What we need is good biker movie!

Dellortoman said:
I tried to read Zen and the art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I thought it was about motorcycles, but was soon disabused of that notion. To me, it just seemed like a wankfest by the author, Pirsig, waffling on with somewhat disjointed and impenetrable philosophical meanderings. I lost the book when I was about half-way through it. It fell out of my pocket while on a bike ride. I took that as the universe telling me not to bother reading any more. Gawd knows why it got the publicity it did. It's a shit book and would make a shit movie if anyone was deluded enough to consider that.
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I was given Zen by a well meaning girlfriend….. I gave up not long after reading page 2. If I wanted a long waffle, I’d get one from Poly Waffle.
 
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This book was written by the late Clement Salvadori, RIP, an old mate, who was a contributing writer for multiple motorcycle magazines. Clem, as he was known to his friends, had an incredibly interesting life. He wrote for Rider magazine for more than 30 years; he said getting paid to ride and write about motorcycles and the places they can take you is the best job ever. He wrote 6 books about motorcycling and the joy of riding. I know he was writing a novel; I don't know if he ever finished it.
This is a book about motorcycles and where they can take you and who you meet, no foo foo stuff.1794269290374.png
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I was at the Assen GP in 84, had my head in my tent smoking some hash,
my 750sfc park next to me with Californian plates, when I heard an American accent saying your along way from home. I backed out of my tent, turned around and said G'day Clem. He was as shocked as I was.
He didn't know I had sold my old SF2 ot that I was in Europe. He had picked up a demo BM from the factory to do a story/road test. Out of an ocean of tents He put his up a couple of metres away from mine.
First met him in 1974 arriving in Perth after riding overland from Europe riding his R75/5 BM. Hooked up with him again when living in California.
It was He and my best mate Kenny that inspired me to go travelling on my SF2 several years later.
I must look for that book.
Kenny always stayed in touch with Clem. He was riding well into his 80s
 
Clem Salvadori was 86 when he died earlier this year; his wife Sue died a few months before he did. Clem was found sitting in a chair inside his garage with his small collection of motorcycles; we should all be so lucky to pass so easily,
In the early 90s, I was on my 78 Gold Jota camping gear strapped on the bike, making good time riding the incredible CA 299, 130 plus miles of twisties between Redding and Arcata. I was heading west when a BMW K bike heading east came into view and stopped in a small turnout. I made a U-turn to check on the rider, and as I pulled up, the BMW rider put on a beret, Clem.
I bumped into Clem a couple of times at the US MotoGP at Laguna Seca.
 
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Here are a few I think have been missed.
As I've recently read of a new 20minute movie called something catchy to appeal to the 'Yoof' of today I don't think any of these count.
But we cannot deny the influence of the McGregor and Boorman and their 'Long Way' travel programmes.

The Best Bar in America

Wide of the Mark (2021)
Wide of the Mark 2021

One Week 2008

I will forget if I can the 'Biker' movie 'Pillion' as that is not my thing.
 
Exmoor beast said:
The reason younger people aren’t into bikes is there hasn’t been any good bike movies for years, in fact the recent ones have put people off as they as so bad! ...
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Never thought this far movies would be a reason why young people would start motorcycling. At least for me, movies had no any kind of role on this one. I was once asked if I have watched some of those movies. In my family my grandpa started in 1940's and I think movies had nothing to do with my decision. I think most motorcycling movies I have seen, including many of the old ones are mostly about some stupid stereotypes and have surprisingly little to do with motorcycling. Probably the makers weren't motorcyclists themselves either.

-Jouni
 
Exmoor beast said:
Unfortunately you’ve hit the nail on the head- there is no desire to escape, search, find adventure. Gen Z is never going to kickstart anything..
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Is it so in the UK? Isn't what I'm seeing in Finland. In Finland I often see Gen Z including even younger than them, Gen alpha, has their own meetings. I think those guys must be very clever having their own meetings instead of taking part to the meetings arranged by old farts. :ROFLMAO:
Typically in Finnish cities and towns, when you turn from crossroads usually somewhere in industrial area or some other somewhat distant place, it may be that you notice there is a row hundreds of meters long of mostly 50cc and 125cc bikes, and a couple of bigger ones. Most of them have kickstarters only. In 2026, people born in 2011 (15 years old, Gen alpha) may have a license for 50cc. People born in 2010 (16 years old, also Gen alpha) may have a license for 125cc.

They often drive in groups. Many Monkeys don't have working lights, I guess it is somehow related to the magneto, possible something common that fails on them and they are not able to repair. Minarelli AM6 seems to be very common on 50cc's. Often they install the license plate at front of the rear wheel inside the mudguard, that is not allowed. Some times I see some rare ones that drive without any license plate.

-Jouni
 
On Any Sunday just confirmed what I wanted to do. BTW, is anyone else laughing there Arse off at all the hullabaloo about Electric Pushbikes being the devil's work and something must be done to rein in this HORROR? Just think of all those children risking death and destruction just like we did decades ago. They need more Cotton Wool.
 
MotoJouni said:
Is it so in the UK? Isn't what I'm seeing in Finland. In Finland I often see Gen Z including even younger than them, Gen alpha, has their own meetings. I think those guys must be very clever having their own meetings instead of taking part to the meetings arranged by old farts. :ROFLMAO:
Typically in Finnish cities and towns, when you turn from crossroads usually somewhere in industrial area or some other somewhat distant place, it may be that you notice there is a row hundreds of meters long of mostly 50cc and 125cc bikes, and a couple of bigger ones. Most of them have kickstarters only. In 2026, people born in 2011 (15 years old, Gen alpha) may have a license for 50cc. People born in 2010 (16 years old, also Gen alpha) may have a license for 125cc.

They often drive in groups. Many Monkeys don't have working lights, I guess it is somehow related to the magneto, possible something common that fails on them and they are not able to repair. Minarelli AM6 seems to be very common on 50cc's. Often they install the license plate at front of the rear wheel inside the mudguard, that is not allowed. Some times I see some rare ones that drive without any license plate.

-Jouni
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Maybe it’s because you can have a moped at 15, that sows the seed for a 125 at 16- still another two years before you can drive a car.
In the UK ,pre ‘83 you used to be able to ride a 50 at sixteen then up to a 250 at seventeen on L plates, no test. New registrations were around 230,00 motorcycles in ‘82 - went down to 175,00 in ‘83 when the learner limit was lowered to 125. It’s never recovered and motorcycle interest has waned ever since. I recently saw some young lads ogling an electric small wheel scooter, we wouldn’t have been seen dead on one.
 
When I was living and working in Bristol the guy I worked with had an old Wolseley which required hand cranking from time to time. Only think I had to do that once. 🙂
 
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