I have never been on a motorcycle. Ever.
I can’t say I haven’t been a little curious about what it’s like. It seems like it’d be either very fun or very terrifying: it’s just you, with a bike, and little protection from the dozens of bugs that will inevitably find their ways into your mouth. (C’mon, you know it happens!) But in general I’m not too crazy about the idea.
That said, my boss recently completed a big motorcycle trek and enjoyed the heck out of it, even if his Blackberry got damaged – and his enthusiasm about it is contagious. (Not the Blackberry… the trek.)
Do Pingers cycle?
Posted in Everyday Life
Aanen September 19, 2006, 2:06 pm
My neighbor took me for a ride on his motorcycle once. We didn’t go far (the tags have expired), but it was still an awesome experience.
Sometimes we fold the windshield down on the phaeton and drive around. It’s kinda close to being on a motorbike but a little slower.
COD September 19, 2006, 2:33 pm
I did some off road dirt biking in high school, when we lived out in the desert with lots of empty space for that sort of thing. The carelessness of the typical US driver would scare the hell out of me on a motorcycle. I don’t think I would ever drive one on a typical busy suburban road or highway. If we moved somewhere very rural I might consider it though…
Greg September 19, 2006, 5:03 pm
I was on one once. It’s really quite a fun ride. If you do it right; take lessons, wear the proper safety equipment (including a helmet with face shield to eliminate the bug problem, Paul) and don’t go to fast, it’s not as dangerous as one might think.
COD – Have you ever driven outside the US and Canada? I hear the US is actually pretty good in comparison.
Steve A September 19, 2006, 10:30 pm
I know this isn’t the same, but long before there was Ping I bicycled. When I lived in Scotland I had a fabulous bike. I would take trips on the train with my bike in the baggage car and my backpack in the overhead rack (not to be confused with that cubbyhole airlines try to pass off for storage). I bike-packed all over northern Scotland, including many 3 day trips around Loch Ness.
Did I see Nessie???? That’s another story.
Ciao,
Oh yeah, as for motorcycles.. can you say Key West to Miami via the OLD road? Not my bike and I was riding in the ‘back.’
S
Alan Bluehole September 20, 2006, 2:15 am
My wife hit a deer while riding a motorcycle on the interstate in Virginia. I did not know her then, but it has cured me of any interest I once had in cycling.
Terry M. September 20, 2006, 5:34 am
I took my first motorcycle ride the weekend before last, in Mumbai (Bombay), and took a few more since then. Here in India there are many more motorcycles (which they call ‘2-wheelers’) on the road than cars (which they call ‘4-wheelers’), due to cost and practicality. Very different from the US where a motorcyle is a ‘luxury’ (and requires special license!).
I would love to take a ‘Motorcycle Diaries’-style trip, through Latin America. There is a really cool web site called Horizons Unlimited which has info about people who bike across all different parts of the world. Some day I will do it!
JIM CAREY January 4, 2007, 2:07 am
I*M in my early 70s & have Ridden Motorcycles since I was a BOY-{15}– Motorcycles ofer a Rider a Freedom You will ever Witness in a Closed Vehicle–& byAddinga Windsheld–YOU Eliminate that Bug in your Teeth Problem!–but I being from the Ole School–where Common Sense RULED!-Heres what every Bike Rider should Follow!–Never BUY any BIKE! You can NOT pick Up Alone–thats laying upon its Side!–&NO Matter How Well You Ride?–Sooner? or Latter?==YOU Will–Go Down–some Where?–as the Odds! will Catch Up w/YOU!–So Be Prepaired! as to ME–a Motorcycle is Two Wheels An Engine a Fuel Tank & 100 % FREEDOM!–to Travel any Where You Like?–I can*t Express Here that Feeling I Enjoyed learning to Ride My First BIKE–in Our Huge Pasture!–& I remember My DAD giving ME HELL for Tearing the entire Pasture Up!–as Our Hay Crop was Not all that Great that Year!–but–I learned to Ride My Bike Pretty Good!–which I would recogmend others to Do Also!–as when YOU Do Dump IT–the Hay is Very Forgiving!–both to YOU & your BIKE–I SOLD the Last Bike I had a year Ago!–a HONDA–as MY Reflexes are Not what? they used to be?? so its 4 Wheel-time!–for ME! –Ole JIM–
Ryan January 4, 2007, 6:28 pm
Another contender for comment of the year.