This post is 100% motorcycle related. Read and define why you ride

[solo1]

If you were to describe to a cynic what motorcycling is all about how would you do it.?
As many know, I no longer ride at my age.  Makes no difference. I earned my way.  So I'll start.


I liken riding to the Old West when horses were the only mode to travel.  Now I've never been on a horse so I'm no expert on that. Here is my attempt.

First of all, the independence of riding, your 'steed' is at your call to please you .  The wind in your face, the power of the motorcycle, the exuberance of banking at 9/10ths ridng a suitable crinkly road. The freedom and sharing of that freedom with riders of the same persuasion, The smells, the heightened responses to all senses especially when riding in a non threatening rain, the satisfaction of knowing, by your skills, that you are not a standard 'cage' operator but a RIDER who recognizes and is well aware of the special properties needed to ride safely while still enjoying the fruits of the "Open Road"

Finally, at the day's end, putting the 'steed' away, shutting 'er down, and knowing it is, unlike a horse, just an inanimate object, but still giving it a one last pat on the tank, saying well done, and Then, and Then,  give it one last look before getting back to a hohum  world.!


Ok. Next!

[G-Man]

I ride so I can join an M/C board so I can discuss politics!   


Sorry, couldn't resist.   

[sleepngbear]

Riding is my periodic escape from everything. Riding requires more concentration than most other activities, so it automatically takes my mind off life's aggravations for just a little while.

Also, being that it's much smaller and lighter than any other street vehicle, you feel more as one with your ride. It's a feeling you just don't get with most other types of machinery.

[Reb]

To pick up fat girls 

[Wizzard]

To meet others and to feel free. Love the wind in my face and all my senses are alive when I am riding.

[Rams]

To pick up fat girls 

That gets costly, bling is expensive.......... 

[Wizzard]

To pick up fat girls 

That gets costly, bling is expensive.......... 

Not to mention, its hard on the bike
 

[Dave Ritsema]

Still 100% motorcycle related. 

[Ice]

Riding is freedom, being part of nature, part of the road, the sights, the smells (especially in farm country or behind a cattle truck   ) the unknown destination, the camaraderie that one feels with like minded folks. It's just something you cannot experience in a cage, even a convertible does not give you the feeling that riding your trusty steed does.
And as always to my friends who do not ride and ask why, If I have to explain it, you will never understand.....    

[old2soon]

I worked the flight deck in the Navy and my A/C was shot at a time or two. RIDING is THE absolute closest I can get to the Rush of the flight deck and being shot at. Course in the A/C we could and did shoot back. But fog in the valleys in the morning the smell of fresh cut hay the farmer getting to the bottom of the winter pile taming curves watching the thunder storm catch up to you getting ready for the air wave from a semi on the interstate as you pass it realizing as you glance at your speedometer your at better than a buck when the crotch rocket rips by you and KNOW the C R is Flyin! Yer butt gits numb around the 400 mile mark and you STILL have a hunnert and  half to go and you really DON'T mind and you git up the next day still over 500 miles to he venue. The surprise when it dawns on you that-YES-you iz draggin the pegs! And finding out that NO matter what we ride we ARE Brothers and Sisters of the WIND. And RIGHT now the WIND she be callin me!   RIDE SAFE.

[0leman]

I ride because I enjoy it.  Period.  

I like being able to just roam around seeing country, some for the first time, some enjoy seeing for the 100th time.   I can see better from the seat of my Valk than from the seat of a car/truck.  Roads around where I tend to ride are not busy, so I can enjoy the scenery.   Sometimes its cows munching on grass, sometimes its an antelope standing watching me.   All is good.

I don't need to scrap off parts of Valk, though do take a corner faster than should every so often.  It is not getting from point A to point B as fast a I can.  I enjoy "smelling the roses" on my rides.

[solo1]

You know, I let a little bit of me hang out when I started this post and my little stories do too.

Don't forget that it's a two way street. I will learn a lot by the responses here and you can bet that I will read all of them.

Let's try to keep it 100% motorcycle posts.  We already are bitchin' about too many political posts.

