The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
General Category => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: mrbuck on April 18, 2015, 05:35:09 PM
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I have long been curious as to why some riders refer to their bikes or cars as "she" or "her". As a mechanical engineer I have always admired a well designed/built piece of equipment but never considered gender.
Does anyone care to give us their personal reason for assigning a gender reference to their bikes.
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Ok.. as a marine engineer I can give you my take on this, most vessels were regarded as "female" dating back as far as you can think. This may be superstition but spread into other areas of hi risk male occupations, in times of conflict planes ships tanks etc would be given female names probably to afford comfort to those in perilous situations.
eg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enola_Gay
Gertie being a vaguely Germanic name seemed suitable for my ride..
Lou
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Good point, Lou. Now if we can all just avoid those "perilous situations". [smiley=furious3.gif]
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If a motor can have a gender then my LS 'The Bimbo' is most definitely feminine because if I don't lavish her with enough attention she turns into a cantankerous bitch.
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Call me old fashioned but I would feel slightly uncomfortable referring to the object of my affections as masculine. (not that there is anything wrong with that!)
I have a bit of a harem with my R65 Rosamund (the "Fair Rosamund", German mistress of King Henry 2) and a Citroen DS Francoise (Francoise Hardy, sexy in the sixties and still rather lovely).
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It's simple to me, they take up a lot of time fixing/cleaning etc. They need lots of money spent on them, they can be unreliable and let you down at the most inappropriate moment.
They can be unforgiving when you make a mistake, they like lots of attention, they don't like getting old, want me to go on....?
That's why we refer to them in the feminine gender!
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There is an old saying, "if it has tits or wheels, I am going to wreck it."
So I think the logic is:
1. Things with tits get wrecked.
2. Things with tits are feminine.
3. Things with wheels get wrecked.
4. Therefore things with wheels must be feminine.
k_enn
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Any lady riders want to comment on all or any of the above? ::)
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For motorcycles, I think 'she' is very apropriate as bikes are capable of changing direction very quickly!
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Wading into a quagmire here.
Lots could be said about the previous posts on why riders consider their bikes a "she". My first impressions: not one of the reasons is a positive portrayal of women; some are down right misogynistic; none make me feel, as a woman, very welcome in this forum (assuming I was judging the whole group by these responses - which I am not).
If I was a visitor to this site and stumbled onto this thread first I might be dissuaded from exploring further.
Fortunately I have been lurking, and occasionally posting, for a few years and know these comments do not represent the entire community.
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And, should be taken with a 'pinch of salt'.
I am sure my dear wife of 25 years would offer her view which would be equally unfaltering and written with a smile.
Simple, harmless fun, nothing more or less...
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As with and special interest forum there will be a wide range of attitudes and beliefs. One can not expect the members to be any less diverse here than in society in general. It was inevitable that this question would tease out some odd views on gender.... it was a question about gender perceptions!
Wildknits, I can understand how you might be taken aback by some of what you have read but pleased to hear that you will not condemn all. This still begs the question though, how do you as a female member consider the gender of your motorcycle, and is this completely rational? Maybe you stick to the pragmatic "It"... just a simple, utilitarian machine?
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I gave my bike a Germanic name (which is a diminutive nickname [fitting for a type 248] of a name that means "noble" or "of a noble sort") because it's a BMW and a female name because I do that with machinery that I have a romantic attitude towards... or some would go so far as to say share a relationship with. This is especially so on a machine that I own and therefore care for... and conversely the machine does its job (or cares) for me.
My 60's Ariens snowblower is a She... some worn out 3 year Troybilt with a Chinese motor on it is not.
I'd call my brother's old Ford Falcon a She, but not my roommate's VW Jetta.
Also, having studied Latin for 8 years, I'd like to point out that machina, machinae, whence we get "machine," is a first declension feminine noun.
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I think a lot of it comes from sailors and their relationship to their boats who they depended on to keep them alive and safe for months and years at a time. Who wouldn't want to anthropomorphize a little in that case. I wonder if women give their boats/cars/motorcycle male names? I can think of at least one bright orange VW bug names Sherlock Holmes by a female friend.
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Wading into a quagmire here.
Lots could be said about the previous posts on why riders consider their bikes a "she". My first impressions: not one of the reasons is a positive portrayal of women; some are down right misogynistic; none make me feel, as a woman, very welcome in this forum (assuming I was judging the whole group by these responses - which I am not).
If I was a visitor to this site and stumbled onto this thread first I might be dissuaded from exploring further.
