BMW motorcycles. I starting on a Honda XL250 back in 1972 then later moved to a Moto Guzzi V7 Sport. One day in 1976 I demo'd a 1976 BMW R75 (750cc) and fell in love with the opposed twin's light weight, low center of gravity, torquey motor, smooth ride, and comfortable ergonomics. I knew I had to have that bike, only problem was I didn't have enough money. So I started saving every penny and come Spring of 1977 I sold the Guzzi and added that $1,200 to my motorcycle coffee can. Unfortunately by 1977, due to the strength of the German mark, the price of a new R75/7 had risen to $3,000 (plus 5% tax), my coffee can only had $2,600, and it was riding season. I estimated it'd take at least 10-12 weeks to save another $600. BUT a couple weeks later I saw advertised in the Sunday classifieds "1976 BMW R75/6, black, mint condition, 1,600 miles, $2,550." I bought that bike on the same day.
Although I've owned various brands of motorcycles since, it seems BMW R bikes are what I most enjoy riding. I've now lost count of how many I've had but at least one has been in my garage ever since. Currently I have a 1993 R100R which reminds me of that 1976 R75 only with better brakes and more power, it's even the same black color. Parked beside it, and still utilizing BMW's traditional opposed twin engine configuration, is a 2016 R1200RS.

Craftsman hand tools. They aren’t what they used to be but I still buy them.

quote:

Originally posted by ChicagoSigMan:
USAA

Me too, and I go back to when they insured military officers (even warrant officers! ) only.

Tony Lama cowboy boots. Still have my first pair from the early 1970s (Western style, chestnut color, riding heel, pointed toe). Been repaired and resoled a few times. About five years ago found the same style, color and size Tony Lama boot in a vintage store. Great shape, bought them. Now have two pairs.

Schwab because they were my first broker. I've always gotten great service from them.

Sig because it was my first. But even before I bought my first Sig, I studied handguns in general and considered safety versus no safety versus decocker.

Yes, it is Wife, Version 1.0.

It fucked off years ago but I’m stuck with it.

I can't think of a single brand that I've stuck with because it was my first. I've stuck with USAA, at least for regular banking accounts, but my first bank was Keesler Federal Credit Union. I wasn't happy with their customer service on a few occasions, so I moved on. This was before there were online banking options, so customer service was a bigger deal. I've stuck with Toyota for several vehicles now, but my first couple of cars were Hondas. I had one in Germany, and I bought another when I was stationed in Japan. I had planned to buy another Honda in Honolulu, but the local dealership wouldn't give me the time of day, so I moved on.

First, thanks for the trip down memory lane.

My first car, my first car stereo upgrade, I bought a used Denon tape deck. It was the bomb, I loved it so and then it died. I used Denon for over 10 years as a loyal brand until they stopped selling car audio for some reason. ( I still use their head unit for home audio.)

In 1997 I was a newly married, poor graduate student. I needed a few tools, since I had none, and everyone said "Dewalt" or "Milwaukee" etc. However, I could not really afford such an investment (at the time the 'kit' was $549). But Home Depot had this new 18v power tool kit for $199 that came with a drill, saw, Sawzall, flashlight and two batteries. I still have those to this day (not the batteries of course). But it started me on the path and I have nearly every ryobi powertool. I am not 'loyal' to them, if I find a power tool that I need I will do that but when it comes to battery driven power tools, I always check their offerings first.

I am a sucker for craftsman handtools and power tools, handheld saw, table saw, drill press, wrenches, etc. are all craftsman.

quote:

Originally posted by UpTheIrons:
Klein Tools.
Was gifted a second had pair of lineman's pliers back in the mid-80s that I still use. Pretty much anything I have gotten from Klein since then has been of excellent quality even up to the present day.

You can't beat Klein tools!

I prefer Makita power tools where I can find them.

Surefire and Streamlight flashlights.

Snap-On, but why in the hell they got China made shit!

Double headed Zwilling Henkels, Benchmade, Casstrom, and Boker knives.

Rhino safes.

just quality seems better luck for me.

Sure.

