First Impressions

27 May '04

Anyone who has been on a job interview or met their potential in-laws for the first time knows about the importance of first impressions. One of my favorite ways to kill time is to observe people and wonder what statement they're trying to make. Don't get excited. I'm not trying to be an elitist or a snob. In fact, I believe that diversity is what makes America a great place. Our ability to be different, while remaining united makes us better people and a stronger nation. That being said, it is still true people make a statement by the way they chose to dress or act. Whether you chose a three-piece suit, shorts - white socks - sandals, pants below your underwear, or tattoos and body piercing you are making a statement about your self-image.

What does this have to do with motorcycles you ask? Well - everything. Once I decided to get back into bike riding, I had a major decision to make. What was going to be my statement? This was no easy decision. With all of the different bikes, accessories, and apparel available, it would be easy to send a wrong or misunderstood message. The type of bike I bought would be like the topic sentence of my new life style declaration.

With my old knees and soft butt, I couldn't see myself standing on pegs and jumping over rocks, so dirt bikes were out of the question. Besides I'd never build up enough courage to try a handstand 20 feet in the air. While good sports bike riders seem to have been transformed through some type of Vulcan mind meld to where their bodies and their bikes appear to react as a single high performance unit, I had trouble seeing myself going down the road head first at Mach I. And it goes without saying that a blurred message is often misunderstood.

Right off the bat, I'll admit that I watch "American Chopper". I would like to be able to say I watch it for the same reason I use to buy "Playboy" - the articles. But the truth is I like to watch the arguments. Despite this, it did help to foster an image of me sitting on a raked out, chrome-blinding chopper telling the world that I'm a lone wolf individualist who doesn't care about anyone else's opinion. I know this is a contradiction (not caring about the people I am trying to send a message to), but that's what made this a hard decision. After a little reflection and honest soul searching, I had to admit that I'm much more the Jack Nicholson (with a football helmet) type than the Peter Fonda free spirit. I just couldn't go against 52 years of reality.

So, what's left? CRUISERS! As I looked around at bikes, I realized what a complex individual I really am. An image of myself as a Steve McQueen want-a-be, in a Hawaiian shirt, with the Gypsy Kings playing in the background (hey, this is my hallucination) going to Diary Queen on a cool and sexy cruiser stated to emerge. Of course I would have to have old man accessories like saddlebags and a windshield. But, with quick release attachments I could remove these in a few minutes and look 20 years younger (as long as I'm still moving and keep my helmet and goggles on). Now that's a message I can live with! So, if you see Steve on his cruiser, just wave. He'll know you got his message.

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