Why do you ride?

[BackRoadBob]

Why do you ride? I ride because I can, because my mind, my body and a machine all work together, because it is as close to flying while still on the ground. As Hunter S. Thompson once said "Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death."

 

[vtwinn]

To get away,

The job, the wife!, and just because I can.

 

[101stpathfinder]

THERAPY ... pure and simple THERAPY !!!

For memories that last and make me smile while I am trying to escape the day to day. I fill my days at work thinking of the last ride that I was on,

or better yet, dreaming up the next ride that I will attempt. Working at the post office and constantly seeing cities on addresses, often I will recall

a memory of riding there. Just escaping the dull trudge of a common life.

And along the way I have met some pretty outstanding people!

 

[nankoweap]

At first I thought that's kinda like asking why a dog licks his nuts, but I reckon that's not entirely true. I mean, I've seen a lot of dogs and they all lick their nuts, but most anyone can ride and not everyone does. So there must be more to it than "because I can."

For me, it's about freedom. That's probably why I'm generally a solitary rider. I like the peace, quiet and unencumbered feeling of having the road to myself and not concerning myself with the rider ahead of me or, worse, the rider following me. Riding is also excellent therapy. A friend of mine often says... "My therapist has two wheels." Giddyup.

 

[dcarver]

Because I like to ride.

Riding brings joy, discomfort, happiness and sadness.

It refreshes my belief in goodness of humans I meet on the road.

It makes me smile.

I like to smile.

Therefore I like to ride.

 

[mcatrophy]

For the majority of serious (I don't include thrill-seeking squids on crotch rockets looking for bragging rights) riders that I meet, very few seem to really know why they ride. All the usual words come out, freedom, getting away from the wife, forgetting their worries (work, family, finances), meeting like-minded people. But when it comes down to it, your freedom is limited by roads and (to some extent) by the law, many would like their wife to accompany them, and some will say it gives them time to think through their problems, and every one you meet is different in background and riding style.

So, why do I ride? Freedom, getting away from the wife (but I wish she'd ride with me), forgetting my worries (but I can think them through whilst riding), meeting like-minded people ...

I can certainly say what it does for me. It keeps me fit (at least, fitter than if I didn't ride), gives me a warm glow (even when I'm cold and wet, all too frequent), lets me be on my own (I'm something of an a-social sort), but I enjoy riding with others. When touring, I like the banter at the bar (but I drink very little). It also gives me something to think about when I'm otherwise idle.

I get huge satisfaction for what skills I have riding the bike (including bike control and keeping safe from other road users). I like scenery and fun roads (trouble is, some roads you need to ride more than once, so you can enjoy the road, then ride it again to look at the scenery).

What I am absolutely certain of is that, particularly now I've retired, it is stopping me from atrophying, both physically and mentally. One of the most enjoyable conversations I've overheard:

"Hey, he can't half make that bike move." ("He" being me.)

"Yes, not bad for 68 years." (This was a few years ago.)

"Blimey, I didn't realise he was that old!"

Yup, I'm now 71, going on 17 when I'm in the mood on the bike

.

Let's see, next year Spain and Portugal for maybe two weeks over Easter, Scotland over Whitsun. Hopefully many local rides, just because I can.

 

[Chuck35]

I ride because it's fun.

 

[ionbeam]

"Only a biker knows why a dog sticks his head out the window."

Rather than simply pass by the world, I'm immersed and connected to the world, the feel, the smells, the colors, the total involvement. When it's dusty you wear it, when it rains you get wet, when it's hot - you are hot, and when it's pretty all around you - you absorb it. Which is a long winded way to say I like it, I'm enriched by it and I'm rejuvenated by it. It's one of the best ways to turn gasoline into smiles.

Plus, I like riding a class of vehicle that is one of the most competent and highest performance vehicles on the road. I mean this as motorcycles of any type vs cars of most types.

 

[moike]

For me it's therapy as well

 

[kamal]

First. Thanks for posting the video. I know it's just an ad for a bank, but I did get a bit teary.

When I was renewing my insurance, earlier this year, the clerk asked 'How long have you been a motorcycle rider?'. I replied 'Fifty two years'. She said 'Without a break?'. I replied 'No, I have to stop for a pee'.

At first, motorcycles were purely for transport. They forced me to become a 'backyard mechanic', giving me skills to maintain my own machine and help others with their problems.

As I moved on to be a husband and father the bike became more than transport, it gave me freedom to be myself - if only for a short time. Despite enjoying riding as a passenger with their dad, neither of my sons have any interest in motorcycles - I don't understand that?

Now that I am old, single and retired, a bike is the perfect 'getaway' vehicle, I can explore new places and meet new people.

