it's not about the money, it's a quality of life issue!

You can't put a price tag on the enjoyment you get from trying to reach that ideal riding machine.

- It's not a Hyabusa or a Ninja or GSXR or whatever ... that's not the point.

- It's your idealized creation based on classic American iron that is a breed all it's own ... that only you can visualize every little detail ...

- And while you may be able to suffer that fault or defect in your mind ... eventually, you must change it to conform to your vision.

- While it is a mode of transportation, that is too pedestrian a description to affix to it.

- While it is a rolling work of art, that is too confining a definition--too cliche'.

- It is a means of self expression, true ... but it is much more than even, that!

Feel free to add your thoughts and comments to give me some words ... gotta make 'em understand ... or, if not, at least indulge you ....

R/
Priest

 

some will never understand... hell my dad used to build all his bikes ground up... pimp custom chops... now he rides a pretty much stock heritage (soon to also be road glide) sure he has me do little things like polish work, and exhaust mods... but that is all he wants... weird...
but that is his vision of his bike... i am glad my girl understands my addiction... hell her's is getting to be as bad as mine is... wait till you see the "hunny do" list she made for her bike this past weekend.. CRAP! will i ever get to work on my bike this winter!!!!

 

I don't know what else to add, but awesome post. It is a rolling expression of our creativity. And I'm glad my girl understands that, cause I sure spend a lot of money on my creativity!! LOVE IT!! Ride hard fella's.

 

I don't even try to explain....they will never understand. You either love them or you don't. Don't seem to be much middle ground either!!!

 

An awesome video and a helluva catchy tune. You'll find the shirts on ebay.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4mU8ZqMZPU

 

Mine does not understand. She always says "it's fine the way it is" and i tell her it's fine for some one else not me. Everything i do to the bike is a little more of me. I know it sound cliche but it's true, until they find something they feel passionate about they will never get it.

 

I'm content to just let people not understand, because generally I can't make them. Right after I got back from Iraq, some young soldier overheard me saying I was picking up my bike soon, and he pulled the whole "Harley WTF?!?! They're so big and slow!!" argument. I just smiled at him and continued my original discussion. You can't change someone's mind, only they can, and that requires a certain level of open-mindedness.

I'm not gonna try it with a "Live to Ride, Ride to Live" or "It's a Harley Thing" or "If You Don't Ride You Don't Know" shirt either...every time I see one of those I just get annoyed.

 

You should change your name from priest to preacher...

That was well said.

Most will never understand. I change up my bikes to coincide with the vision in my head and I love doing it. I can appreciate all types, but most of all if the rider does the work.

 

Good post and the only thing I want to add is how much I hate it when some owners say "if you have to explain, they will never understand". This is the lamest answer ever. It's an answer that can be used for just about any question.

Why do you eat steak? If I have to explain, you will never understand.

Why did you marry your wife? If I have to explain, you will never understand.

and on, and on........

If someone can't explain it, then they probably don't even know why they ride. Maybe they ride because their neighbor does, maybe they ride because they wanna be like so many other people, who knows, they can't even explain it themselves.

Some people don't care about motorcycles in general, no matter what brand you are talking about. It's not that they don't "understand it", it's just they don't care about it. I don't like golf but it doesn't mean I don't understand it. I'm sure golfers love it for many of the reasons we love riding our Harleys.

Most of us probably have very similar reason, but I'm sure we all have some very different reasons. I take the time and try to explain it when someone asks. Who knows, maybe my explaination will recruit a new rider. But I can assure you, "if you don't understand bla bla bla", will not interest anyone.

 

Well done Priest! It is hard to put into words....it is almost a zen thing, one with the machine. Perhaps we add what we add to pay back the bike for allowing us to be one with it. Shower it with black or chrome to show appreciation, admiration, and give thanks for the ride. Maybe its a ceremonial bonding of man to machine. It may be even larger....bonding man, machine, and nature. I ride for the feeling of freedom and the bike begs me to give it more throttle to allow the engine to spin freely. I am not sitting on nor am I attached as a piece of luggage. I become an extension of the engine, the bars, the seat, and the wind. Hard to explain? Maybe, but feelings are hard to explain. I just want the feeling to keep growing and continue to share my emotion with the throb of that engine and feeling of the wind.