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Travelling by plane makes you an airhead I know the article is comparing plane travel to ferry & train, but it reminded me of why I prefer to travel by bike, even now I have a car. Especially now I have my car. Going somewhere by car, it's all about the destination. How soon will I be there? Do I need to hurry up? Have I the time to stop for coffee? And all the time on the road is effectively wasted. You might take the time to converse with friends, or listen to a radio show, or even catch up on an audio book, but it's still just time-filling, waiting out the miles until you arrive. But the bike is all about the journey. I see so much more, I experience so much more. The car is just seeing the journey, everything else is hidden, disguised behind the car windows, the motorway embankments and the snarling lorries. The bike releases all the senses, the smell of the pub lunch as you drive past, the sound of kids playing in gardens, the butt-feeling as you hit that corner perfectly and come out 10 yards ahead of the car behind you, even though you're both keeping to the speed limit. I recently rode 300 miles to see a friend and then came back less than 36hrs after I'd arrived. She thought I was mad, especially seeing as I have two cars sat there on the driveway. But I loved it. Those 13 hours (there and back) weren't wasted. I experienced them, I enjoyed them, I wanna go back. And everyone I've persuaded to learn to ride a bike (my best friend, my sister, my cousin, my brother-in-law, my other best friend) have all got off after their first journey and said almost the exact same words "Wow, it's like . . . that was awesome. I felt like part of the countryside, like it wasn't a movie".
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Oct 1, 2012 12:25
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Orange Someone posted:[snip] This still blows my mind. We're so used to seeing stuff through a rectangle of glass (windows, TV's, computer monitors) that I feel detached from the outside world when I'm in my car. There's a bit of connection if you roll down the window, but then you roll it back up before the AC leaks out or a bee flies in. But on my bike I'm constantly getting the feeling of "That's right there! Right loving There! It feels like I could reach out and touch it!." This also happens at stop lights if I glance down and realize that my foot is actually on the road. Expanding on this, I love every time I notice that there isn't a roof overhead blocking the view of stoplights, or the sky, and there's no pillars, window frames, large mirrors, doors, etc blocking views of everything else. Like someone else said, sometimes it can feel like the bike isn't even there and you're flying down the road. I love how quickly you can start a bike and get going, compared to a car. Key, brake, clutch, start, go. Every time I get on my bike, it feels like I'm forgetting something, even though I'm wearing all my gear. It took me a while to realize that I've been programmed from an early age to close the door and put on a seat belt. It's just that our preparation is done before we sit down, whereas in a car it's done after.
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Oct 1, 2012 13:21
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Bow TIE Fighter posted:
I'm right with you on most of your post, but this I don't quite understand. To get from standing in my apartment to my car, it's shoes, outside, in car, sit, clutch, keys, first, go. With the bike it's boots, jacket, gloves, helmet, outside, neutral, push out of garage, sit, keys, fuel, choke, ignition, kick, headlight, clutch, first, go. Don't get me wrong...I like the whole process. Feels like the startup checklist for an old fighter plane or something. But it's definitely slower and more involved than getting in a car. e: oh, you said the difference is all the preparation is done before you get on the bike. I guess if you have a modern bike with automatic choke and petcock and starter and all that then I would agree that's generally true. And if I left the fuel on and the engine warm, then it does take 1 kick and about 3 seconds to get going versus maybe 8-10 in a car, yeah. Sagebrush fucked around with this message at 17:30 on Oct 1, 2012 |
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Oct 1, 2012 17:17
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I think he meant comparing the time from sitting on the bike and going to sitting in the car and going. I can see where he's coming from; if my bike is pointed in a direction that I can just drive off, it's like 5 seconds from when I sit down to when I'm moving.
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Oct 1, 2012 17:28
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SeeYouEnTee posted:Your loving bike dissappears? poo poo dude, what the hell do you do when that happens? Float along serenely until you succumb to gravity? Is this a loving dream? When that happens I obsessively loosen and re-tighten to spec every single bolt on the motorcycle in my garage with every free second I have for days on end.
