Besides being Paso owners, that is? Why do we 'get it' and other don't? And what other things fall into that category - meaning what other windmills do we collectively like to tilt at? I bring it up because of wiggs' recent MG comment (being an ex-MG owner myself), and my discussion with Duck01 regarding old Land Cruisers. Besides my father, there aren't a lot of MG owners that I dealt with; even fewer besides those in the internet communities have this same soft spot for old Land Cruisers. And certainly none of my peers in the immiediate vicinity. They all thought I was nuts - first for buying the Land Cruiser, then the MG - even the Paso. And as much as they like the Paso, even the motorcyclists wouldn't own one.

So ... what is it? I'm O-neg, is that it? :neener:

Hey Faster - can'nt explain it myself - all I know, is that it is great to see in other people too - maybe I'm not such a 'nut' afterall (although you'd probably find others that would happily debate that point........... )
The vehicles/bikes that I own - I am passionate about - usually they are something a 'little bit differant' from mosta the other stuff around, which has its pros & cons..............
My ute - theres heaps of them around in NZ of the same model - just none as modified as mine..............
Paso - is the only one painted like it here............
Landcruiser - stands out a bit..........

Which is all fine & good, but ya can'nt do anything too dodgey, or it comes straight back at ya............ :thumbdown: :thumbdown:

But being a Paso owner - I'm always a 'good boy' anyway...... :thumbup: :neener: :screwy: :umm:

:confused:

I was trying to figure out what you guys were on about. And then it hit me.

Tell you what, being 'a bit different' in the way you guys are talking about is nothing compared to being an artist! Hell, you want to try being an artist! It's murder! That's one of the reasons why these days I am mostly a jewellery-maker - it's a hell of a lot easier, because it's more 'normal'.

PS: I hope you don't think I'm making light of the issue. I guess it's just that working in a slightly 'different' occupation - and in fact feeling slightly 'different' for my whole life in having this particular 'interest' if you can call it that, prepared me for Paso ownership.
But it sure is worth it, isn't it?

Sure is Skins :thumbup: :thumbup: & some are even 'more different' than others.... :screwy: :screwy: :umm: But we won't mention any names because, being just a poor-dumb-quiet-shy-country boy - I embarrass easily........... :neener: :neener:

Skins - I don't take that lightly at all, I know where you're coming and agree: not only does it 'prepare' us for Paso ownership - it might even preclude it? - but it is most definitely worth it. *I* certainly wouldn't have it any other way!

Geez Red - did ya take a hand-full of 'serious pills' this morning or something :umm:
BUT - you are dead right, & you've summed it up nicely!!!! :thumbup: :thumbup:
I remember seeing photos & tests on Paso's when they first came out, when I had just started working, & thinking 'what a beautifull bike'...........then Honda sorta copied the enclosed bodywork with the CBR range, but they were still missing something.......

Bit like the Honda Firestorm - nice bike - goes well - fun to ride - sounds great with the right pipes - but is still character-less, & at the end of the day - has no soul, & is just a Japanese bike with a V-twin motor....... :thumbdown: :thumbdown:

Yeah Duck mate, I think it was just return to work blues yesterday, you go away for a week & then have to do a fortnight overtime to catch up again Why is it no matter how much time we take off work we always wish we had taken a few more days

I do agree with you that I am right about the Paso though I too remember their first release & thinking WOW what a beautiful bike :lick: I am a big fan of the traditional Ducati because it shows all that it has (think original 900ss etc). But I fell in love with the paso because it is a lady filled with mystery & intrigue. Ihave even considered removing all badges so that no one actually knows what it is unless they know the Paso or ask me, which I like because I can talk about my Old Girl for hours.

I owned a Suzuki GSX600F when thay first came out in the late 80's. It was Suzuki's go at a fully enclosed Paso style. It was a beautiful bike, nice on the eye, fun to flick through the Old roads & had a good throaty roar. It was never really appreciated by Sport bike riders as it was one of the first of the Jap 600 revival. But it lacked the Soul of an Italian & I sold it when i bought my BMW.

The Paso stands alone in Bike & even Ducati circles. I have been snubbed by other Ducati owners (not many but it has happened) as they do not feel the Paso is a real Ducati because it directly challenged teh Japanese market. It does not have a trellis frame (frame is actually based on a FJ1200 Yamaha) & was among the early belt drive bikes.

Jeez I am getting seriouos again sorry............Did you hear the one about the Paso owner that wanted to quickly top up his oil? :laugh:

Red - that must be a bit like the one 'Hear about the Paso owner that wanted to do something other than fill the girl with fuel......' - my fairings have been off & on that many times, that I wish it had wing-nuts holding then on........

yeah, I have seriously though tabout holding it all in place with red Airframe tape. It is a pain in the arse but that is what we love about her :thumbup:

Red - I brought mine after a life of big-bore trail bikes - KLR 600s, XT 600- TT600 etc etc & ATVs - (not supposed to be riding bikes at all, according to a Dr 20yrs ago, due to having a buggered right arm.) Got too hard to hold onto the trailies at speed on the road, so brought the Paso, in the hope that the fairing would make a differance. It does, & although the arm still plays up after a ride - just love my bike, & it creates a fee grins mate, which we all need sometimes!! :thumbup: :thumbup:

Never owned a trail bike my self, I have ridden a few & love what they do I just never got hooked the way a road bike sucked me in. Mind you I was sucked in by a VT250 Honda - first bike :ugh: ( I guess that is where my affection for V-Twins started ) but I was well & truelly hooked before that. I grew up in a biking family. My brother used to take me up to Surfers paradice raceway on the back of his BMW R100RS.

I too should not be riding due to an altercation with a Ute on that same VT. I have had 7 operations on it in the last 17 years. She's rooted but I can live with it. I don't have a permenant limp but i wont do any marathons. I once rode my K100RS 500km to Bathurst for Brockies last race & due to the pain had to leave my leg hanging just above the road for about 300 km of the trip there & all the trip home. Surgery soon after that.

The things we do for our passion :screwy:

I reckon 'ride for as long as ya can' - helps feed the soul, & makes ya feel alive. :thumbup: :thumbup:
At the end of the day, you're only here once, & you're a long time dead..................

Amen to that brother :thumbup:

Unless of course you believe in re-incarnation, which always gets me because it appears that everyone was either Cleopatra or Napoleon in a past life.(THey must have had multiple personality disorder because there was a lot of them. :screwy: I have yet to come across somebody that has said they were a peasant who lived in a bog & died of the plague @ 16 :umm: maybe they did not get another go at it. :confused:

If theres such a thing - then hey - I was the peasent last time round.
Actually - are this time too.................