Would you still ride?

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High_Side · #1 Unread post by **High_Side** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 3:51 am

Would you still ride if you had to sell that big cruiser / sportbike /adventure bike that you finally put in to the garage and were forced to ride a $800 commuter bike? Could your ego

take the humility of rolling up to ride with friends on an old junker or would you rather take up a new hobby until you could get back that bike that defines you?
Discuss.

Nalian · #2 Unread post by **Nalian** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 4:03 am

If it was comfortable and wasn't going to break down on me, I'd ride it.

#3 Unread post by **dr_bar** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 4:03 am

I don't know that I'd take an old clunker out on any lengthy ride, but you do what you have to do in order to enjoy yourself.

Calling riding a hobby is a bit wrong as well, at least for some people. It's more a life style that non-riders just don't understand and probably will never understand if they don't take the plunge themselves.

Here on the coast we can ride almost year round, (this year has definitely put a crimp in that though,) and for those of us that don't see it as a hobby, we ride all the time.
On the morning of our last big snow fall, I was returning to the downtown core at the end of my shift. I fought traffic for about three hours with everyone slipping on the rapidly freezing roads. Coming the opposite direction down the street was a guy on his roadstar, bundled against the cold, but still riding...

sharpmagna · Sat Jan 20, 2007 4:11 am

I don't ride because I want to impress my friends with my "fancy" bike. I ride because I enjoy it, it's fun and it gives me a sense of freedom. If what my friends thought was the driving force for riding, I should really re-think my hobbies...

I wouldn't call my current bike a "clunker" as it runs smoothly, but it isn't exactly a spring chicken anymore. I paid $1800 for it and if I had to go to a smaller displacement bike to ride, I would.

jstark47 · #5 Unread post by **jstark47** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 4:19 am

Interesting question. Sure, I'd ride the old clunker if that's what I could afford. Wife of one of our local RAT pack members brings an early 80's Suzuki (GS 850?) on our pack rides that he picked up cheap and got running for her. As long as she's riding with us, she's one of the gang.

Sometimes when my job is stressing me (like now...) I think about a lifestyle change. That means a much smaller house and old car, and $1000-very used motorcycles for me and Mrs. I think (I hope anyway) I'm more defined by riding itself than by the make/model I ride.

Johnj · #6 Unread post by **Johnj** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 4:19 am

It wouldn't bother me in the least. I currently ride a '87 Concours that I bought last spring, and yea I had to work on it before I could ride it. I would be too worried about scratching a new bike to ride it much.

Sat Jan 20, 2007 4:20 am

A bike doesn't define me. It is what I ride.

I started on a Buell Blast (purple w/pink writing no less) and we still have it. If that was all I had, I'd ride it. (After fighting my wife for it.)

Locopez · #8 Unread post by **Locopez** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 6:13 am

I think that riding is riding!! As long as it makes you happy...then who cares what you ride now...vs what you used to ride....who cares what others think!!!! Riding for me is like my "zen" time....weather I am on my HD...or my little 250cc scooter....I love it all!!!!!

norcal · #9 Unread post by **norcal** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:49 am

If I am riding it it will be in good working order so to be safe. Once that is done..any day riding is better than any day in a cage...so bring on the junk with two wheels man.

norcal

#10 Unread post by **Sev** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 8:02 am

I wouldn't, it's all about appearances to me.