reason for riding

[MikeB]

Multiple purposes, really. I don't get into that "wind in your hair freedom machine" crap, but the bike is a pleasant change of pace from the cage and provides some relief from same-old-same-old boredom on frequent routes such as going into Sacramento to pick something up. It's also much more economical than the car and for that reason helps me to justify a 180-mile round trip across the Sierra now and then for lunch with a friend, which would be a very pricey meal otherwise.

It also gives us flexibility on camping trips. With the Wee-Strom in the toy hauler we have an economical alternative to using the Tundra tow vehicle for day touring in national parks, etc.

In nice weather, that is.

[Scaredofmyownshadow]

Commuter and pleasure rider. It's amazing how you leave a crazy, fast pace and stress filled job, hop on the bike and it all melts away. It's about the only way that I can leave my "work" at work.


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[twowheels]

I ride most every day to and from work or what ever I spend 12 plus hours a day in a cage for work, so the bike gets me out in the fresh air.
Bike gets better fuel mileage that my 21 yr. old 3/4 ton dielsel pickup I guess, maybe, because when I take my bike to a store its a 20 plus mile ride. When I take my truck
to the same store it's only about a mile. Oh, well.

Ride safe,
Loren

[Barracuda]

In a way I consider myself a 'pleasure' rider, because I find so much pleasure in riding. That in mind, I ride as often as I can and wherever possible. About the only time I use my car is when the weather is bad, when I'm going golfing, or when my wife and I are going somewhere. I ride to work probably 9 days out of 10 and it is definitely more cost-effective for me -- 52+ mpg on the bike vs. 26 mpg in the car.

[Susan07]

It's my main form of transportation. I only drive the truck on Saturdays to town to get groceries or if there's ice/snow. So yeah...the least I ride is 80 miles a day to and from work. And then...everyplace else I go.

[GPSchmidt]

Started riding in 1980 strickly for the love I had for anything motorcycle. Had a lot of bikes over the years and had spells when I had no bike. These days I commute on minefor gas savings and the added bonus of it gives me an excuse to ride. Any miles on a bike are good miles, whether you're going to work or riding the open road. I do some weekend riding when I don't have other "honey do's" to tend to.

[squidchief]

Lots of similarities here. I do get into the "wind in the hair", though I prefer to wear a helmet... but when I want to cruise on the open road and go distances it's never on my Shadow. When I get my Raider this coming year it'll stay in my shop during the week and only hit the road on weekends or long trips. The Shadow will remain in my stable for commuting purposes. As MikeB said, I have a couple of friends that are on his side of the Sierras, or going the other direction, at least 150 miles away and taking the bike makes for a fun and more economical trip. Looking at the MPG ratings for the Raider though, I don't think I'll be saving that much gas money riding it as compared to some of my other vehicles.
Hondaguy, I don't think I obsess over my Mustang so much as I know how much work... and money... went into it and I keep it show quality... though right now it's just sitting in my show gathering dust waiting for me to put more new parts in her....
Running coast-to-coast on the back of a good bike is a great time, but so is doing the same trip with a really fun and cool vehicle wrapped around you. I don't think riding a bike is that much better than taking one of my other vehicles, especially the Mustang, it's just "different". A different experience.

[Amos Iron Wolf]

I ride. Until I returned to bikes after over three decades away, I had forgotten just how vital and important a part of me it was. Now I ride unless the wife and I go somewhere or I need to make a big grocery run or I'm making a trip that requires carrying something I can't easily carry on the bike, like long guns. If I have a 3 hour trip and the weather is just totally horrid, I'll take the wife's 97 Cherokee Sport, our only cage. Otherwise, I ride. Simple as that.

But whether for commuting when I was working, for a trip to the store, a journey back to SA for an appointment, or just for the pure pleasure of it, I ride my bike. I may not go anywhere for days at a time, but when I do I am reminded of how at home and alive it feels on the bike. I guess I'm one of the "In the wind" guys.

I wouldn't mind a beater truck eventually for hauling a few things or getting the long guns out to the range. But my bike is my transportation. To destinations sometimes and away from everything other times.

My reason for riding? The later part of the cliche'. I ride to live. I don't worry about living to ride. I just ride to live.

[tgelphman]

Originally Posted by dieseljuice

I ride for pleasure, if I'm not having fun, what's the point of having a Motorcycle!

Yeah, what he said. I started riding a few months ago and fell in love with the peace and solitude riding brings.

[screamindv]

I ride mine for no reason at all. It's 60 degrees in New Jersey today.... Bye!!