I know I'm hooked on her adventure. :)
Well, here it s June and I have not managed to get on the Enfield at all yet and Noraly has got me jonesing like mad. I've followed her from the beginning and just watched 80, 81, 82 and 83 this AM and now it's 10 o'clock.
The way I am now I have to pick my day and it's been either the weather or not "feeling right" (physically or emotionally) or having something else to do on any particular day. It's a whole painful process just getting ready to go and if I have any one "other" thing to do it does away with that day for a ride. Just an hour of necessary yardwork blows me out for that day and it would be dangerous for me to even take the bike past the end of the driveway. And so far the weather here has also sucked in some way most days!
It pisses me off that the pain has finally won after 81 years of fighting it every day. I would last about a half hour doing what this amazing girl is doing. Like Doug I may have to just wrap it up soon.
Anyway. If Royal Enfield's PR people have not already contacted this girl they are idiots. They should be helping her and capitalizing her in some way or even hiring her. She is an amazing salesman for this bike.
I have been following Noraly's adventures as I assume many of us are. One thing that I find odd though, is that while every episode typically receives thousands of "thumbs-up" there are always around 30 or 40 that give her a "thumbs-down". What do you think is going on with those?
The dislike numbers seem very consistent and personally, I just don't see anything in her videos that is worth disliking. And even if I didn't like her music, commentary, or selection of little dirt roads, I don't know why I would go out of my way to give her a "thumbs-down". Any ideas what is going on here?
Hell Tooseevee, if you're still getting a leg over at 81 (insert sound of twittering Brits here), then you're more man than most. You got twenty years on me, and I'm not as spry as I once was. Add to that the level of difficulty of having to fire up a tweaked AVL with no decomp or electric leg on a cool Rhode Island morn, and my hat's off to you, man. Were I in your situation, before hanging up my spurs, I might be looking for means to maybe ameliorate the impact of those "olds". Just spitballing here, but have you got a nice jacuzzi or hot tub? Before I set out for "yonder" on my own Iron Belly, I sort of warm and limber it up around the block nice and easy. Why not treat your own body's lymphatic "lube system" and joints to the same warm up before a jaunt? Besides, a jacuzzi and a good book are among the sublime joys of life, if a taxi full of drunken Swedish stewardesses isn't handy. Treat yourself!
With your Enfield, that first cold start must be the biggest hurdle. So, if you'd really prefer to stick with your lovely AVL instead of some latter-day bike or even scooter with an electric start, how about getting one of those electric roller start doodads like I've seen in Jay Leno's Garage and other YouTube videos? There's no shortage of DIY versions shown out there, including one using what looks like a Harbor Freight angle grinder as its motive force, but here is a rather nice looking one (https://youtu.be/QTEAD0glDs0) from England shown actually starting a nice old Bullet. I reckon with a bit of rummaging through the Interwebs, a nice enough turnkey one might present itself for $500 or so, where you could just back the beast on, hit the footpedal, fire up, and off you'd go.
Remember: We're Riders of the Archaic. So go ahead and be archaic. You'll show those whippersnappers!
I wish whoever designed Noralee's bike sticker had used her Basanti as a model, instead of a generic cafe racer. Just picky, I guess...Agreed! that is why I didn't buy any of those.
Agreed! that is why I didn't buy any of those.Probably because this is an American site and the way Noraly spells her name is not normal here.
Why do people on here not use her proper name though - Noraly.
Frank
Agreed! that is why I didn't buy any of those.
Why do people on here not use her proper name though - Noraly.
Frank
Probably because this is an American site and the way Noraly spells her name is not normal here.But her name is not Noralee, its Noraly. Its a bit insulting to imply that the lass doesn't know how to spell her own name.
I think the most common way to spell it here in the US. is Noralee.
Google shows 18 different ways to spell it. :o
But her name is not Noralee, its Noraly. Its a bit insulting to imply that the lass doesn't know how to spell her own name.
You "Dirty Old Man". ;D
From what I've seen of Noraly she would be the first to laugh about someone misspelling her name and I know she wouldn't consider it to be an insult.
She's a full of life, full of adventure sort of girl who would totally understand why someone in the US could miss-spell her name and she would not think another thought about it.
Well, since we've slipped into grammar and spelling mode here, there you go misspelling misspell. When will it ever end? :) :) :) :) :)(http://)
BTW - did you catch that incredibly overloaded truck that we caught a glimpse of twice in (I think) Episode 105?
Speaking of the thumbs down in Noraly's YouTube shows did you watch all 1 1/2 hours of her latest on line talk show?
She mentioned that somehow one of her YouTube's got on some sort of "hate forum" and she received a rash of hateful comments like some turds that said they wanted her to be raped.
How's that for being really shitty? >:( >:( >:(
I'd gladly take those SOB's and hang them by their testicles and walk off leaving them hanging there.
All I want to know is what currency do I choose for the fuel donation?
I'll have to add that as I watch on the TV, There's no option for a thumbs up and I'm not going through them all now.
