By Jeff Pamer
I think everyone has a lifeline of riding. The line begins with the seed that was planted in you to want to ride. Maybe a family member rode, maybe it was your Dad’s friend that had a bike in their garage, and maybe it was just that every time you were on your mountain bike in the 90’s you dreamed of not having to peddle. We all had our start somewhere. The line can go in so many directions from there; dirt bikes, minibikes, or a Bonneville at age 30. It doesn’t matter, but much like life, you don’t know where motorcycling will take you over a lifetime. It has a lot to do with what you love about riding and how that may change, or more accurately, how that may evolve.
As I stated earlier, I started on a Bonneville, which is a beautiful bike. I always kind of thought of it as motorcycling distilled. It was the motorbike in its most base form. I loved it and still do, wherever it is. So, the fact that I now stare at Yamaha FJRs and Kawasaki Concourses online is a bit shocking to me, but I do. I’m drawn to practicality married to big horsepower. Maybe every time I go out to ride to work on my XSR, I think; I don’t want to have a backpack on my 40-year-old, professional kitchen abused back. Maybe not getting in a fistfight with the wind once in a while on the highway is becoming attractive. Maybe.
It gets more complicated though
Some of us, the less disciplined, the weak, and the insane have trouble letting go of the last stage, we hang on to it. Our love of motorcycling grows, but we never grow out of anything. Garages become too small, partners become annoyed and perplexed. Bank accounts become emptier. If I were in the same financial situation that I am now 12 years ago, that Bonneville would still be in my garage, along with the three bikes that are in there now.
Projects are never done; emotional attachments are made.
I have plans for all my bikes;
• The ’81 CB750 needs a total rebuild, 3.5 years and counting. So far, I got the electrics working, the carbs rebuild (sort of), and a compressing test was done on all cylinders with not-so-inspiring results. The end game is a restored to mostly stock long-range touring bike.
• The ’86 Radian is running, but still needs parts swapped out after a low-side we were involved in together. The tank needs a small soft dent worked out, the master brake cylinder and lever are in poor aesthetic shape, and the engine block needs to be repainted. The end game is a restored to mostly stock rolling tribute to the 80’s.
• The ’17 XSR900 doesn’t need anything, but it’s up for a new exhaust, CPU reflash, and an LED headlight upgrade. For now.
What does the immediate future hold?
I want a sport-touring bike, that will start every time. That’s the thing about old bikes, they’re rad, but they are a whole other category of riding experience. When you go out on an old bike, you know, getting back may be an issue. New bikes are for when you just want to get to work or enjoy a long ride without mechanical complication. Old bikes on the other hand have character and hold a treasure trove of stories from random people at gas stations that used to have one. It’s a beautiful thing in its own right.
We all have these stories of riding what we ride and why. How we ended up on a GS, or a Goldwing. It’s all valid and it’s all to be cherished. I love riding bikes. I love where I started, and I love where I am now. I can’t wait to look back in 10 years from wherever I end up but to be sure, it will be from a bigger garage.
2 Comments
עיסוי אירוטי ברחובות-israelnightclub · September 16, 2022 at 10:17 pm
Excellent article. I definitely appreciate this site. Keep writing!
Jeff · September 16, 2022 at 11:11 pm
Thank you for reading!