[F-six]

In a car you see the movie of the landscape passes by... On a motorcycle you are in the movie!

I've never been happier than being by myself on my bike on a road that stretched to the horizon. Feel the sun, the wind and the rain, get in touch with your surroundings. To clear my head, I need a ride on my Valk.
Something like that..

 

[Valkorado]

Infatuated by two wheels, and drawn like a a moth to a flame from the first mini bike ride into a wall (no brakes), to abusing the neighbor's Tote Goat, to my beloved Yamaha Twin Jet 100!


Not my pic but just like it.  Oh, the memories.

(did 100+ on that bike regularly,  later turned up exhausts and added "dirt" sprocket and knobbies  ), to my red and black Honda XL350 enduro (school colors -- cool), a couple Shadows, and (2) mighty Valks!

[J.Mencalice]

Motorcycling has always been a "pressure relief valve" for this rider.   I have hardly ever ridden my motorcycles to work as I never wanted them associated with bringing me to a place of labor.  They are vehicles to take me  places (actually and figuratively) that are mine and mine alone or shared with the girl(s) of my life.

Reading "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert M. Pirsig back in 1974 pretty much gave me a foundation for the internal conversation that keep me riding into my older years and validation of other voiced precepts.
I recommend it highly whether you ride or not.

Also...every once in a while, I like twisting that grip and hangin' on for dear life. or heading out on a slow and easy midnight ride (e.g. Jim Morrison, Bruce Springsteen) when the state roads are empty across the desert, the temperature hovers just at the right degree, and a full moon lights up an open blacktop.
Ride ya crazy bastards!

[Mr Whiskey]

Road calls, I answer.
Why do I ride, 'cause I haf' to!

[solo1]

Hundreds of memories and loads of '"In the Wind" miles since my buddy and I rode south in 1949, and I took this photo on the way.

[davit]

I'm addicted to motion, same reason I surf and downhill ski.

[Beardo]

Everyone has said it so well already.

Having to be so focused on the other drivers, the road conditions, listening to the bike, etc makes everything going on in the world not matter. 

Work doesn't exist. Justin Trudeau doesn't exist. Donald Trump and Hillary don't exist. Racial or religious tensions don't matter.  Catching up on the news can wait til the trip is over. Right now, all you care about is the road, your next fuel up, next meal. You want to eat in the middle of the afternoon and not at 12:00 sharp like when you're at work? Fine. Don't feel like eatin at all? Fine. 

It can be what you want it to be. Relaxing or exhilarating. Can go from one to the other with a small movement of the right hand.

I also like that, for the most part, it all depends on you. How well you ride. How well you maintained your bike. How well you packed. What tools you deemed necessary to take. Getting that screw in your tire and it not wrecking your trip because you brought a plug kit...just carry on.

Also like that I ride to/from work every day. Have a bad day...take the long way home. Bad day...gone.

Also love how "mechanical" riding is. In our day and age of traction control, cruise control, lane detection, blind spot monitoring, etc...riding is so primitive and overly complex in a way. Engineers are constantly coming up with ways to make things easier. Easy is boring. Easy lets all the other crap creep back into your head. Both hands and both feet having to work in unison. Without thinking. It's awesome in its complexity is also beautiful when you get it right, it's so simple.

[cookiedough]

relaxing and enjoying 2 wheels brings me more fun vs. a car/truck.  Plus, it is faster as well. 

Going for rides either solo or 2-up to any destination (non raining/bad weather of course) just on a whim to get something is no big deal.  For example,  wife needed several times an ingredient/food item costing like 2-3 bucks to make something.  Normally,  if did not have the cycle or scooter, I would say skip it until in town next since having to drive total of 30 miles with truck is OVER the cost of the ingredient, but taking cycle/scooter I think nothing of it just hop on and go get it to nearest next town.   It gives me an excuse to get outta the house and go for a ride, even if only 30 miles.

The practical side of me as well:  Keeps miles off my truck, saves me gas, truck only gets 17 mpg and the Valk gets double that while my scooter gets over triple that gas mileage.  Almost all the time over 45 degrees and not raining,  I will take the cycle or scooter to my destinations.   

