McBeemer
Member
The other day I was listening to an episode of the Airhead 247 Podcast in which the host, Daren Dortin, is interviewing Elspeth Beard. There is a point in the interview in which the two of them begin espousing their philosophies on technology getting in the way of motorcycling adventure or at least detracting from it. Dortin states that he doesn’t use a GPS but relies on state gazetteers for both planning and navigating on trips (I believe he says that doesn’t even own a cell phone). Dortin, who owns a number of airheads, goes on to say that he’s only ever purchased one new motorcycle and that he didn’t keep it long.
This got me thinking about the type of person that eschews newer motorcycles and their philosophy towards the motorcycling lifestyle. What are the personal reasons for those that use their bikes on a regular basis for traveling, commuting, and canyon carving to view their airheads as their preferred mounts? Why choose to only own older bikes/airheads? Why does someone choose to not own both newer bikes as a daily rider and airheads, etc. for enjoyment (assuming financially feasible)? Is it really just the ease of maintenance? Expense? Childhood nostalgia? Or does that type of person subscribe to a different philosophy?
I am currently on my tenth bike and my first BMW, all but two purchased new. I have only owned one “classic” bike, a 1983 H-D Super Glide. That bike was fun to ride and I was actually pleasantly surprised at how well it performed considering its age. That being said, it was never going to be my choice for anything more than local rides down country backroads due to the vibration above 60 mph and a lack of wind protection in Winter. Now that I have retired from the military and looking to possibly reduce expenses, I have considered going to only owning an airhead. It has made me ponder this philosophy and wonder, could I be one of these folks and live with only an older bike(s)?
If you’re a person that only owns older bikes, what is your philosophy on the bikes you have?
~Jim
This got me thinking about the type of person that eschews newer motorcycles and their philosophy towards the motorcycling lifestyle. What are the personal reasons for those that use their bikes on a regular basis for traveling, commuting, and canyon carving to view their airheads as their preferred mounts? Why choose to only own older bikes/airheads? Why does someone choose to not own both newer bikes as a daily rider and airheads, etc. for enjoyment (assuming financially feasible)? Is it really just the ease of maintenance? Expense? Childhood nostalgia? Or does that type of person subscribe to a different philosophy?
I am currently on my tenth bike and my first BMW, all but two purchased new. I have only owned one “classic” bike, a 1983 H-D Super Glide. That bike was fun to ride and I was actually pleasantly surprised at how well it performed considering its age. That being said, it was never going to be my choice for anything more than local rides down country backroads due to the vibration above 60 mph and a lack of wind protection in Winter. Now that I have retired from the military and looking to possibly reduce expenses, I have considered going to only owning an airhead. It has made me ponder this philosophy and wonder, could I be one of these folks and live with only an older bike(s)?
If you’re a person that only owns older bikes, what is your philosophy on the bikes you have?
~Jim