Interesting motorcycle article in unusual journal

[Altritter]

There's a lengthy (11 three-column pages) curious article by Frederick Seidel, "On Motorcycles," in the November 2009 Harper's Magazine. Seidel seems to be a piece of work: now about 73 years old, apparently born very rich (his profession is listed "poet"), and except for a few years of admitted loss of nerve, obsessed with motorcycles since 1966. Before that, he was a speed bicyclist

The narrative is chronological, giving descriptions and opinions of a wide range of bikes, beginning with a Harley(!), then a Honda 750 and a two-stroke Suzuki 250 (remember those?). From there, his taste became more exotic: a Rickman Metisse (650 Bonneville mill on an exotic frame), then a one-of-a-kind, factory-modified, street-legal MV Agusta racing bike, which he crashed at speed. Sometime after that, he lost his nerve after a steep gravel descent on an R75 airhead(!), whereupon he stopped riding and took up the "safer" sport of small planes—for a few years, at least.

When he returned to riding, he acquired Ducatis, most of them rare, limited-edition models—the only stock one was a Monster. It might interest some of our members that he (and the Ducati factory, apparently) considered the apex of Ducati expertise in the USA to be Advanced Motorsports in Alvarado, Texas (an exurb of Dallas).

Some of Seidel's insights on motorcycling are interesting, and perhaps controversial. Regarding fear: "Once you give fear the right to exist, you better stop riding."

Also, here's what he has to say about some us (myself included) who are older than forty, who "grow in number every year and make a disproportionate contribution to the year's tally of motorcycle fatalities.  . . .  [M]ore of the dead from motorcycle accidents [where alcohol is involved] come from that older-than-forty group . . .. The young die sober, the old fools drink and ride and goodbye." (Remember, he is 73, and still riding.)

Interesting reading. Granted, the writer is not like most of us. Still, I recommend it.

[Bob_Roller]

I'll add, my 2 cents worth on this subject .

I had an immediate supervisor killed in a motorcycle accident, during the Memorial Day weekend (last weekend of May) 2007, by an impaired driver .

This supervisor had an annual motorcycle get together, called 'Finnegan's Run', usually the first weekend of October, normally on the back roads of central Arizona .

Well, since his untimely death, this annual ride, has turned into a 'drunk fest', usually at least one rider gets into an 'incident' of some sort, attributed to alcohol consumption .

All of the riders, are in the mid 40's to mid 50's age group .

I refuse to ride with these co-workers (hate to be prejudiced, but they are 90% Harley riders).

I like to consume alcoholic beverages, but the bikes and cars are parked for the day, when 'Happy Hour(s)' arrive .

[Altritter]

Well, since his untimely death, this annual ride, has turned into a 'drunk fest', usually at least one rider gets into an 'incident' of some sort, attributed to alcohol consumption .

One point that the rider made (and I omitted because I assumed that it's common knowledge) is that most older males taking up riding buy Harleys. Another point that he makes very forcefully (even more so than the MSF literature, IMHO) is that no amount of alcohol is safe on a bike.

BTW, ++1 on your practice. I agree, especially in the case of bikes. For me, even one is too many. (I'll sometimes bend the rule with one glass of wine and a short distance with a car, but never with a bike.)

[Dizerens5]

In this country (UK) it's true that many older men (not women!) crash on motorcycles but we are told that they are almost always what we call "born again" riders who are trying to re-live their wild youth but don't have the reactions etc! Us old guys who never "died" but kept riding for 50 years or more seem relatively safe, if only because they are much more cautious! But maybe this posting is just tempting fate....I've been on the big bikes since 1956. Cross your fingers for me!

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

[movedhere] Discussion about "Lesser" makes, er, Non-BMW ;-) [move by] Rob Valdez 79 R65.


I just thought it belonged here!

I hope I remember to buy it after I get paid, Thursday.

[Ed Miller]

In this country (UK) it's true that many older men (not women!) crash on motorcycles but we are told that they are almost always what we call "born again" riders who are trying to re-live their wild youth but don't have the reactions etc! Us old guys who never "died" but kept riding for 50 years or more seem relatively safe, if only because they are much more cautious! But maybe this posting is just tempting fate....I've been on the big bikes since 1956. Cross your fingers for me!

In '56 our 650s were considered big bikes.  

[proctorls]

After I read the article twice, I handed it around to some rider friends.  I had done the same thing with a notorious Hunter S. Thompson essay (also heavily featuring a certain red Italian mount), and for the same reason.  Both of those excellent writers do a very good job explaining why they, and pretty much I, ride.  I prefer Harpers to Cycle World, and I was pleasantly surprised to find, buried among the political analysis and wordy literary critiques, an 11-page paen to my favorite mode of transport.  Okay, he's a little obsessed with the need for speed, but hey, who of us hasn't felt that lust.  And that's another reason I like my little LS.  It'll probably never throw me to the sausage monster.

[Altritter]

Okay, he's a little obsessed with the need for speed, but hey, who of us hasn't felt that lust.  And that's another reason I like my little LS.

+1, Steve! I was infected, but I lost a lot of it in Germany with my 2002tii. After a few episodes of smoking my brakes when an ausllander (sorry, I can't do an umlaut tonight) truckdriver  pulled out in front of  me at 80 kmph slower than I was driving, I learned a small amount of self-preservation.

[trolle]

After having been speeding for the last 42 years (and never being caught!) the climate discussion got me. Now I am following another strategy of setting the speed pilot 8 mph below max when driving on the motorways.

The result is a much smoother drive and the loss of time is neglible (less than 10 minutes for a 200 miles drive). Not to mention the saved petrol, between 10- and 20%. [smiley=engel017.gif]

greetings from a cold, grey, even though the weatherman promised sunshine, north

[Bengt_Phorqs]

One of my peeves usually happens during a conversation when the subject of motorcycles comes up.  There is always at least one person who begins to relay the anecdote about a horrific motorcycle crash.  This happened one time and the high school intern I'd been talking to said "whooee!  My cousin was killed on one of them things.  I don't know why he decided to steal it, he'd never ridden before, and it must of been because he'd been drinking all night."  Well duh!  Do you think that had something to do with it?

It's absolutely imperative that we refrain from drinking and riding, even if we have one of these things.  http://crashbounce.com/  

But I think the best reason for not drinking that I ever heard was from a guy who told me that he got drunk at his 21st birthday party.  Someone took a photo of him kissing an ugly girl and he said he would never, ever put himself in that position to be embarrassed like that again.