Fortunately I have been lurking, and occasionally posting, for a few years and know these comments do not represent the entire community.
Wow.......... Duluth MN I watched the series "Fargo" with Billy Bob Thornton... brilliant but was it true? ............. I "get" your post.
Lou
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MichaelSydney - I just think of my R65 as "my R65". Not male or female. No gender or name assigned to any of my vehicles (cars, bikes or boats). Maybe I lack creativity? Or maybe it is a guy thing to assign gender for the aforementioned reasons? I certainly don't consider it "just a simple, utilitarian machine" though. I have been known to visit it for a pat or two in the depths of the winter (it is fortunate to share hangar space with a R75/6, a J5 Cub and several other airplanes).
I realize that many of you may have felt that the statements should be taken with a grain of salt, but someone did ask for a woman's perspective on the discussion so far.
I was what was(is) referred to as a tomboy as a child and continue to have recreational interests that mean I am often one of few women involved. This means that I have learned to ignore a lot of what guys say that could be perceived as denigrating to women if taken too seriously. On occasion though I have chosen to provide some gentle education on how a person's words/actions could be perceived as this can often explain why so few women choose to participate in that particular sport/activity.
Lucky Lou - the movie Fargo was a great spoof on the Minnesotan accent and some unique cultural traits. The Coen brothers are Minnesota natives and I have a lot of respect for their work. I have never seen the television series (didn't know it existed until now) so can't speak to the reality of it. Fargo is 5 hours west of Duluth and smack dab in the prairie. Duluth on the other hand is surrounded by forest and perched along the hillside above Lake Superior.
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Lucky Lou - the movie Fargo was a great spoof on the Minnesotan accent and some unique cultural traits. The Coen brothers are Minnesota natives and I have a lot of respect for their work. I have never seen the television series (didn't know it existed until now) so can't speak to the reality of it. Fargo is 5 hours west of Duluth and smack dab in the prairie. Duluth on the other hand is surrounded by forest and perched along the hillside above Lake Superior.
I saw the Coen brothers film very entertaining but the Series with Billy Bob Thornton is on another level he is superbly menacing in it. they have a 2nd series out anytime soon and I cannot wait.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fargo_(TV_series)
Lou
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- I just think of my R65 as "my R65". Not male or female. No gender or name assigned to any of my vehicles (cars, bikes or boats). Maybe I lack creativity? Or maybe it is a guy thing to assign gender for the aforementioned reasons? I certainly don't consider it "just a simple, utilitarian machine" though. I have been known to visit it for a pat or two in the depths of the winter (it is fortunate to share hangar space with a R75/6, a J5 Cub and several other airplanes).
I also have never assigned names to any of my vehicles even though I tend to keep them long term. It was wrench to let my car go recently that I owned for 21 years and my last bike I had for 14 years. What long term ownership does do is create a respect for the engineering integrity of the thing and it doesn't need a name for that to mean something to me.
So not necessarily a guy thing although I might own up to lacking creativity.
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Like others here, I have not named a vehicle. That is not to say I don't get attached to them - I tend to keep them until they die.
However, I do get a little chuckle out of the Liberty Mutual insurance commercial about the lady with the car named Brad. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxd49IRu02E
In a way it is kind of funny taking about the number of jobs and boyfriends you have been through with "Brad," and then in a somewhat unsympathetic tone says "and then you totaled him."
k_enn
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I know Sue in Canada calls LRB "he." Both my bikes are "it." Poor things.
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It's a machine comprised of metal, rubber, plastic, glass, nothing more or less .
It's not a living thing .
It couldn't care less whether you take care of it, or let it rust away outside in the elements .
Don't give it credit for more than what it is, a machine .
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Mine is just "the BMW". [smiley=bmw_smiley.gif]
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I guess my vehicles (cars, trucks, bikes) would have to be "he" although I have never named them. The few times they have left me stranded (my fault for neglecting something) I always called them a rotten son-of-a-*****. If they were a "she" I would have to change the expletive. :)
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Good responses one and alll. I thing Wildknit and Barry closely expressed my feelings....I tend to keep anything , bikes, cars, clothes , etc until there is absolutely no life left in them but do not name them. I have been known to pat the tank after a long enjoyable ride and occassionally utter a few harsh words when the last of 4 bolts takes an hour to remove when the other 3 only took 15 sec. each.
Whatever our personal connection with our bikes, we all have one thing in common....they are airhead BMWs and as such occupy a special place in our lives. Thanks again for all responses.