What do you say when people ask you why you ride?

It depends on who's asking the question...

The short answer is "Because it's great fun!"

The arrogant answer is "If you need to ask the question, you won't understand the answer!"

The confrontational answer is "Because it's a free country and I'm at liberty to travel how I wish!"

The environmentally sensitive answer would involve comments about optimising engine admissions because my engine warms up quicker and I don't get held up by traffic queues, etc., etc., etc.

The road safety answer is "I am safer on a bike because I'm sitting higher up, above all of the traffic and can see potential situations developing before other road users. I'm more aware of what's happening around me because I can see, hear and smell more. That's why I've had less accidents on motorcycles than in cars, even though I've been riding bikes for longer."

The real answer would include all of the above and so much more that I really don't have time to type it all out here. Perhaps I'll write a book one day. :upyeah:

 

No-one ever asks me that but if they did I'd say I've been doing it for so long I've forgotten why.

 

Best one I have ever heard is this


Bikes are about being a part of the process of being in the elements and being connected to the bike, getting that corner just right and also been able to work on bikes is also a big part of it for me bringing an old bike back to life and hear the engine running after a long time and getting it back on the road, it's a great feeling.

 

Bit 'American' but pretty well sums it up for me

 

Enough said



Which just goes to prove everyone's answer is likely to be different but all based around that feeling in the pit of your stomach when you see a thing of beauty

 

Why do I ride? Freedom, it's just you and machine, free, and all the crap in your life is forgotten. People who don't ride just don't get it....so sad!

 

The best quote I heard was "If you need to ask why I ride then no explanation is possible,If you don't need to ask no explanation is necessary"

After all these years no has seemed to come up with an answer.

Same as why people climb mountains,jump out of aircraft or any other "strange" pastime.

Me....I just love it all,freedom,speed,cornering,mates,traveling or even a few hour's in the garage cleaning.

 

For me.... A bit of all of the above.... I wanted a Bonnie since I was a young teenager, finally realised my dream at a young 53, after prioritising family, mortgage, work etc.... Never too late, so glad I did it, you only live once, don't knock it till you've tried it! :biggrin:

 

Maverick smashed that blonde's back doors in, not because he flew Tomcats, because he rode a GPZ900, without a helmet and Ray-bans

 

I do it I think to be different from the norm, been ridin for the last 30+ years and still love to be different! took my GS down to see my sister in Dover just before chrimbo, bloody freezing, covered in crap but the looks you get at the services can't be beat. Turning up at biker meeting points where all the sports bike guys have shiny bikes, leathers and creaking Sidi boots etc and I turn up on a filthy GS with dusty muddy textiles, love it.

I work for a PHarma company where we are regulated to death, I suppose when I am out of work I want to be an individual. Whatever it is I am still as passionate about bikes as I was when I started in the 70's.

Jeffers

 

when was the last time you got in your car and went for a drive ?

 

This is so true. In a car the destination is the reason to travel. On a bike the journey is the reason. Car drivers never understand this.

 

Yes, that particular sense of 'freedom', being 'in the environment' instead of canned in a metal box with 4 wheels! You can feel the bike's horsepower because the engine is there for you, not to move +1 Ton of metal & plastic around. Smell, hear, see everything, cutting the curbs very sharp, I think it still has something to do with the 'man & horse' feeling. When riding as an experienced biker, using all technical capabilities of a modern bike, not even riding on the edge, to me it has someting of an 'asphalt ballet', or sophisticated asphalt skating :upyeah:

 

I think it best not to analyse it.
Just accept that there are things we do in life that will always make little sense to others.
For example, I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone would want to attach planks of wood to their feet and go sliding down a snow covered mountain, but I know people who live for it, and I would never ask them to explain the appeal, because it's something that cannot be summed up in words.
Just like riding a bike.

 

My answer is "it makes me feel alive".............