08-29-2017, 04:11 PM
Back in the 80s Penny rode on the back of my Goldwing, the Cadillac of Motorcycles as she called it. We were 35 years younger then and went everywhere on the Goldwing and enjoyed it. But after 7 years I sold it, as we both had found other pastimes that we enjoyed more.
After a 25 year hiatus, I bought a CB500XA and returned to motorcycling in May 2014. Penny is no longer interested in motorcycling, so I ride solo and enjoy it. So much so I traded in the CB500XA for a 2017 CB1100 EX. All my riding is 400 to 500 kilometer day trips on the back roads during week days as there is less traffic.
While I still enjoy my day trips, there are a number of things about motorcycling that are beginning to wear on me.
The heavy gear: helmet, ear plugs, leather jacket, gloves, boots. In cool weather flannel lined jeans and a down-filled long sleeve vest under my jacket to keep the wind out. In cold weather long underwear under the flannel lined jeans and a heavier microfiber long sleeved vest under my jacket. Every time I stop for food or gas everyone else is walking around in T-shirt and shorts, while I feel like a dumb kid in a snowsuit.
Picking the best day of the week for a ride with a weather forecast for a sunny day with a 10 to 20% chance of a "trace of rain". Then coming home soaked to the skin and cold.
My butt hurts by mid-afternoon. I can stand on the pegs while riding or stop for a coffee and donut for some temporary relief, but it is only temporary.
Lying on a mat on my garage floor after every second ride to lube the chain. Knowing that after the next ride I will have to clean the rear wheel and everyone one of those **** retro spokes. Replacing chains and sprockets every third year. I really miss my Goldwing with its windscreen, shaft drive and comfy seat. No greasy side on those machines. But a GOLDwing now costs as much as a Jeep.
Replacing motorcycle tires every year or so, if you don't run over a nail first. I can get 100,000 kilometers out of my car tires. And they don't cost much more than bike tires.
Motorcycle insurance that cost as much as my car insurance, even though I have 27 accident free years of riding and only ride half the year one day a week.
After a 25 year hiatus, I bought a CB500XA and returned to motorcycling in May 2014. Penny is no longer interested in motorcycling, so I ride solo and enjoy it. So much so I traded in the CB500XA for a 2017 CB1100 EX. All my riding is 400 to 500 kilometer day trips on the back roads during week days as there is less traffic.
While I still enjoy my day trips, there are a number of things about motorcycling that are beginning to wear on me.
The heavy gear: helmet, ear plugs, leather jacket, gloves, boots. In cool weather flannel lined jeans and a down-filled long sleeve vest under my jacket to keep the wind out. In cold weather long underwear under the flannel lined jeans and a heavier microfiber long sleeved vest under my jacket. Every time I stop for food or gas everyone else is walking around in T-shirt and shorts, while I feel like a dumb kid in a snowsuit.
Picking the best day of the week for a ride with a weather forecast for a sunny day with a 10 to 20% chance of a "trace of rain". Then coming home soaked to the skin and cold.
My butt hurts by mid-afternoon. I can stand on the pegs while riding or stop for a coffee and donut for some temporary relief, but it is only temporary.
Lying on a mat on my garage floor after every second ride to lube the chain. Knowing that after the next ride I will have to clean the rear wheel and everyone one of those **** retro spokes. Replacing chains and sprockets every third year. I really miss my Goldwing with its windscreen, shaft drive and comfy seat. No greasy side on those machines. But a GOLDwing now costs as much as a Jeep.
Replacing motorcycle tires every year or so, if you don't run over a nail first. I can get 100,000 kilometers out of my car tires. And they don't cost much more than bike tires.
Motorcycle insurance that cost as much as my car insurance, even though I have 27 accident free years of riding and only ride half the year one day a week.