It would appear that Noraly has won the hearts and minds of this forum though :)
Bless you chaps. I am aware of both your suggestions :)
It was that when it came to choose the currency in which to donate in I thought ah. Now what. The default was USD and she is obviously not there :)
Episode 108 is one of the more interesting Itchy Boots videos yet. It shows her riding around and exploring the area surrounding Cappadocia, Turkey. It starts out with her watching many hot air balloons rise in the morning and ends with a visit to an underground city carved out of the ground. And unfortunately, the "haters" didn't waste any time giving her 47 dislikes. >:( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kdm463II7U
Well she certainly is a much better rider than I am and she speaks English very well and also seems to be able to communicate well enough in other languages.
Plus, that poor Himalayan takes a beating and keeps on ticking. I assume that we all are very impressed with its performance and durability in the rough, at high elevations and in the hot and cold weather that she has been experiencing while riding in the middle-east.
If only RE would have made that engine as a 650cc single. :)
Noraly's videos are always fun to watch. In fact, although I've watched it a couple of times before, I just clicked on the link and watched it again. :)
I think one of my favorite incidents was shown several episodes back when she stopped out in the middle of no where to talk to the two old men. They offered her some vodka.
I can't help but think those two old guys will spend the rest of their lives with a big smile on their faces while they are thinking back to the day an angel rode up and shared a few moments with them just because they were there.
...if Noraly can get 30,000 km out of her Himalayan so far -it sounds pretty good to me and it appears a lot better bike than I once thought.
yeah your right. ive had say 15 c5 in total or close to it. not one would equal my triumph street scrambler. as the story goes -you only get what you pay for. anyway I have bought the Himalayan so that's a done deal. I am going to load it up with about $2000 in after market parts or accessories which im about to buy worldwide and see what happens
I was going tp get rid of all my bikes and go back to cars but I thought -just one more hit...lol so cashed two of them. so its only the new Himalayan on order and the triumph and load them up with a few accessories. I still think the interceptor is the better built bike in the enfield range but within a month I will know for sure.
either way I am glad I have bought a 5/19 plate Himalayan bike compared to the earlier 017 bikes which hopefully should have ironed out a few of the earlier bike problems.
but what I can tell you is this- I won't be taking it to any long distance dealer. I will be getting some-one local to check the valves. if it goes pear shape and goes down hill - I don't really care! you only get what you pay for and I guess I didn't pay much!...lol
Yup Tooseevee. As soon as I saw that 2CV on the trailer I thought, "Whoh! Old Tooseevee is going to be cheering and jumping up and down !! Noraly said right there on her video she thought a 2CV was "cute".
Of course, I know Tooseevee was thinking it was him she was talking about. ;D ;D ;D ::)
She said that she had problems with the "bearings" in the front and had to have them replaced twice. Problem is, she didn't say if they were wheel bearings or the ones in the steering head. Hmmmmm.
I would guess steering head, wouldn't you?I got the impression that she meant steering head bearings, did she not point at that area while she was saying it - or is that my imagination?
In Noraly's latest video, she explains that there is no way she can register Basanti in Holland.
The bike doesn't meet the European motorcycle requirements plus it was never in her name. (Because it was bought in India and they don't register Indian motorcycles to foreigners so it was registered in a friends name.)
Anyway, she got a hell of a deal from the importer who traded a brand new, free, Himalayan for Basanti.
She named her new motorcycle "Dhanno" and mentioned that people in India would understand and the name was very fitting for the bike.
Being curious, I did some web research and found, "The Rest Of The Story" (as Paul Harvey used to say on his radio show).
In a Indian, Bollywood Movie called "Sholay" there is a outgoing, talkative village girl, who makes her living by ferrying people from one place to another. The girls name is Basanti. The horse that pulls Basanti's cart is named Dhanno.
If it works, here is a link to Noraly's video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phtlcrvc5ZI
Yup, head bearings for sure.So what head bearings are you guys replacing the OEM with? Is there a better aftermarket one out there?
She earned the respect of that dealer and it worked out perfectly. For both of them.
I haven't watched the video yet, but... what's in it for the dealer? What's he going to do with a bike that can't be registered?
I haven't watched the video yet, but... what's in it for the dealer? What's he going to do with a bike that can't be registered?
Think if that dealer has "the rights" to Noraly's name and work product. He could sell it to anyone. Royal Enfield maybe :)
I hope she has a lawyer.
I haven't watched the video yet, but... what's in it for the dealer? What's he going to do with a bike that can't be registered?
Well, if in the bargain she has somehow managed to give up the rights to her own first name - maybe she could just change the spelling?
(https://advrider.com/f/styles/advrider_smilies/ImaPoser.gif)
Well, "Basanti" is arguably the most famous Enfield in the world. Who cares if she's "street legal" in Utrecht? If she isn't trucked in as a featured display at the Earls Court and every other major motorcycle show for bragging rights, then each and every dumbshit in the Royal Enfield Marketing Department needs to be shown the door. I'm just surprised the folks in Chennai snoozed through this. Now they'll have to cut a deal with those local stooges. Noraly doesn't so much need a lawyer as such as an agent.
In case you weren't already thoroughly smitten by that formidable lass, here's a shot of her from one of her previous travels astride a Mongolian pony...
>:(
To which one may only add...
This 2nd picture is for some reason just a blank for me. The one with the pony is fine.