What's your reason

ToSlow

ToSlow

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What's your reason for owning a bike?

I get we all want to ride, but what kind of of riding is it that gets you on your motorcycle.

For me i like to just ride at a respectable speed and lean corners if i can, most of my enjoyment comes from watching the scenery go buy.

Not into hot laps or how fast i can make it from point A to B.

Let us know what your riding style is.
 
Why do I ride?


Because it’s freedom. It’s adventure. It’s the people I meet and the memories I make along the way.


Every ride clears my mind and reminds me that the journey is just as important as the destination.


That’s why I ride.
 
For me it’s been a lifelong love affair. Started riding mini bikes when I was 9 years old and ridden a few bigger dirt bikes. What really sank the hook for me was riding my brothers ‘72 Kawasaki H2 when I was 15 years old. I was about 100 pounds and could barely touch the ground. That was the most exhilarating thing I had ever experienced and I’ve chased that feeling my whole life. Once I realized that motorcycles were the ultimate chick magnets in high school it was game on. Those were the best eight years of my life.
 
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Mine is definitely is cruising and exploring. Not so much for speed or twisties. Not to say I don't enjoy those things, but exploring the world on 2 wheels is just more important. I never knew about wind therapy before having a bike, and man it is so true once you experience it.
 
It’s been the equivalent of a smartphone since I could walk. I’ve been obsessed. Evel Knievel jumping Caesar’s Palace on NBC’s wide world of sports event that everyone glued their eyes to the tv for. Talked about it at school or on the street corner. Re-enacting it with our banana seat bicycles.

Family members had some rides and was on the back of a bike when I was 5 years old.

Neighbourhood friend having a Honda 50 putting around a park and taking turns giving it a go. Another friend brought down his poorly tuned RM80 to the same area and ripped up the place. Got chased out and returned other days to make a bunch of noise and laughs.

You could go fast, do a burn out, do a wheelie, get sideways, rooster mud and wipe out and do it all over again. Break it, get it fixed, get some different.

I ride for many reasons and present day, I just enjoy clicking through the gears, focused on riding, leaning through turns and enjoying the view from the seat of a bike.

I can’t imagine not riding.
 
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nakkers said:
It’s been the equivalent of a smartphone since I could walk. I’ve been obsessed. Evel Knievel jumping Caesar’s Palace on NBC’s wide world of sports event that everyone glued their eyes to the tv for. Talked about it at school or on the street corner. Re-enacting it with out banana seat bicycles.

Family members had some rides and was on the back of a bike when I was 5 years old.

Neighbourhood friend having a Honda 50 putting around a park and taking turns giving it a go. Another friend brought down his poorly tuned RM80 to the same area and ripped up the place. Got chased out and returned other days to make a bunch of noise and laughs.

You could go fast, do a burn out, do a wheelie, get sideways, rooster mud and wipe out and do it all over again. Break it, get it fixed, get some different.

I ride for many reasons and present day, I just enjoy clicking through the gears, focused on riding, leaning through turns and enjoying the view from the seat of a bike.

I can’t imagine not riding.
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Evel Knievel was also a big hero of mine. I was a little too young to remember Caesar’s Palace but clearly remember watching his jump at The CNE on television as well as his controversial Snake River Canyon jump That guy had huge kahunas to do what he did on a Harley ( or Triumph) and not once did he ever back out of a jump.
 
For me it is nostalgia - My dad had a CB350 that he used to go back and fourth to work and every now and again he would throw me on the back and take me for ice cream. My first vehicle was a motorcycle when I was in University and I rode that thing everywhere.

Today I like it for the freedom of just going for a ride, exploring roads and unwinding from a busy work week.
 
