Types of Motorcyclists

Let me begin by simply admitting that if "They" were to follow me around and pay close attention, I would already be locked up and living in a rubber room. Since my luck has held out, here I am able to access this forum. Now onto the topic:
I have a friend we'll call Skip, 'cause that's his name, he is a Shovelhead advocate. He is a motorcyclist, I have seen him ride, but he suffers from being a licensed A&P mechanic. He owns the very last production Shovelhead made as determined by serial number. He heard a noise about 4 years ago took the thing apart, and we have hit almost every bike swap meet in central Florida since gathering the "perfect" parts to put it back together. Skip's journey is almost over and it is beginning to look like a bike again. He gets pleasure just from owning and working on the bike.

Now, I do understand and appreciate the beauty of each piece's form and function, but I am of the opinion that if you press the button (or kick it) and it runs, there are bugs to catch and corners to turn. I do also enjoy turning a wench, but I have an internal burning desire to go 90 miles an hour with my hair on fire and the wrench thing is a distant second.

 

At least for me, you need more options. I am a mechanic and love testing out the latest mod, but I am also a builder and have a few bikes at a time until they sell.
I am also a commuter. Whenever it is possible, (i.e., not 6" of snow or a sheet of ice, rain doesn't matter) I will ride everywhere and anywhere.

So I guess I am a mechabuildermuter. :lol:

 

Im a new motorcycle enthusiast as of last year.
The mechanic part kinda goes with the territory when you buy a bike this old BUT, I would rather be riding.
When something breaks or it begins riding rough I try to take care of it asap.
Other than that... I ride. However, I never did test the limits of mine until only recently.

 

Can't find a way to add the option, the edit screen doesn't give me access to the poll. I knew there would be overlaps. Even as a Kamikaze pilot, I will turn a wrench to keep on the road.

 

I am a kamikazi mechanic that comutes daily barring icy roads.

 

I could answer the first 4 options, but I don't pay others.

 

I wouldn't be suprised is many of us who ride xj's are daily drivers. This bike is far more practical than the 1-2 options we are given by most manufactuers.

I bet if you put this on a harley forum or a sportbike forum, you would get a whole different set of answers.

I know a lot more people that ride bikes than ride into work everyday. Which is amazing to me, because here in San Diego you literally can do it everyday, and because you can split lanes you save a lot of time, and gas is so expensive you save a lot of money!

 

I ride to work as often as possible, within reasonable boundaries of the weather. I have an office job, so I can't arrive looking (or smelling) like a drowned rat; however if I get caught in the rain going home, it's no biggie. It's 56 miles one way, so it really helps keep the miles off my car.

The mechanic part comes from having always done my own work; It's never really been practical to pay someone else to fix my bikes (or cars for that matter) and even when I could I don't trust anybody else.

Plus, even back in the day, I've usually ridden older (or "unsupported" British) bikes so it's been something I've just always done.

Over the years, I've helped friends and family members resurrect and recommission an assortment of interesting stuff; I myself generally tend to hold on to a bike for quite a while and "get to know it" so riding it becomes almost instinctive. Better for survival. Plus once I've sunk a lot of work into something I hate to let it go to somebody I just know won't take as good care of it as I did.

 

Yeah, tough one to answer. I fit the "mechanic" definition quite well, but if my bike habit is anything like my music equipment habit has been for the past 30 years, then I will also fit into the "builder" definition, AND my clicking left heel and burn scars on the back of my right knee from my younger, dirt bike days remind me that I am also a "Kamikasi Pilot" by nature. Let's hope I've managed to kick the last one!

 

I agree the big twin show-pony riders poll would be completely different.
I've never been a builder so to speak but I've alway done my own maintenance and repairs so I would know what to do to get home. In thinking back, I've always arrived at my destinations under my own power. My 1st street bike was a '69 BSA 650 Lightening that I picked up in three milk crates and a rolling chassis.
So I'm thinking my option list may not really be realistic, however, the more responses I get the more I feel at home here.

 

I've never tried to post a poll on this forum, but on another forum I frequent, polls can be set for a multipule-choice option, so that the responder can "check all that apply." Is there a way to do that here?
I ride, I commute, I wrench when I can, I pay when I must.

 

+1

 

+2

 

Hum, like most here I don't exactly fit any of those choices, but part of all of them....
I wrench by trade...in my blood to fix things since childhood. Just can't help it. Almost never willing to pay someone else as most of the time I'm left unhappy with the results.
In the early years I rode for fun and function, in my middle years I'm much more about fun...less for transportation. Plus I live in the Pacific NW so commuting year 'round is a cold wet proposition...which I didn't mind when I was younger but am not so inclined now. Cold is OK, Cold and wet really just sucks!
I like to ride fairly fast and push the envelope a bit...but again aches and scars from the younger days remind me of my family that counts on me for support. Not competitive though...that can ruin a good time.
I just love to ride!
This forum is a wonderful resource. Thank you to all those who make it such a great source of info!

