why we ride motorcycles

why we ride motorcycles
December 26, 2020

Why, in fact, do we ride? Some cities even offer free parking for two-wheelers. Motorcycling is an activity that takes movement and focus from a rider. — James Walker, Producer of WHY WE RIDE & Co-Founder/CFO of MOTOvational, Inc. And I asked myself. Motorcyclists will tell you how much fun it is to recount a day of riding with their riding partners, and how, although everyone may be riding the same route, everyone’s experience is different. I asked the realm of personal experience, I asked whatever research I could find. Especially at 65 mph. … “Faster, Faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.”- Hunter S Thompson. It seemed to me that, because of these overlapping themes, there might be one answer, the answer, a comprehensive, basic, human need that would explain why so many motorcyclists love what they do. Keep riding and questioning! Why we ride motorbikes. There are faster motorcycles and more useful motorcycles, but this motorcycle is an escape moves my soul and nothing else really compares because nothing makes me feel like this. The tricky (and almost infuriating) part about asking riders why they ride is that their answers share similar themes, but are each unique and heartfelt. How a Documentary about Passion, started a Worldwide Movement and Inspired Audiences to Ride! Ed Kretz was so tough and … Thanks so much, Tracy! Tags: motorcycle training risk. Why I ride a motorcycle every day, despite the motorcycle risks. For me riding is excellent self care! Motorcycles don't make us outlaws. Everybody is a scofflaw to some extent and the real genuine outlaws are in the penitentiary, not dressed up for Halloween on a motorcycle. A popular columnist at Motorcycle Consumer News for more than 20 years, Dr. Barnes articulates in Why We Ride the elusive physical, emotional, and interpersonal elements that make the world of the motorcyclist such a rich and exciting place. Motorcycles don't make us cool. That’s why motorcycles are designed based on every attribute that motorcyclists find desirable. We all ride for different reasons, and sometimes for all the reasons: fun, adventure, to bond with friends, to save fuel, to relax, as a moving meditation, to make the commute more interesting, to get through traffic easier, to accomplish goals. Flow activities require attention and focus. The answer, then, to “why we ride” isn’t a motivation at all, but the structure of the activity itself. Because motorcycles have all these qualities — requiring our attention, providing room to improve our skills, and being intrinsically rewarding — they help us find flow. One of the best ways to families to start riding together is to take a family class in DirtBike School. Some love to ride for the speed, others the camaraderie, and others say they love the freedom of the open road. It changes your relationship with the road, with your commute, with your travels. Why They Ride. Thanks for visiting and for sharing your thoughts. Riding is also a great way for parents to introduce their kids to safety and responsibility, because riding is serious fun. The richness of the reasons we ride is limitless, because we are limitless. Motorcycle rides for a passenger can be just as exhilarating, and for couples, there’s a special intimacy when riding together. The reasons are infinite. Fastrack Riders and Yamaha Champions Riding School are a couple options to look into if you are interested in a track day. I wish I had the education to pursue the answers but I don’t so will keep asking the questions For the Thrill of It. What they find meaningful, and who they hope to be. When you are absorbed by a task, effortlessly rising to meet its challenges, seamlessly reacting to changes, that’s flow. Death Valley is one such place, where you can take in beautiful scenery on paved roads, then have some off-road fun on Titus Canyon Road, Racetrack Playa and more. MOTORCYCLES.ORG. To them, motorcycles are simply a mode of transport, a lifeline to medicine and even to food and water. I'm not currently creating new content for RIDEWELL, but whenever I have anything new to share, you will be the first to know! I’m the second kind. Lee (owner of Tourataff.com). I’ve just got my trusty Triumph Sprint ST as my main means of transportation. For most of us, we ride because we can’t not ride. Motorcycles and scooters are also easy to park as they take up very little space. Your email address will not be published. But our answers are different because we each use that tool in our own way. When we ride well, there is little … Red $29.99. My answer to the question of why I ride would be a reality break, of sorts. Some of our favorite destinations mix paved roads and dirt roads, and if you have a dual-sport motorcycle, you can transition from one to another seamlessly. Whether you’re riding, working on bikes, or having a really good conversation with fellow riders about bikes, you’re still tapping into that attention + intrinsic reward structure, which makes these experiences so much more meaningful. We Ride to Feel Young. When you ask another rider “Why do you