[34322]

Amazing insight into the mind of this guy. His attitude toward riding seems to be revealed by his closing comments in which he seems to equate quitting riding with turning away from "drama, bleakness, and regret." He seems to have been one of those guys who was riding for "lifestyle" reasons or image, or to be a "real man" or something like that. He took riding to be some kind of morbid thing. Can't mess with that serious 'tude, man.



It's ridiculous. We don't have to worry much about a guy like this with his negative attitude driving people away from our passion. I believe that most of the readers of Motorcycle Online are more like me and we view riding as a positive, healthy, and passionate embrace of life to the fullest. Of course we all have safety in mind, but that will never blunt my wanderlust to see what's over the next hill or find out what is down that gravel road along the river or take delight in dancing around a tight curve on a motorycle.



I'm not an immortal and invincible twenty-year-old guy...I'm 46 and can clearly envision the end of my life whether through old age or a bad accident tomorrow. But I'll never give up riding and withdraw in fear from the bright sunny free passion of life.



I summarily dismiss this whole idea of motorcycling having to do with some vague idea of drama, bleakness, or regret. What kind of drama queen would have an attitude like that?



'nuf said.



Klay

 

[34322]

I can't leave this alone. He says:



"drama, bleakness and regret are eventually overtaken by our tremendous will to live. It's why I sold my bike."



Doesn't this guy realize that we have motorcycles and ride with all our heart because we "have a tremendous will to live?" If you have a tremendous will to live, you buy a bike, you don't sell one.



Unbelievable. He's got it 180 degrees backwards.



Klay

 

[34322]

Good point. However, it appears this guy quit riding purely because of a negative outlook toward life, rather than as a result of someone losing his/her ablity to ride safely. I agree that many people perhaps ought to stop driving their car or riding their motorcycle due to health reasons or something similar.



What I object to is this fellow's portrayal of motorcycling as something dismal and dark, when I know damn well the opposite is true. That article plays into the hands of those people out there that don't understand motorcycling and think that people who ride have a "death wish." I strenuously object to that idea! Motorcyclists have a "life wish!" They're living life to the fullest.