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Is it over? Ride and no smile!

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GT928

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For the past 12 years, since I started back riding on my first Moto Guzzi, every time I pulled out of the neighborhood I found a big smile busting out on my face. It never failed and I marveled at how much I loved it and what it did for my spirit. This past summer, we sold our house and moved into a townhouse/villa, basically downsizing and looking forward to more travel. I was expecting to have more time to ride as well. The logistics of the move to a place with a much smaller garage severely limited my riding. My bike was always trapped by cabinets, unpacked boxes, tools, etc. and was a major ordeal to get out. Our new neighborhood covenants also require that we park our cars in the garage as well. It took nearly 6 months to arrive at a point that the garage was organized and easy to get the bike out (whenever my wife's car was gone that is). Now in March the weather has turned nice and I can ride without jockeying vehicles or moving tools. And so I started riding again last week. All I can say - "is that all there is?". What happened? No smile. It was OK but not compelling anymore. The most validating thing about riding a motorcycle appears to be gone. I am not giving up yet, but if it doesn't come back.....
 
The only thing I see is you are dead you didn't realize it ? :D
More seriously, I sometimes feel like that but the next time I ride, my smile is back on my big face...
 
I can identify with that to some degree. After riding for so many years I am not as excited to get on the bike as I once was. Part of that is that if it becomes a chore to get out, it is not as much fun. After riding offroad for so long the riding is more tame now also. I am not the rider I used to be either and intentional have tamed it down.

I have many other activities I enjoy as much. I now plan trips that involve many of the activities I enjoy on the same outing. I like taking the trailer, the bikes and the golf clubs out together. We mix it up and spread our time between them. What keeps me riding is that I do it when I feel like it and it is something that is fun to do at the time. I never feel that it is something I have to do. The bike is not going anywhere and is ready when I am. I have had one advantage many don't share. My riding partner, golf buddy and camping companion has lived with me the last 47 years. My best friend is always there with me.

Things change and sometimes it is better to put it aside until that desire returns. Riding a motorcycle is dangerous enough. That doing it if you don't enjoy it is not worth the risk. IMHO
 
I really don't desire or need another bike. The NC700x is one of the most satisfying bikes I have ever had. I do think if I had it to do over again, I would have opted for the DCT. Mike, you have probably come closest to the reason: other activities. With more free time I am traveling more with my wife and just trying new things. I don't expect to give up and sell my bike tomorrow, but I'm not going to hang on to it if I don't ride it. Moving on is not a problem for me, I rarely look back.
 
It sounds like you were a late comer to riding. I'd guess when you first started it was new and different. There was so much to learn and there were new opportunities to keep the activity fresh.

I was late learning to snow ski, water ski, and wakeboard, meaning I didn't start until my late 30's. I still love those activities and do them regularly, but the newness has long since worn off. The hassle factors start to weigh on the desire to go. If I had to give up those activities, I'd be disappointed, but would move on without too much grief.

However, I started riding motorcycles when I was 16. Over 40 years later, it has nothing to do with newness or excitement. I will enjoy riding until I'm physically unable. It doesn't take anything new or different to sustain it; it is simply my life. Riding is the most accessible sport I do. Once the gear is on and I'm at the end of the driveway, I'm doing it. Just like that.

Maybe riding was just another activity that kept you motivated and energized for awhile, but it's time for other things. There's nothing wrong with that.
 
I though I would never stop surfing. It is the source, man. Funny how we change through the years. Not many waves in Colorado anyway.
 
Hey GT928, I feel you. What was it that attracted you to riding a motorcycle in the first place? Whatever the reason, maybe it is an itch that has been scratched and moving on is just something to do--to everything there is a season and all that.

I was getting tired of riding my Vstrom--I had outfitted it for touring and my wife (who rides) and I had some wonderful times together. But the bike itself was always a bit of a compromise in terms of how well it fit me. I was willing to live with the compromises because of what I liked to do with the bike. But my riding habits have changed so that now I really am riding to commute to work. For this purpose the Vstrom felt heavy and uncomfortable, and I was taking the car more and more often.

When I test rode the 750X last summer it immediately put a smile on my face simply because it fit me so well and was 100% comfortable after the first 100 yards.

I am not saying you need another bike, just consider what you want out of the riding experience. But if you are still feeling the passion to ride--go for it! My own POV is that riding a motorcycle is the most fun that can be had with your clothes on. ;)

All the best to you.
 
Cigar Mike said:
I can identify with that to some degree. After riding for so many years I am not as excited to get on the bike as I once was. Part of that is that if it becomes a chore to get out, it is not as much fun.
Click to expand...

Yep. I feel this, too. I commute on the bike, even in southern AZ summers, so not all days are 'wine and roses' (that's an old song, for those unfamiliar) by any stretch of the imagination. Sometimes it's just too much of a chore to put on all the gear, including changing all but my underwear to gear up, wetting my cooling shirt, my helmet liner, getting music and nav set up (for possible route changes/improvements so I don't come to full stops in traffic, if possible), and trying to just get on the bike and get gone, before I'm ludicrously hot without having even departed yet. And then, even with all my gear and prep, it's just so insanely, nearly-intolerably HOT some days. It's a chore, not a joy. I just don't enjoy it those days. It's not fun, and I don't want to do it. So sometimes I drive instead.

It comes back, though, at least for me. I still have weekend mornings where I just want to go for a ride for a little while, before the sun comes up. I enjoy that, still.

I hope it comes back for you, too, GT928.
 
I took my nc700x for a ride after 10 months of intensive project work.
She reminded me how good a bike she is and basically there is no real need to upgrade unless i have an itchy backside.
Riding can also be fun if you have likeminded friends.
Hope you find your moto mojo soon.
 
Heavy-H said:
When I get bored of riding, I change the exhaust. ... Seems like a different bike.....lol
Click to expand...

So you change to the stock exhaust when you get bored with the noise, and it's like a different bike? ;)
 
Last edited:
Bumping this because, even though it's beautiful out this time of year, I'm hardly riding at all any more. And when I do, the bike I _want_ to ride is the Magna, not the NCX. It's very sad. :-(
 
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