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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | Since my brothers wreck I have thought a lot about many aspects of riding.
One recurring theme is what does a rider ride for?
Do they ride?just to go fast and see if they can get the Ducati 1098, Yamaha R1, Ninja or ?busa wrapped up tight and/or knee dragging to recreate what they saw on TV? Many nights in the Summer I can hear people riding on a Friday or Saturday night tearing up the highways at three or four in the morning at very high rates of speed.
That is their life on the line not mine but it makes me sad that other motorists see me and think about these daredevils without understanding the difference.
For me I find riding a great way to clear my mind of the heavy thoughts of the day and focus on riding. For the most part I end up much calmer and relaxed after a ride then on edge. I have been known to push the envelope of Vision riding on rare occasions but well within the limits of my skills and the machine.
I ride for the ride not for the rush.
Ride Safe
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | I don't think I can even explain what I ride for, I just love riding. The vision took me to a level of riding that I find down right crazy and would be ashamed to admit what I have done in any given situation that I came out of unshakened, save one. I can't say I ride for the rush, though it sets me in a world that cannot be explained. Like when I was a paratrooper and I have a poster that says "when you jump it's just you". I have my world and I'll let you in if I want to, otherwise you can't come in, and don't intrude. I ride entirely different when I have my wife unit, because I want her to always want to ride with me. That's not to say that what I do when she is not with me is bad, I just understand the cost better. I also understand the cost when I am alone, and I can go from one extreme to the next with ease. Every ride is a flat out adventure, even if it is to the end of the road and back. I'm a cowboy, a highwayman, a rocketman, a bandit, and a knight in shining (black) armor, all rolled up in one. It's easy rider, born to wild, and ghost rider with an endless highway. Women stop and stare, men wished I'd give them a break. (well, I might be taking it to far) I see every rider a legend of sorts and hope they become one by the creed they ride by. I think about giving up riding everyday, and everday I cannot breakaway. I think about riding when I get up, and it is the fleeting thought in my mind as I drift off to sleep. We do something, the few that ride, that many only dream of doing, and you can tell by the looks and stares rolling down the highway of every bike they see.
So your question of adrenalin or serenity is answered simply for me, neither and both. 
Edited by Cap'n Nemo 2011-03-15 3:34 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 188
| For me its both. Clarity of mind and to get the ticker going... I love taking the twisties at speeds that touring bikes are not supposed take twisties at, and the Vision is sooooo good at it! |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 785
Mt. Vernon, WASH. | I'l have to go along with Cap'n Nemo and Kelvininin's statements. I'm too mature to see if I can drag a knee a block and a half, I'm afraid of draggin' a knee by falling over! Actually I use ride time to untwist my mind from the unending assault on everyone's time and attention by what's going on in the world and how everyone wants you to believe their point of view and no one elses.
I've always looked @ knee draggers as being Darwinian, they will eliminate themselves from the gene pool within 18 or 19 payments on the bike just through stupidity. Several years ago there was a local drop bar moron who liked to 'tag' the right corner of the bumper on commuter busses with his left hand in traffic as he passed on the right and cut in front of the bus, until the day he misjudged. Were you aware that the front axle on a 60 foot articulated coach (which weigh in around 30 tons) is around 10 inches off the pavement? He and the bike went under all three (front, middle, and driver) and out the back side of the bus. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 24
Hanover, Md | Depends on the situation. 2 wheel therapy has different forms. Sometimes it's about layin her over in the twisties with a hard throttle, and other times it's more about calm, peace, and serenity. The good thing is, whatever my soul needs, this bike is able to produce. Ride safe. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 101
Cold Lake Alberta Canada | Its my happy place, simple. For me anyway, its the only place that I don't have to overthink everything. 
Edited by Jim Millington 2011-03-15 7:17 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 169
Iowa | I am way past the need for speed in life. I got back into riding to enjoy the open road and as already mentioned, "Find my Happy Place"
I think about riding everyday and I can just get on the bike a go. It doesn't matter really where I'm going, but that I'm going down the road. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 48
Simpsonville, SC | We all recognize that it's a little more complex than a black or white answer can represent, but for the sake of going along with an interesting thread...
Mostly serenity and some adrenaline, the ratio of serenity to adrenaline changes the older ( wiser) I get. When riding as a teenager, the adrenaline was a key factor. |
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Tourer
Posts: 374
Tucson, AZ | As a Vision Pilot.....all of the above.
mike |
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
| "Do they ride?just to go fast and see if they can get the Ducati 1098, Yamaha R1, Ninja or ?busa wrapped up tight and/or knee dragging to recreate what they saw on TV?" Are you implying these young people aren't enjoying the ride? Maybe they are increasing their chances of an accident but does not mean they are not enjoying the ride. Each of us get into our "happy" place in our own way. My boy, Daryl, loves snowboarding. He does some crazy stuff but it doesn't make it wrong in my eyes. You state, you have taken your Vision to the extreme before. What makes you right and them wrong? You survived to tell them it's wrong? What's worse? People that assume all bikers are bad because of some or fellow bikers looking down on others?
