10 Reasons to Ride?

[sloppy joe]

While I am conceding that the brake pistons are now beyond cleaning, bemoaning being fleeced for £20 for two choke plunger o rings and springs, I thought I would try to remember why I am on two wheels. Your thoughts appreciated. My (boring) starter for 10 - my commute takes pretty much the same amount of time, every day, even if the council dig up every single road between here and work, and all the soccer moms turn out at once.

[Red Herring]

You look forward to going to work, although often the ride home is even more attractive?

[CoolGirl]

see my sig for #3.

BTW, that's medically retired :(

[keith_d]

When the sun's shining you can take the long route home.

[Red Herring]

see my sig for #3.
(

I sought advice from the wife on that one. She says you should ride it because you love it....

[G]

In general... Or for commuting.

My journey time is halved on the bike compared to the car.

I've stopped commuting though as it's ruins my general enjoyment of riding. I get a company car which I don't have to service or pay for tyres on.

If I commuted on the bike everyday I would need to service it every 2 month, higher risk o picking up nails too... So it's ultimately not worth it.

It's the big long rides with friends when it all makes sense, the sights, the smell, speed, relaxation and adrenalin.

[dizzyblonde]

Only one reason.

Stops me going insane.
So right now guess whats happening to me:(

[sloppy joe]

In response to G - In general, from either the commuters or joy riders, I live in both worlds.

Here's another from me, the corner that you get JUST right. Starting to feel re-enthused. Cheers.

[Sid Squid]

Just 'cos it's fun.

[G]

In response to G - In general, from either the commuters or joy riders, I live in both worlds.

Here's another from me, the corner that you get JUST right. Starting to feel re-enthused. Cheers.

Its hard sometimes when it's an expensive month and you have a toy in the garage...

But all you have to think about is that one amazing ride...

For me there is two one was a ride back over the A57 last year, the sun setting, the air cooling... Just absolutely hammering it, lifting the front end on every bump, next to no traffic and anything I did meet got passed smoothly in seconds, everything just perfect.

The other was a ride down the Melton b6047, similar circumstances, late afternoon, good pace, sleeping bag crudely held in place between my elbow after a good weekend...then chatting with friend at midlandssuperbikes for probably 2 hours... Just awsome.

[phi-dan]

You need 10? Talk about hard to please...

18 months back I started a paper exercise - counting up the number of times I would have preferred a car, the number of times someone tried to knock me off (deliberately or otherwise), the amount of money it was costing to bodge the NTV, and finally some sort of factor for the amount of enjoyment I got out of riding. Regardless of which way I skewed the stats I couldn't come up with a rational reason for keeping the bike




so I ebayed it for spares and found the SV in the local dealer, and then I remembered that it isn't about rational, it's about emotion, heart ruling head, feeling one with the bike, that v-twin sound, being able to arrive with a stupid grin on your face (instead of simply getting there), being able to walk into your mates house and pick up a hot coffe coz they heard you coming down the road in time to make it, having your work colleagues look out the window at your bike and wishing they had the balls to do it too, taking the I'm-sorry-how-long? route home after work just 'coz the suns out, as well as everything anyone else has posted, or will post on this thread

I think that's 10? ;)

[sloppy joe]

to phi dan - 10 was not a set number, just wanting to remind myself what we all love about bikes amidst the post-winter 'fix what the salt has broke' afternoons. But you are right, it is not rational (even if we try to rationalise it), its emotional.

[ravingdavis]

As well as being bloody good fun I enjoy the social aspect of riding too, in the 7 months I've been riding I've met loads of high quality people. I suspect I will continue meeting even more as time goes on!

[Amanda]

As well as being bloody good fun I enjoy the social aspect of riding too, in the 7 months I've been riding I've met loads of high quality people. I suspect I will continue meeting even more as time goes on!

Yay!!! :smt039 lol

[fizzwheel]

I would try to remember why I am on two wheels.

Because one day you wont be able to.

[Amanda]

Because there is no better feeling of freedom and independence than on your bike

[cbay]

Because one day you wont be able to.

I like that one...

Yeah but that £20 would of been £50/60 on a car plus you have an easier life and deep down you enjoy it!! ;-)

[Ed]

having your work colleagues look out the window at your bike and wishing they had the balls to do it too

I park my bike behind the office. Rob, one of the blokes in the next office to us, he used to go and look at it of a lunchtime, I caught him perving over it... so I invited him to sit on it, then I started it up, well I thought he was going to have a trouser accident:smt082 He didn't want to get off, went and booked a CBT, has a 125 on L plates and is now about to do a DAS. So it does work...

[Bri w]

I love the days when everything flows. You get the speed right, the timing right and the "progress" is awesome.

And if you talk to another biker they understand you, whereas a car driver just doesn't connect with what its about.

Zen and the art of motorcycling...

[yorkie_chris]

I thought I would try to remember why I am on two wheels.

Go find some interesting roads when it's fixed :)

By the fax you mean Halifax?

[Geodude]

I love the days when everything flows. You get the speed right, the timing right and the "progress" is awesome.

And if you talk to another biker they understand you, whereas a car driver just doesn't connect with what its about.

Zen and the art of motorcycling...

+1

Nothing else compares to riding and it makes me :smt040

[CoolGirl]

Because one day you wont be able to.

Not a day has gone past in the last few years when I haven't missed the bike. Even the cold, wet, miserable days. If there's ever a way to fix my eyes, the first thing on my list is going shopping for a new bike.

[ceeshaw]

I just paid £16 to park the car for 2 hours in Kensington, Ldn... :-[
okay, I had the family with me, but car drivers get shafted... but I don't just ride because it's cheaper... It makes me feel alive. Yes, it's dangerous... but so is stress, and I don't want to to fall over with a heart attack one day never having enjoyed the pure rush I get on the bike on a sunny Sunday morning with empty roads, dry tarmac, and the growl of the V-twin below... try stop me smiling then!! :cheers:

"Never postpone joy!" - Anon