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Oct 1, 2012 17:39
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clutchpuck posted:When that happens I obsessively loosen and re-tighten to spec every single bolt on the motorcycle in my garage with every free second I have for days on end. I think most people call this a "wreck rebuild"
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Oct 2, 2012 05:54
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Wulframn posted:FTFY Just putting out a "thanks" to whoever hooked me up with the avatar/title. I had avatars turned off and just noticed it. When I saw it I lol'd. Much appreciated! On topic: I love that my bike is easier to maintain than a car, but still requires maintenance. I love to maintain my own vehicle, but some times a car is a lot to stay on top of. Furthermore, some of these new ones, like many Toyotas, seemingly never need any maintenance. Where is the fun in that?
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Oct 2, 2012 08:13
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Sagebrush posted:With the bike it's boots, jacket, gloves, helmet, outside, neutral, push out of garage, sit, keys, fuel, choke, ignition, kick, headlight, clutch, first, go. My bike is injected, it lives outside and I wear my boots all day, so its just - Jacket, outside, ignition, gloves, lid, hop on, clutch, first, wheelie. The other thing that can make it a lot quicker is being able to leave it in really cheeky places, like on the pavement outside the store I'm going to. Parking in town where I live is a loving nightmare with a car; you usually end up 3-5 mins walk away from where you wanted to be.
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Oct 2, 2012 08:34
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ReelBigLizard posted:My bike is injected, it lives outside and I wear my boots all day, so its just - Jacket, outside, ignition, gloves, lid, hop on, clutch, first, wheelie. "There's nowhere to park" said no one who owns a motorcycle ever. 
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Oct 3, 2012 01:27
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My friend has recently started riding, he's doing it all right, Ninja 250, ATGATT, blitzed the CBT. It's funny going back through his old messages though: From: quote:I would like to own a motorcycle as a practical smaller more efficient means of transport for one person, but the problem with owning a motorcycle seldom found if you own a car is that everyone assumes you are an "enthusiast." Is it possible to own a nice motorbike and have no idea about the "world" of motorbikes? To: quote:Hmm, another spin on my motor-bicycle? I do believe that would be enjoyable. Then: quote:What's the best 10w40 motorcycle non-synthetic oil and where to buy it from? One of us. ONE OF US.
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Oct 3, 2012 12:27
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What's that, brain? Are you telling me that the 122.5 horsepower certainly ain't enough? Or is it just the power delivery? Are you begging for an immediate impact of inordinate horsepower from low RPM which then rushes out, prolonged, until redline? Instead of having to deal with reaching into high RPMs for it? So the 14/44 sprocket set-up isn't enough? gently caress you, I spent enough money the past two months on the new Ninja, and you're still not satisfied? I'll punish you for that with excessive amounts of beer. I love you anyway.
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Oct 3, 2012 15:37
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A few years back I had a friend who thought my wife and I were nuts for riding bikes and 'would never get on the back of one much less own a motorcycle they're too dangerous'. A couple months later she was over and for circumstances I can't recall anymore it was much more convenient to take bikes vs the car and she was convinced to jump on the back for a short distance. Within a year after that she owned her very own.
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Oct 3, 2012 16:31
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I like it when drivers express significant amount of road rage toward me for doing completely legal traffic maneuvers and I buzz away, unhindered by my environment, using my free hand to nimbly emote a slow jerking movement and causing them to get even angrier.
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Oct 3, 2012 20:51
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Xovaan posted:using my free hand to nimbly emote a slow jerking movement Ah, that's a good one. For when the finger is too much escalation, but the upturned hand/shaking head "come on!" move doesn't quite get the point across. Wish I'd thought of it the other day, when the guy behind me laid on the horn for stopping at a green light while the intersection was jammed with backed-up traffic. I'm not sure what he wanted, exactly, since I probably could have made it through weaving between the cars but he certainly couldn't, but hey, 
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Oct 3, 2012 23:02
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I don't understand this thread's obsession with the wave. Maybe it's because I live in San Diego so I see motorcycles EVERYWHERE, but why do I give a poo poo that some random stranger also owns a motorcycle?