I have 99% pleasure miles on my bikes. I don't ride to work but I have done 1000 miles back to back days. Does that make me bad cause I am riding exhausted? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 204
West Knoxville TN | Im with the Capt-N, neither and both. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | Are you riding exhausted? I wouldn't encourage it, especially if you become a statistic that leaves your family without you. I'm not being judgemental, and there will always be an element of risk, and given our own misjudgement that could happen at anytime, take anyone of us out without warning. We live to learn from our own mistake and the mistake of others. I've put more than one 1,000 mile day and have not been exhausted, yet I have to remind myself that I could be and not know it. Have I ridden exhausted? Absolutely! What do I do? Sometimes it takes much more time to get home because I will stop frequently, ride until I feel the edge, and then stop. But are you with me to stop me from doing something stupid. NO! Am I with you to stop you from doing something stupid? NO. But don't let a little caring judgment toward one another stop any of us in reminding that what we do is stupid to about 70% of the people we know.
I've thought through that thought that others will say if we lay 'er down for the last time "well, he died doing what he enjoyed doing" and I've come to the conclusion I want to outlive them to say I've had a long full life doing what I love doing, living life to the fullest. So far it's working... |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | RedRider - 2011-03-16 9:25 AM
"Do they ride just to go fast and see if they can get the Ducati 1098, Yamaha R1, Ninja or 'busa wrapped up tight and/or knee dragging to recreate what they saw on TV?"
Are you implying these young people aren't enjoying the ride?
I am sure that they really are out having fun. But they are clearly taking a great risk to get a bigger rush of adrenalin. I doubt that they are mentally writing a haiku or enjoying the panoramic view of the country side.
Maybe they are increasing their chances of an accident but does not mean they are not enjoying the ride. Each of us get into our "happy" place in our own way.
That is true I have no doubt.
My boy, Daryl, loves snowboarding. He does some crazy stuff but it doesn't make it wrong in my eyes. You state, you have taken your Vision to the extreme before. What makes you right and them wrong? You survived to tell them it's wrong? What's worse? People that assume all bikers are bad because of some or fellow bikers looking down on others?
I assure you that I am almost never "right" in any sense of the word. I do not look down on these riders....I do often worry about them.
I have 99% pleasure miles on my bikes. I don't ride to work but I have done 1000 miles back to back days. Does that make me bad cause I am riding exhausted?
No you are not bad.....but it does make me worry some that you are riding tired.
Take care and Ride Safe |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 732
Western WA | Yes. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 206
Lumber Bridge, NC United States | Why I (we) ride, riding is both for myself and my best friend in the world my wife . we ride because it is like taking a mini vacation everytime we are together on the bike. no gps just arrive at a fork in the road and say gee wonder where that goes. turn on some good tunes and space out on the beauty of what is going past us in this free country we live in. going by all the history of each little town or county has to offer, stopping in new places meeting new people (and some old dude saying gee guess I haven't seen everything cause thats a nice ride you have) it is both the adrenalin when the wife thinks I don't see that car braking or what ever and jabs me in the sides and the serenity of that open road ahead of us with nobody but us on it or riding by the ocean with the salty breeze blowing at you. as far as we know we only get one time at life so we need to live it to the best we can, we need to ride safe and have a great time all at once and so far many of us can do both. I ride as much as I can and the wife is right there behind me whenever she can be. just remember you can't get lost just misplaced at times the world is round and you will get home sometime. until then ride safe.
Edited by dan camarco 2011-03-16 1:15 PM
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Tourer
Posts: 506
Woodland Hills, CA | Like someone else said, I gave up the need for speed a while ago, and now just ride for the shear pleasure of being on the rode and enjoying the serenity of the ride. But then when I get into the canyons............... never mind! |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 849
, FL United States | radioteacher - 2011-03-15 4:15 PM
For me I find riding a great way to clear my mind of the heavy thoughts of the day and focus on riding. For the most part I end up much calmer and relaxed after a ride then on edge. I have been known to push the envelope of Vision riding on rare occasions but well within the limits of my skills and the machine.
I ride for the ride, not for the rush.
Ride Safe
+1 |
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Cruiser
Posts: 262
Flowery Branch Ga | I ride for both. The deer that walked out in front of me last night on the way to work got the juices flowing, but 2 minutes later I'm back to enjoying my alone time in my happy place. I don't have to drag knees or parts to get a rush, the ride will provide it's own in due time. In between the moments of adrenalin are the sheer joy that can't be described.
