(The last of the old posts; normal service should resume tomorrow...) I was somewhat taken aback while watching The Motorcycle Diaries to discover that young Ernesto Guevara and his best friend decided to ride around South America on a Norton. This isn't going to turn out well, I thought and was proved correct about 30 minutes in. Unless you're rich and can afford a Brough Superior (TE Lawrence owned 7 of them) or you're willing to travel to India to get an Enfield, British motorcyle enthusiasts fall into two camps: those who ride Nortons and those who ride Triumphs. Over the years I've had countless conversations on the relative merits of the two companies and their machines. It's not a moot point, because although both went bankrupt in the 1970's now both are going again and making bikes in small but profitable numbers. The Norton however has a reputation for looking good on the outside but for breaking down under the slightest bit of pressure. I've ridden Nortons before and they're very cool but I wouldn't trust one to get me to the local chippie. It wasn't a big shock in The Motorcycle Diaries when Che's Norton went kaput, couldn't be fixed and the boys had to travel around by bus instead. So what should young revolutionaries of today ride? There's only one answer. What was Brando's bike in The Wild One? - a Triumph. What was the bike that almost killed Bob Dylan & is proudly displayed on his T shirt in Highway 61 Revisited? - a Triumph. James Dean's motorcyle of choice? - a Triumph. What did Steve McQueen ride around on in The Great Escape? - a Triumph 650 (though it should have been a BMW). What did travel writer Ted Simon explore the world on? - Uh huh. Which bike did Evel Knievel use to jump the fountain at Caesar's Palace? - yeah that's right. What was Dean Martin's machine in the cult cheese fest The Ambushers? Yes.
...
The gift of a Norton Commando 850 was a major plot device in last year's AMC series Rubicon...interestingly at no point did we ever see anyone ride the Norton. We saw it in bits all over the hero's floor but it was never actually moving.
61 comments:
I bet Mike Stone enjoys this post. Loves his motorbikes, that guy. Though I think he had a string of affairs with Japanese models in his misspent youth.
gb
Ger
I had a Kawasaki 250 myself so I aint prejudiced.
First you admit to losing a thousand hours of your life in WOW and now bikes. You're sub-zero, Mr McKinty.
I never got to own any Brit iron, although I sat on plenty of the new Triumphs at the local motorbike shop. A Speed Triple fitted me very nicely.
I had a day out at the National Motorcycle Museum (near Birmingham) recently, and of all the old steeds I'd have to say BSA were the most attractive.
Mike
Yeah its snotty teenage years all over again. And oddly enough two of the shows I watch are Dr Who and Battlestar Galactica - its like 1984 never went away.
BSA's aint bad. I was fortunate enough to ride an Enfield in India, nice bike.
My favourites of new vamps is the 09 Bonneville. Seen that? Gorgeous. Here's a link to the Aussie site
I can not contribute to the Norton vs. Triumph discussion at all, though I do hope that someone is at least going to offer at least a token challenge.
I will say that without the breakdowns those guys would have had a very different road trip, which may have led to a very different life path for Mr. Guevera. The breakdown on the road is part of the journey. So, yeah, I guess I'm voting for the Norton.
I am always surprised by who is going to turn out to be a huge motorcycle fanatic, though at this point I hardlyshould be. Sitting in a very Santa Cruz style dream group and having two members--women-- go into ecstasy about the local Harley dealership for about twenty minutes. There is so much in this world I don't understand.
I did see Motorcycle Diaries and I did read Zen in the Art of, so I guess there is some part of me that's drawn to road trips, even though on reflection, I'm dubious of road trips and what is learned from them. J. Kerouac, I'm looking at you.
I realize that I've read yet another motorcycle narrative: Jupiter's Travels, by Ted Simon, which chronicles his attempt to circle the globe on his bike. All right, all right--it was a Triumph. I happened upon this because I visited his home in Covelo, California from time to time while my friend was housesitting for him.
I apparently am far more fascinated by motorcycle travels than my conscious mind lets on.
Seanag
I doubt that anyone from the US is going to say Harley Davidson. Even Robert Pirsig in his US road trip in Zen & The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance rode a BMW as did (I think) Ewan McGregror on his round the world adventures. Harleys can look very beautiful, but like Paris Hilton and Angelina Jolie - ultra high maintenance.
