apparently the gap between riders and non riders is wider than I thought

[werewolf]

WARNING Disjointed rambling ahead

I was talking to a family member last week.
The subject came up, that the wife was probably
not going to go to Sturgis with me this year.
I was just thinking about riding the Yamaha Road Star
up and back by myself.

His comment was, isn't that a little dangerous
going that far by yourself on a motorcycle?
I made small talk for a bit longer and found
some else to talk to.

(but I was thinking the whole time)

REALLY?

Maybe I'm getting old, but I honestly couldn't come up
with a good response to his statement.
To be that afraid of taking any risk outside of your comfort
zone?
(He also doesn't see any difference between trikes and bikes.)

[stinger608]

That kind of doesn't surprise me to be honest. I know several people that think its nuts to take off on a bike/trike for any distance. My brother-in-law is one of them kind of folks. He has never owned a bike in his life.

Heck, I work with a few people that don't have a clue about bikes let alone a trike.

[Ed Hobgood]

Well guys if you asked me twenty years ago about taking a long trip on a bike or a trike I would have said no. Back then I didn't have a clue about bike or trikes at least one I would ride over 500 mile. When I was young I rode a Honda 350 and went on weekend trip and was glad to get back. That old Honda wasn't made for confront like the ones we have now it was made at least for me to ride to school or work and local riding. Today my brother thinks I'm nuts taking off across the country on trips with the trike, I just tell him he doesn't know what he's missing. I have offered to let him take the trike for a ride but he doesn't want to. I think he would like it if he did. Oh well his loss

[rhino 2]

The gap has always been there.. There are people that do ride, And then there are people that don't ride... And the people that don't ride ' Think that the people that do ride are nuts... Or maybe just a little foolish...
And you can't convince them to think otherwise...

[rwhgme]

20 years ago, the thought of me being able to ride a bicycle 130 miles in a day would've made me laugh out loud. I have done that over 100 times since then. Riding our trike 600 miles in a day is a breeze compared to that!!

[FuzzyWuzHe]

That really doesn't surprise me ... I used to get all kinds of people asking where ya from kinda things when on a trip ... 90% thought it was kewl that I was a ways from home.

[Big Dog]

20 years ago, the thought of me being able to ride a bicycle 130 miles in a day would've made me laugh out loud. I have done that over 100 times since then. Riding our trike 600 miles in a day is a breeze compared to that!!

Careful there cowboy, you've crossed that big 60 barrier! You have to see what you can do now
Maybe we can get the two of you to come to enjoy the Snowbird Party?

[clint44]

May 1979,I took off West on my 79 Honda CBX,with no particular destination in mind,and rode over 6,000 miles over a two week period. Had a blast and met a lot of people along the way.

[Pegasus1300]

there people who understand and people who don't.Those that do usually ride,those that don't, don't.Unless they are open minded enough to take a ride with you they are not going to understand, and they think you should be stopped and forced to accept their point of view before you hurt yourself. That is why organizations like the AMA,ABATE and others have such an uphill battle when they try to preserve our right to ride.

[Keystone]

I too have family members that think I'm nuts for riding those things all over the country. I no longer ever answer when they make statements along those lines.

[1dn5up]

Their will always be ones that can ones that think they can ones that wish they can and ones that don't wana.

just sayin

[rhino 2]

Their will always be ones that think they can ones that wish they can and ones that don't wana.

just sayin

Those are called Teachers............

[Texan]

This whole subject comes down to "the mind says go for it and the body says BS".....at least it is in my case. I've ridden several times from Chicago to me casa in Texas (1100 miles) and the reverse several times, just stopping for gas. That was in my 2 wheel days which ended in 2012. Switched over to 3 when Parkinson's set it causing balance issues. I've ridden to Sturgis 30 times (never trailered) and plan to ride this year.

I have a lot of friends that think I'm crazy and at 72 I might be but have been riding over 65 years and don't plan to stop now, either with a group or alone.

