Why I (we) ride? one view

[Pete]

Why do I (we) ride?

I will tell you right up front, it is not the same reason
today as it was 45 years ago.

I know everyone has there own reason for riding, here is
mine over time.

In the beginning it was thrill of the adrenal rush. The rush
of banging 9000 RPM shifts, scraping the foot pegs on the curves
and feeling of acceleration and speed.

I am grateful that I survived that phase, it probably was
not intelligence but luck and some small measure of self
preservation. Some lessons were learned, that survive even
today.

The next phase was the commitment to ride as my only transportation.
Every day rain or shine, everywhere, just not in snow or ice.
The phase still exists in modified state even today
moderated by weather. Less riding in really bad conditions.

Honda made this phase easier and more comfortable by introducing the
Goldwing (stripped) and later the Valkyrie. Water cooling, shaft drive and a reliable
long lived engine and drive train, made daily riding and massive mile
accumulation considerably easier.

The next phase was really the addition of very long distance travel
added to the prior phase. Long trips of 4,000, 5,400, 7,200 were the
mainstay of this phase, days of 500, 750 or 1,000 miles were not
uncommon nor unusual. Saw a lot of the country, met a lot of nice folks,
and survived a few poor decisions, not really sure how.

Bikes like the Goldwing and Valkyrie really made this a treat.

The phase I am in now is some combination of the 3 prior phases but
with more maturity and the reality that my reactions and endurance
is not what it was.

I ride for pure pleasure and to enjoy the ride. It is not about getting
anywhere, it is about the ride, the simple joy of the wind, the smells,
the temperature changes, the people, the bikes and the road. A simple
trip to the store is enjoyed for what it is, an excuse to ride.

I do not ride as fast as I did and I do not scrap the pegs, I seldom
see the RPM red line anymore, and usually in 1 or 2 gears only.
Adrenalin no longer comes along for the ride.

Do I enjoy riding less? NO, more because I have finally learned to
enjoy every aspect of the ride and to savor it. It no longer is
about speed, thrills, distance, destination nor the badge of a
daily rider.

I enjoyed all those things in there time, and it is what makes
me what I am a rider with great memories and a road map in my mind.
It was just a part of the progression of a rider's life.

Now it is just about the ride, and each day I enjoy it more and
every night I look forward to tomorrows ride. On rainy days I
maintain the bikes and look at road maps of places I will go
when it stops raining.

I do not accumulate as many miles as I once did, but now I
recall and remember most of them with a smile.

Thanks for listening, just wanted to let you know that reasons
for riding may change, but the enjoyment never does, at least not
in my case. Here is hoping yours is the same.

Ride safe and enjoy every mile.

[old2soon]

Anticipate. Do. Remember. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. As often as ya'll can do it. RIDE SAFE.

[Mallett]

Why do I (we) ride?

I will tell you right up front, it is not the same reason
today as it was 45 years ago.

I know everyone has there own reason for riding, here is
mine over time.

In the beginning it was thrill of the adrenal rush. The rush
of banging 9000 RPM shifts, scraping the foot pegs on the curves
and feeling of acceleration and speed.

I am grateful that I survived that phase, it probably was
not intelligence but luck and some small measure of self
preservation. Some lessons were learned, that survive even
today.

The next phase was the commitment to ride as my only transportation.
Every day rain or shine, everywhere, just not in snow or ice.
The phase still exists in modified state even today
moderated by weather. Less riding in really bad conditions.

Honda made this phase easier and more comfortable by introducing the
Goldwing (stripped) and later the Valkyrie. Water cooling, shaft drive and a reliable
long lived engine and drive train, made daily riding and massive mile
accumulation considerably easier.

The next phase was really the addition of very long distance travel
added to the prior phase. Long trips of 4,000, 5,400, 7,200 were the
mainstay of this phase, days of 500, 750 or 1,000 miles were not
uncommon nor unusual. Saw a lot of the country, met a lot of nice folks,
and survived a few poor decisions, not really sure how.

Bikes like the Goldwing and Valkyrie really made this a treat.

The phase I am in now is some combination of the 3 prior phases but
with more maturity and the reality that my reactions and endurance
is not what it was.

I ride for pure pleasure and to enjoy the ride. It is not about getting
anywhere, it is about the ride, the simple joy of the wind, the smells,
the temperature changes, the people, the bikes and the road. A simple
trip to the store is enjoyed for what it is, an excuse to ride.

I do not ride as fast as I did and I do not scrap the pegs, I seldom
see the RPM red line anymore, and usually in 1 or 2 gears only.
Adrenalin no longer comes along for the ride.

Do I enjoy riding less? NO, more because I have finally learned to
enjoy every aspect of the ride and to savor it. It no longer is
about speed, thrills, distance, destination nor the badge of a
daily rider.

I enjoyed all those things in there time, and it is what makes
me what I am a rider with great memories and a road map in my mind.
It was just a part of the progression of a rider's life.

Now it is just about the ride, and each day I enjoy it more and
every night I look forward to tomorrows ride. On rainy days I
maintain the bikes and look at road maps of places I will go
when it stops raining.

