Legend of the Bell
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Legend of the Bell
I have a question for any and all of you out there. A co-worker (and former bike rider) presented me with a bell for my '06 Night Train shortly after I got it. I am very thankful and appreciative that he did this for me. I am also very sympathetic that he lost his '03 Night Train in a bankruptcy. He loves to talk to me about bikes, tells me great places to ride and shares a lot of stories with me. I have the bell mounted on the bike and I am very proud of it (let's hope it works). I have a very good friend that rides an '05 Springer Softail. I have known him for 10 years (army buddies). He is currently deployed to Iraq and was when I got my bike. I received a gift from him in the mail, and what was it? Low and behold it was a bell! My question is this: I now have two bells, both of which are mounted to the bike, is that too much? I don't want to hurt either persons feelings by having one or the other on the bike.
I guess another question would be does having two bells mess with the Legend of the Bell? I am not superstitious, but damn Murphy's Law!
Two bells on the bike: overkill? stupid? tacky?
Two bells on the bike: a lucky guy that has good enough friends that want to share a tradition and be concerned for my safety and riding enjoyment?
Survey says!?
I guess another question would be does having two bells mess with the Legend of the Bell? I am not superstitious, but damn Murphy's Law!
Two bells on the bike: overkill? stupid? tacky?
Two bells on the bike: a lucky guy that has good enough friends that want to share a tradition and be concerned for my safety and riding enjoyment?
Survey says!?
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Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Concord, CA
RE: Legend of the Bell
Two bells on the bike: a lucky guy that has good enough friends that want to share a tradition and be concerned for my safety and riding enjoyment?
Makes you twice as safe! Be sure to clean the gremlins out of both, or one may clog...
Makes you twice as safe! Be sure to clean the gremlins out of both, or one may clog...
Road Warrior
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RE: Legend of the Bell
Got two on mine! When I bought it,we were riding with my friend who has an e-glide too,and we stopped at one of the local biker joints. He and his wife came out with an "MIA/POW" bell for us since he saw those patches on my vest. Very cool!
A wek or so later,my son hands me a bell like the one on his bike. Now am I gonna take either one off? Not likely! I figure I'm double protected!
A wek or so later,my son hands me a bell like the one on his bike. Now am I gonna take either one off? Not likely! I figure I'm double protected!
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RE: Legend of the Bell
I know a guy with at least 5 on his. The fact that you have 2 really good buds that gave you bells......that they are truly concerned with your safety and care enough to say so......I would fight a man that gave me any greif about them. I would wear them with pride, and tell everyone I met about my 2 great buds and how much they meant to me. Always remember......it's YOUR bike, if you want pink flames and purple polka dots, you can have 'em!
nogood o~`o
nogood o~`o
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From: Binghamton, NY
RE: Legend of the Bell
Alright.........I'll be the one to ask the stupid question.
Can someone post the "legend" for those of us who don't know it? I'm sure it's about keeping you safe or bringing you good luck or something like that, but what exactly is it & where did it originate?
Can someone post the "legend" for those of us who don't know it? I'm sure it's about keeping you safe or bringing you good luck or something like that, but what exactly is it & where did it originate?
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RE: Legend of the Bell
THE LEGEND OF THE BELL*
As we all know, life has many mysteries that have no apparent solutions. One of these is Evil Road Spirits. They are little gremlins that live on your bike. They love to ride. They're also responsiblefor most of your bike's problems. Sometimes your turn signals refuse to work, or the battery goes dead.
Road Spirits can't live in the presence of a bell. They get trapped in the hallow of the bell. Among other things, their hearing is supersensitive. The constant ring of the bell and the confined space drives them insane. They lose their grip and eventually fall to the roadway. (Have you ever wondered how potholes are formed?) The bell has served its purpose.
If you have picked up a bell of your own, the magic will work. But if your bell was given to you, the power has been doubled, and you know that somewhere you have a special friend helping to look after you.
So, if you have a friend that doesn't have a bell, why not be the person to give them one? It's a nice feeling for the recipient to know you personally cared. The, plus a good preventive maintenance program by the bike's owner, will help eliminate the Evil Road Spirits.
