on the back.

'Tornado' is an Indian military bullet from 1994. Fitted with loads of retro parts, and in my opinion, I have created the exact bike I wanted.

Quite often, people come up and admire them which is nice. I have never actually had anyone come up and mention about 'wrong parts/colours' etc. Last Summer, a guy turned up on a 1930's RE KX V twin. He had spent 21 years trying to get parts for it and it was still not quite correct but It was really lovely to see it running and to coax it into our (REOC Kent) display. The bike and rider were very welcome.


OK, there is a difference between a concours and a concourse (rides around) bike, but had this guy been put off by having people criticise his bike and had he not bothered to bring it, it would have been a shame for all of us.



On the other hand, if you are an expert and a bike comes in, then you do tend to discuss with a friend or the owner about it, especially if it looks original, but please bear in mind that some owners are not experts and don't always take kindly to either being informed or hearing two other guys discuss that their bike is a 'bitsa'.



I have a different opinion about my bikes, especially Tornado. It's my bike, done to my likes and specification, and if you like it, then great. If not, then I don't mind as I didn't create my bullet to please others.



(Got lost in my own ramblings, going now.)









[center]

[Adam]

My Electra X is as far as I know ‘original’ but a decade or so back I took a swinging arm ’61 Panther, fitted rigid back end, Suzuki front end, high level exhausts (1920s style) and removed any metal that wasn’t wholly necessary. When the Panther Owners Club member that organizes the stand at Shepton heard what I had created he was on the phone insisting that I took my mongrel to the show. Lovely attitude. That said, I would never try to convince anyone to have a mongrel, and I give short shrift to anyone who criticizes my choice. Personal choice is personal choice. Adam