Comments on: Motorcycles Are Not Politics

By: goalong

goalong — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:30:11 +0000

fireninja you can make fun of my old harley all day long.
I bought it because two Americans in their garage had an idea and fought like hell to keep it going. I bought it because it’s big, heavy,pretty, and loud. My wrists and back feel as good after 6 or 8 hours as they did when I first got on it. I bought it because it shows you exactly what it’s made of and doesn’t pretend to be anything else or cover anything up.
It gets hot in the summer and I lean into that heat and soak it up. In the winter those same cylinders warm my hands. It’s simple to operate and simple to maintain and it give back more than I put into it.

When I go down the road, I see and smell and feel Gods wonderful creation more intensely than I do on or in any other vehicle.
I smile and I’m glad for the tears and if you ask me I may tell you it’s the wind that brought them. You would probably think nothing of it.

By: Mule

Mule — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:04:26 +0000

Jon P., One hundred years ago it would take decades. Now? Maybe less than one. Things develope now at exponential rates. I say within 2 years that batteries or I should say, “Energy Storage” will most likely be very different and if we (them, they), perfect super conductors, it’ll be a whole new, very fast ballgame.

By: Jon P

Jon P — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:59:01 +0000

Practical? Not yet. Niether was flight even several years after the Wright brothers sailed into the air. So it takes decades to perfect a practical electrical motorcycle. That’s why people keep trying.

By: fireninja

fireninja — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:25:16 +0000

Some motorcycle brands are so closely ties to their rider’s perceived personal identities’ that any criticism, however intended, is a personal affront. This is even more true when that bike (or bikes) represent nearly all of a person’s disposable income and free time — they are hugely invested in a brand and perceived lifestyle. An attack on the brand is, in effect, a personal attack, and a die-hard brand loyalist may cease to be reasonable and rational under these circumstances. This is why it is impossible to make any critical comment about any Harley Davidson product without someone getting very angry. Look for instance at the fall out from Southpark’s roasting of the Harley crowd (watch the episode here: http://www.southparkstudios.com/guide/1312/ and then read the Harley boards for the response). For that matter, try insulting or critiquing a Gixxer or a BMW to the face of a dedicated owner.

As for politics, they are increasingly the elephant in the room of any discussion — virtual or otherwise. Politics are divided and contentious — many people feel angry and marginalized. Oil companies (and thus petrol burning vehicles) are seen as the allies of one side, and electric vehicles are seen as allies of the other. And, for many, the internet is seen as a free and unmoderated place to express their feelings however uninformed. Want to RANT INCOHERENTLY IN SCREAMING CAPS FOR PAGES AND PAGES under an assumed name with no way to be held accountable for your blithering? That is what the web is for, afterall.

How then can politics be kept out?

And why should they? The market for new vehicles is driven by interest rates and availability of consumer credit — two things which are directly affected by the political process as the government sets interest rates and makes and changes the creditor/debtor laws. Not to mention laws governing travel on public roads, use of public lands for off road vehicles, price and availability of gasoline and its purity. Don’t forget insurance: required by law to operate a motorcycle, or the special endorsements on our licenses required to ride. For that matter, European displacement limits based on type of license, and the tax differences based on displacement hugely affect what is sold over there and who buys it. The list goes on and on because everywhere in the world travel on motor vehicles is among the most heavily regulated activities in our lives. Politics affects what we can buy, where we can use it, and how much it costs — this is as relevant as any other factor in a motorcycle.

Like it or not, Motorcycles, like most other parts of our lives, have a political component. So long as the discussion is civil, I think that is wholly appropriate to discuss those facets of politics and government that directly affect our beloved bikes.

By: Mule

Mule — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:16:26 +0000

C.P.T.L.: Yet another angle on the Global Warming issue is that when a scientist states after reviewing some type of data that “Yes Houston, we have a problem”, this doesn’t benefit him. There is no advantage to saying that we’re in deep yogurt. You can either believe it not, he’s just stating facts. All the discussion by non-scientists that follows is politics and not really relevant.