Showing posts with label motorcycle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label motorcycle. Show all posts

Saturday, July 20, 2013

The Man's Bike

So, when you take a look at motorcycle's, for the most part it's a man's hobby. Yes, there are some women in it, but for the most part it's just men. Most of the women that are around, are just a long for the ride. The old saying is, "A man's home is his castle." If that's true then his thrown is either the recliner in the living room, or the toilet in the main bathroom. Then again, I've been in some people's homes where they have a TV mounted in the bathroom too. But that's a different story.

No, for some people, home is truly where you leave it all behind. For me there are two simple pleasures in life that I just can't get enough of. The ocean, and riding. So when I say home is where you leave it all behind, it's because it's something you are able to enjoy and leave all the stress and garbage life tosses at you behind. That's why when it comes to riding my bike, it truly is a therapeutic event. It can be a ride to the store, around town, or just home from work. This is also why you'll often see a lone rider riding down the road in the rain. It's an escape that no beer or drug can replace. 

You see a man's physical bike can vary. Some like sport bikes, others cruisers, yet others move their ape hangers as high as possible, and many get their pipes as loud as they can. Everything from a rice burner to a barcalounger say something unique about the rider. But for those that move beyond the occasional weekend trip, and just love the ride, they've found the Man's Bike.

A man's bike is that two wheeled monster that you get on all by yourself, rev up, and cruise down the road with. You don't even have to have a destination. You clear you mind of all your troubles, and enjoy feeling the air move around you. You lean into turns, giving a little more gas, and feel like Superman weaving in and out of the clouds. A man's bike reminds you that your mortal, but challenges you to push harder anyway. It also reminds you to slow down enough and pay attention, otherwise you'll lose control and pay a hefty price. This is much like life. 

A man's bike has feelings too. (I'll use it here as not everyone considers their bike a she. For some it really is a he.) It's not some weekend warriors toy, that's bright and shinny. They're worn and dirty from constantly being outside and used. And if you don't pay enough attention, sometimes it'll get moody. You'll go out to start up for a ride, and you'll just get a whine. You add the choke, and still, just a whine. It's as if it's saying, "Who do you think you are, and just where have you been?" You'll actually have to give a bit of a push to get it to kick over, as a way of apologizing. And if it's accepted, you'll be riding down the road. If not. Well, you'll be paying a pretty penny for the shop to pamper it for a bit. 

A man's bike, is really an extension of the man that's rides it. You're key to getting out, being reminded what life is, and what you need to do when you shut down and go back inside the house. Some of us need to ride a little more often, less we forget what we have. Some of us need to ride more often, to be reminded of things we've lost. Some of us need to ride, to celebrate what we have and what we've lost. Some of us just need to ride. A man's bike, just another part of a man that's often over looked.

Just one view of my current ride.

Friday, February 15, 2013

Why would you ride a motorcycle?

Motorcycles. You have to be crazy to ride one of those things! Well then label me crazy, cause I love my bike and go nuts when I can't ride it. Like in the winter when the weather turns on you.

You're nuts, why would you do that? Well I'll bet you had a bicycle as a kid. And I'll bet you'd go to the top of a hill, lean in, and peddle until you thought your heart was going to explode and your lungs were going to give out, #1 to get it going as fast as you could, and #2 to see how far you could get it to go until you had to start peddling again. Remember that feeling you got when you hit a good speed, and how you'd just coast it out as long as you could? Well that's just a little taste of what riding a motorcycle is for those of us in the brotherhood of bikers. It's a fraternity that others just don't understand, and forget about when they grow up and stop riding that bicycle.

But it's dangerous, you'll get hit by a car! Well, you're obviously aware that we're on the road. So when you get behind the wheel of that cage, keep an eye out for us and remind your friends to do the same. It's always a shame when a cager gets in a hurry and forgets to pay attention to what and who is on the road. It's not just cars, trucks, and suv's anymore. And as the economy has balanced out at "you're too poor to eat" more and more people have begun getting there endorsement and started riding.

It's also a culture unto itself. One of loyalty and respect. It's not about what you ride, but rather that you ride. You can be on a crotch rocket and still have someone on a Harley with ape hangers flash you those couple of fingers as a way of saying, "hey there" and showing some love and respect. Bikes are no longer the just the rebels and the weekend warriors. These days it's the common man too. There's even more and more women getting on bikes and not as passengers.

So the next time you see someone on a bike, or hear them talk about it, reflect on that part of your childhood when you could say woohoo! Then find a way to get your ass back out on the road. Because motorcycles are not the enemy. It's your forgotten inner child.