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25 October 2006
RELIGHTING THE FIRE

Long time readers have a pretty good idea where I sit on just about everything motorcycle related. It's appeared here at least once if not more. Of course there are some things that haven't showed up on this page, only because I really don't want to antagonize or discourage a lot of folks from visiting the site. In a personal conversation I can guarantee that you will either be spell bound or pissed by the time I get done. Opinions, are like butt holes; everyone has them, and I am no exception.

Having been around motorcycles for a long time now, I have definite likes and dislikes and they sometimes change depending on where I am standing and how the earth rotates at that given moment. This isn't a matter of a lack of conviction to any point of view. It's that life changes and I sometimes change accordingly.

This does have a tendency to annoy those folks who remain infused with the same thing year after year. It could be they're happy or content or they just don't want to venture out into new ground. Or they'ar afraid to take a chance that something different may just open new doors and be fun.

People who tell me they would never ride a motorcycle are in that group. The excuses are so many I don't think I can make a list that would even come close. But, we have all heard the excuses or variations of them; "My wife won't let me own one", "I'm too old", "It's way too dangerous", "My (fill in the relative) was killed on one of them", and they go on. Much to their loss they will never know the simple secret we all do, how much fun it is.

I think what's worse than those folks are when we (riders) fall into that same trap. We fall into thinking the very same way. How many different types of riders can you name; cruisers, Gold Wings, Harleys, sport bikers, dual sport riders, commuters, weekenders, Sunday ony, bar hoppers, iron butts and yes the list goes on.

Nothing is wrong with being part of a segment of the motorcycling world or sport. But when we hold back from experimenting with different aspects of the sport we are truly stuck in our thinking and our fun becomes limited. Worse yet we don't grow.

New riders put on miles at an astounding rate; in the beginning they ride everywhere and just about anytime they can manage. The longer we own that fine machine we start to loose interest and our time on board gets shorter. We also fail to see the machine the same way we did the day we brought it home. It may go a little longer between baths or become a garage queen. Sometimes this is just the way life is, family matters may absorb more of our time and who knows what other things may interfere with our lives. But for some it's just that the thrill of the machine or riding has become dull and uninspired.

But for those of you who are just getting bored with it, it's time for a change. A new motorcycle may just be the correct answer. If you buy the same type of motorcycle it may recharge your excitement and keep you enthused for a while. But once you get back into doing the same old thing it will loose its luster again. What you need to try is a different segment of the sport, experiment a little. If you've been riding cruisers, try a dual sport and some off road riding; or a sport bike; or maybe it's time to try drag racing or rebuilding an old motorcycle.

This will do many things, your interest in the new segment of the sport as well as the new bike will grow; the people you hang out with will change too; and the new friends you make will revitalize your spirit and your interest pretty fast. I don't think any owners group or club will get you up and out faster than a different motorcycle will.

I had been riding well over thirty years when I made the shift to sportbikes and rediscovered how much fun it was to ride a machine that responded to my inputs with such precision. It also pushed me to work on my riding skills and gave me a new outlook about my riding; the fun was back. It relighted a fire in me that was slowly dying.

Do I miss my Harley? Yes I do at times; but then I have rediscovered how much I love to ride. I also have met a lot of people who I don't think I would have if I had stayed in the same old groove I was in. In fact I noticed my annual mileage has picked up, and I really look forward to riding again either alone or with a group; and I have also learned so much more about me.

Will it work for you? Only if you're getting tired of the same old thing… It may be time for a change; a new chopper or maybe a big touring bike and making some long distance trips or perhaps a sportbike can rekindle your interest once again.