But on your broader point. How about this for a counterfactual:
1. Che rides a BMW around S America not a Norton
2. The bike doesnt break down. He doesnt meet lots of interesting poor people. He becomes a middle class doctor in Buenos Aires.
3. Without his charismatic leadership the Cuban Revolution rails.
4. Without a Revolution no need for a Bay of Pigs, no Oswald getting pissed off at bullying of Cuba, no Kennedy Assassination
5. US troops withdraw from Vietnam as per the Kennedy plan 1964.
6. Kennedy reelected 1964. Bobby Kennedy elected 1968 and 72. Under 16 years of Progressive Leadership America leaps forward promoting peace in the Middle East, energy independence, green policies and following a successful moon landing - a mission to Mars.
7 America and the world enjoy a golorious final quarter of the twentieth century and great early twenty first.
Seanag
Thanks for the Chip Kidd link by the way. Fascinating as always aint he?
Maybe a little too full of himself but he has reason to be.
Sorry, it looks like I was double posting, but I was actually responding to the first part of your comment, which was all that showed up in my email initially.
As to Chip Kidd, I don't think he's full of himself so much as obsessed, which doesn't really register as a bad thing to me unless it involves hurting others.
I like your scenario, though I somehow think it feeds into the American triumphalist pitfall. I could do without the pall that three assassinations cast on the national psyche, but I am not sure I am willing to do without a resistant opposition in the Caribbean.People should be allowed an alternative perspective, even if our nation were far more benign than it actually is.
And also on a human level, I think you are wishing Che to stay more benighted than it was in his nature to be. It' a bit like wishing Buddha had stayed inside the palace and never witnessed human suffering and thus never been enlightened. Pleasant life, but maybe not in his ultimate highest interests.
Also, sixteen years of the Kennedys may not have been an unalloyed blessing. Though I have to admit that it couldn't have been worse than what did happen.
Seanag
According to James Ellroy RFK was very different from his brother. Much steadier, smarter and largely scandal free. But to avoid Nixon would have been a huge blessing.
Watchmen takes place during President Nixon's fourth term as does a practically unknown sci fi favourite of mine Philip K Dick is Dead Alas.
The journey of RFK is far more striking one than his brother's. He started out as a sort of right hand man of McCarthy due to their very conservative Catholic views, but the thing about him is that he did shed that and he did rethink things and pretty much only expanded and broadened in a very fearless and authentic kind of way. So he's a hero of mine. But some of this came about through the trials and tribulations of losing his brother. Which, again, I wouldn't wish on him, no matter what. So, it's complicated.
I suppose right about now, someone should venture in with an informed opinion of the Kennedy preference in motorcycles. Or at least of their opinion on Che.
It won't be me.
But I guess I really do have to read Watchmen. Or Ellroy. Or both.
How about a 1952 Vincent Black Lightning. Great song. Good bike?
And may I suggest that your alternative history might make a good story? It's sobering to think how differently the world might have turned out had Che not ridden a shite bike. Nixon might not have won the six terms that he did in Alan Moore's world.
===================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Peter
I confess my ignorance of the bike.
Of course it has to be Nixon's sixth term in Watchmen, 1985, but in Philip K Dick is Dead, Alas I'm pretty sure its his fourth.
JFK - Triumph Bonneville
RFK - Indian Scout
Ted - Honda Goldwing
The 09 Bonneville -- if you're going to go retro, that's the bike to have. Luvely!
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the au scenario.
On the one hand I find it very improbable in its rosy-coloredness
on the other the failing of the Cuban Revolution would have been indeed a key turning point-the entire history of South America would have been changed.
What happens to Cuba,Haiti,Chile or Argentina during your sequential Kennedy Presidencies and in your glorious end twentieth/early twentyfirst Century?
And what if your AU is the real one-and we are only a simulation exploring a possible wrong turn in history?
my v word says:noner
Ciao,
Marco
Marco
Its a pretty lousy Sim isnt it?
I think S America does pretty well without CIA interference (not necessary because of detente). I'm pretty sure Africa couldnt be worse...
Probably we'd have at least started the terraforming of Mars a la Kim Stanley Robinson.
Mike
How can a mere car compare to those 09 Bonnies?
Actually, it would be his fifth term, come to think of it -- '68, '72, '76, '80, '84. I'd plucked the reference fo six terms from a discussion of the comic.
===================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Its a pretty lousy Sim isnt it?