 

I'd have to say I'm a weekend warrior, but I'm a mechanic so I'm constantly tweeking on it, fixing, repairing, modifying..... but I only take it out to cruise and enjoy the ride, not yet commuting on it

 

I am a motorcyclist. I cannot find a category above that I fit into as I feel part of each of those that you’ve listed. I did a write-up a while back and will paste it below, it's a long read though....


To me, and that’s just me, means that I love to ride, anything with two wheels and an engine. I do not care what you ride or where you ride, only that you do ride, and if you want to ride with me, that’s all the better. I have ridden in more states then not and have ridden in rain that would drown a duck and in temperatures from +10 to 125. I have had chinook winds drive my bike across two lanes of traffic without warning. I have also met some of the most memorable people while riding. When I’m on Route -Whatever headed outbound, and I see you ahead of me, I know that I will soon be waving at a fellow rider.

When I pass another rider, I always give the benefit of a wave, no matter what he or she is riding. I have had whole columns of riders refuse to acknowledge my “wave”, one at a time as I passed each bike in turn. I don’t let their rudeness ruin my day. I do not use a machine to make me into something that I’m not, so I do not wear pirate clothes. They do not understand what I have learned.

I am barely competent with a set of tools and I am smart enough to know that as long as I believe that, I will always continue to learn and to make friends. I love riding the interstates, I love riding the secondary’s, I even love riding on neighborhood roads. I’ve learned to appreciate the different qualities of different bikes and different manufactures. I have tickled carbs and slowly stroked a kicker to get to the compression stroke to show its owner how to start their own bike. I have “rebuilt” points with tinfoil and rubber bands and have learned three separate uses on a set of points for a pack of matches. I learned who Lucas was and learned to hate him on my own terms, not just because it was cool. I have stomped more spoons then Carter has pills and have learned the most ingenious ways to accomplish various tasks, while parked on the side of the road. I have never had my bike towed or picked up. I have always been lucky enough to be able to fix it enough to get home, always. I will always stop for a broken down bike on anything other then suburban or city streets. If we can’t fix it, at least I can offer my cell or a ride but those days have waned since everyone has cell phones now.

I cannot tell you how miles I have ridden and raced. I can tell you that raising a clenched fist from behind a full fairing at 190+ will instantly cut your speed by 6mph. I can also tell you that spinning the rear out and taking a spill off my Titan while turning around on a wet road two minutes after swearing to my best friend that I would “NEVER GO DOWN AGAIN” hurt much, much more then getting off, while 3rd gear was wound out at the track.

As the years and miles have accumulated, I’ve learned that both have taught me well. I have seen people die while riding and have had to bury friends. Often, I think about them while riding, I think that is a good thing since it lets me remember them, doing what they most loved, while doing what I most love. I love long endless 2 lane roads that tie towns to other towns. I love riding only with a map. I love stopping in at local diners or flea markets, even though I can’t buy anything larger then a breadbox and ever hope to get it home. I enjoy meeting people and finding out about their bikes and the mods they have done. I once met a girl at a red light who had very recently passed her riders exam and just wanted to ride. We rode up to Gettysburg and back together. Me on my ancient CB350 and her on her 250 Ninja….what a pair! I’ve ridden to Ocean City with choppers, bobbers, standards & cafés. I’ve had a Duck rider tell me that they wished they’d bought my bike instead of their Hypermotard, so they would have had the money to travel. I’ve honestly met the most amazing people either while riding or some other way attached to motorcycles.

I love traveling with my sweetheart on the back, feeling her warms arms wrapping around my waist. I love talking with her through our cheap, second-hand intercom as we discover new sights and places together. I love taking our tent out of the top case and setting up camp in 14 seconds, 2 miles from the entrance to Skyline Drive. I love finding some new view, or new place while riding. Every ride is an adventure, even if I’ve been there before. I love the feeling of waking at 2am, knowing that I’m leaving on a trip in an hour or so. The anticipation, the sheer excitement of the start of a day on the road is enough to awaken all of the senses. Some people never feel what it is to ride, but most of you do, that’s why you’re reading this…you are also a motorcyclist.


jeff

 

HEAR HEAR, well said!!!

 

That was probably the most well written example of someones feelings about being a rider.. not the so called 'biker', just someone, like myself, who completely enjoys the open air, taking in scenery and having a great time with a great assortment of characters you'll run into on the way.. Kudos, sir. I hope one day I may come across you on the road, because you share the same philosophy as I do. [Edit: about Jeffs post ]

 

I commute to work on one of my bikes as often as I can. Only snow ans ice keep me off the bike. I also like to go on long rides on the weekend and I always do my own work.