Wednesday, July 13, 2011

The Naming of (his and hers) Motorcycles

The Naming of motorcycles is a difficult matter,
It isn't just one of your holiday games;
You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter
When I tell you, a motorcycle must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.

apologies to T.S. Elliot

Ferguson von Doodlebug and the Sir Ronnie Corbett

14 comments:

SonjaM said...

Do you think, they have a secret name for themselves, too?

Highwaylass said...

I'm sure they do. One of mine used to be called "start you bastard."

Gadjo Dilo said...

I had an MZ-125 called "Oh no, not again, you lump of cast-iron shite!" and "So I suppose I'm going to have push you all the way home again, you bastard!". I suppose its third (secret) name was something along the same lines in East German.

Camilla Jessop said...

With my interests in the Classics, I think I might have called them Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

My Grandfather, Edgar, was a classicist too - he called his racing Rudge 'Barney'. Later, through his friendship with Walter Moore who had been at Norton, he was asked to ride the new NSU, which he christened 'Ychiffani' - although I have never been able to find out why.

Geoff James said...

Nikos old sport!
They must indeed have names but you must tell us the origins of them.

My Triple does not have a name yet but I was rather un-PC with my CBR1100xx. Her name was Grace Jones, because she was a Blackbird. Sigh...

Affer said...

How could you call a BMW after someone so quintessentially British? The little single-cylinder jobbie should be Adolf....he only had one!

Alice Scradcza said...

There is an old Lithuanian proverb which is difficult to translate but says: "knowing a child's name does not make you its father."

Nikos said...

Mine has a secret name for me

"master with fat arse"

Jack Riepe said...

Dear Nikos:

If there is a joke hidden in these two names, it thoroughly escapes me. I think the two you have picked are a might formal, unless they refer to famous British circus midgets, or something.

I have developed a theme for the name of my current motorcycle and for future rides. Considering all of them will bust my balls sooner or later, I have named them accordingly. My first BMW was "Blue Balls." The current one is "Fire Balls." The next one will be "Steel Balls."

I would be happy to develop a theme for you, if you wish, should you decide you want racier monikers for future bikes.

I was be shaking you hand in the madness of a BMW Rally, in Bloomsburg, Pa — in eight days.

I am beside myself with anticipation.

When you come, could you bring me a few packets of Boots Cough Lozenges. (The orange in colour kind.) I will be happy to repay your kindness with highly devalued American dollars.

Fondest regards,
Jack/Reep
Twisated Roads

Nikos said...

Jack

I would welcome a theme - I'll have my analyst's report mailed over to you.

I will also visit Boots tomorrow - it's always a pleasure to see the pretty Cheshire lasses who work there.

N

MarkGE said...

My own theme is based on three names: "What now", "now what", and "how bloody much"

Ulrika said...

Good names! If you could think of one (or three) to name my yoga mat, I would be very grateful.

Anonymous said...

Thought you would have gone for tou psilou & tis kondis which sums up the tall and short of it all.

Anonymous said...

Am I not a lucky one ;O) lovely present ;)
Mrs. Nikos

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