Bikes have changed my life....

[Hitcher]

Same with my wife - she didn't ride them once, and now she's the vifferbabe.

The vifferbabe should get her own ride...

[Blackbird]

I got my first bike about 40 years ago (yeah, yeah ) and I'd have to say that bike enthusiasts are undoubtedly the nicest and most tolerant bunch of people of people I've come across irrespective of their backgrounds (err...and ignoring the rants on this website, hehe.) I'm certain that there are far less plonkers per capita than other parts of society.

Merry Xmas and safe riding everyone. If you see a blue Blackbird around Coromandel between Xmas and New Year, it's likely to be me!

Geoff

[vifferman]

The vifferbabe should get her own ride...

Tried that. I thought a VTR250 would be a nice lil bro to the FahrtSturm, but she said, "Nah. I'd rather just go on the back." (Or was that "... on my back."?)

But (BUT!) she did try a Raptor 650 for size: "This one fits me nicely!"

I asked he about her bike-riding past: apparently, she once rode a farmbike on her friend's boyfriend's farm, and it scared her a lot. So that was it - bikes are bad.

But I'm quite happy to have her just pillioning, as long as we're enjoying it and she doesn't change back from being vifferbabe (the strange, pod-person alien who's taken over my wife, and who loves techno-toys and being impulsive) and becomes the serious, responsible almost-boring person I used to be married to...

[vifferman]

I got my first bike about 40 years ago (yeah, yeah ) and I'd have to say that bike enthusiasts are undoubtedly the nicest and most tolerant bunch of people of people I've come across irrespective of their backgrounds (err...and ignoring the rants on this website, hehe.) I'm certain that there are far less plonkers per capita than other parts of society.

Dunno'bout that - I'm sure there are just as many plonkers, but they tend to be those temporary squid-persons....
You're damned right about the "nicest people" bit though. One of the real pleasures this year has been meeting and making friends with total strangers while out on a ride with the vifferbabe.
Don't get that when travelling by car...

[vifferman]

I guess in short I'd have to say that riding a bike defines who and what I am, at least in a large measure.
I'm not sure if it's atypical for bike riders, but I am obsessed with bikes, and have been since I started riding them over 30 years ago. I think about bikes and bike-related things more than almost anything else. I'm a bit to admit that usually the last thing on my mind before I fall asleep at night is something to do with the VifFerraRi: does it need this done or that; what could I do to improve something about it, etc.

And yet, I very nearly gave up riding last year, and had considered doing so this year, until I realised that the way I was feeling about biking was the way I was feeling about everything, so chucking it in wouldn't help. In fact, riding a bike is one of the only things that makes life bearable at times. The best part of the day is usually the ride to work (yeah - I usually enjoy it more than the ride home, as the route works better in that direction).

I think I like being different to most of the rest of the population - there's something a bit special about being part of the elite few who choose to be a biker. While almost anyone could be a biker, not everyone can be one for the long term, and so those who do so share a very special bond, an inward knowledge of that kindred spirit.

I like just about everything about riding a bike: having to wear the (sometimes awkward) gear; riding in all sorts of weather; the risks associated with it; the maintenance of the machine; the extra care and concentration riding well demands; that there are always new things to learn about biking.
I love getting suited up, and the feeling of anticipation before every ride, even the short ones.
I love sitting at the traffic lights, with the bike making mechanical noises beneath me, waiting for the moment to snick it into gear. I love it too when it develops this strange lumpy idle: "Brup...brup...brup...brup!" like a V8 with a hot cam.
I love it when I wake up, and it's a fine sunny day, but still crisp and cool, and I know it's perfect riding weather, and I'm going to ride.
I love riding down the road, and having some complete stranger wave to me.
I love it when little kids get excited when they see me and my bike out of the window of their car, or passing by them when they're walking down the road.
I love it when I'm riding on a cool clear day, and the sun is warm on my back.
I love it when I'm riding down the road in the summer, and the smell of the countryside is in my nostrils, and honeysuckle's sweetness makes me take a deep breath, and I ride though a pool of cool air in the shade of a stand of trees, or in a dip in an undulating road.
I love the almost spiritual feeling when you get a corner just right.
I love stopping for a break during a ride, and sipping a coffee while admiring my machine cooling down outside.
I love it when someone says, "Nice machine! Is it yours?"

I love being a biker.

[Marmoot]

For me my story began with my parents who encouraged me to have a bike. They say cars suck petrol too much and the shape is boring. My mom suggested me to have a sportbike because the colours are so nice so she eyed me a Fireblade. My dad gave me the dosh to buy by bike and, due to my parents unending support I ended up as a blade rider. I finished my basic handling course in due time and soon after I became a regular road rider skimming the corners of local Waikato twisties.
I also met a girl that was really into bikes. We talked a lot about bikes and how cool they are.
Then the inevitable came....I crashed big time. I was thinking of quiting before I endanger my life further, but my girlfriend told me not to. Bikes are cool, practical, and moreover they make me happy. She fully understands how I am into sportbikes and encouraged me to fix it and get back on it and quit being a whinger.
So yeah, I ended up fixing it and getting back on riding just because of a support of a beautiful lady beside me.

