Mawsley Posted January 8 Posted January 8 I've been a member of a few owner clubs. Some of them we full of decent folks, some of them were full of weird old men, and a couple have been rammed with the kind of people I'd instantly block online. After all this time, I've realised I have no idea why I joined any of them - I've got precious little from the magazines and websites. The latest one is totally different to the same make but different region group I used to belong to. Are you a complete member? Have you got anything from being a member that made it worthwhile? Quote
Ian Frog Posted January 8 Posted January 8 I am totally with Groucho Marks on this one and wouldn`t join any club that would have me as a member. I find them weird with weird people or cliquey and I never understand the politics so I find I am happier drifting along on my own or with a couple of mates as when it suits us. Not a misery just not a joiner I suppose. Cheers Ian 5 Quote
Simon Davey Posted January 8 Posted January 8 @Mawsley Do you mean online owner clubs/forums, or join up and go out together, have a BBQ in the summer kind of club? Quote
RideWithStyles Posted January 8 Posted January 8 Which then leads to the bmw (motorcycle) club and the special meets of wife swapping? That sort of club? 4 1 Quote
husoi Posted January 8 Posted January 8 51 minutes ago, Simon Davey said: @Mawsley Do you mean online owner clubs/forums, or join up and go out together, have a BBQ in the summer kind of club? Good luck having a BBQ in Scotland 1 6 Quote
RideWithStyles Posted January 8 Posted January 8 That’s why the bmw club is like farming, keys from one tractor to another and wife swappin of one heifer to another. I joke because I’m sure the women are fine, just the male owners have gone weird over time, Must be something to do with the action of those cylinders… Quote
Mawsley Posted January 8 Author Posted January 8 3 hours ago, Simon Davey said: @Mawsley Do you mean online owner clubs/forums, or join up and go out together, have a BBQ in the summer kind of club? Guzzi - nice enough old men, but old men all the same who are completely unable to talk about anything other than cylinder liners with serious faces. I found the weight of their seriousness really oppressive. A magazine geared towards the serious man who likes special tools. Triumph - a mix of young and old men but, almost to a T, absolutely miserable and determined to vet anyone to ensure they gatekeep the club socials to riders they have deemed worthy. Oddly disliking of the Explorer 1200 and their owners. A magazine geared towards people the manufacturer wants to sell a bike every 6months to. HOG - my god these people are weird. All rich, or keen to appear so, and cosplaying Wild Hogs in real life. Went to one single meeting and felt like using a spoon from the expensive pub’s restaurant to commit a limited and controlled genocide of local bankers, stockbrokers, marketeers and business owners. A magazine that is a sales brochure and lifestyle options catalogue. Harley - one regional group was a collection of brilliant folks from a variety of backgrounds who enjoy a proper laugh. One regional group acts like it wants to wear ‘support’ patches and white hoods. A magazine that includes pictures of old people in fields - it’s, err, niche. Enfield - a nice club for nice old men who you’d happily let look after a young child without any worries. I’m guessing they all wear incontinence pants and use blue pills. Very nice though. Vespa - actually a very useful magazine filled with smiling people…that’s people which includes women. Very welcoming local group that rides together and has a load of socials without the imposition of godawful rawk music. Never tried a Japanese make owner group. 4 1 1 Quote
Simon Davey Posted January 8 Posted January 8 10 minutes ago, Mawsley said: Never tried a Japanese make owner group. Maybe you just shouldn't Quote
wastedyears1981 Posted January 8 Posted January 8 I recently joined an owners group and been to a few of the social meets (not been out on any of the rides yet due to weather and Xmas). Everyone's been nothing but nice and welcoming. Quote
Mawsley Posted January 8 Author Posted January 8 37 minutes ago, wastedyears1981 said: I recently joined an owners group and been to a few of the social meets (not been out on any of the rides yet due to weather and Xmas). Everyone's been nothing but nice and welcoming. That'll be Yorkshire for you Quote