Adrian, you're falling into the fallacy that just because we sims 'suffer' it's not a good game for the players who are manipulating our paltry little expendable lives.
I mean, can't you just see it? Two geeky teenagers in a garage, drinking illicit brews, and one says, "No, but seriously man. What if JFK did get assassinated some way?"
" JFK the First? Get real, bro."
"No, I mean, say he gets taken out in...wait a minute...say, Dallas."
The other falls down laughing, but the sim world we live in eventually gets created all the same. And probably there's some defunct old Norton sitting in the corner of that garage and, well, the rest is history. Or should I say, Alternate History?
Seanag
Have you ever had a glass of Chimay Blue Label followed by a Romeo y Julieta? If they can Sim that feeling they cant be truly evil.
Never tried cigars-and this year marks my tenth anniversary of quitting smoking altogether.
But on the subject of beers,here's a mouthwatering article.
Marco
Ha, that's pretty funny. You're the third person to have emailed me that article. Nobody emails me stuff on literature, but on beer of course - they know my predilictions. Strangely I believe I know that guy. I used to go into Nacho Mamas on 110th street all the time because it was the only place in upper manhattan that sold craft brews and had quite a few conversations with the staff. My friend Scott and I would frequently talk about opening a brewery but this guy actually went ahead and did it - more power to him.
Erm, doesn't anyone like mopeds? Cheers, Dec
Have you ever had a glass of Chimay Blue Label followed by a Romeo y Julieta? If they can Sim that feeling they cant be truly evil.
No, I haven't, but would probably say yes to the first and pass on the latter. It strikes me that we may inhabit separate but somewhat interlocking universes. Funny, I had meant to say in the last post that at least they simulate the taste of beer for us, so we should count ourselves lucky. I think this is something the creators of Second Life probably failed to do, so maybe this is a better sim after all.
They are evil only if they know we percieve our pain as real, even if they know it isn't. My scenario of drunk teenagers inclines me to think them innocent. Latent alcoholics perhaps, but innocent.
However, have just started The Book of Merlyn courtesy of Brian through this blog. (Thanks, Brian). And Merlyn has a curious thing to say to Arthur in the opening chapters.
"The thing which you were thinking about. . .about people being machines: that was not true. Or, if it is true, does not signify. For if we are all machines ourselves, then there are none to bother about."
I think that, on the whole, I'll give credence to Merlyn rather than old Nick Bostrum for the time being.
Nobody emails me stuff on literature
Since you ask...
this is a literary/current affairs magazine with Irish/British/Spanish/Italian focus.
Ciao
Do sims themselves play simulation games?
V-word: vermou, which is more familiar in its ordinal form.
===================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
"Erm, doesn't anyone like mopeds?"
We often used to borrow Stuie's moped and go ripping all over St. Richard's schoolyard. What a wild bunch!
===================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Dec
The drunken Greek moped ride is a staple of the Brit/Mick abroad. Lots of fun as long as you dont kill yourself/goats/other people.
Peter
According to Nick Bostrom the Sims running this Sim that we call our universe are probably Sims themselves and they dont even know it.
Quadrophenia made mopeds cool
Marco
Thank you but I could tell that was only an ego stroke. Still books and beer are two of life's simple pleasures.
Seanag
I'm downloading Once and Future King as a Bit Torrent so I'll get to it eventually. I think its five books.
"According to Nick Bostrom the Sims running this Sim that we call our universe are probably Sims themselves and they dont even know it."
A jazzed-up version of that old line about how do I know my life is not someone else's dream or maybe of how do we know that our world is not a grain of sand? Now, as then, the appropriate response is "Oh, wow!"
===================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Peter
Yes, I do take your point, but if this is a Sim Economics Professor Robin Hanson says we should behave completely differently then we would if it was non sim real world.
After skimming the above article, I'm marginally more convinced that we might live in a simulated universe, but less convinced that we could ever attribute the motives of the gamemaker. Getting more closely involved with the famous people in it, as is one example in the article, might just make you more likely to be blown away. If you think of authors and the blithe way they dispose of tangential characters, you realize that you have no control over the way it all plays out at all. Of course, we should know this from our so-called 'experience' already, but somehow don't.
I'm glad you're taking on the T.H.White, though I'm pretty sure there are some parts you will dislike intensely. But in The Book of Merlyn, I've already learned the secret of human happiness, and it's early days.
