The simple things in life...

[Sam Atsu]

Several years ago, a friend of mine asked what I loved about riding and not to give him the normal responses everybody else usually gave him. I looked him in the eye, smiled and said:

"I love the smell of the inside of a helmet just after you put it on in anticipation of a ride."

He paused, thought for a moment, looked at me and then walked away thinking I was being sarcastic or something. A few months later, he got a motorcycle. Recently, he came over to hang out and just out of the blue, he turned to me and said, "Do you remember when I asked you what you loved about riding a motorcycle and you made some stupid *** comment about the smell of a helmet?" I just stared at him. He then said, "I now understand what you meant. Every time I put on my helmet, I smell that smell and can't help but smile."

At any rate, I just had the sudden urge to share that.

Anybody else have any "simple things in life" quirks about motorcycle riding? I thought it would be interesting to hear what you guys (and gals) had to say.

[Clint]

I bust out a grin every time I pull onto a freeway adjacent to a cage and within about 6 seconds I'm at their door. The looks I get are fantastic! It's like they're seeing a ghost.

Not exactly a simple thing, but it works for me.

[Mavman]

For me it's......I don't know if I can explain it exactly...but while I'm getting my gear on and preparing to saddle up....I get this rush of some kind, like starting to open a chistmas present and knowing you going to get exactly what ya wanted....I get on and ride and a smile of satisfation is almost always there.......quirky maybe, but that's me.

[inspiron]

Oh, there are so many things ... the satisfaction of taking a curve just right, those beautiful views from the top of a mountain, the smell of fresh cut grass in summer, the overall feeling of freedom, getting away from everything for a few hours - just me and my machine, ...

[Scourge]

I reckon the biggest thing I notice, in my short time back in the saddle, is that when I get home from a ride (particularly from work) I just feel exhilerated.

[viper94bite]

I like the fact that when I go out for a ride. It clears my head to the point where the only thing I am thinking about is the ride. "Should I take this road or that road today" becomes my only problem. When it's just you the bike and the road, and maybe your riding buddies. Puts a smile on my face every time. Feels like life is simple again when you can just forget about all your troubles on a ride. When me and my fiance split up I don't know what I would have done without the bike. Maybe I would have ended up in jail who knows, But at any note it is just pure, exhilerating, fun, peacfull.

[QuacktheDuck]

Nothing like the smell of fresh air in the morning, traffic still asleep in the garages across the city, when it's nothing but you and that machine that's deeply roaring under you that makes riding a joy. Oh and call me weird, but even walking out to my bike, I feel like I'm a fighter pilot walking out to his jet (a job I won't get to experience sadly). I guess that riding a bike is as close as you can get to flying a plane without leaving the ground.

[Miloh]

It's that green light on the speedo. Seems like every bike I've ever been on had that green light. it triggers something in me that I only feel when riding my bike of flying my 1/4 scale airplanes.

Miloh.

[TL chris]

For me it's when you first stick the key in the ignition, flip the kill switch, turn the key, pull in the clutch and hit the start button. On this bike, even the old lady across the parking lot looks to see what is making the deep rumble. Especially the younger ones, around my age, wanna see who it is thats firing up the beast. Perhaps that last part is juvenile, but it puts a smile on my face.

[mark]

For me it's the strong smell of leather, as i don the jacket. I hang it in the garage, and the smell is just there when you pick it up.

Second, and coming on strong, is my new ride to work. I just found a route that's about two miles longer (8-10 total miles) than normal that usually has no traffic and not more than a 100yds on average without a turn of some sort. Then stuck smack in the middle is a straight away that gradually lowers you into a valley...no place for a cop to hide as you have an overview of the entire stretch (clean pavement) as it gradually descends....then that same road has 4....yes four....hard 90 degree turns...like three sides of a rectangle just stuck in the middle of the road, all a hundred yds apart, just begging to scrape a peg (i havent done that yet-getting close). Its the best decaf coffee on the planet.

[dragbar]

It's overall very relaxing to me, just me and the road. Like the road moves under me and the bike stays still. Almost like I have a heightened sense of awareness while in the saddle.

[Time4me2ride]

I love the noise of wind, road, and traffic. It drives the BS right out of my mind, no matter how bad a day at work, or how stressful a day at home, a half an hour (or more) of that beautiful white noise and I feel fine.
Time4me2ride

[CManT1914]

I like starting up the bike, kicking it into neutral, backing out of the garage, then kicking it into first and taking off. The most fun for me is stopping and going right now, lol. Weird?

[Dave2122]

The one thing I like most is when you get that first warm day in spring. It makes me feel all better after a long winter.

[jkulysses]

I like almost being killed by a stupid azz cage driver at least once a day.

[Uncle Bob]

The black lace thong !



Oops wrong site.

[ChicsterMG]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

The black lace thong !



Oops wrong site.

I just had a mental picture, excuse me while burn my eyes out!

[Nexus242]

The clutchless shift into 2nd about 50mph, gives an almost spun up turbo boost feeling when 2nd engages. Whooooossshhhhhh!!!!!

[OlderGS]

This sounds corny but I feel like an outlaw cowboy when I ride. It feels cool. I think it's because I'm always surrounded by Hardleys.

[inspiron]

This picture explains a bit of why I ride ... this is the elevation map from today's outing ...