Riding Is Still What It Used To Be

By Joe Maher

While starting to read my copy of the March 2009 issue of Scooter News, I got stuck on the editorial entitled, “Riding A Motorcycle Isn’t What It Used To Be.”

I read it twice, then, looked at the front cover just under the title Southwest Scooter News. There, it says “It’s All About The Ride!” I guess the author of that editorial, James “Deuce” Bronder, missed this part, or doesn’t feel that way. After a little thought, I started feeling sorry for Mr. Bronder. He seems stuck on the image of days gone by. Not that the romance of the era he laments the loss of doesn’t have a certain allure, but times change.

As technology has moved forward, I am guilty of taking advantage of it. I do not cook on a wood-burning stove. My car has A/C, power locks/windows and-gasp-even a CD player! Technology has made my life a little more comfortable, and in some ways even offers a sense of security.

Evidently, Mr. Bronder may still have a sod roof on his house, and prefers a sod bed as well.

Hotels? Yep, that’s me! I do not enjoy waking up with a sore back. I have reached an age where I no longer like to choose to be cold and wet unless I am in a duck blind or a goose pit. When I am forced to find a rough shelter or spend the night in the open, I’m capable and not afraid to. But, if I don’t have to…why?

Back to technology, yes, I carry a cell phone. My parents have reached an age that I want them to be able to reach me if they need or want to. I also have other responsibilities made easier by communication. And if something were to happen to my best friends—my dogs—while I’m out on the road, I want to know about it…NOW. Thus, the cell phone.

Digital camera? Got one of them, too. It may sound silly, but I like sharing my adventures with friends and family. They enjoy the seeing the pictures and sharing in my life. Plus, what harm can a few digital images do?

As for taking off on a gypsy tour, no destination in mind, just the road stretched out before me, sounds like a great idea. Unfortunately, I cannot always just take off for many days on the road. I have this thing called a job that pays for my rides. It also leaves a lot of people counting on me to do my job, and leaving them hanging just isn’t right.

Now, on to my bike. I have a relatively new bike, a ‘07 Road King with 20k on it. I’m not sure what kind of bike Mr. Bronder is talking about, but I have a decent size luggage rack that can hold a CASE of beer (no lightweight here). I can also change the rack out for a hard bag. Nice big padded sissy bar. Air suspension. Belt drive, nice and smooth. I also ride with a windshield (I’ve caught enough bugs and rocks with my face). There’s also cruise control, an iPod with speakers and--oh my--a GPS bracket. The GPS has come in handy finding a road that I’ve not yet explored, launching me on a new adventure. Yes I can read a map, but seeing how far to the next gas stop does come in handy. Pushing an out of gas motorcycle is never fun or nostalgic, no matter who you are or what riding era you pine for.

Maybe all this makes me a sissy. I’ll live with that. I know I cut my motorcycling teeth on older bikes, and have experienced all the joy they offered.

I keep an ‘83 Ironhead, with chain drive and all, in the garage, too. It stays in town for the most part because when I go on a trip I want to get there. Breaking down on the road and wrenching some problem or another on the shoulder is not my idea of fun.

I’m trying to figure out why Mr. Bronder thinks I would want oil on my clothes. Don’t get me wrong, that Ironhead has its place, but modern technology has allowed me to have a more comfortable, dependable ride. That ride is what it’s all about.

As for the cowboy analogy...let’s just look at that. On the surface, much has not changed. However, looking a little closer much has.

We’ll start with the horses. You can only change a horse so much, like you can only make a tire so round. Way back when, a horse was a horse. These days, most horses are selectively bred to have a specific purpose--Arabians, Quarter Horses, Saddlebreds, Clydesdales, etc. Through this selective breeding they now learn faster, can run faster, perform better, pull harder, etc. Let’s not forget the medical (mechanical) advances that now help them do all these things better.

Saddles are now often made of longer lasting, lighter and more comfortable materials. They are now more comfortable for both the rider and the horse. Cowboy boots now have insoles that really work, and you can even get them with Gore-Tex. I’m going to go out on a limb here, but I’ll bet even cowboys don’t like to choose for their feet to be wet and cold. Given the option of sleeping in the cold and wet or somewhere warm and dry, cowboys are likely to choose the latter. They won’t shy away from a tough night outside, but if they don’t have too…?

Mr. Bronder is right that cowboys have never been made part of gang legislation; I’m trying to figure out why. For that matter, I’m trying to figure out why most motorcyclists are painted with the gang legislation brush, but that is a conversation for another time.
The biker life, like the cowboy life, is a lifestyle choice, and those lifestyles evolve. But they’re still about their core--riding.

I know people who ride heavy cruisers, light cruisers, sport bikes, standard bikes, old bikes, crotch rockets and everything in between. I like most of them and enjoy riding with them. I like all the bikes, too, regardless of style. I’m sorry Mr. Bronder wants me to go where he can’t see me. I’d be happy to see him on the road and putt with him for a while, because I absolutely believe “It’s All About The Ride!”

Joe Maher is a long-time rider and freelance writer for Southwest Scooter News.