Wayne |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| I have been in 3 accidents not my fault and every time I want to quite . But then I find my self riding and stay in the country where there is no one. But I watch cars like a hawk. When I get to a intersection I'm ready for them. Hand on brake finger on horn.
In time the life comes back into my body and the new air to my lungs. As I see the eagles soar and lean into a curve my life feels better. I don't ride in the citys but head for a back country road and see the farm fields and the houses and hills and even the dear. Now I think the pickers should go there.
I think we ride cause inside us we have Indian and pioneer blood in us and we want to see whats on the other side. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 82
Fargo, ND | I too have done the speed riding, and I am pleased to say those days are behind me now. I ride for the opportunity enjoy this beautiful country we live in. The shorline drives down highway 101, the mountain rides through the Cascades and Rocky mountains, the wide open spaces of the central plains, every inch of this country that I love. God had a Vision for my life and now I have VISION to enjoy it. We must not forget that we have the privilege of riding the most advanced Cruiser in the world. My prayers is that none of us take that for granted or abuse the privilege. The snow is melting here and the motorcycles are finally back on the roads. Ride safe my Visionary Brothers |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 23
| +1 too all the above...............  |
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Cruiser
Posts: 160
Lennox, SD | It is both for me but mostly serenity.
I started riding motorcycles in the '70's to loose myself. . . .only to find myself.
I find that after a particularly tough day 10 minutes away form work on my bike it all melts away.
This feeling is only increased while riding my Vision.
Rider to rider most of us understand why we ride! It is not to impress those around us, it is for the to satisfy the rider inside all of us. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 92
| I ride to enjoy the cruise, clear my thoughts, companionship, camaraderie and just being able to enjoy the surroundings. We spend too much of our time indoors and filling out heads with daily garbage. With the invention of electronic devices our children are getting fat and lazy. I try and get my son out with me to enjoy the fresh air and scenery. He wants to get a bike and ride along instead of being a passenger, but unfortunately his mother has other ideas. |
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Tourer
Posts: 329
scotts valley, California | I'm 70 and have thrived on adrenaline all my life. "Life is an adventure or it is nothing at all.".... "Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone." I still get a thrill when I crack the throttle of my kevinx'd out '08 Vision at 3500 rpm and feel the thrust that reminds me of a jet taking off... or feel the grating of the corner of my belly pan plowing a new groove in the pavement in a curve on Highway 9. These things bring about a serenity, an atonement with life, as do seeing the buffalo on the road in Yellowstone, the geologic arches near Moab, the critters in Death Valley, whatever is around the next corner or over the next hill.
What's this thread about? adrenaline vs serenity? adventure vs peace? poetry in motion? Aren't they all part of the same package? We ride! |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | next thread??
Magnets on an Oil Filter
Magnets on an Oil Filter
To find what is out of kilter
Though it be big or small
Of iron or steel, will catch them all
While I consentrate on the cement
The little magnet will lament
Of all the little things that are gritty
That would make my motor a little....messed up.
Thank goodness for magnets on a oil filter |
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Tourer
Posts: 457
Green Bay, WI United States | +1 to you all, we all ride for different reasons - the fact is we all ride!!!l
Ride hard, ride fast, but above all ride safe and free.......
Wildman/8-ball |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 825
, WI | I like to ride -
I'm not afraid to die
I'm not afraid to live
And when I'm flat on my back
I hope to feel like I did - U2 |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 5
Alberta Beach, Alberta, Canada | I ride because I like to and want to. I don't need to go fast, just go. I find that it relaxes me and allows me to clear my mind. Last year was about getting to long off places, so it was a lot of long days. This year will be about seeing the sites closer to home, so a couple hundred less miles each day and stopping more to enjoy the scenery. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 623
| i ride for both, but never at the same time. Some days it just a stroll on the road, taking it all in, a relaxing ride thru the mountains. Sometimes its all about speed and scraping floor boards and scaring myself a few times in a ride. Just depends on the day, my mood, the road, my destination. no matter what though....I always walk away from my motorcycle with a smile |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 669
Peachtree City, GA | Both |
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Cruiser
Posts: 112
Denver, Iowa | There isn't much adrenalin in my part of Iowa. If I want to hit the curves, I ride to the end of the block and turn right, go another block and turn left...that's my curves.
I'm absolutely new to this stuff...it's my first street bike. I'd only ridden for two months last fall, and put on 4,800 miles. When I first started riding, my mind was always thinking about everything but riding... my wife, my friends, my management job, my retail parts business, the house, truck, car, garage... anything and everything...so, I asked myself, "How is this relaxing? I thought riding was supposed to be about clearing your thoughts, not dwelling on them."