S-Westerly Posted January 8 Posted January 8 3 hours ago, Mawsley said: Guzzi - nice enough old men, but old men all the same who are completely unable to talk about anything other than cylinder liners with serious faces. I found the weight of their seriousness really oppressive. A magazine geared towards the serious man who likes special tools. Triumph - a mix of young and old men but, almost to a T, absolutely miserable and determined to vet anyone to ensure they gatekeep the club socials to riders they have deemed worthy. Oddly disliking of the Explorer 1200 and their owners. A magazine geared towards people the manufacturer wants to sell a bike every 6months to. HOG - my god these people are weird. All rich, or keen to appear so, and cosplaying Wild Hogs in real life. Went to one single meeting and felt like using a spoon from the expensive pub’s restaurant to commit a limited and controlled genocide of local bankers, stockbrokers, marketeers and business owners. A magazine that is a sales brochure and lifestyle options catalogue. Harley - one regional group was a collection of brilliant folks from a variety of backgrounds who enjoy a proper laugh. One regional group acts like it wants to wear ‘support’ patches and white hoods. A magazine that includes pictures of old people in fields - it’s, err, niche. Enfield - a nice club for nice old men who you’d happily let look after a young child without any worries. I’m guessing they all wear incontinence pants and use blue pills. Very nice though. Vespa - actually a very useful magazine filled with smiling people…that’s people which includes women. Very welcoming local group that rides together and has a load of socials without the imposition of godawful rawk music. Never tried a Japanese make owner group. Absolutely agree with your view on the Guzzi Club which is why I haven't renewed my membership. Found it very cliquey and some real moaning Minnie's. First owners club I've joined and the last. 2 Quote
bonio Posted January 8 Posted January 8 I did give the BMW club a brief go. I was looking for people to go riding with from time to time, but they were more into meals at expensive pubs. The one ride I tried to attend was cancelled because of drizzle. But I did learn that not BMW dealers were created equal, and in the end started going to one that was pretty decent. 3 Quote
RideWithStyles Posted January 8 Posted January 8 Which one was that Bonio? Just so people know. Quote
bonio Posted January 8 Posted January 8 (edited) @RideWithStyles Balderston's at Peterborough. But they've been bought out by someone else since then; they're now Sycamore. Reiten are the local go-to place in East Anglia these days; they've pulled out of sales but they're still doing BMW-approved servicing, for now at least. If anyone in my area wants a good independent, I'd recommend JTC motorcycles in Halesworth: Joe is and ex-police rider, a BMW-trained mechanic and and all-round nice guy. Edited January 8 by bonio 2 2 Quote
Pie man Posted January 8 Posted January 8 I was once a member of the Beemer Club, many moons ago, before Tim Berners Lee invented WWW and Garmin hadn't yet introduced their primitive Street Pilot 1. I used to look forward to the monthly magazine, I liked the travel section, stories of riders travelling Europe and beyond. I've always had bikes and love bikes, but I've never been a biker and I don't really like bike meets, and as such I have never joined any other club or magazine since. But my love for touring Europe by motorcycle developed and took off through BMW. 5 Quote
Capt Sisko Posted January 8 Posted January 8 6 hours ago, bonio said: I did give the BMW club a brief go. ........ Another one that gave the BMW Club a go, just the once and didn't renew. Too expensive, skim through magazine and for me the 'local' meets weren't really very local. 2 Quote
Stu Posted January 8 Posted January 8 15 hours ago, Mawsley said: Are you a complete member Errm yes I am........ Quote
Stu Posted January 8 Posted January 8 14 hours ago, RideWithStyles said: just the male owners have gone weird over time See comments like this make me piss! Being a bmw owner I have first hand experience of what it's like! Which is the opposite to what people think! I will talk to anyone and acknowledge anyone when on the bike yet as soon as I got the bmw it was me that was ignored by all the other riders and not me ignoring others! Based on that I can see what a lot of bmw owners don't bother and seem stuck up their own arse! But I bet 70% of them are only reacting to how they have been treat by others bikers! 1 1 Quote