I do not accumulate as many miles as I once did, but now I
recall and remember most of them with a smile.

Thanks for listening, just wanted to let you know that reasons
for riding may change, but the enjoyment never does, at least not
in my case. Here is hoping yours is the same.

Ride safe and enjoy every mile.

Nice to read someones thoughts that has the same passion as me to ride...I still like the scraping the pegs tho...

[..]

Nicely written Pete.

I'm moving thru the same phases.

I've still got a bit of zoom zooming to do  

[Karen]

Well said, simply because I still can.

[Pepmyster]

Nice read 

[Thulsa Doom]

   nice.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Very well put! Something only a fellow rider would understand

[BnB Tom]

 
 I guess I'm in phase IV also.
 
" I ride for pure pleasure and to enjoy the ride. It is not about getting
anywhere, it is about the ride, the simple joy of the wind, the smells,
the temperature changes, the people, the bikes and the road. A simple
trip to the store is enjoyed for what it is, an excuse to ride.

I do not ride as fast as I did and I do not scrap the pegs, I seldom
see the RPM red line anymore, and usually in 1 or 2 gears only.
Adrenalin no longer comes along for the ride.

Do I enjoy riding less? NO, more because I have finally learned to
enjoy every aspect of the ride and to savor it. It no longer is
about speed, thrills, distance, destination nor the badge of a
daily rider.

I enjoyed all those things in there time, and it is what makes
me what I am a rider with great memories and a road map in my mind.
It was just a part of the progression of a rider's life.

Now it is just about the ride, and each day I enjoy it more and
every night I look forward to tomorrows ride. On rainy days I
maintain the bikes and look at road maps of places I will go
when it stops raining.

I do not accumulate as many miles as I once did, but now I
recall and remember most of them with a smile."
           

     Sometimes it's great to be older, not necessarily wiser, but old enough to have enjoyed the pleasures of riding  

 Thanks for your thoughts.  They echo mine and probably many others as well  

[BnB Tom]

 I guess I'm in phase IV also.
 
" I ride for pure pleasure and to enjoy the ride. It is not about getting
anywhere, it is about the ride, the simple joy of the wind, the smells,
the temperature changes, the people, the bikes and the road. A simple
trip to the store is enjoyed for what it is, an excuse to ride.

I do not ride as fast as I did and I do not scrap the pegs, I seldom
see the RPM red line anymore, and usually in 1 or 2 gears only.
Adrenalin no longer comes along for the ride.

Do I enjoy riding less? NO, more because I have finally learned to
enjoy every aspect of the ride and to savor it. It no longer is
about speed, thrills, distance, destination nor the badge of a
daily rider.

I enjoyed all those things in there time, and it is what makes
me what I am a rider with great memories and a road map in my mind.
It was just a part of the progression of a rider's life.

Now it is just about the ride, and each day I enjoy it more and
every night I look forward to tomorrows ride. On rainy days I
maintain the bikes and look at road maps of places I will go
when it stops raining.

I do not accumulate as many miles as I once did, but now I
recall and remember most of them with a smile."
           

     Sometimes it's great to be older, not necessarily wiser, but old enough to have enjoyed the pleasures of riding  

 Thanks for your thoughts.  They echo mine and probably many others as well  

  Actually, I sorta skipped right over Phase III.

Maybe that's why I'm still here 

[FloridaValkRyder]

It's always a pleasure to read the thoughts of people who enjoy climbing on the machine and just riding. Dan Meyer, Carl and a few others have waned prophetic on this subject before. I, likewise, skipped Phase III. I never was an Iron Butt guy. I and II most definitely were a part of my life. I think many of us are in Phase IV now as we have gotten a little older. I can't help but smile every time I walk by the Valkyrie. I may be on my way to work or some other such mundane task. I know, soon, pretty soon, I'm going to walk up to her, not just by her, and climb on. I'm going to hear those 6 cylinders come to life and rumble while I grab a gear and ride out, just for fun, just to feel the wind and hear the noises I have come to love while on this wonderful machine. I'm probably going no place in particular, maybe a local bakery out in the country, maybe a park I love on the Wekiva River where I can sit and watch the birds and otters. We are indeed fortunate to have this passion for motorcycle riding. It makes no difference what size or manufacturer. I do the "2 Finger Left Hand Side Wave" to everyone I pass, from mopeds to sport bikes to cruisers. Hell, I even wave at bicyclists who sometimes block the road, albeit the 1 finger variety occasionally!
I often get asked at work as I'm leaving at the end of the day "Whatcha gonna do tomorrow?" I'll say "Go Ridin". "Thats it?" they'll say.  With a big smile......"Yep!!"

[saddlesore]

You hit the nail on the head with me.
 
I hope you don't mind that I printed a copy.  I'll shred it if you want me to.

[Pete]

You hit the nail on the head with me.
 
I hope you don't mind that I printed a copy.  I'll shred it if you want me to.

Feel free to copy, quote, print, share, etc. Attribution not necessary as I suspect may have thought, said and written the same things.

I was reading the other "why we ride" thread and the thoughts just kinda came rolling out of my finger tips into this thread.

Thanks