Whatever happen to true motorcycling

[James Ardrey]

Taking the scoot slapping a few necessary items on a stripped or a touring package for the rode trip.now thats what motorcycling is all about.....

I remember seeing a Aston Martin towing a trailer this summer and towing a trailer with a motorcycle :rotfl:What a joke it takes away the meaning of Adventure

 

Im hoping that my health issues will get better but Im planning to ride my 88 Honda Super Magna 750 to Dons Maintenance and all my necessary items will be in a pack sac thats 1350 miles

 

to Lowell and the rest of you that dont pull a trailer

Have you ever eaten racoon? If you haven't you couldn't possibly know what it tastes like and the same if you have never pulled a trailor behind your bike. And the same goes for trailoring your bike. :stirthepot:I do know what it is like pulling a trailor but limited experience trailoring my bike.

[James Ardrey]

Whatever happen to true motorcycling?

 

Why did they have to get rid of drum brakes and foot clutches?

 

Why did they have to get rid of manual spark advacne?

 

Why did they put suspenison in the rear end?

 

Why did they have to get rid of cotton corded, natural rubber tires?

 

Where did the kick starter go?

 

Why did they install an electric starter?

 

Why did they go to a 12 volt electrical system?

 

Why did they get rid of tank shifters?

 

I ask these things because I own a 1950 Harley Davidson FL, that RARELY gets ridden because of most of the above questions.

 

I also own a 2007 RSV, that is a PLEASURE to ride!!!!!

 

I guess if you like it, it is true motorcycling.

Ditto!!

[Squidley]

Well I will say this, I'd much rather ride to places on the bike than trailering it. But sometimes it's unavoidable, like when we are going to run away over Christmas...yes the bike will be trailered, but only because it will be to sloppy to ride it out of Michigan.

[Jerry M]

I think they call it old age.You need to do, what you need to do to be able to take rides that are long distance from where you live.

[Brake Pad]

When I'm not dragging the trailer, I'm only cruisen around town.

But 2 up, we're going somewhere,

[Freebird]

Charlie...I think you are getting senile. You posted this same thing last year.

 

OK...here's my take on it.

 

I can remember when I was a kid. Living in Texas with on a hot and muggy night about 95 degrees with the old swamp cooler running adding even more humidity and that dead fish odor to the house while I laid in bed sweating and trying to sleep. I later moved on with the times and we got air conditions and slept nice and cool with little humidity. I could have stuck with the old ways but I moved ahead because I COULD and was more comfortable.

 

I can remember taking family trips in old cars. 105 degrees outside. No air conditioning, now power steering, AM radio that would only get a couple of decent channels. Later moved up to nicer cars with A/C, power steering, AM/FM/Tape and later CD and etc. Must more comfortable. I could have stuck with the hot old beater but I moved ahead because I COULD and was more comfortable.

 

I can remember putting many miles on various motorcycles. Mostly with no windshields, no backrest, no music of any kind, no trunks or saddle bags. Just tied what I had to on it and went. Still had a great time. I was later able to upgrade to a new bike. One with cruise control, backrest, saddle bags and trunk, music, and even pull a trailer when it allows me to extend my trips and not load the bike itself down giving my wife and I more room to be comfortable. I could have stuck with the older bike but I moved ahead because I COULD...and I am more comfortable.

 

To each his own. I love riding. I loved riding my old vibrating 250 Harley Sprint when I was 15 years old. It brought me a lot of joy. I'm a bit older now and I love riding my RSV. Complete with AM/FM/MP3, Cruise, Air Suspension, Backrest, Highway Pegs and sometimes pulling my trailer when it makes things more comfortable.

[BEER30]

Taking the scoot slapping a few necessary items on a stripped or a touring package for the rode trip.now thats what motorcycling is all about.....

I remember a seeing a Aston Martin towing a trailer this summer and towing a trailer with a motorcycle :rotfl:What a joke it takes away the meaning of Adventure

 

Im hoping that my health issues will get better but Im planning to ride my 88 Honda Super Magna 750 to Dons Maintenance and all my necessary items will be in a pack sac thats 1350 miles

 

to Lowell and the rest of you that dont pull a trailer

 

OK Charlie , you ole wanna-be fisherman ! Now get rid of that spinning reels and grab a cane pole for fishing . Practice what you preach ! :rotf:

 

See ya at Don's and this time ....bring some good beer for a change !

 

BEER30

[Gray Ghost]

When I got back to Ft Riley from Iraq, my first free weekend I came home to get my Venture to have up there with me. Being the Army, I had to be counseled about my high risk behaviour of riding a motorcycle that far. The guy who talked to me was real proud of his "toy hauler" that he used to haul his bike when he goes on trips. I think I offended him when I asked him how that counted as riding a bike.