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Oct 5, 2012 19:10
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Sounds like you have friends and self-esteem. I wave at more classic cars than bikes. Oh, and a camper unimog I saw the other week.
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Oct 5, 2012 19:12
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blue squares posted:I don't understand this thread's obsession with the wave. Maybe it's because I live in San Diego so I see motorcycles EVERYWHERE, but why do I give a poo poo that some random stranger also owns a motorcycle? It's fun to be in a club!
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Oct 5, 2012 19:14
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blue squares posted:why do I give a poo poo that some random stranger also owns a motorcycle? You don't have to give a poo poo to be a friendly person.
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Oct 5, 2012 19:16
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I always wave back. I just don't know why people such a kick out of it on here.
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Oct 5, 2012 19:21
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I seem to give the finger so much the wave just lets me stretch my other fingers...
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Oct 5, 2012 20:28
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blue squares posted:I always wave back. I just don't know why people such a kick out of it on here. We are nerds in our mothers' basements that will risk death and bodily injuries to operate a suicidal two-wheeled machine if only to provoke an obligatory hand gesture that provides the sole manifestation of human kindness or camaraderie we are likely to encounter at all. Once obtained, the bright lights and social awkwardness drive us back to our caves where we can masturbate for hours over hentai porn. Only a true monster would deny us the wave.
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Oct 5, 2012 21:15
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Tamir Lenk posted:We are nerds in our mothers' basements that will risk death and bodily injuries to operate a suicidal two-wheeled machine if only to provoke an obligatory hand gesture that provides the sole manifestation of human kindness or camaraderie we are likely to encounter at all. Once obtained, the bright lights and social awkwardness drive us back to our caves where we can masturbate for hours over hentai porn. kenny powerzzz fucked around with this message at 04:32 on Oct 6, 2012 |
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Oct 6, 2012 04:30
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I only leave my house to go to school and occasionally get groceries. Gestures are the most social interaction I see all day. I wish I didn't have to wave though. I'm pretty much a hermit.  edit: Er, I mean, "I'M NOT LONELY MOM ALL MY FRIENDS ARE ONLINE GOD" Knot My President! fucked around with this message at 04:37 on Oct 6, 2012 |
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Oct 6, 2012 04:34
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blue squares posted:I don't understand this thread's obsession with the wave. Maybe it's because I live in San Diego so I see motorcycles EVERYWHERE, but why do I give a poo poo that some random stranger also owns a motorcycle? SD native here too, you better be waving back at me
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Oct 6, 2012 20:37
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Had a guy on an older style standard i was following turn completely completely around in his seat after he made a turn to check out my streety, that was p cool.
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Oct 6, 2012 21:47
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I only wave (or more often nod) to other KTM LC4s. Bikes are just regular transport here, maybe 50% of people will at least ride a scooter in their youth, if not one of the KTM EXC 125 2T sumo conversions or clones thereof.
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Oct 7, 2012 20:10
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I like to wave as it reminds me of a time when I was younger and everyone knew their neighbors, you could leave your house and car unlocked without worrying about someone breaking in. When I'm riding and someone waves at me, I wave back. When I stop my bike and another rider pulls up and asks me about my ride, I'm happy to share. If I walk into a store in gear and the cashier asks about my bike, I'll ask about what they have. It's a great feeling to have such a low barrier for interaction and everyone is open, friendly, and generous. And so I wave.