8~\o

[stinger608]

This whole subject comes down to "the mind says go for it and the body says BS".....at least it is in my case. I've ridden several times from Chicago to me casa in Texas (1100 miles) and the reverse several times, just stopping for gas. That was in my 2 wheel days which ended in 2012. Switched over to 3 when Parkinson's set it causing balance issues. I've ridden to Sturgis 30 times (never trailered) and plan to ride this year.

I have a lot of friends that think I'm crazy and at 72 I might be but have been riding over 65 years and don't plan to stop now, either with a group or alone.

8~\o

Well Texan, your just the man!!!!!!!!!!!

Bless you brother! Hell, I have known a lot of 30 year old's that wouldn't/couldn't do that.

[kybigmac]

This whole subject comes down to "the mind says go for it and the body says BS".....at least it is in my case. I've ridden several times from Chicago to me casa in Texas (1100 miles) and the reverse several times, just stopping for gas. That was in my 2 wheel days which ended in 2012. Switched over to 3 when Parkinson's set it causing balance issues. I've ridden to Sturgis 30 times (never trailered) and plan to ride this year.

I have a lot of friends that think I'm crazy and at 72 I might be but have been riding over 65 years and don't plan to stop now, either with a group or alone.

8~\o

Let em think your crazy,who gives a sh:t Just keep on living your life the way you want to!

[Phu Cat]

Since none of us are non-riders any more we can't think as a non-rider would. Each of us have mastered the numerous inputs that must be made to keep our previous two wheelers upright and stable. Maybe some non-riders think that's too much to be able to do all at one time with only knowing where some of the controls are AND having to deal with balancing the bike too. So why doesn't taking having to balance the bike out of the equation make trying a trike less intimidating for them?

Last summer we had relatives visiting, the two men were both former bike riders and neither would take the Tglide for a ride even tho we live in an over 55 neighborhood that's as quiet as they come. I just don't get it.

Phu Cat

[xlt]

There are some people if they can't be in the game all the way just quit.They refuse to admit don't have the reflexes or balance they once had,and refuse to adjust.I feel sorry for them,they're missing alot and will probobly get old before they're time.

[FleshWound]

Those are called Teachers............

"Those that can, do. Those that can't, teach." George Bernard Shaw

Took a ride all alone to Colorado to visit a friend. At a rest stop near Denver, a family came over to look at the bike and were surprised by the Louisiana license plate. "Did you ride that all the way from Louisiana?" I said "No, it ran away from home and I just caught up with it. I will be riding it back, though." Altogether, my trip covered about 2,300 miles

I retired from teaching after 36 years , now riding a Harley trike (due to A/K amputation of right leg, caused by a drunk driver). I get pissed every time I hear that stupid quote

[Ozarkryder]

Two thoughts strike me from this thread:

1) A Quote:

FleshWound

Teacher that DOES...

Originally Posted by rhino 2
Those are called Teachers............

"Those that can, do. Those that can't, teach." George Bernard Shaw

At Dad's retirement banquet from teaching/coaching, the Assistant Principal was introduced - "Those that can, do. Those that can't, teach. Those that can't teach, administrate.

2) A clip
Some time around the time I was 13 a show came on about a guy travelling the country on a motorcycle. I was hooked. Used to meet more people with the attitude of the guy in the station wagon(in the clip below), now it's more "Isn't that dangerous", "How can you go so far on one of those?" and the worst: "I'd wish I could get a bike, but my wife won't let me."

The clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYsztoaU9Ls

[RTwing]

In the past I thought I was crazy for taking a 650 Triumph Bonneville for a long trip (50 miles) as those things were not very reliable. A trip from MN to SD was pretty major and required a support crew with a van filled with parts.
Once onto the asian bikes then things were different I no longer felt I was the crazy one as running across the country was now doable. My family thought I was crazy but that was normal. I rarely hear this anymore, most likely due to the fact there are so many bikes out there now compared to the 1970's and most of my family is deceased.

The 70's was a very adventurous time and on the long trips the hand wave did actually mean something and some people envied those of us who dared.

Now going full circle I think I am once again crazy for designing and building SportTrikes and riding them across the country. Crazy is what crazy does