[MAINEAC]

Yeah you're right Charlie... What did happen to the good Ol' Days...Mmmm... Hang on tight to your groovy little barrell of monkeys now

 

GO!

 

I'm gonna wake you up early

Cause I'm gonna take a ride with you

We're going down to the Honda shop

I'll tell you what we're gonna do

Put on a ragged sweatshirt

I'll take you anywhere you want me to

 

First gear (Honda Honda) it's alright (faster faster)

Second gear (little Honda Honda) I lean right (faster faster)

Third gear (Honda Honda) hang on tight (faster faster)

Faster it's alright

 

It's not a big motorcycle

Just a groovy little motorbike

It's more fun that a barrel of monkeys

That two wheel bike

We'll ride on out of the town

To any place I know you like

 

First gear (Honda Honda) it's alright (faster faster)

Second gear (little Honda Honda) I lean right (faster faster)

Third gear (Honda Honda) hang on tight (faster faster)

Faster it's alright

 

It climbs the hills like a Matchless

Cause my Honda's built really light

When I go into the turns

Lean [Tilt] with me and hang on tight

I better turn on the lights

So we can ride my Honda tonight

 

First gear (Honda Honda) it's alright (faster faster)

Second gear (little Honda Honda) I lean right (faster faster)

Third gear (Honda Honda) hang on tight (faster faster)

Faster it's alright

[halfwitt]

Being the Army, I had to be counseled about my high risk behaviour of riding a motorcycle that far.

 

That's funny - in the army and riding a motorcycle is risky?

[WIKD]

Different strokes for different folks. At this point in my life I can't see me towing a trailer behind my bike, just wouldn't feel like riding to me. With that said, 3 years ago I would have never thought I'd be riding on what I used to call a geezer glide while I was riding my R1. Then came the Warrior for a little slower riding, the R1 riding was getting out of hand, and still no tourer in sight. Last year I tried to pack everything I needed on the Warrior to ride from FL to NC for a week and lo and behold the RSV idea was born. Now on long rides I can't figure how I survived without the RSV and I still have the Warrior for the around town riding. As people change so do their needs.

[mother]

Taking the scoot slapping a few necessary items on a stripped or a touring package for the road trip.now thats what motorcycling is all about.....

I remember seeing a Aston Martin towing a trailer this summer and towing a trailer with a motorcycle :rotfl:What a joke it takes away the meaning of Adventure

 

Im hoping that my health issues will get better but Im planning to ride my 88 Honda Super Magna 750 to Dons Maintenance and all my necessary items will be in a pack sac thats 1350 miles

 

to Lowell and the rest of you that dont pull a trailer

 

hey Charlie

how much beer can you put in that napsack?

 

my first street bike was a Kawi 400 two stroke triple, went on a 3 week camping trip up your way, Manitoulin, Wawa, Pancake Bay, up around to Thunder Bay. i will never forget that trip, campin on beaches, out in the woods, just me and my machine.

now i'm spoiled. cheers, Scott

[Freebird]

I merged the two duplicate threads.

[KiteSquid]

That's funny - in the army and riding a motorcycle is risky?

 

Actually, it is not funny.

 

The military looses a lot of personnel, and lots of lost work hours and medical bills due to high risk behavior when off duty.

 

I think the military is attempting to instill a little risk management into their members off duty hours. The military is not like civilian life, you are part of the military 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 

In my 20 year US Navy carrier I can quickly remember burying 3 young sailors that died due to off duty high risk behaviors... one hunting accident, two were driving cars when tired and one was riding a motorcycle during daylight hours...

 

It is honorable to lay down ones life in the line of duty.

 

It is quite a different thing to die due to participating in high risk behavior.

 

I am saying that ALL people should try to minimize risk of death or personal injury by modifying their behaviors, due to thinking about the risks involved with whatever activity they participate in and doing what will minimize the risks. Be it taking a bath, woodworking, mowing the lawn or even operating a motor vehicle.

 

I remember in my youth that I KNEW that I was stronger that Superman and would NEVER get seriously injured or die... I am lucky to be alive to type this post... I had quite a few close calls, that if I were to use proper risk management would not have happened!!!

 

I am embarrassed to say that one was WAY TOO CLOSE and the US Navy has about $500,000 invested in MY medical care that they should not have had to, if I had better risk management in my youth......

[Stoutman]

When I got back to Ft Riley from Iraq, my first free weekend I came home to get my Venture to have up there with me. Being the Army, I had to be counseled about my high risk behaviour of riding a motorcycle that far. The guy who talked to me was real proud of his "toy hauler" that he used to haul his bike when he goes on trips. I think I offended him when I asked him how that counted as riding a bike.