On days that I feel like life is winding down, taking the FJR to redline in third reminds me I'm very much alive.

The riding season here is short, guess I'll have to think about heading south with all the other 'old farts'.

Amen.

 

[leedavis]

1) Camaraderie. It's great sharing with folks who love it just as much as I do.

2) Challenge and thrill. I ride twisties and try to get through them as fast and smooth as possible. It isn't a secret death wish. If I wreck it means I suck at it and I don't intend for that to be the case. There's always a higher level skill to learn.

3) Getting around. With nothing but ride gear separating me from the environment the bike has no equal for exploring and checking out new sights.

4) Badassness. This is a minor factor and petty but I'll confess. When I'm pulled up somewhere and people are walking by I can see in their glance they wish they were doing what I'm doing.

 

[Greg 03]

It all started out with a KLR 250 to try to save gas... Now I'm on bike number 7 and I ride to work, I ride on weekends, I ride most days all day long at work. It's become a simple fact of my existence that riding is just how I transport myself wherever I may roam.

 

[petey]

"Only a biker knows why a dog sticks his head out the window."
Rather than simply pass by the world, I'm immersed and connected to the world, the feel, the smells, the colors, the total involvement. When it's dusty you wear it, when it rains you get wet, when it's hot - you are hot, and when it's pretty all around you - you absorb it. Which is a long winded way to say I like it, I'm enriched by it and I'm rejuvenated by it. It's one of the best ways to turn gasoline into smiles.

Plus, I like riding a class of vehicle that is one of the most competent and highest performance vehicles on the road. I mean this as motorcycles of any type vs cars of most types.

+1 absolutely, very well said

... you hit the proverbial nail on the head.

 

[rushes]

*snip*I like the peace, quiet and unencumbered feeling of having the road to myself and not concerning myself with the rider ahead of me or, worse, the rider following me. Riding is also excellent therapy.

I've tried to ride with others, and it ruins it. I don't even like having my wife or daughters on the back seat.

I just like gliding solo through the hilly backroads. Not a care in the world. With no music or GPS or any other distractions.

I can go any dang place this bike will go. As fast or as slow as I want.

*edit*...

I reckon I might be an introvert luddite....

 

[mcatrophy]

Today I found another reason to ride.

Back in February, my son broke his leg. Snowboarding.

This afternoon he rings up. Can I come round on my "toy"?

He's decided the time has come for his first ride since his accident, and wanted an escort.

So we go out for a local trip, he on his Hornet, me on my FJR, around 30 miles, a very gentle meander.

When we got back to his house, he was grinning from ear to ear.

Best reason in the World.

 

[HotRodZilla]

LeeDavis, your reasons are very similar to mine. I've loved riding since I was a child. It still thrills me. I don't completely know why.

I like the power. I like the agility. On dirt bikes, I love doing wheelies, throwing rooster tails and catching air. I love going to the edge of "really scared." I donno why. The adrenaline I guess.

Sometimes it's for therapy, but sometimes, even though it pisses me off, I still enjoy it later. I despise riding in the NM spring winds, and honestly getting rained on every time I head out on a trip is old...But I still come back and love it.

Maybe its the air. Maybe its the speed. My truck is more comfortable, but misses something.

I love riding with friends and especially enjoy when my wife comes along. Has nothing to do with being alone, but has a lot to do with being 8 and remembering how good my childhood was when I was learning how to handle an 80cc Suzuki.

 

[Chiefblueman]

I ride for pretty much all the reasons mentioned above. Lee, I too enjoy a little bit of that "badassedness". I'm pushin 60 and can use all of the badassedness I can muster.

I guess after 45 yrs the biggest reason I ride is because when I'm riding, I just am. I'm neither young nor old, I'm just there in the moment, engaged and living.

 

[hppants]

One day a few years ago during a disagreement, a very wise man bluntly told me:

"Ya - know, its a fantastic world out here. You'd know that if you could just get out of your box."

That was one of those "moments" we all have in our lives. That comment hit me like a freight train in the night. I wasn't hurt by his candor. Rather in an instant I knew he was right. 100% right - the kind of right that you wouldn't even think of arguing or debating because doing so makes you look even dumber than the idiot you are.

So I started slowly. I opened the lid first and peeked. Next time a little more. And so on....

Shortly thereafter, the bike came into my life. Now I have the tool to take me to the world I've missed for a long time. Exploring out of the box on the road teaches me to explore that same box at home.

And I like it.

A lot.

That's why I ride.

 

[Geezer]

I ride because it makes me happy.

I know that boils down what many others have said, but it really is that simple for me.