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Moto Photo Blog-O-Rama Meme: The Long Road Home

As motorcyclists we most often look for the twistiest roads. Sometimes though, there is strange appeal in seeing a road that just fades straight off into the horizon. The flakey tree-huggin’ part of me thinks maybe roads like that look like endless, unimpeded possibility stretching on forever. Your mileage may vary.

Photo Meme: The Long Road Home

Do you wanna play Motorcycle Photo Blog-O-Rama?

  • Post one of your motorcycle-related photos that suit this photo meme on your own blog.
  • Caption or describe your photo. Tell us where and when it was taken. Maybe include an interesting note about it.
  • Encourage others to post their photos!

What is a Meme?
First things first. Meme, it sounds like team.
Here on the web, a meme is a popular or contagious idea or theme. You know, like LOLCats, a bunny with a pancake on it’s head or sad Keanu.

Make sure you leave a comment below so we can take a peek at your handy work!

Long Island: Off the Beaten Path – Autumn at Peconic Lake

Long Island is home to over 3 million people squeezed into it ‘s 2 eastern most counties;  Nassau and Suffolk. Though it is the largest and well longest island in the United States, space here is the ultimate commodity. When out riding around here I try to seek out those quiet or empty spaces that remind me of what it was like to live on the western side of the Hudson River.

On Monday I played hookey from work and took a ride around eastern Suffolk County for a few hours. My travels took me past Forge Pond which is now called Peconic Lake. It is the widest point of the Island’s kayak friendly Peconic River. With no one else around, it was a great place to stop and enjoy the sunny autumn weather. The last remaining leaves will soon be gone signaling the approaching winter. You’d better get out there and enjoy it!

Peconic Lake
Peconic Lake

Peconic Lake from Dam Rd - Click to Enlarge
Peconic Lake from Dam Rd - Click to Enlarge

Triumph Speed Triple: A Love Affair Years in the Making

The first time that I sat on a Triumph Speed Triple at the 2000 Cycle World bike show in New York, I pretty much knew that one day I would own one. The idea of the Speed Triple sat simmering on the back burner of my brain for 5 years.

I Love You But This Just Isn’t Working Out

I had been struggling to deal with riding my Ducati 996 as my jack of all trades bike. As much as I may have desired this bike, as much as it may have been what I thought was the motorcycle of my dreams, it just wasn’t working out in reality. Its focus made it beautiful and raw.  That same focus kept it from being a friendly real world, all-day bike. It was silly of me to think that I could put up with the pain the care and the expense that was required to make it do a job it wasn’t designed for. Coming to terms with such realizations was difficult. It was an admission to myself that my dream wasn’t all it was cracked up to be or that I was misguided in my thinking. There was some guilt involved in that. It was a bitter pill to swallow.

13 Miles

The final straw in my exclusive relationship with the 996 came during a long weekend trip to Vermont.  Though I had long since replaced the clutch slave cylinder and put adjustable levers on the bike I still suffered from having tired hands when riding. Kenny was often kind enough to trade bikes with me to give my wimpy mitts a rest. Just before heading east on freshly paved route 118 in New Hampshire, I swung a leg over his Triple. The next 13 miles made up my mind for me. Finding a delicious balance of speed, handling AND comfort all in one place was a real eye opener. I was sold. I went home from that long weekend in September of 2005 and bought the Speed Triple the next day.

Can’t Judge a Book Just by Looking at the Cover

Initially I didn’t want the yellow S3. I didn’t really care for the color. As it turned out it, it was all there was to be had save for a blue one which I liked even less. So I bought it anyway. In the last 4 years I’ve really grown to love its funky gold-ness – it’s become “my” color.

I love this bike as much as I did the day I brought it home. Maybe even more. I have a deep appreciation for the way that it feels, the way it sounds. It feels like home. We’re kind of peas in a pod: funny looking and a little bit odd but people like us anyway.  If you give a not so pretty girl a chance, maybe she’ll surprise you. ;) Though I may casually date other bikes, she’s the apple of my eye.

Hobby, Lifestyle or Addiction? I May Need a 12 Step Motorcycle Program

Eat, Sleep, Ride and Repeat.

Doesn’t that just sound heavenly? When I close my eyes and imagine what I would be doing if I were able to break free of the confines of needing to work, I always come back to the same daydream. Riding.

Riding everywhere. I imagine myself riding out west to watch the sun come up while camping in the shadow of the buttes of Monument Valley, riding to Alaska to the Top of the World, riding to watch the tide rise at the Bay of Fundy. Most of my travel dreams are intertwined with getting there by motorcycle. Those that aren’t, involve riding a motorcycle some time once I get there. :)

In my office, there is a Speed Triple motorcycle model that routinely does wheelies across my desk as I sit on conference calls. On my office wall is a motorcycle themed print.

At home we have copious amounts of motorcycle magazines, books, maps. 90% of our friends are motorcycle people. My computer is littered with motorcycle photographs, links to websites, and bookmarks to places I want to ride to.

Motorcycles touch every part of my life. In this, I know I’m not alone.

hobby

: a pursuit outside one’s regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation
life·style

: the typical way of life of an individual, group, or culture
ad·dic·tion

: the quality or state of being addicted
: compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance

A Hobby?

I don’t know. Some might argue that if your riding is too relaxing then you aren’t moving fast enough :)

Lifestyle?

This sounds like we’re getting a little warmer towards what I’m going through. A typical way of life – Motorcycles at home, at work, at play? Check.

Addiction?

A compulsive need for use? Bingo!

Step 1 – Admit I am powerless over motorcycles
Their draw is undeniable, inescapable, all encompassing. I surrender myself over to them. I am a motorcycle addict.

Okay, that is as far as I can go. Doing all 12 steps is for quitters ;)

So which is it for you? Hobby, Lifestyle or Addiction?

Motorcycle Fads: Whew, I’m Glad That’s Over!

Fur or Fabric Covered Motorcycles

It wasn’t that long ago that we were seeing tiger print Gixxers whizzing through town or lime green monster fur seat covers at Starbucks. What is it that makes people want to buy in to these fads?

The SpongeBob Bike

This motorcycle was spotted back in 2004. Though not covered in fur, it was equally as idiotic. Nothing says cool like sitting around your mom’s house with a hot glue gun making a fairing cozy.

Show of hands: Did you have a furry bike or seat cover? We won’t laugh. Promise. ::crosses fingers::