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Oct 9, 2012 00:40
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Back in Canada I waved at everyone because motorcycles aren't all that common and the roads are wide and pretty laid-back. Got returns 99% of the time, too. In California, I only really make an effort to wave at people who have UJMs or some other kind of interesting vintage bike. Not particularly feeling the kinship with the zillions of bros in hoodies on recent-model Monsters, and taking your eyes off the road ahead for more than a few seconds feels utterly suicidal. e: well, and definitely waved at the dude on a little Honda Jazz or something in 2-piece leathers and a full-face. He was awesome.
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Oct 9, 2012 00:51
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Yesterday while riding just before a storm, a guy was waving excitedly and honking at me from his car. I'd like to think he was a rider and wishing he were out on his bike too. Even if he wasn't, the thought of it made me love the poo poo out of riding once again :3
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Oct 15, 2012 17:27
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60 Hertz Jig posted:Yesterday while riding just before a storm, a guy was waving excitedly and honking at me from his car. I'd like to think he was a rider and wishing he were out on his bike too. Even if he wasn't, the thought of it made me love the poo poo out of riding once again :3 Maybe your bike was on fire?
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Oct 15, 2012 17:36
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Tamir Lenk posted:Maybe your bike was on fire? Well if it was, it's a good thing that it started pouring rain soon after!
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Oct 15, 2012 21:36
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Forgot until tonight how much I love to ride at night. When I turn, the headlight reminds me of an attitude indicator on an airplane. 
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Oct 16, 2012 01:43
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Today I was parking my bike at school and some guy pulled up in a BMW and said "hey man, I pass your bike every day and was thinking I should leave this on your seat, you want it?" and handed me a Triumph T-shirt. I thanked him and he said "It was too big for me anyway. That's a great looking bike." and pulled off. Ride a Triumph, people give you free stuff.
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Oct 17, 2012 18:55
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That's awesome 
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Oct 17, 2012 19:08
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I always like the super slow cruise into my quiet neighborhood. I'll usually move my crotch up on the tank and sit up right with a few fingers on the throttle. There's so little effort necessary to do the last few turns it feels like the bike is taking me home.
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Oct 17, 2012 20:06
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Ah, I love that too. I live on a pretty quiet street and park the bike beside the house, so on late nights I actually turn the engine off about a hundred feet out, pop into neutral and coast all the way in. I feel like such a pro when I can navigate all the way from the main road to the bike's final parking spot with the engine off (including a mid-street U-turn, rolling up the curb onto the sidewalk, and a 90 degree turn into the narrow pathway between houses) without having to stop and duck-walk.
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Oct 17, 2012 20:34
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Covert Ops Wizard posted:Today I was parking my bike at school and some guy pulled up in a BMW and said "hey man, I pass your bike every day and was thinking I should leave this on your seat, you want it?" and handed me a Triumph T-shirt. I thanked him and he said "It was too big for me anyway. That's a great looking bike." and pulled off. That is awesome. What model do you ride, by the way? I'm on a 2010 Bonneville, and I love the poo poo out of old guys coming up to tell me about the Bonneville they had 40 years ago. Especially the one who said, "But there's always some rear end in a top hat trying to run you off the road!" Bikes. Bikes never changes.
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Oct 18, 2012 03:49
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Pham Nuwen posted:That is awesome. What model do you ride, by the way? I'm on a 2010 Bonneville, and I love the poo poo out of old guys coming up to tell me about the Bonneville they had 40 years ago. Especially the one who said, "But there's always some rear end in a top hat trying to run you off the road!" I've got a 2012 street triple, the black one with the gold rims. And the old guys still come up to talk about their bonnieville when they see the Triumph logo, they're just a little more confused as to what it is at first.
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Oct 18, 2012 04:40
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My friend has a Versys that he tagged with a Norton sticker and he brings the most hilarious sadness to old men that notice the sticker.
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Oct 18, 2012 06:14
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Z3n posted:My friend has a Versys that he tagged with a Norton sticker and he brings the most hilarious sadness to old men that notice the sticker. Oh god that is just cruel but I'm laughing really hard right now. 
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Oct 18, 2012 14:34
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