For whom the Sirens sound

I’ve just read the entertaining letter titled ‘Riding Prejudice’ by Kieran Lewis in Issue #89. In his letter Kieran writes: “And the fact was, I was smitten with this bike from the moment I saw it. It was a ‘94 Moto Guzzi California.....”

It struck me that this is a perfect example of what I described as ‘the Siren call of Guzzi mystique’ in the story about the V50 model Guzzi in the Out ‘N’ About section of this issue (see ‘Moto Guzzi V50 MkllI, the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Truth’). So here’s an excuse to explain what I meant by this Homeric metaphor.

According to Homer the Sirens were female birdlike creatures whose song was irresistible to humans and with this power they lured men to their doom. Now I am not suggesting that if you ride a Guzzi you are going to die, or implying that only men ride Guzzis and Guzzi sales persons are all female, I’m simply trying to explain the metaphor. So when the Greek Hero Odysseus expresses a desire to hear the enchanting song of the Sirens, he has himself lashed to the mast of his ship and the crews’ ears blocked with wax and in this way Odysseus was able to resist the Sirens’ call.

What I’m suggesting is that for some mystical reason, to use a line by Robert Palmer, some people find the call of the Guzzi brand ‘Simply Irresistible’ and I cite Kieran’s letter as providing independent proof of this proposition.

Odysseus was also a serial prankster. Who else would wish to con the innocent and peace-loving citizens of Troy into dragging a giant wooden horse, stuffed with bloodthirsty militia, into their fair city? Shame on him. Lucky he was just a myth. ■