As we all know, life has many mysteries that have no apparent solutions. One of these is Evil Road Spirits. They are little gremlins that live on your bike. They love to ride. They're also responsiblefor most of your bike's problems. Sometimes your turn signals refuse to work, or the battery goes dead.
Road Spirits can't live in the presence of a bell. They get trapped in the hallow of the bell. Among other things, their hearing is supersensitive. The constant ring of the bell and the confined space drives them insane. They lose their grip and eventually fall to the roadway. (Have you ever wondered how potholes are formed?) The bell has served its purpose.
If you have picked up a bell of your own, the magic will work. But if your bell was given to you, the power has been doubled, and you know that somewhere you have a special friend helping to look after you.
So, if you have a friend that doesn't have a bell, why not be the person to give them one? It's a nice feeling for the recipient to know you personally cared. The, plus a good preventive maintenance program by the bike's owner, will help eliminate the Evil Road Spirits.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Alamogordo, NM
RE: Legend of the Bell
And here is version #2...
It has been a tradition among some of us, for a long time, to run a brass bell on the left swing arm, to remember our brothers and sisters who have gone down riding.
It's a small thing, but the reason a brass bell is chosen is that, as we ride, it will get dirty and tarnished. Every time we get down and wash and polish it, we are reminded of friends lost, and our thoughts turn to the meaning of being in the wind.
As we ride, and hear the bell ring, we know that our brothers and sisters are riding with us. How easy it would be to join them with a single mistake.
And maybe, just maybe, the next time a situation comes up, they will be there to help us ... as long as we remember them by polishing the bell.
It has been a tradition among some of us, for a long time, to run a brass bell on the left swing arm, to remember our brothers and sisters who have gone down riding.
It's a small thing, but the reason a brass bell is chosen is that, as we ride, it will get dirty and tarnished. Every time we get down and wash and polish it, we are reminded of friends lost, and our thoughts turn to the meaning of being in the wind.
As we ride, and hear the bell ring, we know that our brothers and sisters are riding with us. How easy it would be to join them with a single mistake.
And maybe, just maybe, the next time a situation comes up, they will be there to help us ... as long as we remember them by polishing the bell.
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From: Boca Raton, Florida
RE: Legend of the Bell
This all reminds me of the tradition of putting bells on the harnesses of horses pulling sleighs, freight wagons, etc. I know that it goes WAY back and that teamsters were using bells in PA back in the late 1600's. Then there's "Just hear those sleigh-bells jingling, ring ting tinglin' too" (from the Christmas song).
Bells have a long tradition as an anit-evil spirit device. I have a bronze mid-17th century "crotal" bell (a dug artifact from Scotland) sewn onto the painted canvas case for my irish lap harp (one of these days, I'll be able to play well enough to actually play something in the evening at a Rev-War reenactment!!!
)
RATS!!! Now I'm inclined to spend the day researching the subject!!![:@]
Jim aka kiltiemon (In our travels through our times, it is sometimes comforting to realized that in all ages, people have confronted the same questions and challenges that we are confronted by... and that in most cases, they have prevailed!!!)
Bells have a long tradition as an anit-evil spirit device. I have a bronze mid-17th century "crotal" bell (a dug artifact from Scotland) sewn onto the painted canvas case for my irish lap harp (one of these days, I'll be able to play well enough to actually play something in the evening at a Rev-War reenactment!!!
) RATS!!! Now I'm inclined to spend the day researching the subject!!![:@]
Jim aka kiltiemon (In our travels through our times, it is sometimes comforting to realized that in all ages, people have confronted the same questions and challenges that we are confronted by... and that in most cases, they have prevailed!!!)
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Road Master
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RE: Legend of the Bell
I have 3 bells on my bike. My wife suprised me when I was picking out chrome for my Ultra. It meant a lot to me. She got me a Firefighter and a Police Officer Bell. I work as both a police officer and a firefighter so she got one to represent both jobs. SHe also bought my first bell for my Road King that I used to own, I kept and installed it as well.
Jeff
Jeff
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