This is my first blog entry. (of my life) It was supposed to be entitled “why 14 bikes?” and I was pretty excited about writing it.
I mentioned it to my lovely wife, Maggie, and a conversation ensued. I told her that people don’t understand why 14 bikes, and how I always let those who looked at me funny for owning so many, know that 14 wasn’t enough. I had zero Italian bikes, as well as zero British bikes, and I called those two facts “a sin”. Then it all went south.
I mentioned something about my utter distaste for Harleys. She called me a “snob”. A snob? I’m not a snob, I just don’t care for Harleys.
For 30 minutes we bantered the subject, I was speaking Venus and she was speaking Mars, or whatever. She talked about my respect (or lack of) for people who love Harleys and I talked about “Riding”. Real riding.
As she continued about Harley lovers being people too, I talked about miles. I talked about hours in the saddle, pushing oneself to go further, to push the limit, and to go beyond. She talked about Harley riders loving their bikes too. I said “Harley riders, (and I covered myself with the phrase 'for the most part') don’t get it. This blog is not for them, as they simply won’t understand. This blog is for real motorcycle riders." Then she called me an "elitist".
Seriously? C’mon. An “elitist”???
I am not a snob, nor am I an elitist. I simply love to ride and at 48 years old, I’m intelligent enough to know that those who truly love to ride, do not ride Harleys. BMW’s, KTMs, Hondas, KLR Kawasakis, Suzuki’s, Yamahas, Ducati’s, and so on. Riders. (sorry if I left you out, but I’m a bit frustrated.)
Riding, and especially Adventure Riding, requires personal stamina and a bike that shares that stamina. Since when has “Harley” and “stamina” been used in the same sentence? As my 13 year old daughter would say, “that would be never.”
My first blog entry of “Why 14 bikes?” will have to wait. All is not right with the world, as my wife does not understand, and after years of marriage, I thought she did.
What do you think? Am I a snob? Am I an elitist? Or am I an Adventure Rider? Being the latter, does not by default make me either of the two formers. It simply means I like to ride – as in, the act of riding versus the act of posing.
There is one huge exception to all this, Mr. Scott Whitney. You know who you are...www.hogwildracing.com
There is one huge exception to all this, Mr. Scott Whitney. You know who you are...www.hogwildracing.com
OK, two exceptions... These Harley riders rule!... http://mrkensbikerlifestyle.com/?p=35
