by JRK 24 Replies latest social entertainment
In defense of bicycles they are cheap, require little or no repair, they are no hassle to park and you get exercise and a chance to relax going to and from work. Plus, you can drive them while drunk. For everything within a 10-15 km radius a bicycle is very hard to beat!.
plus I have noticed that whenever motorcycles come up people always chime in with lines that begin like: "And they are not that dangerous, I have only been nearly killed once/twice/going to work this morning..."
I've owned bikes since I was 18. Bought a brand new 1973 Yamaha 650. Took her to Mexico & the west coast. Good dependable bike. I was the service manager at a Chevrolet - Olds Kawasaki dealer. We had an 1100 as a company bike. A great bike. Beat the piss out of a number of Hondas; just can't kill them. Have owned a number of Harley- Davidsons & currently ride a 2015 Road Glide. (License plate is MRQUIK) It has a display that you have to be an electrical engineer to figure out. Top speed on any bike was 142 MPH. Too old to do that crap any more....
My last road bike was a Norton 850 Commando, late 1970's , early 80's, was the coolest looking bike at the time. Just about dropped it a couple times riding due one incident of riding over a newly painted cross walk in the rain and another when a German Shepard attacked me while riding.
I bought a 1200cc Suzuki Bandit as a birthday present for myself when I escaped the Borg. 90 MPH in second gear and still plenty of acceleration left. I took it to full speed just a touch below 150mph just once but travelled many miles on deserted southern French roads at night at 120. Effortless power is a joy. I loved riding in storms and taking the bike to the limit of lean.
On a bike I often think of the line of GM Hopkins in his famous poem The Windhover, "as a skate's heel sweeps smooth on a bow bend: the hurl and gliding".
@ Finky, I always wanted an 850 Norton Commando and still think its a desirable bike.
I would love a bike .... but then I also love being alive and since I'm in Calgary, Alberta, with THE worst drivers ever it simply would just be a case of "when".
I would love a bike .... but then I also love being alive and since I'm in Calgary, Alberta, with THE worst drivers ever it simply would just be a case of "when".
Not necessarily, there's lots of motorcyclists in canada and they're not all deaded.
I never owned a motorcycle, but have a bicycle. I am sure the motorized one is more fun, but I just never had one. Bicycles must be pretty fun too, because they are stolen left and right. I have multiple locks and never leave mine unlocked except while riding it.
Not necessarily, there's lots of motorcyclists in canada and they're not all deaded.
That sentence is just missing a "... yet".
I know a lot of it is like driving - you can increase your own safety be being aware etc... I've been driving many many years and never had so much as a scrape (well, erm, that pedestrian that time doesn't count because they ran into me, LOL).
But the trouble with a bike is that if some douche does something stupid, you will always come off worse. Even being in a group of riders doesn't seem to help - some idiot decided to do a U-turn in front of some recently. Too many idiot car and truck drivers that ruin things.
Bikes are for young people, who haven't yet developed a healthy sense of self-preservation.
Norton = Class.
@ Simon
I rode bikes for about 10 years and it was a blast. I agree that you have more protection in a car than on a bike should you be involved in an accident however, don't let that put you off. If you haven't already done so, then I would encourage you to have a go at riding a bike.
