Whats good about motorcycling?

[MICKREEVES]

Whats good about motor cycling?
Forgetting that its cold (even in summer), its noisy (I like the noise).
Its dangerous. I like to pit my skill and roadcraft in riding.
Its uncomfortable. (I only do short rides now).
Whats good.
Getting it to start first kick every time.
Bends are fun. I feel I am using my body in a natural way
.similar to skiing or surf riding but much easier to do, at any time.
Leaning over. not just turning a steering wheel.
Overtaking any slow traffic stuck behind a Lorry.
Straight to the front at traffic lights.
But mainly nostalgia! When I was a Lad------.
Mick

[13Brads]

Yes all of that Mick 

[TIGERJ]

Yes indeed but what about fixing them up
Also making them go well
Tim

[STAR TWIN]

Mostly on the boringly practical side...
Smugly drifting past long queues of stationary traffic
Being able to park almost anywhere
Sneaking through pedestrianised areas when lost (York, Cambridge)
Ignoring road closures in the evenings when the workers have all gone home - you can always get a bike through.
Looking down on sports car drivers
Receiving preferential treatment from traffic police (only works with old bikes)
Sniffing the breeze
Getting admiring looks from fine young things who have no idea how old you really are

[enginenut]

  Motorcycling is a selfish, solo, indulgence for me--the smells, the connection with the outdoors, the unobstructed view of??, the exposure to dangers of the route that demand attention, more freedom from demands of work and society. So why don't I do it more often.

[LJ.]

Motorcycling with a bike that so many others would like to have.

[A10 JWO]

I only like country lanes now, won't go near a motorway, toooo frightened I will get crushed. Love my BSA.

[ANDY HIGHAM]

The greatest feeling is when you go hurtling into a corner much too fast, your brain thinks for a split second "I'm not going to make it". A fraction of a second later your brain says "scrub that, I could have gone round that corner even faster"

[TIGER]

Said many times before but still gets me.

4 WHEELS MOVES THE BODY

2 WHEELS MOVES THE SOUL

[AWJDThumper]

Sums it up perfectly

[enginenut]

  What TigerJ said. As a developing enginenut, I craved an engine on a bicycle and along came a crippled Whizzer for 13.00. That one was fixed and enjoyed and along came another to get a cure. These were traded to friends and in all 5 Whizzers passed through before an upgrade to Cushman scooters to serve the paper delivery, then a Famous James 125, then a pile of 1938 H-D big twins that yielded 1 running machine and spares and we were loving the chase. Realized that these machines all had a personality unlike the ones before and it was satisfying to bring one back to life and experience a degree of mastering of the animal. Loved the great diversity in designs we met and enjoyed curing their notable illnesses, because we were perpetually short of funds and the affordable machines were well worn before us. The repair skills and the studies of design necessary encouraged me to advance in welding, machine work, and machine repair. My efforts were rewarded by my finding similar work in industrial maintenance but never far from a good motorcycle or engine. Here 65 years later I look back and consider myself blessed beyond understanding with the pleasure I've had from the world of motorcycling. Have owned 1 new cycle (1972 T100R),Have several (various)waiting their turn in the shop. Have never paid for cycle or automobile repair. I consider the motorcycle/rider the highest level of bonding between man and machine. The current level of society over here with the machine sophistication, low level of guidance of young people toward mechanical skills training, and the trend toward planned obsolescence of vehicles has taken a toll on the number of young people able and willing to manage their vehicles. Please excuse my long windedness-we could talk a while on this.

[Dabbist]

In an increasingly virtual world, motorcycling is still wholly physical.
It's sensual, it has cold, it has heat, you lean and you twist. It hurts when you get it wrong and it brings huge joy and sense of achievement when you get it right.

Off the bike I'm still handling steel and ally and spanners, the smells of oil and welding and turning. Actually making things fit, feeling the torque on a fastener.

Two wheels do indeed feed the soul, but they feed the body too.

Its real in a way that computerised office life never will be.