Why I ride on two wheels

It seems Reg's recent post has gotten me thinking about why I ride. So I went looking for my old photo albums of days gone by. Lots of moto pics of camping and riding with friends on tracks and trails. Very nice time of my life. Not that it was that long ago, but definitely long over with.
It all started for me at a very young age, probably age three or four, I remember riding on the back of my dad's big honda 750, somewhere around the mid-seventees. I remember feeling like I was flying. I would throw my arms out and my dad would tell me not to do that, I might lose an arm (he was a very to the point kind of guy, still is).
But where it really started is when my dad brought home one day a kawasaki 75cc, three speed auto mini bike. I have yet to see another one in my life. It was orange with some kind of pinstriping on it. It was the greatest thing in the world. I rode two sets of wheels off that thing and traded up to a dt100 when I was older.
But to get back to the point, riding has always been liberating to me, from what, I dont know. Some kind of strange anti-social freedom only two wheels and a motor can deliver. The feeling of being one with a machine, and having full control over it (unlike some of the horses I have now), and yes, the feeling and sound of the wind passing by along with the feel of the bike and the road gives me a sense of euphoria only a motorcycle can convey. I only hope that my last thirty years of riding will lead to another thirty years of good times, great friends and winding roads of any kind.
I hope to read a few of your stories of why you ride and what fueled your passion. I included a small pic of the one I wish I still had. God bless. View attachment 14332

 

Welcome aboard.

 

Welcome to the nuts house, make yourself like at home.

 

Whoa, and all this time I thought I just liked to ride cause I was borderline squirrelbait.......now I see it all started with my childhood.

Back then Dad would push me down a steep hill on a bicycle and yell, "Hang on ya little bastard!!!!"

 

Thats what I'm talking about. A trip down memory lane to where your drive for motorcycling really came from. Ask yourself, and then dig deep like vfour did here.

 

Wait till I snitch this dude out to a unicycle forum.

 

My Dad worked at an airport. He took me to work for the first time when I was about 10 (I don't remember). He was pretty excited to see my expression when I saw all of the planes.

He parked next to a boeing 747 to surprise me.

I jumped out and said "Dad........ look at the bikes"

There was a motorcycle parking bay nearby. Poor dad

I don't know why, my love of bikes has just always been in me...

I just like the connection to the elements you have on a bike. I am also a keen sailor. Makes me feel alive.

And it makes less mess than a horse...

 

True, brother pap11y, I also had this thing about the ocean, and the gear it takes to sail it, ....hmmmm....now Im not a wind sailor, although I know what it takes to do it having done a bit myself, but I just always loved the diesel and powersailing ....must be a very deep rooted thing.

 

When I was around 6 or so my Dad took me up the road on this yamaha rd125 that was my first ride. We also all got dirt bikes for xmas a few years later then I had my own bike was the badest xr80 in town it had a clutch not an auto like the others so that made it even cooler.
So 20 years past this rd 125 is still in my Granddads basement. So I got it out and cleaned it up and got it running a few months ago.

 

Aaah! they dont make them like that anymore. The gods of two stroke and internal combustion will reward you for such a glorious deed!

By the way, I see the VF still has those growths besides the fairing!

 

So do harleydoods ride for the same reasons? Dentists? Lawyers who ride? Insurance agents with lots of tats? Faggy looking dudes posed with chicas with big racks selling Kevlar skivvies?

Any great answers will do but try to keep the glurge factor to a minimum..I'm almost out of clean hankies. TIA

 

Nah, they just want to sleep with your sister.

 

My sis makes her own decisions about stuff like that but I would draw the line at them wanting to sleep with my dog.

 

At the age of sixteen I declared my independence by purchasing a brand new Suzuki TS50ER.

My parents protests were in vain and their final stand being that it was Ok only if I managed to come up with the required funding all by myself. Until then I was a good boy that neither smoked nor had a taste for beer and worked at the drug store over weekends. What did they think I was doing with my income? Had the cash, to late for them to go back on their word…… the rest is history!

In the time it took all my clothing to become spotted with un-burnt two stroke oil and impregnated with the sweet smell of the little screamers exhaust fumes, I became aware of my own identity. Of freedom. To go where I want, when I want, for as long as I want.

Today, 30 years later, nothing has changed. Ok, I smell better… or different at least. Now my bikes no longer smoke, but I do! And! Beer! I Love Beer! Mmmmm getting thirsty as we speak.
I have come full circle and once again only have a bike as means of commuting and breaking free over weekends. Traffic congestion is for those whom choose to remain chained and the rules are merely suggestions to be accepted or rejected as I choose.

Ok, I do own (or is that pay for) a car, but that has been seconded to my daughter. I get to drive it when it needs filling up or new tires or repairs of some kind. Not that I mind, the alternative was that she wanted to buy a scooter! No way she was getting one, bikes are dangerous and once she would start hanging around with those biker types it would be so easy to become corrupted and. .and …and ………. ooops! …… turn out like her old man!

Ok guys, I seem to be suffering a serious case of foot in mouth disease and the only thing that relieves the symptoms is a couple of beers and some really fine ‘tobacco’!

Check you later……

 

Why is 'tobacco' in quotes???

 

If you have to ask, you probably don't need to know!

 

I think "tobacco" really just means another substance that you roll or stuff in a pipe.

 

I thought for sure some body would say, " so I can ride w/ 02 VFR RIDER " :vtr2:
:wedgie:

 

unlike most of the stories i didn't have any early exposure to motorcycles (other than the ones that would go by on the roads). but i'd still see a bike out there and be like "man thats nice, someday".

Well someday happened just a few years short of 30. went out, got my permit and then a cruiser. sold the cruiser this summer and stole elwray's viffer and here I am!