ride?” you’re not asking about motorcycles. This Is Why We Ride - Motorcycle Keychain. https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/the-best-motorcycle-trips-in-the-us. Home / Products / This Is Why We Ride - Motorcycle Keychain. (In fact, we dare you not to cry when reading Joyce Maynard’s  On Love, Motorcycles and the Art of Being a Passenger). Required fields are marked *. Anything that makes your blood racing probably makes your heart fluttering and it is worth doing. Category: Motorcycle Wisdom By MCrider November 2, 2018. My sudden change of heart took me by surprise. Such folk, if asked why they ride, may simply reply ‘to survive’. Planning group rides with friends is always fun. In retrospect, it … It all started with the “Iron Man.” In the brutally-violent and dangerous early days of motorcycle racing, one man rode harder and faster than anyone else. I find every answer fascinating, and I look forward to a lifetime of asking it, again and again. Many riders tell us that their rides move them – not just physically, but in a much deeper way. First of all, I love your ‘thoughts’ – thank you for sharing and attempting (very well) to answer the meaning of [motorcycle] life. To Csikszentmihalyi, flow isn’t just an enjoyable state of being. Not all track days are on paved roads. Motorcycle Helmet Covers. According to Csikszentmihalyi, when we learn to find flow, we liberate ourselves from societal pressures, we find more enjoyment in our daily lives, and we gain better control over our minds. Seriously. Why We Ride, Ian Chadwick's essay on motorcycling Ian Chadwick's essay on why we ride motorcycles When my mood gets too hot and I find myself wandering beyond control I pull out my motor-bike and hurl it top-speed through these unfit roads for hour after hour. Flow has been an incredibly popular topic, especially for creative work. You may ride together, but you always ride your own ride. Why We Ride Motorcycles “Season of the Bike” by Dave Karlotski “ There is cold, and there is cold on a motorcycle. You are quite right, because we westerners have so much more infrastructure, we tend to rely on cars and public transit, and those of us who do ride tend to need to validate it for ourselves to some extent. Policeman $29.99. In his 1990 book, Csikzentmihalyi writes: People who learn to control inner experience will be able to determine the quality of their lives, which is as close as any of us can come to being happy.”. And I was determined to be the person who figured it out. And for so many of us, the flow experience of riding motorcycles helps us find the fulfillment, meaning, and transformation we need. The passion of the riders and the soul of their machines. 8) “It wasn’t until I went to college and I got my first motorcycle that I understood the thrill of speed.” … Some riders enjoy the excitement of fine-tuning their skills with speed, and track days are a perfect way for motorcyclists to do so. Of course, there are many more examples of motorcycles starring on the big screen! Nov 2 2018. Warmest regards from Wales, UK. The track is a closed course, and many safety precautions are taken, including having flaggers monitor each turn and having medics and ambulances at the ready. Some ride for the freedom, for some it's recreation, and for many it's about the pure joy of hauling ass on two wheels... but what motorcycle riding means to each rider is different. We all ride for different reasons, and sometimes for all the reasons: fun, adventure, to bond with friends, to save fuel, to relax, as a moving meditation, to make the commute more interesting, to get through traffic easier, to accomplish goals. One of the most distinct things about riding is that nothing feels quite like a … For many riders who ride and own a motorcycle is not a need or a hobby, it is their passion. Many motorcycles and scooters get great fuel efficiency, from 45 miles per gallon to 60 miles per gallon or more. It’s not a passive activity, so learning proper riding techniques and ensuring safety is a priority is important. Proper gear must be worn, and all bikes go through a tech and safety inspection before they are allowed on the track. The tricky (and almost infuriating) part about asking riders why they ride is that their answers share similar themes, but are each unique and heartfelt. There are many schools and organizations that riders can register with to do a track day. I couldn’t help but ask: What is it about motorcycles? There are two kinds of motorcyclists: those of us who have always known we wanted to ride, and those who found our passion later. Two wheels can make the commute itself more enjoyable. If you’re taking a passenger for the first time, check out this tip sheet from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Guidelines for Riding With a Passenger. Sturgis Motorcycle Rally “Why We Ride is a story about the passion of motorcycle riders,” says Carroll. Let’s find out seven reasons why you should ride a motorcycle. There may not be one answer to “Why do we ride?” but that hasn’t diminished the question for me — far from it. 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