Meditative riding, preferences and hondas

bigpoppa

bigpoppa

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Been thinking about what I really like in motorcycles and came up with this essay, I like bikes that are easy, in every scenario and in every situation that you put it in, in the city, on the highway, in the traffic, on twisty roads, on long tours, occasionally carrying a passenger, in the rain etc etc .



The bike should be so easy, so that it almost becomes an afterthought, so you can pay attention to all the other stuff that matters (the road, the sights, the journey, the people, the food, the memories)

The opposite would be a bike that requires you to work hard.

It demands to be the focus of your attention, so much so that you enjoy the ride less...
maybe it generates heat around your legs, or it punishes you for being in the wrong gear or revs, or the bike isn't starting or making a weird noise, or your knees/back/wrists are hurting, or the fueling is jerky so you have to be more cautious in traffic or mid corner, or its heavy and feels difficult to manage

This is what in my experience Honda motorcycles do best.
Its difficult to quantify or to put that feeling into words, but its something I've really grown to like
 
Let us know when you find a single bike that can do all that, never mind a Honda. Isn't that why you've gone through so many bikes over the years?

Every bike is a compromise, so for me the first thing it has to do is make me grin under my helmet. And the challenge of dealing with a bike with "character" is so much more satisfying when it all comes together. Your description sounds more like my MDX than any of my bikes. My Hawk is close (or at least was when stock), but then it is a Honda.
 
Relax said:
Let us know when you find a single bike that can do all that, never mind a Honda. Isn't that why you've gone through so many bikes over the years?

Every bike is a compromise, so for me the first thing it has to do is make me grin under my helmet. And the challenge of dealing with a bike with "character" is so much more satisfying when it all comes together. Your description sounds more like my MDX than any of my bikes. My Hawk is close (or at least was when stock), but then it is a Honda.
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Africa twin came close, it did everything I asked of it effortlessly and with ease, probably shouldnt have sold it 😢

I could do 14 hour days, come home at night and still have enough energy to run a marathon
 
I ride motorcycles, NOT BECAUSE IT IS EASY, BUT BECAUSE IT IS HARD!
(apologies to the late JFK)
 
I think just about any bike would put a grin on my face. Mind you I’ve only ridden Hondas in my limited number of bikes owned. I rode a friend’s Yamaha 650 automatic scooter and that was a blast too. I think once get used to a bike the next level is subconscious operation and reacting to traffic and road conditions. Riding in the city is stressful no matter how much you are one with the bike.
 
My HD is easy and enjoyable. I turned off most of the "techy" stuff from the display, not just RPM's and Speed.
The Ural on the other hand is a joy to ride for so many other reasons but I would not say "easy" is one of them.
Hopefully you'll find what you are looking for sooner rather than later. :)
 
I have a lot of respect for Hondas, particularly their older designs. Some epics include the Supercub, GoldWing and of course the CB750.

Those motorcycles changed the game.

They still make outstanding products, but the game changing philosophy got lost sometime in the 70s.
 
bigpoppa said:
Been thinking about what I really like in motorcycles and came up with this essay, I like bikes that are easy, in every scenario and in every situation that you put it in, in the city, on the highway, in the traffic, on twisty roads, on long tours, occasionally carrying a passenger, in the rain etc etc .



The bike should be so easy, so that it almost becomes an afterthought, so you can pay attention to all the other stuff that matters (the road, the sights, the journey, the people, the food, the memories)

The opposite would be a bike that requires you to work hard.

It demands to be the focus of your attention, so much so that you enjoy the ride less...
maybe it generates heat around your legs, or it punishes you for being in the wrong gear or revs, or the bike isn't starting or making a weird noise, or your knees/back/wrists are hurting, or the fueling is jerky so you have to be more cautious in traffic or mid corner, or its heavy and feels difficult to manage

This is what in my experience Honda motorcycles do best.
Its difficult to quantify or to put that feeling into words, but its something I've really grown to like
Click to expand...
Virtually any or most modern motorcycle can be easy, as in always ready to go and get back without incident or worry.

It all depends on the riding you want to do. For general street street riding in urban, suburban, highway and country 2-lane there are literally dozens of new models available and hundreds of used ones that will handle all that effortlessly.

But does the guy who owned a KTM Super Duke 1290R, and a Street Triple among others REALLY want an effortless appliance? Motorcycling is a visceral activity, as much as it's a tactile one with being outside exposed to the elements and experiencing the physical aspects of riding.

I don't recall that you have any desire for off road so maybe the Honda NT1100 would be the way to go? Luggage, passenger accommodation's, comfy, high end build quality, pretty unique as you don't see many of them along with the Honda go on forever reliability.

I'm almost talking myself back into one.
 
Mad Mike said:
I have a lot of respect for Hondas, particularly their older designs. Some epics include the Supercub, GoldWing and of course the CB750.

Those motorcycles changed the game.

They still make outstanding products, but the game changing philosophy got lost sometime in the 70s.
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Like the music too.
 
xrljoel said:
Virtually any or most modern motorcycle can be easy, as in always ready to go and get back without incident or worry.

It all depends on the riding you want to do. For general street street riding in urban, suburban, highway and country 2-lane there are literally dozens of new models available and hundreds of used ones that will handle all that effortlessly.

But does the guy who owned a KTM Super Duke 1290R, and a Street Triple among others REALLY want an effortless appliance? Motorcycling is a visceral activity, as much as it's a tactile one with being outside exposed to the elements and experiencing the physical aspects of riding.

I don't recall that you have any desire for off road so maybe the Honda NT1100 would be the way to go? Luggage, passenger accommodation's, comfy, high end build quality, pretty unique as you don't see many of them along with the Honda go on forever reliability.

