Love or necessity?

**Insanity_rules** · 23rd December 2007, 08:40

As I was extracting the VTZ of doom from the garage this morning to go for a ride, I was waxing lyrically to no one in particular. I thought of the many people outside our community that I tell about my riding and bike ownership who come out with the throw away statement "Oh that must great way of saving money".

Like a lot of us I ride for the love of it and trying to explain that to a non-rider is really tough. Necessity is a secondary consideration i.e riding is a necessity to my sanity. I started riding out of necessity to my bank ballance but it developed into much more than that.

So how many of us have pondered this choice? How many started as a necessity of cheap transport and discovered much more? What do you say to the often annoying twat responses to your chosen hobby/transport?

**merv** · 23rd December 2007, 08:44

Its always been about fun to me, never about transport. Just hope the climate change fanatics don't find ways to take our fun away - you know they could make transport for essential trips only.

**Weaver** · 23rd December 2007, 08:49

I started riding because looked like great fun. I now ride because its fucken awesome fun.
I also save $50 a week on petrol which is a bonus.... if you look past the amount of money I've spent on the bike and gear

**Reckless** · 23rd December 2007, 08:57

I save stuff all on petrol. The big ole thou certainly chews through more than a little car but Its money well spent in my book.
The freedom, the thrill, the power, the danger, the solitude......its good for the soul!!!!!!

**ital916** · 23rd December 2007, 09:25

I ride a two stroke, the tanks empty before i leave the station lol

Don't ride for economy, i ride cos i dunno way of life i guess. Got into it bout a month and a bit ago and never looked back.

**jonbuoy** · 23rd December 2007, 09:43

My 10c - people who's only form of transport is the bike are "bikers" the rest of us "Sunny Sunday" bikers are just wannabe bikers playing with our spare cash. In the UK I had bikes before I ever had a car, fairly common as small bikes are a heck of a lot cheaper to buy and run over there than a car. I rode all year round, even a few trips in the snow. I was more of a biker then on my CB100 than I am now.

**Coyote** · 23rd December 2007, 09:45

Haha, if it was about being cheap I would've got a car. They don't fall over and don't chew through their consumables so quick.

**Motu** · 23rd December 2007, 10:41

I hope I'm never so one dimensional that it becomes either or.

**zeocen** · 23rd December 2007, 10:46

Originally Posted by Motu

I hope I'm never so one dimensional that it becomes either or.

I agree.

"A - B" or "A - South Island". I do what excites me and I'm rewarded with happiness. I can't argue the money factor, because I've become a girl about consumables for the bike and myself. Still smiling though !

**inlinefour** · 23rd December 2007, 10:59

My riding cost me more $$$ than any other form of transport. I only did it because it was one of the activities that I truely enjoyed and it also decreased my stress level. Which working in mental health, could get quite high at times. If I did not get the same enjoyment of having a motorcycle between my legs, I could not really see the point...

**Subike** · 23rd December 2007, 11:19

If I saved the money I have spent on my old bike, I could probably save enough for a house.
Some things in life are worth the effort, money, time and stress.
Bike riding is one of them
Nowhere else can you have as much fun by yourself and with others, with the knowlage that those others you are having fun with understand you!

**merv** · 23rd December 2007, 11:32

Originally Posted by Motu

I hope I'm never so one dimensional that it becomes either or.

Yeah agreed, never want to give up the fun part for sure, but man at our age I'm becoming so three dimensional I'm going to have to get serious about the diet.