 

I rode my bike from Dallas to SLC this summer to see my dad. I stayed at the University of Utah guest house while in SLC so I could have access to a shower and a nice place to have friends visit me. While there I met a gal from Texas in an Army uniform. She came over to talk about bikes when she saw me packing mine for the trip home. She told me about the toy hauler she bought her husband last year. She said after her last tour in Iraq she decided she was never sleeping on the ground again unless in the line of duty. That toy hauler sounded like a nice way to combine biking, camping, and site seeing. I'm going to have to look into one of those toy haulers. So Cliff, if you see me on the road be sure to wave. Let me know next time you get to Dallas/Fort Worth I'll buy you a beer at Willhoits in Grapevine.

[halfwitt]

Actually, it is not funny.

 

Poor choice of words on my part...Let's say "ironic"?

[Guest cyote61]

Boy after reading that, what activity would be considered not high risk? Why did the army put me in paratooper school? Why did I go to Nam? Yikes, you mean I was at high risk? Mother nature kills more people by lightning than anything else! How big of hole do I need to dig to be at low risk, an then with my luck the sides of the hole will cave in. :rotf::rotf:More meds please.

[hig4s]

I have owned six street bikes, not one has ever been on a trailer while I owned it. One was in the back of a pickup truck, but it was in pieces in a crate so I don't count that.

 

But you never know, there might be an incident where I would trailer my bike?

 

After all I do have a trailer for my dirt bike that would haul the Venture fine.

[sdive]

I'd love to be in a position where I would never have to put the RSV on a trailer. But I'm not keen on riding my bike in the snow, so when I want to get away and find a spot to ride, I DO trailer the bike to get there.

 

I'd also love to be able to spend all my time riding, especially with the better half on for the ride. Unfortunately, her ability/comfort on the bike isn't to the same level as mine so, for example, next year we will probably trailer the bike to Alberta and then do daily rides from a base station. That way, we can get there quicker and enjoy the riding in that neck of the woods.

 

Cheers,

I'm with you on this one,we are snowed in right now and I'll be trailering to Louisianna this Feb March for some riding time. If you come out to Alberta let us know and maybe we can get together for a ride or two.

 

Ron

[wild hair 39]

Repeating yourself is a definite sign of Old Age.........

Repeating yourself is a definite sign of Old Age.........

Repeating yourself is a definite sign of Old Age.........

 

old age where dose it start,still waiting,for that day,guess,that will be tomorrow:confused24::detective:can't remember,mutch about yesterday,but the bikes still start,will be going in for my 69000 miles check up,soon,sea form & wd 40 and srtonger crash bars

[Guest cyote61]

Wildhair Sir, are you sure you want to put on stronger crash bars? Would that be a bad omen? Be careful out there:080402gudl_prv:

[Gray Ghost]

She said after her last tour in Iraq she decided she was never sleeping on the ground again unless in the line of duty.

 

I spent time sleeping on a flight line, and in wierd places on my duffel bags, but it wasn't enough to make me want to surround myself with four walls while I ride through some great country. Besides for what a Toy hauler costs the wife and I can rent a bed for more than a couple of nights.

 

To each their own, but riding the motorcycle reduces my stress and makes me a happier camper. Riding a toy hauler would be the opposite for me.

[WilCruise]

Wow Charlie, You sure have a knack of making a post that stirs the pot enough to get lots of responses.

 

My on the trailer thing:

In general I agree. I'd always prefer to ride the bike if I'm the only one or thing that needs to be considered. My wife likes to ride with me (something that only started when I got the 2nd gen - she hated it on anything prior to that). In some cases it's easier or more convenient to trailer the bike. The three that hit us are:

1. When there are more than two people going to the destination (e.g. wife and one or more kids and or pets).
   
2. When weather is not safe for riding in the starting point but is at the destination.
   
3. When we're staying for multiple days at the destination - because our favorite hotel is on wheels (motorhome).

The last (and possibly first) will be true for us at the 2008 international ride-in. Although it's more likely that I'll get to the maintenance day with the reverse configuration - towing my accommodations behind the bike (guess I'm just a glutton for towing).

 

I don't see either making me less of a motorcyclist because I also go for true tours with just the bike whenever time permits (still working for a living you know) although I'm usually one-up for those.

 

I have a neighbor that hired someone to trailer his bike to Sturgis and back. He flew and was there for two days. Now THAT qualifies for your argument IMHO.

[Jerry W]

After reading all the posts, I am thinking "what difference does it really make?". To me it is kinda' like the "what kind of motorcycle do you ride" thing. As long as you enjoy what you are doing and it doesn't hurt anyone else, go for it.

 

Just my two cents.

[BEER30]

I guess to put it in the most polite way I can ..........I'll do what I da** well please ! If it hurts your feeling , have a beer or ice cream and get over it !

 

BEER30