If I walked into a car audio store right now, I'd ask for the following:

Head unit by Alpine.
Subwoofers by JL.
Tweeters by MB Quartz.
Amps by Orion.

I don't even know if Orion and MB Quartz is still in business, but such is brand loyalty.

I have an affinity to BMW, and given similar offerings between Audi and MBZ, I'd pick the BMW because of the brand projection.

Honda motorcycles.
I’m on my fourth.
An old 70cc Enduro my Dad brought home.
An ‘80 model XR250 that had an engine from a ‘73 model shoe horned in it.
A 1992 CB750 (one of the best pieces of equipment I’ve ever owned)
And now a 2012 NC700x
Oh, and I have a 1999 450 Foreman ATV that proven exceptionally hard to kill.

I did buy a Harley Roadster in 2106. It’s a fun bike but....

quote:

Originally posted by ChicagoSigMan:
I've been with USAA for car insurance since I got my license in 1986. I suppose I could see if there are cheaper rates out there, but at this point it's hard to overcome the inertia.

When I entered the service in 1960 I had a brand new Falcon automobile financed through my dad's credit union and an insurance policy they promoted. When that expired a year later I went with USAA (1961) and I've had them ever since. They treat me well and I've seen no reason to change. USAA only insured military officers in 1961 (I was a 2Lt.)

flashguy

Breakfree CLP.

That's what the gunstore had at the time I picked up my first gun.

It's still my "basic" clean-n-lube, even though I have "better" stuff for specific applications.

I’ve tried to, often the brand changes in quality and I have to go searching for something else. This is particularly true of western boots. Wrangler, I guess. I still wear 13MWZs and have for a long, long time. Ford trucks. I’ve stayed loyal to them because they’ve continued to perform well for me.

If Black will permit a slight diversion, based on this post from ridewv.

quote:

BMW motorcycles.

In the Forest Service we had a lot of safety training sessions. There was a speaker who did safety presentations with a long history with California Highway Patrol. He was a motorcycle cop during the years he was on patrol. Near the end of his career with CHP he was concerned with vehicle safety and procurement. This was the time when MC patrol officers rode Kawasakis—just like on CHiPs. BMW motorcycles scheduled a demo for CHP.

The guy meets the BMW reps at a high school football field. The sprinklers were on and had been on for quite some time. The sprinklers were turned off and they began the demo. Their rider started at the upper end of the field and accelerated all the way down to him and others from BMW and CHP. He hits the brakes and that motorcycle doesn’t even bobble; it comes to a smooth, straight stop. BMW was among the first (maybe THE first) with antilock brakes. CHP changed their ride.

Skippy peanut butter.

quote:

Originally posted by craglawnmanor:
Ten or eleven years ago I decided to change out the factory head unit of my 2005 Dodge Ram p/u... I'll never buy a Kenwood again. I'm definitely back to Alpine. And, if I remember correctly, Alpine speakers weren't bad, either.

FWIW, Alpine made factory head units for Dodge back then, as did Harmon/Kardon. The H/K radios are harder to come by now.

Nikon cameras.

I did a few years as a Crime Scene Detective and got trained on the Nikon system. My photography hobby took off and I had a choice to make on what cameras I wanted to go with... I stuck with Nikon over Canon. I'm a little worried about the future of Nikon, but we will see.

Here is where my hobby has gone, if anyone is interested...

My website.

My photography FB page

I've been using Norelco Rotary razors since I started to shave 50 years ago. Have used a blade on rare occasion, but don't think I've ever tried another electric.

I'm forever an Alpine man, too, when it comes to head units. Since the mid 80s...

Those green lights, square buttons, and good volume knobs... fyeah.

I still like and use Adcom hifi amps from the 80s, too. No plans to replace them.

Sig for sure. Otherwise, no loyalty at all.
Having worked in the wholesale sales part of business now for nearly 30-years, I've seen how brands evolve and change, sometimes for the better and sometimes not so much. Certain brands like to maintain an edge or, a degree or exclusivity, and I can appreciate that provided their produce is commensurate to such a premium. However the pendulum is always swinging, rarely do brands or, institutions care about loyalty; some offer nice perks and benefits usually its only as long as that executive is around to sign-off on that budgetary line-item.