curlylegend Posted January 8 Posted January 8 4 hours ago, Pie man said: I was once a member of the Beemer Club, many moons ago, before Tim Berners Lee invented WWW and Garmin hadn't yet introduced their primitive Street Pilot 1. I used to look forward to the monthly magazine, I liked the travel section, stories of riders travelling Europe and beyond. I've always had bikes and love bikes, but I've never been a biker and I don't really like bike meets, and as such I have never joined any other club or magazine since. But my love for touring Europe by motorcycle developed and took off through BMW. I was apparently made an honorary member of the BMW Owners club in the early eighties because of my enthusiasm running a BMW workshop in Ayrshire. The motorcycle section had been completely neglected for years. It was a mixed dealership, Honda mainly but with BMW motos tacked onto the car division. It was the BMW car salesmen in charge of selling BMW motos and they were clueless ! I sold more than any of them and I was in the Service side ! I did make sure that the workshop was properly equipped, not just the bare minimum and getting proper training for the staff meant that we could offer a good service for riders. But after the boss died competing cliques in the organisation took over and my face didn't fit so I went out on my own, regrettably having to abandon the motos. I did still get the magazine and liked the continental touring and technical articles. However when it all went online I was ignored like an illegitimate red haired baby. C'es la vie ! 2 Quote
JRH Posted January 11 Posted January 11 Back in the 1980’s when I had my first Suzuki I joined the SuzukiOwnersClub. Apart from the key ring didn’t get much out of it. The meets were not very regular and far from me. Later on when I got the Kawasaki GPX750 I joined the KWAKS OWNERS CLUB. Initially set up as a group for GPX and GPZ bikes but soon opened to all Kawasaki models. Was a good group, regular news letter sent out. several ride outs each year. We always had a stand at most of the classic bike venues, Stamford, Peterborough and many others. I did go and do stand duty on many times. for me it was a sad time when the club unfortunately folded. There was tons of Kawasaki bike information lost. It briefly re surfaced on FB but that soon fell out of use. Since the demise of that group never bothered joining another owners club. Quote
Mississippi Bullfrog Posted January 14 Posted January 14 Triumph Bobber club is mixed. Mostly American owners but there's a decent sized UK membership and folk from across the globe. The technical support bit is excellent. There are some very experienced owners willing to share information. Very few squabbles in that regard. The modifications aren't to my taste but the general attitude is each to their own. It's your bike, if you like it then we'll be polite. Just don't stray anywhere near any tongue in cheek comment on politics. That causes world war 3 to break out so the slightest hint of political comment results in an instant lifelong ban. 2 Quote
Simon Davey Posted January 14 Posted January 14 (edited) @Mississippi Bullfrog From what I've seen on YouTube, the Americans love Triumph. It's the retro machines they seem to go for. Could be just algorithms though. Edited January 14 by Simon Davey Quote
RideWithStyles Posted January 14 Posted January 14 They do, Probably because old Tri’s are modern compared to Harleys!. Jokes aside they do have good history (they like that) which is easy to forget about. Triumph does hit the mark more than not in design and build for a lot of the bikes, new and old. Ridden a few and really like’d them, own’d one eventually. Great bike even though it did give a hiccup or two as an aged bike, don't have one now but I would happily venture back to owning one. 1 Quote
manxie49 Posted January 14 Posted January 14 I was a member of one owners club for a very short period of time, and I found it to be like what @Ian Frog alluded to, cliquey. It seemed like there was a small group of people who all knew one another, and they seemed to just take over the forum. I witnessed them time and time again putting people down who weren't part of their little group. Some of the group were ok, but IMHO if you weren't part of the inner circle you were sort of just tolerated, a bit like a stray dog in the work place, lol. Needless to say I used to see a lot of people come and go, me included, I wouldn't bother with one again. 1 Quote
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