How did motorcycle riding affect your life?

[Heed]

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[setasai]

Originally Posted by Heed

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For me it's a form of stress relief and a hobby. I've been much less restless and all around happier since I started riding.

[Mazakawi]

It increased my debt. But I'm loving every bit of it. Modding the bike is far cheaper than modding my truck. Though it is saving me money on commuting. 60MPG on the bike compared to 10-12MPG in my truck.

I've also now been able to spend more time with my dad since I got the bike. He has been riding Harley's for over 20 years. I've ridden on the back of his ever since I was capable of holding on when I was about 3. Now I'm 20 and have my own bike. Best part about getting the bike was the morning I picked it up. It was cold as hell but my dad still gave me a ride to the dealer on his bike and we rode home together. Now I go riding with him most weekends and thoroughly enjoy it.

I ride mostly with Harley riders who mostly refuse to wear helmets or any kind of gear. Other than a little poking fun about the fact that it's a Rice burner they are still respectful and don't make comments about the fact that I don't move until my helmet is on. They can call my 250 a rice burner all they want. I'm still beating their 1200CC+ bikes off the line because I'm half the weight of most of them.

[kyrider]

It brought me to this place

[akima]

It has taken up a big chunk of my time, money and daily thoughts. In return it's given me an exciting, adventurous hobby that has made me feel like a kid again.

[Snake]

It's a great way for me to be in my nothing box.

[bob706]

Originally Posted by kyrider

It brought me to this place

+1

[bonbon76]

My mini escape before and after work Def. makes the commute more enjoyable and going to work not as bad.

[nit8690]

well I have been riding dirtbikes since I was 5 it wasnt until a month ago I got my endorsement. I really enjoy riding I cant wait to get my motorcycle.

[OGjackafidy]

Its taken up a lot of my paycheck but its definatly been a stress reliever/hobby. for a while though here in missouri during the summer it was just a big pain in the ass cause its just to hot but its been great since its cooled off a bit

[oblivion007]

Originally Posted by Snake

It's a great way for me to be in my nothing box.

exactly this

+ increased my debt as well lol

• more confident
• stress reliever
• overall I think I'm happier which is cool!

[DarC]

I ride my bike 98% of the time (the other 2% is going somewhere to pick up something big or running errands with the wife in the Xterra)

With the bike I:

-Spend less on gas
-Spend less on insurance
-Don't have a loan (paid cash)
-Have stress relief on the way to and from work.
-Have something small and simple to tinker with.
-Have become a much better driver over the years.
-Get to see everything everyone misses when they drive through parts of this country in a cage. You'd be surprised how much a windshield and other crap gets in the way.

[DjDiablo]

Happines!!!

That is all...

I feel great when I am in my ninja...

And have a ninja was a dream!!! That a have conquered!!!

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by Snake

It's a great way for me to be in my nothing box.

hahaha +1111

computers used to be my hobby. now i get paid for that so it's not fun anymore. now motorcycles are my hobby.

there's nothing like turning a wrench... bringing something back to life... making it pretty... then riding it down the road only to realize you forgot to tighten one damn bolt and now your entire cooling system has dumped boiling fluid on your leg.

one word: serenity.

[YORCHI]

It gave me one more fun thing to do on my spare time.

[Flashmonkey]

I don't have as much money as I used to.

[Heed]

Originally Posted by Ren13

The only things that would stop me from riding -

(temporarily) if I had a kid
(permanently) disabled or dead.

My MSF instructor was in Vietnam for four tours. He said he knew a disabled veteran (couldn't use his legs for whatever reason) and he still rode a trike.

Something like this I'd imagine

[Racer x]

Before I started riding motorcycles I worked on my house I went to work I rode a bicycle a lot and went through life with not much going on.day in day out.

Since I started riding I have found my passon I have also lost some very good friends. I have seen some people die .But I have traveled the world raced with the best people on Earth and done things people dream of.
I quit my job of 27 years. I work side jobs or part time or am unemployed .I spend every day working on my bike trying to make it the worlds fastest Ninja 250 .I have set or broken 27 land speed rcords and have no intention of stopping. Racing is all I do everything else is to support the racing.. Even when I am not racing or working on the bike I am taking time to help with the racing . Yes I am nuts.but now I live my life .Not just go through life living till I die.

[ally99]

It gave me a hobby I could enjoy with my hubby! We've made more memories, had more adventures, and formed an even closer bond since we started riding. I learned to ride 6 months after he did, so he knew just enough to teach me, but also left us some time to learn together. It was (and still is) awesome to share such a fun common interest!

Plus, it helped me me some really cool folks here on Ninjette!

[MotoED]

It gave me a hobby, the best yet!
Never knew riding would be this much fun. Lovin' my Ninjette and this forum!

[akima]

Originally Posted by MotoED

It gave me a hobby, the best yet!
Never knew riding would be this much fun. Lovin' my Ninjette and this forum!

I know right! For today's ride I had a big cheesy grin across my face for like the whole journey I'm starting to feel a harmony between me and my Ninjette too - riding is becoming more smooth and satisfying the more I do it.

[JLinde1339]

I definitely don't do it to save money. I think I've spent more on my bike than anything. (Okay, golf is prolly the closest second). But I too have found something to tinker with and learn that I can fix things and get real, tangible results. And there's nothing like riding the twisties or opening her up on the straights. A most worthwhile pursuit that has given more than I've put into it.