What is a a Bit Torrent?
Seanag
A Torrent is a program that allows people who own the audio to share with other people who own the audio. I wouldnt have to use this software if Audible.com or Amazon.com didnt block the transfer of audio files to Oz.
In the big Sim, creepy hangers on do seem to last though, look at Dick Morris.
Lol, that was a very interesting post. Has inspired me to look into it myself.
TCS
Thanks man, though eventually if you do get a Triumph and get killed on it on the Long Island Expressway I'll feel guilty so be careful.
the real question is Bushmills or Jameson?
Dylan
Bushmills. Good since 1608.
I was with Rubicon until the protagonist said he really hated the Yankees. Now I'm kinda hoping he winds up in Lubyanka.
Matt
"David knew I hated the NYY so he gave me 27 numbers: 27 numbers are 27 dates which denotes the 27 WS wins by the NY Yankees."
Oops.
Guess they should have reshot that little sequence in November.
Ha. Ha.
Matt
God I'm sloppy today. No what I meant what was, I guess they had to reshoot that scene last November.
Ha Ha.
Matt
I like the show so far but its so lazy to make him a Yankees hater isnt it? Just a tired bit of screenwriting. He works at the South Street Sea Port, he lives in Tribeca, he apparently is a native New Yorker, so what is he a Mets fan? How many genius Mets fans are there?
No the true iconoclasts are the proud Yankees fans who refuse to jump on the lazy NYY hating bandwagon.
Supposedly Yankees fans arent true fans or something. Gimme a break. I always think of Artie Lange and his father at Game 6 of the 77 WS.
Matt, I liked Rubicon until one of the characters said witheringly to a newcomer, "his (fill in the blank, as I don't remember) died in 9/11"--at which point I turned the TV off. As that was about five minutes in, I have no idea what happened after. It's too bad, as I like that actor. But the show seems cliche and wooden. If it's worth hanging in for, let me know.
Hey, did you see that a new report says Lou Gehrig might not have had Lou Gehrig’s disease?
======================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Jimmy McNulty would mock your protestant whiskey Adrian. I think they are both about the same but I'm not a whiskey expert by any means
Dylan
Ever been to Kentucky? Prods make the best hooch.
And I have toured the distillery so that counts for something.
Seana
That gave me pause too but I had already paid for it on iTunes so what can you do? And I like Miranda Richardson in almost everything.
Peter
Yes. I mean whatever Lou Gehrig died of would be Lou Gehrig's disease, right? But maybe not Lou Gehrig's Disease.
Seana
But no there's no point letting it get its hooks into you. So far its not up there with Mad Men or Breaking Bad.
Yeah, on Earth II, players who get whacked in the head wind up with Lou Gehrigs instead of concussions.
Also, I found out only tonight that Bobby Thomson was born in Glasgow. He is probably the most famous Glaswegian to play in the major leagues.
Anonymous, I am watching Breaking Bad, Season 1 through Netflix and loving it. I suppose it's not a bar every show should be required to reach, though. I may have made a flash judgement on Rubicon. It could get better, I guess. But having just watched Mad Men, I had no patience for it.
All of this conversation going on and I've been missing it thinking I don't know one motorbike from another so why try to keep up with the comments.
On another note, I just started Mad Men on Netflix, I have to say, it's interesting. I'm not sure I've seen another show quite like it.
Glenna, right. Never make that mistake again.
I have to admit, Mad Men has grown on me considerably.
Triumph must have been better at product placement for Hollywood movies. Che suited a Norton. If you are a middle of the road man with no real ideas about the world-ride a Triumph. Che, being a real man- rides a Norton.
I don't have anything new to add here, but you should check out Bookwitch's blog post on Swedish prisons.
Frankie
I counter your Che with an Evel Kneviel and a Steve McQueen.
Pah! I'll keep my revolutionaries and you can stick with the Hollywood pop tarts.
Pah! I'll keep my revolutionaries and you can stick with the Hollywood pop tarts.
I kinda take exception to the Norton
vs. Triumph comparison. I've had a
Norton for years and although I'am a
fool with a wrench, the bike still runs. Took it from Minneapolis to
the Canadian Rockies once. Also had a Triumph that was a good bike.
Mechanically, they really don't compare to the Japanese bikes of the time. But, Norton now has a new bike that looks real
nice. They use an air cooled engine
which keeps it simple (and nearer to authentic).
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