My 1 grand paid on the used 249cc scooter has almost been paid back in full in gas savings (minus a set of 16" tires put on last year) vs. taking the truck the last 5000 miles or so I put on the scooter the past 4 years.

My wife 4-5 years ago got really pissed on me for buying that used scooter for only 1 grand stating it will just sit there and I look stupid on it being 275 on a mid-sized scooter.  I said do not care what others think of what I look like on it plus I will use often which has been the case often.  I think 1200-1400 miles or so per year on a scooter (mostly rural hwy. miles) is not too shabby considering in WI you only have about 5  months of good riding weather days total.  If it lasts another 5 years I will have over 20,000 miles on that scooter so got every penny out of it bought it at 8000 miles.  It still will be worth near 1 grand, or pretty close to it. 

Plus, I enjoy passing HD's, especially on the scooter.....   

[Oss]

learned to ride horses in the Bronx

Still tell folks I am a country lawyer from the Bronx. few understand

Ever since my first Stingray with the banana seat and slick and ape bars I have loved movement, leaning, taking it beyond where traction ends and slides begin and air

Unfortunately the ground just seems to hurt me more and more when I bounce off it and my riding style is now, along with my vision, more sedate.

I love spending long days and short days on my Valkyrie and even commuting on the police bike because there is just no other feeling like it.  A day in the rain on the bike is better than a dry day in the office.

A week without riding in the winter is just not something I can abide and I will ride the bmw well below freezing just to get some wind in my face.

My wife accepts this and enjoys riding with me and even will say hey lets take a ride, god I love that woman

[old2soon]

That little voice that sez-dang-THAT road right there shore do look a bit interesting! Ain't never been on it before-lets give er a whirl. Again the voice-heard bout this place-lets just see if that food IZ any good. DAYUM that last little stretch wuz almost Too much fun-lets turn around and run it the other way! And when you git back across that stretch the other way-turn around and do er again. Oh come ON-no way in hell I've ridden THAT far-no WAY I'm needin loud water THIS soon. I KNOW I left right after early service-no frikkin way It's 6:30 at night-1830 fer us military types. Dang-that bug that exploded over my shades is stingin hell outa my eye and my eye is swellin shut. Ah-well STILL got one eye what be wurkin. Boy that bird that hit me in the chest cursed near knocked me offin her! Phew-happy that bird crap hit my jacket stead of the paint. C'mon-I KNOW you can show 135 M P H. Got off of werk one morning in Illinois and was only bout 40 miles to the ranch. Didn't get home til the evening 450-500 miles and the wife was a bit peeved at me-not only fer bein way late but mostly cuz I couldn't splain WHY I wuz late.  Different times and different places over the years. Not enough room to list EVERYTHING. RIDE SAFE.

[Christbiker]

Because I can!    Also a long time CMA member which opens doors and fills my ministry needs and deeds

Blessings.

Woody

[RainMaker]

Still 100% motorcycle related. 

Amazing.  Same thoughts.  Thanks for keeping this motorcycle related.

[Karen]

My grandparents got me my first bicycle when I was 12, and I hated it because it was green, not blue. But I could get on it and ride all day, exploring the streets and dirt lots of suburban Detroit. In my high school days, I borrowed my brother's 3 speed English racer to ride from Redford Township to Wayne University for summer band rehearsals.  I was 20 when I walked into Firestone in Anniston AL, and got my Silver Pigeon 50cc scooter (on credit). They wouldn't let me bring it on Post, wasn't ladylike. Rode it everywhere, up to Dayton once, then up to Detroit. My Interstate is green, and my Yamaha Majesty is silver. Out of my cold dead hands doesn't just apply to firearms... it's the wonder of exploring, even if you've been there before, chances are you'll notice something new and different. Keeps my eyes young...
Please don't think I'm trying to Trump anyone elses post..

