PAGE 102
FavoriteRidesandDestinations . com / ridermagazine . com
on my two Yamahas and they built the foundations of my riding skills very ably , thank you , and I still use and appreciate those skills to this day .
Although it garners little sympathy from “ civilians ,” those of us who have worked in the motorcycle industry for long periods can suffer from “ displacement / power creep ” because we ’ re constantly exposed to the full array of bigger and fancier bikes . If you ’ re not careful , you ’ ll get jaded and start thinking that lesser bikes of smaller displacement are simply not worthy of your time and attention .
Stay in the industry too long and you can also start to think too well of yourself . Self-centeredness is a trait to be avoided always , more so by members of the motoring press . So I cling to one conversation that helps me keep grounded . While covering a rally in Knoxville a few years ago , I met a mother / daughter duo who had taken days to ride their Honda Rebel 250s along back roads from Wisconsin to Tennessee . The first thought that came to my mind was you couldn ’ t pay me enough to ride that far on a 250 . But mother and daughter both gushed with excitement as they recounted their experiences . This was the trip of a lifetime , a true adventure they would cherish for the rest of their lives .
Frankly , they shamed me . Not intentionally , of course . But their love for riding and their heartfelt appreciation for their 250s refreshed my perspective about riding in general , and smaller bikes in particular . I was supposed to be the motorcycling pro , but they were the real enthusiasts ….
So even if you ’ re a long-time , highly experienced rider , stop and consider the joys of a smaller bike . It ’ s not gravity that ’ s sucking so hard — it just might be your attitude toward small bikes .