I'm almost talking myself back into one.
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I agree. Sadly, by riding we all take on an incredible risk. In exchange for that risk, I want some reward. A soulless Honda does nothing for me. I havent ridden an AT but that may be a decent middle ground between effortless ownership and an acceptable riding experience.
 
xrljoel said:
It all depends on the riding you want to do. For general street street riding in urban, suburban, highway and country 2-lane there are literally dozens of new models available and hundreds of used ones that will handle all that effortlessly.
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100%. Most riders are generalists and don't buy motorcycles for specific niche sports, like track, dirt, trials, etc.

So if you're not deep into the performance aspect, then details like suspension, wheel size, wet weight and weight distribution, factory rubber, engine characteristics, etc. don't really factor much into the buying decision.

An Adventure bike that never gets taken off-road or a sportbike that never sees the track are pretty much equal in terms of capability as any street-oriented machine if it only gets used for commuting and weekend jaunts to cottage country. They all start, stop and turn with adequate proficiency for riding down Yonge St or the QEW.

Most street riders' shopping criteria basically boils down to: Is it comfortable for me? Does it look good to me? Is it reliable? Can I afford it?

But most importantly: Does it put a smile on my face when I ride it?

All other brochure specs are just fodder for coffee-shop parking lot banter.
 
GreyGhost said:
I agree. Sadly, by riding we all take on an incredible risk. In exchange for that risk, I want some reward. A soulless Honda does nothing for me. I havent ridden an AT but that may be a decent middle ground between effortless ownership and an acceptable riding experience.
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I think you get effortless ownership out of all Japanese motorcycles - they are all reliable, predictable, and long lived.

I’ve alway had difficulty understanding “soul” means it comes to motorcycles. Is it worrying this trail might melt down my driveshaft? Where am I gonna get $1200 for a valve check? Worrying that your bike got the Lindt made cams? If that new rattle is a precursor to grenadine an engine? Or that predictable wobble at 125kmh might be an issue?

For me, esthetics and sound are style, not soul.

Acceleration, braking, and handling are performance not soul.

So… what is soul? If it’s a like I see it, I’m looking for soul-less.
 
If everything to do with motorcycles is easy, congratulations, you have money lol.

When I was starting, I was broke. Everything to do with motorcycles was hard. Back then I would have liked motorcycles that were easier in all kinds of ways, but those cards weren't on the table at that point.

Now that I have the means to have the "easy option", I see that, for me, the grass isn't always greener.

Do you know why, in a video game, there are always a handful of difficulty levels after Easy? It's because Easy's fun early on, but once you've understood the game, Easy gets real lame, real fast.

I ride a G650GS across Italy for the last three years, not because it's easy to tour two up on (kind of cramped for that), not because it's easy on the highways (650cc single cylinder thumper lol), not because the bike's weight distribution makes it handle easy (back heavy AF with all of our stuff), not because it's best for the twisties (geared like a freakin dirt bike), and not because it's effortless (it's a constant game of balancing considerations and sacrifices).

I ride it because it's fun.

If it was Easy, it could still be fun, but the fun would be less, the accomplishment would be less, and the pride and joy would be less.

If I wanted Easy, I'd go ride in a ******* Miata with a bumper sticker that reads "I used to be fun, but now I'm just old."

And the truth is, after almost getting killed last year, that Miata and the bumper sticker might be my reality real soon, and if that's the case, do you think I'm going to miss riding the Easy bikes, or do you think I'll miss riding the fun ones?

**** Easy.
 
That is a conundrum, a bike a bike that does everything well, is easy and effortless to ride generally does not put a smile on my face. My last Honda, an ST1300 fell into that category, it was about as exciting as driving my dad’s Buick. However, Honda got it right on the bike I had before that, a 2001 VFR800 with gear driven cams (not the VTEC version).One of the finest motorcycles ever made.On the other end of the spectrum is the 1972 Kawasaki H2, a cheap smoke belching, gas guzzling monster with a rubber frame but man did that thing put a smile on your face.
 
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This thread is solid proof that everyone has different aims and purposes when they swing a leg over.

The trick to successful motorcycle selection is knowing exactly what you want out of riding, otherwise you're continually cutting and pasting other people's riding preferences into your garage, whether it's randos on Internet forums or YouTube reviewers, of who you may or may not have anything in common with wrt experience, skill or riding style.
 
Bobo said:
That is a conundrum, a bike a bike that does everything well, is easy and effortless to ride generally does not put a smile on my face. My last Honda, an ST1300 fell into that category, it was about as exciting driving my dad’s Buick. However, Honda got it right on the bike I had before that, a 2001 VFR800 with gear driven cams (not the VTEC version).One of the finest motorcycles ever made.On the other end of the spectrum is the 1972 Kawasaki H2, a cheap smoke belching, gas guzzling monster with a rubber frame but man did that thing put a smile on your face.
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I have a stable of bikes from the 60s to present. I love all of them.

I don’t really have a favorite. My older girls are not as refined, but the visceral experience of riding one is my thrill.

That said, some of my 30+ year old girls are not far off the ride and performance of their modern day counterparts parts.
 
adri said:
I ride it because it's fun.

If it was Easy, it could still be fun, but the fun would be less, the accomplishment would be less, and the pride and joy would be less.
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I think you nailed it - and also how I would define "soul" - the sum being greater than its parts and the feeling of joy it brings from riding it. Maybe even just looking at it or sitting on it. And then looking at it again as you walk away after parking it.

adri said:
If I wanted Easy, I'd go ride in a ******* Miata with a bumper sticker that reads "I used to be fun, but now I'm just old."
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Woah, I may have to take back my thumbs up. Have you never driven a Miata?
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