[NewValker]

Therapy. For my mental health. To be the boss, no one to answer to. I can sniff flowers or ride on the edge shooting sparks. All my choices. I can stop for a nice meal, or chow at a roadside hot dog truck.   ( or trailer if I'm on Rt.16). To go out and see this great country and meet new friends. Or just ride for the solitude of it. The older I get the more I enjoy riding solo. Less complicated. less aggravation. And less is more!
Craig

[sheets]

Just got home today after nine days on the road. The sights. The smells. The feel of the road and the feel of the machine. Talking with like minded folks at gas stops and eateries. Nine days without watching the news on TV. Floss for the brain.  Yrmv, 

[TallRider]

Threw my leg over a 51 Harley  with ape hangers at 17 and never looked back. For some of the younger crowd that was a tank shift, kick start. You never road till you kick start a Harley. Oh ya suspension was springs under the seat .

[Mr Whiskey]

Therapy. For my mental health. To be the boss, no one to answer to. I can sniff flowers or ride on the edge shooting sparks. All my choices. I can stop for a nice meal, or chow at a roadside hot dog truck.   ( or trailer if I'm on Rt.16). To go out and see this great country and meet new friends. Or just ride for the solitude of it. The older I get the more I enjoy riding solo. Less complicated. less aggravation. And less is more!
Craig

Amen!
Heal quick Brother

[CajunRider]

Ever saw how happy a dog is when it has it's head out the window going down the road??

That's why. 

[hubcapsc]

Rolling through a strange city on a crowded interstate in the fast lane
with your buddies passing Mac trucks with your feet on the highway
pegs...

-Mike

[Firefighter]

Down at the bottom of the world where I live, there are no hills and the land is flat as glass, mostly open farm and ranch land. I can only go about 6 miles South (Mexico), 30 miles East (Gulf of Mexico), West turns to ranch land and fences in about 45 miles and go North 20 miles then have to cross the King's Ranch, which is about 60 straight miles of nothing. So I ride the same roads over and over. When I get ready to ride I think, Where?

But as soon as I get underway my troubles drain away, I forget my responsibilities that were just bugging me moments before. I then remember how much I love to ride! I feel so lucky to get out and get to do what I really want and need. Most of the time I just want to keep going. No matter what is bothering me I can escape it for a while. Really is Wind Therapy for me.

[jdp]

Clear my head from all the BS that's going on in this world

[Hef]

Got my first motorcycle at age 7 (Yamaha Express). Had  a bike all my life and logged a lot of miles. I'm 68 now and enjoy riding as much now if not more than the first time I ever rode. Have a lot of stress? Try Cycletheraphy. It works great. 

[Pappy!]

Because it is too expensive to fly privately anymore! Love the mental demands of motorcycles the same as I did when I flew more often and with the bike I can pull over when I want!
Friends factor is huge as well. Tons of smiles and great memories with bikes and friends.

[Fastman71]

Why do I ride.....what a question...sure made me think about it..

The temperature change on a hot summer day when you're riding a road in a thick forest....

Chasing a sunset with my wife Vanessa behind me while doing a ride I call "The Loop" (btw, it's 60 miles with a couple of good eateries on the route)

The freedom...

Riding in a group that shares a common bond...

An unknown rider who waves at you as we pass on the road...and knowing that we are brothers / sisters of the road..

Having a rare and very cool machine at a car or bike show...seeing the look on people's faces when you tell them it actually IS a 6 cylinder bike..

The kids who look in wonder as you pull up alongside them in the family car....seeing them smile and wave, and waving back to them while giving her a bit of gas!!!!

Not wanting to live a dull, drab and dreary life like many others do..

And my final answer:  because it's just so much damn fun!!!!!

Fast Eddie

"If God had meant for birds to fly, he'd have given them propellers."

[mark81]

Its my escape from reality. I very rarely drink. Even less often partake in herbal remedies. I am one step removed from the shitty reality that is my life when i am on a bike.  There is a certain level of focus that is required when on a bike and most of the time that consumes enough of my available brainpower to where i don't have the ability to think about my problems.  Occasionally i am overwhelmed but then i am by myself in some remote place where i can deal with such issues in solitude.

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

I'm not sure that I have any choice. I'm a rider, it's who I am.