Oh....by the way, mum have asked me so many times not to smoke pot, but hey they are real nice especially after a good drinking session. And while i'm posting, I must tell you about the pink elephant I saw this morning in front of my house. Not to mention I heard about 10% tax cut, and that the government is thinking about increasing the speed limit, have u heard about that?

[MSTRS:Me]

I think I like being different to most of the rest of the population - there's something a bit special about being part of the elite few who choose to be a biker. While almost anyone could be a biker, not everyone can be one for the long term, and so those who do so share a very special bond, an inward knowledge of that kindred spirit.
I love it when I wake up, and it's a fine sunny day, but still crisp and cool, and I know it's perfect riding weather, and I'm going to ride.
I love riding down the road, and having some complete stranger wave to me.
I love it when little kids get excited when they see me and my bike out of the window of their car, or passing by them when they're walking down the road.
I love it when I'm riding on a cool clear day, and the sun is warm on my back.
I love it when I'm riding down the road in the summer, and the smell of the countryside is in my nostrils, and honeysuckle's sweetness makes me take a deep breath, and I ride though a pool of cool air in the shade of a stand of trees, or in a dip in an undulating road.
I love the almost spiritual feeling when you get a corner just right.
I love stopping for a break during a ride, and sipping a coffee while admiring my machine cooling down outside.
I love it when someone says, "Nice machine! Is it yours?"

I love being a biker.

POETRY MAN - ever published?

[Storm]

Yeah man, thats profound

I started off at age 6 on a honda mini inail(q50) riding around on the farm. Progressed through XR 70,XR 80, XR 100, DT125, XL 185, XR 200 x 3 , scooter, GN250 then GSX250FL (current bike)
Bikes were pretty much all that kept me sane through my teenage years as I didnt get along to well with various things on the social side. Having a crap day at school wasnt so bad when I knew I could go home and have a thrash on my bike. I could fill hours tinkering and making my bike go that little bit faster or better , practising my riding skills daily , reading bike mags religiously had 6 years solids worth of ADB, and dreaming about flasher bikes. I gave away bikes for a while when I joined the army. This wasnt one of my best moves as I could really have done with a happy place to go to. So I got a scooter, just because I'd always wanted to have one, then once I felt a bit more comfortable on the roads, I got my GN which was an absolutly excellant bike for me to get to grips with being a big bad biker. However after a while, I outgrew it (after my spur of the moment 1000 k in weekend trip whereby discovered that I needed a bit more go), so thus hunted around for a while till I got my Across and have been a happy chappy since.
Dunno if I can be as profound as others here have been, I just know that alls not well with the world if I dont have a bike to ride. I've tried going without, and its just not for me.
By the way, I also got the "they're bloody dangerous, you're not getting one and thats the bloody end of it"(meaning road bikes) speech from my dad a few times as well. Probably the only time ignoring his advice worked for me.

[SPman]

Bikes have changed my life too. I didn't used to ride them, and now I do.
Same with my wife

What!!!...

[Skunk]

Bikes have changed my life too. I didn't used to ride them, and now I do. Same with my wife

I got my girl first and rode after that.

[2_SL0]

I guess in short I'd have to say that riding a bike defines who and what I am, at least in a large measure.
I'm not sure if it's atypical for bike riders, but I am obsessed with bikes, and have been since I started riding them over 30 years ago. I think about bikes and bike-related things more than almost anything else. I'm a bit to admit that usually the last thing on my mind before I fall asleep at night is something to do with the VifFerraRi: does it need this done or that; what could I do to improve something about it, etc.

And yet, I very nearly gave up riding last year, and had considered doing so this year, until I realised that the way I was feeling about biking was the way I was feeling about everything, so chucking it in wouldn't help. In fact, riding a bike is one of the only things that makes life bearable at times. The best part of the day is usually the ride to work (yeah - I usually enjoy it more than the ride home, as the route works better in that direction).

I think I like being different to most of the rest of the population - there's something a bit special about being part of the elite few who choose to be a biker. While almost anyone could be a biker, not everyone can be one for the long term, and so those who do so share a very special bond, an inward knowledge of that kindred spirit.

