What does motorbiking mean to you?

What is it that makes us ride motorbikes? Is it the battle against the elements, is it the sensation of freedom, the wind-in-your-hair (sorry, I'm bold and b.t.w.: helmet rules in Europe ) or is it just another midlife crisis?

For me, one of the most important reasons is the feeling of brotherhood. No other road users have a greater bond than motorbike riders, although we are all individuals, selfishly riding our own scoots.

In December, it will be fourty years since my first motorised two-wheeler. In 1972, just turned sixteen, I spend my Christmas holiday working in a supermarket, earning just enough cash to buy my dreamride: a two-speed 49cc Puch Skytrack. It was the key that opened the gates to a previously unknown world of freedom, girls, speed (grin: 30MPH), but most of all: to friendship.

Over these four decades I have met all sorts of motorbikers. People with all different kinds of background and profession, joined in one common interest: motorbiking. (just like in a sauna: you can't label the others, by a lack of social hallmarks)

Is it because we are more vunerable than the canned motorist, that we care more for each other? It seems like second nature to me to stop when I encounter a stranded biker. Ask him how I could help. And subsequently trying very hard to get him on the road again.

And I'm not the only one: I remember being stranded in the middle of nowhere, somwhere in Germany, on a bank holiday and all the petrol stations were closed. A biker came along, stopped and promised to help. A quarter of an hour later, he turned up with a can of petrol, and showed me the way to a station that was open. Refused any money, waved good-bye and rode off. My personal good Samaritan!

Over the years I have met soooo many bikers. Shared booze, food and fags with them. Had many a moral boost when riding long rides on my own, and being 'picked up' by other bikers. Stopped at customs, (those were the days) and toll boots and exchanged just a few words with these complete strangers, never to meet them again, but never forgotten.

No matter wether you're in Denmark, Germany, Italy or w.h.y., bikers seem to be one big family. I've even met some nice French gendarmes! I was invited to camp in gardens, to share bedrooms (!), to come over the next year. And accepted it all. I consider myself a happy man, although I am not of the gregarious kind. Although living alone (can't afford another divorce) I have the largest family in the world: you and all those other motorbikers.

Thank you all for bringing sunshine into my life!

Paul

errrr Yeah!

KurtPerthWA wrote:

errrr Yeah!

Wot he said!

(Spelling deliberate before the pedants get upity!!!!! )

+1

EXACTLY, except for the sharing of fags.

Sharing a fag has a whole different meaning on this side of the pond. Hay someone had to say it.

model28a wrote:

Sharing a fag has a whole different meaning on this side of the pond. Hay someone had to say it.

Don't you just love the English language.

One word a thousand meanings. (And they said Chinese was a difficult language!!!)

Apparently the word "jack" has the most variable meanings

England & America - two nations separated by a common language!

Cheers,

What? I don't smoke.

Should have known that the 'Yanks' would think of a faggot (*), when I meant a cigarette...


(*)Here's a pic of someone playing the faggot:



b.t.w. you might know it as a fagotto, fagott, fagot or just a bassoon...

Faggots are also bundles of twigs used as firewood, and in some parts of the UK faggots are also an old fashioned type of large meatball made from minced pork and offal and still popular in Wales, and the WestMidlands, especially the Black Country. So called because of the heavy pollution of the area during the Industrial Revolution.

@Meldrew:
the meatball-faggot must not be confused with toad in the hole

Anyway, did I mention we Belgians have...

Sure would like to eat some of them Belgian big nuts. They look good and I'm a chocolate addict.

If you're in the USA, try to remember that if you want a pencil eraser, it isn't a "rubber"...

Atrick wrote:

If you're in the USA, try to remember that if you want a pencil eraser, it isn't a "rubber"...

And a box isn't what it seems either!!!!

Atrick wrote:

If you're in the USA, try to remember that if you want a pencil eraser, it isn't a "rubber"...

Yep, that's a "pencil" cover.

I was in Myrtle Beach SC last week & had great fun when my wife was asked if she had a "fanny pack" before we went out to the "shagging" bars... (apparently the "shag" was invented there!)

Ahh the English language....Heck I'm 63 and still learning new meanings of the words I have used all my life!....I learn something new everyday from my students.

Shagging has an entirely different meaning in the UK!

txtrkdrvr wrote:

Shagging has an entirely different meaning in the UK!

You're correct, it's a term we use to describe the act of catching fly balls in the outfield when actually not involved in the actual baseball game. I say baseball, we of course use the more traditional name and call it rounders.