The Native Iowan

I recently joined a group on FB that deals exclusively with the sexiest motorcycle ever made… Triumph’s X75 Hurricane

In that group I took a lot of flack for a real simple reason. My bike is not 100% like some other bikes. Its a later production run.

So I write this for the gentlemen Riders of that FB Group…

It sounds strange, but I find it always and all ways positive when I discover I am wrong… wrong about something, anything. When I discover I am wrong, am mistaken, have erroneous beliefs or conceptions, I get to learn something new.

I’ll say that again… “I get to LEARN something NEW”.

Few things at my age are as exciting as learning something new.

Sadly, not everyone feels the same. 

Many folks tend to grit their teeth and dig their heels in when they are challenged by belief changing information. 

I recently posted, as a new member to the FB Group, about my X75 Hurricane. I put a pict of my bike’s serial number up, and immediately got taken to task because my engine does not have the BSA markings on the casing. I was roundly brow-beaten. My bike was not an original X75. I couldn’t be. It did not have the magical BSA on the casing. 

I’ve been here before. 

I am the third owner of my bike. (excluding the import/export guy who obtained it in Wisconsin and imported here to Queensland) I’ve owned it many years. I have in my possession the Wisconsin State original registration dated 1973. I have the original transfer docs from the 1^st owner to the 2^nd owner, dated 1975. And, I have the factory provided information including owner’s manual and tool kit. 

Everything matches. Engine and frame. Wheels and exhaust… all are original. My bike today shows 3999 miles on the odometer. It is the star of my collection. I am 1000% confident it is original. 

But, without the BSA markings on the casing, many of the gentlemen riders in the group simply can’t accept that it is a real, honest X75,  WITHOUT the BSA markings. 

I’ve been here before. 

My main query to the gentlemen riders in the group was: Which X75 is the most valuable, the rarest… The Vseries originals (I consider prototypes), the BSA stamped casings (which I consider BSAs) or the clear-skin, non BSA marked casings (which I consider pure blood Triumphs).

I’m not here to ruffle feathers. I prefer learning new things, gaining new information than arguing. And I love bikes. I own 3 classic featherbeds, 4 classic TRs, a Triton that has Isle of Man history, plus others. The X75 is the Star of my collection.

I have touched many, many X75s over the years. I think mine is as good, or better, than those I’ve seen in museums. 

When I posted first time in this Group I got a lot of attention. Mostly negative. So, I went to my files and dug out my X75 file and made short video. 

And guess what? Crickets… nothing, no one commented. No one said thanks for the new info, or offered a reasonable argument.

I know, being wrong is not easy, unless you have trained yourself to thirst for knowledge and information and learning.

I enjoy being wrong… means I learn something new. 

Ride well, stay young.