I like just about everything about riding a bike: having to wear the (sometimes awkward) gear; riding in all sorts of weather; the risks associated with it; the maintenance of the machine; the extra care and concentration riding well demands; that there are always new things to learn about biking.
I love getting suited up, and the feeling of anticipation before every ride, even the short ones.
I love sitting at the traffic lights, with the bike making mechanical noises beneath me, waiting for the moment to snick it into gear. I love it too when it develops this strange lumpy idle: "Brup...brup...brup...brup!" like a V8 with a hot cam.
I love it when I wake up, and it's a fine sunny day, but still crisp and cool, and I know it's perfect riding weather, and I'm going to ride.
I love riding down the road, and having some complete stranger wave to me.
I love it when little kids get excited when they see me and my bike out of the window of their car, or passing by them when they're walking down the road.
I love it when I'm riding on a cool clear day, and the sun is warm on my back.
I love it when I'm riding down the road in the summer, and the smell of the countryside is in my nostrils, and honeysuckle's sweetness makes me take a deep breath, and I ride though a pool of cool air in the shade of a stand of trees, or in a dip in an undulating road.
I love the almost spiritual feeling when you get a corner just right.
I love stopping for a break during a ride, and sipping a coffee while admiring my machine cooling down outside.
I love it when someone says, "Nice machine! Is it yours?"

I love being a biker.

My god that almost brought a tear to my eye.

[Racey Rider]

Man was that a Oscar speech or what....

And just like at the Oscars,

We're all Standing,,,

Clapping,,,

Smile'n,,

and muttering under our breath,, Lousy judges! That should have been ME!

[Yamahamaman]

I guess in short I'd have to say that riding a bike defines who and what I am, at least in a large measure.
I'm not sure if it's atypical for bike riders, but I am obsessed with bikes, and have been since I started riding them over 30 years ago. I think about bikes and bike-related things more than almost anything else. I'm a bit to admit that usually the last thing on my mind before I fall asleep at night is something to do with the VifFerraRi: does it need this done or that; what could I do to improve something about it, etc.

And yet, I very nearly gave up riding last year, and had considered doing so this year, until I realised that the way I was feeling about biking was the way I was feeling about everything, so chucking it in wouldn't help. In fact, riding a bike is one of the only things that makes life bearable at times. The best part of the day is usually the ride to work (yeah - I usually enjoy it more than the ride home, as the route works better in that direction).

I think I like being different to most of the rest of the population - there's something a bit special about being part of the elite few who choose to be a biker. While almost anyone could be a biker, not everyone can be one for the long term, and so those who do so share a very special bond, an inward knowledge of that kindred spirit.

I like just about everything about riding a bike: having to wear the (sometimes awkward) gear; riding in all sorts of weather; the risks associated with it; the maintenance of the machine; the extra care and concentration riding well demands; that there are always new things to learn about biking.
I love getting suited up, and the feeling of anticipation before every ride, even the short ones.
I love sitting at the traffic lights, with the bike making mechanical noises beneath me, waiting for the moment to snick it into gear. I love it too when it develops this strange lumpy idle: "Brup...brup...brup...brup!" like a V8 with a hot cam.
I love it when I wake up, and it's a fine sunny day, but still crisp and cool, and I know it's perfect riding weather, and I'm going to ride.
I love riding down the road, and having some complete stranger wave to me.
I love it when little kids get excited when they see me and my bike out of the window of their car, or passing by them when they're walking down the road.
I love it when I'm riding on a cool clear day, and the sun is warm on my back.
I love it when I'm riding down the road in the summer, and the smell of the countryside is in my nostrils, and honeysuckle's sweetness makes me take a deep breath, and I ride though a pool of cool air in the shade of a stand of trees, or in a dip in an undulating road.
I love the almost spiritual feeling when you get a corner just right.
I love stopping for a break during a ride, and sipping a coffee while admiring my machine cooling down outside.
I love it when someone says, "Nice machine! Is it yours?"

I love being a biker.

Good troll Ian

[jrandom]

Good troll Ian

Jeez, dude, someone hit you with the curmudgeon stick before you got out of bed this morning?

[avgas]

My ole' man is Peter, so if you know him you will allready know why i ride bikes.
Grew up with the ol' man having a 3TA in boxes, and at least 1 XS850 sitting in the shed. Also there was my first bike (TS185 82') that was sitting in the shed since i was about 3, which got fired back into life (after a 10 year semi-retirement), and he tried to teach me how to ride - this failied horribly on many occasions, i gave up an went to driving a 750 beach buggy i had for a few year. Then i started mountain biking on a national level, which lead to my curiousity of the 185, soon i taught myself how to start it, then how to ride it. Then i pulled it apart and never put it back together again how motorcyclist is that.
Almost got a Aprilla RS250 as my first road bike, but then a devorce happend and i got jack. So i borrowed a friends RZ250, then bought my own RG150.
I know that if i didnt ride then i would be dead, i had problems with drugs and depression, and suicide was a option at the time.
However i got all cleaned up, and riding takes all my stress away (and doing an engineering degree is fuckn stressful).
When the RG blew up, and i was in a relationship wif the missus, i got the GB so we both could go on trips. You know a women loves you if she tours on the back of a bike with you, and when she rushes to hospital after an accident.
Motorcycling is the one thing in this world that separates you from the stress of life. Its just you, and the road.
It is spiritual, and for me a religeon