It goes all the way back to the 20" Western Auto with the banana seat. It goes back to stripping used bicycles down, putting knobby tires on them and riding them across creeks, through the woods, on small town streets and 20 mile rides into the country, all while still being back by dark. It started with keeping one of these old bikes hidden in the weeds and tied to a tree at a local swimming hole back in the woods. We'd ride that bike off a washed out spill bank, drop 15' into the strip-pit, drag it back out by the rope and do it again, all day long. God what fun that was!!

And those bikes were always just a means of waiting on my first motorcycle. By age 12 or so it was buy and ride to destruction in the local spill-banks and woods one old motorcycle after another just as fast as mowing grass and agricultural jobs could buy them. It was hiding injuries from my Mom who sold my older brothers Harley (had the suicide clutch I was told) after he crashed it into the back of a car in the fog at the age of 14. It was gone when he got out of the hospital. I didn't want that to happen me so the burns and injuries stayed hidden as much as possible. That was back in the days of Bridgestone motorcycles, Sears motorcycles, Harley Sprints & Bultacos. All of which and many more you could find being ridden in the woods by crazy eyed muddy kids and young adults up the steepest hills and through the deepest mud possible at the time. Nobody sued anybody so we could ride almost anywhere. We had dirt jumps built in neighborhood yards and race tracks with creek-crossings and jumps. We'd play motorcycle tag in the dark on these tracks with no lights allowed. When someone or their motorcycle contacted you, you were it until you could bang into someone else. The only rules were no whining, and no complaining to parents. And you always stayed friends and you always helped each other when the crashes and mechanical breakdowns happened.

There have been intervals in my adult life when I have't had a motorcycle, but they've been few. With the exception of those intervals motorcycles have been my primary mode of transportation for somewhere around 47 or 48 years. After all those years of riding you'd think I'd be tired of it but it seems to be just the opposite, I still seem to love riding more each year than I did the year before. It's just who I am.

[baldo]

I'm not sure that I have any choice. I'm a rider, it's who I am.

It goes all the way back to the 20" Western Auto with the banana seat. It goes back to stripping used bicycles down, putting knobby tires on them and riding them across creeks, through the woods, on small town streets and 20 mile rides into the country, all while still being back by dark. It started with keeping one of these old bikes hidden in the weeds and tied to a tree at a local swimming hole back in the woods. We'd ride that bike off a washed out spill bank, drop 15' into the strip-pit, drag it back out by the rope and do it again, all day long. God what fun that was!!

And those bikes were always just a means of waiting on my first motorcycle. By age 12 or so it was buy and ride to destruction in the local spill-banks and woods one old motorcycle after another just as fast as mowing grass and agricultural jobs could buy them. It was hiding injuries from my Mom who sold my older brothers Harley (had the suicide clutch I was told) after he crashed it into the back of a car in the fog at the age of 14. It was gone when he got out of the hospital. I didn't want that to happen me so the burns and injuries stayed hidden as much as possible. That was back in the days of Bridgestone motorcycles, Sears motorcycles, Harley Sprints & Bultacos. All of which and many more you could find being ridden in the woods by crazy eyed muddy kids and young adults up the steepest hills and through the deepest mud possible at the time. Nobody sued anybody so we could ride almost anywhere. We had dirt jumps built in neighborhood yards and race tracks with creek-crossings and jumps. We'd play motorcycle tag in the dark on these tracks with no lights allowed. When someone or their motorcycle contacted you, you were it until you could bang into someone else. The only rules were no whining, and no complaining to parents. And you always stayed friends and you always helped each other when the crashes and mechanical breakdowns happened.

There have been intervals in my adult life when I have't had a motorcycle, but they've been few. With the exception of those intervals motorcycles have been my primary mode of transportation for somewhere around 47 or 48 years. After all those years of riding you'd think I'd be tired of it but it seems to be just the opposite, I still seem to love riding more each year than I did the year before. It's just who I am.

These are all great reads, but this one is tops. It's just about the same as my experiences, minus the riding bikes into the water part....

[Highbinder]

The descriptive word here is Adventure, it makes going to the store an adventure or going out west for a 3 week ride an adventure. Throw in a good wife and a few riding friends to share in this adventure and life is good..