And then I had a close call. At a (two stop sign) country intersection, I was stopped at the stop sign. A car approaches from my left (no stop sign for them), and I thought it was turning right... to go in the direction I'm coming from. I'm in another mental world at the time, so I took off into the intersection, when I realized that the car wasn't turning... it's going straight...and it just about t-boned me to the Pearly Gates. Barely missed me. Now I've broken ribs before (in my racing kart days), and that's about how hard it was for me to breathe for the next few minutes. I couldn't get the MSF instructors voice out of my head... when you're riding, think about nothing but riding. Now I know what he meant.
Adrenalin or serenity? Yes, both. But my adrenalin now is just to be safe. If I can go out there and ride for hours, against all the things that can go wrong, and make it home to kiss my beautiful wife, that's my adrenalin. And I rode the entire trip not thinking about anything else that could stress me out, that's my serenity. |
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Tourer
Posts: 329
scotts valley, California | Man, you got your shot of adrenalin all at once at the intersection! Thanks for the idea; I never would have thought of that!
Sorry to make light of what could have been a very serious situation. Your MSF instructor was right on. You NEED to pay attention when you are riding. And there is an incredible serenity in that. A moment by moment serenity. And, like you say, you get to come home and hug the wife. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 825
, WI | I almost ran out of adrenalin!!  |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 825
, WI | Serenity. 
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Tourer
Posts: 447
Northeastern Penna. | How can you beat that scenery while on a bike ? Riding is relaxing, just have a great feeling while on my Vision !
The "only" downside is the lousy road conditions here in Penna. |
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Tourer
Posts: 307
Columbia, SC | Most of the time, actually, commuting. After that, serenity. But MAN I love that adrenaline when I come upon that RIGHT road. Although when the wife is with me (very often, thankfully!), I still take it pretty easy.
Alexi |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 804
Perry Hall, MD | Escape - Sanity - Serenity
Got to work yesterday and unexpectedly had 50 pages of revised SOPs to review and comment on in addition to all the other things I thought I was going to be doing. Did 4.5 hours of that then took the rest of the day off to just ride. Totally disappointed when I looked at the time and had to head for home (about an hour late actually). Too many things in life are like medicine and riding is my 'spoon full of sugar'. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 101
Springfield, TN | dan camarco - 2011-03-16 1:11 PM
Why I (we) ride, riding is both for myself and my best friend in the world my wife . we ride because it is like taking a mini vacation everytime we are together on the bike. no gps just arrive at a fork in the road and say gee wonder where that goes. turn on some good tunes and space out on the beauty of what is going past us in this free country we live in. going by all the history of each little town or county has to offer, stopping in new places meeting new people (and some old dude saying gee guess I haven't seen everything cause thats a nice ride you have) it is both the adrenalin when the wife thinks I don't see that car braking or what ever and jabs me in the sides and the serenity of that open road ahead of us with nobody but us on it or riding by the ocean with the salty breeze blowing at you. as far as we know we only get one time at life so we need to live it to the best we can, we need to ride safe and have a great time all at once and so far many of us can do both. I ride as much as I can and the wife is right there behind me whenever she can be. just remember you can't get lost just misplaced at times the world is round and you will get home sometime. until then ride safe.
Right on brother! As "empty nesters" my wife and I keep and emergency overnight pack of necessary items in the bike in case we don't go home at night... we're liable to have wandered into the mountains and have an unplanned overnighter somewhere... those are the best times! Follow the road to where it leads!
I have to say the serenity of riding alone is needed sometimes though... just don't tell my wife. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 669
Peachtree City, GA | Both |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1109
| There was a time I rode for speed, had a GSXR 1150,highly modified and had a a lot of fun. Not the stupid fun I see today but fun. That was years ago and now that I'm in my middle fifties my VV does everything I want a bike to do. I still have my Harley lowrider but I find I ride it less and less. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 72
Chino Valley, AZ | Having owned and ridden quite a few different bikes in my 62 years, my first ride was in 1958 on a tote-gote and I have been riding ever since. The peace I feel when riding compares to no other experience I have ever had. It doesn't matter if I am carving a Mountain road or just cruising along at 35 miles per hour, I am at peace, so I would have to say Serenity is my reason for riding.
But, I have never felt so good on a motorcycle than I have for the last 500+ miles I have put on my "New to Me" 2008 Victory Vision Tour Premium (and I thought Harley had some long names). My Vision rides better than any other bike I have ridden, I cannot wait for my next looonng ride. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 9
| I ride for serenity, but when I get on a long stretch of empty road, I love to twist the throttle and let the bugs explode on my face. |
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What do you ride for?.adrenalin or serenity?