Every year one of my non-riding family members or friends will ask me “why do I ride a
motorcycle” that question is usually followed by “aren’t they dangerous”? I usually
smile at them, shake my head, and proceed to explain to them why. Sometimes the
reasons vary based on the person who’s asked the question, other times it’s
based on how long it’s been
since I last threw my leg over the bike, but for
the most part the reasons are the same.
motorcycle” that question is usually followed by “aren’t they dangerous”? I usually
smile at them, shake my head, and proceed to explain to them why. Sometimes the
reasons vary based on the person who’s asked the question, other times it’s
based on how long it’s been
since I last threw my leg over the bike, but for
the most part the reasons are the same.
The rush:
I’ve been fortunate enough to have had the time and resources to do a lot of things
in life, but nothing that I’ve done so far has come close to providing me the
rush that I get when I ride a motorcycle. When I ride I disconnect from the
outside world and connect with my bike. Is riding dangerous? Of course it is,
with cagers (people in cars) having more distractions than ever before (cell
phones, infotainment systems, texting and God knows what else) we take a risk
every time we throw a leg over our bikes, but I hate to admit that it’s part of
the rush.
in life, but nothing that I’ve done so far has come close to providing me the
rush that I get when I ride a motorcycle. When I ride I disconnect from the
outside world and connect with my bike. Is riding dangerous? Of course it is,
with cagers (people in cars) having more distractions than ever before (cell
phones, infotainment systems, texting and God knows what else) we take a risk
every time we throw a leg over our bikes, but I hate to admit that it’s part of
the rush.
The Camaraderie:
Honda had the ad campaign that stated “You meet the nicest people
on a Honda”. This ad campaign was started to change the image of motorcyclists
from the bad boy persona that was being portrayed in movies like The Wild One starring Marlon
Brando. Honda was onto something with that ad campaign; it’s not just people on
Hondas that are nice it’s most bikers that are nice. Some of my closest and
dearest friends are people that I met either because or through motorcycles.
What many people don’t know is that bikers are the single largest independent
(non-corporate) charitable giving group on record. Quite frankly those are the
kind of people I prefer to hang out with and call friends.
on a Honda”. This ad campaign was started to change the image of motorcyclists
from the bad boy persona that was being portrayed in movies like The Wild One starring Marlon
Brando. Honda was onto something with that ad campaign; it’s not just people on
Hondas that are nice it’s most bikers that are nice. Some of my closest and
dearest friends are people that I met either because or through motorcycles.
What many people don’t know is that bikers are the single largest independent
(non-corporate) charitable giving group on record. Quite frankly those are the
kind of people I prefer to hang out with and call friends.
Making it your own:
Every biker I’ve ever known has in some way shape or form put a
little of themselves into their motorcycle. Whether it’s changing the mirrors,
engine upgrades, custom parts, custom seat, or custom paint something about
their bike makes it there’s. You rarely see this with any other type of
vehicle, an example of that is you rarely see someone walk into a Chrysler
dealership buy a new Chrysler Sebring and proceed to get engine work done, get it
repainted, replace the steering well, and recover the seats. My point is that
your bike is stamped with your DNA. There could be 500 blue, Indians, Victorys,
Harleys or whatever V-Twin parked at a rally but yet there’s something a little
bit different about each one. That is what makes it your own.
little of themselves into their motorcycle. Whether it’s changing the mirrors,
engine upgrades, custom parts, custom seat, or custom paint something about
their bike makes it there’s. You rarely see this with any other type of
vehicle, an example of that is you rarely see someone walk into a Chrysler
dealership buy a new Chrysler Sebring and proceed to get engine work done, get it
repainted, replace the steering well, and recover the seats. My point is that
your bike is stamped with your DNA. There could be 500 blue, Indians, Victorys,
Harleys or whatever V-Twin parked at a rally but yet there’s something a little
bit different about each one. That is what makes it your own.
The cool factor:
I don’t think I even need to explain this one, I mean what’s not cool
about owning a motorcycle…Period.
about owning a motorcycle…Period.
The ride/getting away:
There are few things in the world that bring me as much joy
as riding a motorcycle. People often asked me “how are you doing today “and my
response most of the time is “living the dream”. I honestly think most people
believe I’m full of crap when I say that, those people have never ridden a
motorcycle, not to sound cliché but they don’t know because they don’t ride. I
don’t know how many people look forward to jumping in their car on a Saturday
morning at 8 AM to go meet a bunch of other people in their cars that they
might not know and go for a drive. But I know a lot of bikers that will get up
at 8 AM on a Saturday morning and go meet a bunch of other bikers and put 200 to
300 miles on a motorcycle that day without even thinking twice about. Most bikers
consider the miles they put on their bike a badge of honor, ironically enough
when we drive our cars we try to keep the mileage down. To steal another cliché “Four wheels move the
body, to wheels move the soul”.
as riding a motorcycle. People often asked me “how are you doing today “and my
response most of the time is “living the dream”. I honestly think most people
believe I’m full of crap when I say that, those people have never ridden a
motorcycle, not to sound cliché but they don’t know because they don’t ride. I
don’t know how many people look forward to jumping in their car on a Saturday
morning at 8 AM to go meet a bunch of other people in their cars that they
might not know and go for a drive. But I know a lot of bikers that will get up
at 8 AM on a Saturday morning and go meet a bunch of other bikers and put 200 to
300 miles on a motorcycle that day without even thinking twice about. Most bikers
consider the miles they put on their bike a badge of honor, ironically enough
when we drive our cars we try to keep the mileage down. To steal another cliché “Four wheels move the
body, to wheels move the soul”.
Ride or Die!
