08-18-2015, 11:54 PM
(08-16-2015, 04:25 PM)Guth_imp Wrote: When the ferret and I finally got a chance to meet and spend some time together we talked about a variety of things. Motorcycling of course was one of those things. When asked if my wife rode, I responded no — she doesn't really like motorcycles all that much due to the added risk that they present (a point which I would not argue). However, she has come to understand that riding has proven to be good for my mental state. I'm almost always in a better mood after going for a ride. It's gotten to the point where sometimes she will actually encourage me to go for a ride (none of which has changed her opinion of bikes). It does me good. I suppose that is one reason that I like to ride.
The main reason that I ride is because I simply like the sensation of being on a motorcycle while it carries me around wherever I might choose to go. I loved that feeling as a kid and I still do to this day. Even though I'm a fairly conservative rider, I don't deny the risk involved. But danger (or the feeling of cheating death) isn't the reason that I ride. For me, the sheer pleasure that the experience of riding presents just happens to outweigh the risks involved.
This.. This is also my experience, right down to similar conversations with my wife.
My situation is a little different in that wife did ride, when she lived in the south, but the volume of traffic here in CA took the fun out of it for her. We compromised and ride dirt bikes together.
For me I believe that to deny the inherent risk of riding is foolish, to state it's the primary reason is equally so. There is no one reason. We all ride our own rides..