10-26-2021, 01:57 AM
(10-24-2021, 11:35 PM)willsmith_imp Wrote: I've owned a 2014 Honda CB1100 for a week now. I've had a chance to talk to friends and family about it, show it off, ride 100 miles, do some maintenance, and think about ownership.Very interesting thoughts indeed.
The phrase that resonates most with me is that:
"This is the motorcycle for someone who has nothing to prove"
Sport bikes and cruisers seem to be as much about what impression they make on others as the riding experience, whereas the UJM has always been about the essence of motorcycling, the elemental, unpretentious machinery and experience. Loud pipes, racy graphics and fairings... make an external impression.
Someone confident in who they are, who doesn't need social affirmation and isn't intimidated by the admonitions.
I've been surprised also by the rush to judgement by so many about the dangers of motorcycling. In this era of polarizing opinions and judgement, so many people assume you'll be dead soon and that they would never be allowed to get a motorcycle by their spouse or take the time to ride it, in deference to their marital or child-rearing responsibilities.
I'm glad to have found like-minded people on this forum... ride on!
I've owned motorcycles from many different manufacturers and many different styles. As a younger man, I often fell victim to the trap of comparing my bikes to others and making assumptions/judgements about others by the bikes they rode. As I grew out of that phase and matured, I found I started looking at my fellow riders with the thought "Good for you, get out and ride and enjoy it no matter what bike you ride, the brand on the tank, the condition, the type...just enjoy the ride." These days I have absolutely no care about the brand or type of bike, and find I can see something cool and likable in nearly any bike.
The one thing I've noticed in the harsh judgement from a safety perspective towards those of us who choose to ride motorcycle, is that more often than not, those who have strong opinions have no experience riding motorcycle themselves. I would guess this same thing applies to many different activities beyond motorcycling. Strange to me...