"You can't put a price on a good time"
Posted via Mobile Device

[kyrider]

Besides bringing me to this place right after I started riding my bike I met up with some real nice people that also rode bikes. I got into business with them and started making some descent money. Before I knew it I was traveling all over the place collecting money from all sorts of people. Most people were nice but some I had to persuade a little. I learned how to invest in small storefronts and how to show prophet through strictly cash transactions. I also got to brush up on my Spanish and even developed a very distinct Columbian accent. I bought lots of cars and had a few teeth capped with gold and I also raise Pit Bulls.

Yeah, getting a bike has changed my life.

[akima]

Originally Posted by kyrider

Besides bringing me to this place right after I started riding my bike I met up with some real nice people that also rode bikes. I got into business with them and started making some descent money. Before I knew it I was traveling all over the place collecting money from all sorts of people. Most people were nice but some I had to persuade a little. I learned how to invest in small storefronts and how to show prophet through strictly cash transactions. I also got to brush up on my Spanish and even developed a very distinct Columbian accent. I bought lots of cars and had a few teeth capped with gold and I also raise Pit Bulls.

Yeah, getting a bike has changed my life.

All that after only 294 posts. I've written 147... not long until I get my dogs and money I don't think a pit bull is quite my style though.

[kyrider]

Originally Posted by akima

All that after only 294 posts. I've written 147... not long until I get my dogs and money I don't think a pit bull is quite my style though.

I can hook you up with some Rottweilers or Labradoodles.

[Lou]

Big stress reliever for me. Almost never in a hurry to get anywhere anymore, becuase i try to enjoy every second of my ride. Making excuses to ride or taking the long way home on backroads have helped me cool down from long and hard days. Its helped me connect better with my sister who owns a 07 250. Learned alot, made plenty new friends and found this site!

[Blackwidow]

it hasn't affected my life... however, I do think its made me a better and more of an alert driver.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by kyrider

I can hook you up with some Rottweilers or Labradoodles.

[akima]

Originally Posted by kyrider

I can hook you up with some Rottweilers or Labradoodles.

Your paranoid government would probably zap them with some radioactive weapon detection device if you tried to post them to me in England. I'd receive a green glowing Labradoodle... I suppose at least it would be fast

[Racer x]

Originally Posted by Blackwidow

it hasn't affected my life... however, I do think its made me a better and more of an alert driver.

That is very truem it seems to me when I first started to ride every day .I needed to ride a motorcycle the way I should drive a car. I slowed way down in the car.

[blink]

Well it surely depresses me more when winter comes around.

[kcaja1]

My wife hates me more

[choneofakind]

it's made me a more aware driver and bicyclist as well. It's also given me an appreciation for what other people do to customize their vehicles. on top of that though, It gives me a way to be me and to have fun, that's not destructive or likely to get me in trouble with the law. its always fun to have something to tinker on and love as well. love my motorcycle

[KJohnson21]

I've been riding for a long time, so it's not a hobby for me, it's a lifestyle.

It doesn't help me escape, it makes me more aware of my surroundings.

And it seems that whatever money that's saved on gas, gets spent on tires and other stuff.

I'm very fortunate to have a wife that not only understands and accepts this, she also partakes of it all herself!

[ManyCavies]

Yep, won't let him have a car

Its always something, maybe more than a car would cost, but he does 400 miles a week?


I love riding with him , he is always teaching me

[Lil_Green_Demon]

It's taken a lot of money out of me in exchange for a lot of excitement.

[Numbersix]

To date:

Monetarily:
- Sunk about $3600 into training, bikes, gear, insurance, and maintenance (incl. rear tire on otherwise new Elite 110 due to a nail);
- Recouped $1500 in parking and gas alone. I haven't tried to estimate how much I've saved in car maintenance for miles not driven;
- Won a 2012 Ninja 250, which if (not happening!) I sold it would put me at a net positive monetarily. If I hadn't already been riding the scoot, I never would have entered!
- Saved unknown $ by eating @ home most days.

Temporally:
- Saved 15 minutes a day in walking from affordable parking to work vs. parking right by the building, although I give some of that back in January and February;

Mentally:
- Enjoyed every minute of riding. There's no possible $ value on actually enjoying all the minutes of life that involve going from A to B instead of motoring around like a drone.
- Arrive at work every day awake and alert by necessity.
- Arrive home awake, alert, and happy.
- Enjoyed the privilege of being able to quickly zoom back home and eat lunch.

[kyrider]

A lot of people have failed to mention the secure feeling you get knowing when all FUBAR/apocalypse hits you can lane split past all the backupped cages to the safety zone.

[akima]

Originally Posted by kyrider

A lot of people have failed to mention the secure feeling you get knowing when all FUBAR/apocalypse hits you can lane split past all the backupped cages to the safety zone.

That so wouldn't work! Some crazed person would see you and wipe you out with a door or a bat or something. Maybe if we put some nobly tyres on our Ninjettes and went off road!

On the other hand... zombies... they're not smart enough to plan something as sophisticated as opening a car door on you, so I think we'd do well against them.

[n4mwd]

Originally Posted by DarC

I ride my bike 98% of the time (the other 2% is going somewhere to pick up something big or running errands with the wife in the Xterra)

With the bike I:

-Spend less on gas
-Spend less on insurance
-Don't have a loan (paid cash)
-Have stress relief on the way to and from work.
-Have something small and simple to tinker with.
-Have become a much better driver over the years.
-Get to see everything everyone misses when they drive through parts of this country in a cage. You'd be surprised how much a windshield and other crap gets in the way.

Basically, my Ninja is a good substitute for Prozac. Just gets kind of depressing when the weather is too bad to ride.