I love riding my motorbike and although this seems completely off topic it isn’t really because there is a link! O yes, there is because I often use my bike to get out into the countryside to see nature. It is much better than the car – you are actually nearer to nature more immersed in the elements! Ok so we prefer not the have the rain obscuring the view as we don’t have the luxury of windscreen wipers and snow can cause a little skidding but on a sunny clear day there is nothing to touch it. Only problem with the gorgeous sun drenched ride is the sweat running down your back and forehead as we have to wear protective clothing and helmets!!!! Despite all of this I can’t think of anything that makes me feel as free as a ride on my bike (except perhaps a sun-soaked beach somewhere like Mauritius or Madagascar .
I love the feeling of being in charge of my own destiny, the feeling of beating the odds, of me against the world who are trying to knock me down!! LOL!
I adore the feeling of leaning into a bend, hips at a jaunty angle, knee slightly down – I have no need for speed – it is far far better, in my humble opinion to round a corner at 40mph, feeling every nuance of the camber, savouring every second. The speciality for me is a double “S” bend one way then the other, with a full throttle pull out onto a nice straight stretch and up to 60/70mph, bring a wide grin right across my face. Any faster and its gone, over, no time to savour.
I love the burble of the pipes and the rumble of the engine under my bum!! A nice throaty burble, not an ear splitting roar like a Harley or a wild whine of a sports bike with no soul, but a gentle soft calming burble!
I actually fall in love with my bike every time I ride it. I love cars too and have a lovely little mini cooper clubman but it hasn’t got soul like my bike has.
I took a Triumph Bonneville out today. At first I thought wayhayyy I found the bike of my dreams. Beautiful to look at, easy to ride. Gears nice and smooth, good breaking, easy to manoeuvre – although can’t be that easy because I dropped the sodding thing! O yes, welcome to Helen’s world of slow manoeuvre accidents. I have fallen off my bike once whilst on the move going round a corner and hitting diesel on the road and I have fallen of my bike several time whilst at standstill! That’s my speciality!! Because the trouble with the Bonnie is that being a short arse of 5ft 3inches I can only just get the ball of my foot on the ground!! Add in a sloping car park and a turn and that is it!!!! Bugger, and it’s a demo bike! Scratched mirror, slightly scuffed engine casing, exhaust pipe and clutch lever! Shit its into hundreds. Then I couldn’t pick the damn thing up, so had to seek assistance! Apart from the embarrassment of making a total tit of myself, it sort of put a damper on the ride back.
Back on my bike home – after negotiations at dealer – feet flat on the floor at traffic lights, I felt at home. I’ve had this bike three years so am bound to feel easy on it aren’t I? Decisions Decisions!
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