I began riding dirt in `68 and on the street in `73. My reason,...probably because it was a counter-culture interest that set my friends and I apart from the crowd. Trying to explain this now to a 20 year old is pointless, they will never know or understand the feeling of pure freedom and abandon. Along came Easy Rider and On Any Sunday, those films mean nothing to people in today`s world. Same for smoking weed long ago, I enjoyed it because it was a small sub-culture of motorcycling friends and OMG!.. it was Illegal! Now that 20 somethings grandparents get edibles delivered from the 420 store for pain relief. And your dentist now parks his CVO Harley beside the Maserati and Hellcat. The few times I get out now bring all that back, being 12 and dirt riding with my friends, out riding when the CB750, Z1, GS1000, RD`s RZ`s, Gammas and Kawi triples ruled the world. No relentless technology running and ruining everyone`s lives, no endless global mayhem, there was hope for a great future for us then and the people you were with made motorcycling great.
 
I’ve been trying to answer that question for years.

Part of it is the freedom, part of it is the solitude. When I was younger, there was definitely a speed and adrenaline component too. These days I have a lot more respect for pain and broken bones, but I still love riding just as much.

I’ve realized is that I don’t just enjoy motorcycles—I enjoy motorcycling. I love riding my crude 40-year-old 125cc Suzuki enduro every bit as much as my FJR. They’re completely different experiences, but that’s the point.

I enjoy reliving what riding was like in different eras: carburetors, kick starters, flexible frames, marginal brakes and the wonderful sound, smell, and smoke of a 2-stroke. Every old bike has its own personality and reminds me that motorcycles weren’t always about lap times, horsepower, or electronics.

For me, riding isn’t about getting somewhere. It’s about experiencing the machine, the road, and a bit of history.
 
Dutchie said:
The sounds, smells and distraction. It's an escape from all the other stuff in life, and what a great way to do it out enjoying the scenery.
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The smells is definitely a thing. I never knew how much downtown Toronto smelled like food. It makes you so hungry!
 
Been hooked on two wheels since I moved off the tricycle on to a very small one speed bicycle.
I still recall vividly the day I swiped my sisters proper 26" 3 speed bicycle - wow.;)
Spent many happy years bicycling to school and around the area even as far as Niagara Falls from home in Ridgeway - a little over a 50k return encumbered with fishing poles and tackle to fish the rapids.
Thought nothing of riding to the Niagara Gorge, climbing down to fish the very powerful rapids and riding home.
Cue Uni and dad brought home an ugly smoky two stroke Allstate moped capable of 40 mph downhill with the wind.
Rode it home to Ridgeway from St Catherines only once I recall - the independence was priceless but damn that thing smoked.
Not sure How I rounded up $300 for a Honda 305 SuperHawk and I'd ride that machine today.
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4 years summer and winter, visits to GF at McMaster and much enjoyment riding the back roads around Font Hill and the clay pits between Hamilton and Burlington.
Then a 60 year string of motorcycles of various size and types tho mostly midsize sport.
The long distance ( for the time ) was the Yamaha 400 - called the perfect bike at the time.
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Put a lot of miles on it all over Ontario and Pennsylvania.
Quit riding for a bit in my 40s - kids etc then bought a KLR650 and numerous other rides between Australia and Canada. Best years riding with my kid. 😪 Filled a few bucket lists with him - both coasts and lots of US rides. Was very satisfying watching a timid diabetic turn into a confident fast but not reckless rider. Miss him everyday.....he also had no interest in cars.

I just loved being in the weather...any weather - dodging tornados and thundercells. Get wet, get cold, dry off get warm move on - pouring water from my boots at Tims riding down from Ottawa sticks in my mind.
Ontario of course was frustratingly limited for riding aggressively and Pennsylvania fixed that - half day ride away and PA44/144 were just a thrill.
Now approaching 80 I have a bike very similar to the 305 Superhawk in specs tho much better brakes and suspension.
I feel more stable riding the bike than my wobbly walk across open spaces. I know it's coming but damn I will miss riding....at least my vision is fine and enjoy even the short jaunts out to Hungry Jacks....a long ride now is 2-300km loop but at least have some superb roads to enjoy and all year round. Still marvel I did 7-800 km a day solo in June when I was 70 on the CB500X coming back from Jasper and the west coast.

I read inspiring stories like the guy in Western Australia putting up to 600 km a day on his CB500F - same year as mine and with 304,000 km on his....he's 84.
I'd ride longer rides more often but since dropping 60 lbs my ass has no padding. :sneaky:
This forum helps.
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