Another episode of what the heck is he talking about?

[bryanchurch06]

As the sites resident sh*thouse philosopher/poet I have a question for you the ct125 owner? Is your relationship with your bike based more on the mechanical/engineer brain? Or would you classify yourself more of the dreamer/philosopher owner? I will freely admit to the latter, my bike is much more to me than specifications and mechanical ability. However I'll also freely admit that the site and myself would be lost without its resident engineers/mechanics, m_in_sc, dmonkey and Sneakydingo to name a few. Who if you look at their past posts spend hours accumulating, assimilating and posting the part numbers and schematics needed by some lost soul such as myself last year prepping my bike, these guy and others seem to have charts for brains and the patience to answer the same 25 questions over and over, well maybe not m_in_sc who gets a little grumpy sometimes , so which side do you fall on?
ps if you're wondering what I'm on about you may want to read Richard Bachs book [ A gift of wings ] any of you aviation guys out there?
pps if the 2 guys who read my silly posts would like to see a weekly feature of what the heck is he talking about please let me know.

 

[Kev250R]

All of the above? For me I enjoy the quiet places in the mountains where the bike can take me, so I guess that speaks to the Philosopher/Poet side of me. Mechanically I like that this bike should be able to run trouble-free for many years. Bonus that I enjoy customizing this bike.

A good MC-based book which really spoke to me when I read it about 15 years ago (just when I started riding) was Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I didn't agree with some of what he said but did appreciate the adventure he took his son on. It also made me think about some things in a different way.

 

[bryanchurch06]

All of the above? For me I enjoy the quiet places in the mountains where the bike can take me, so I guess that speaks to the Philosopher/Poet side of me. Mechanically I like that this bike should be able to run trouble-free for many years. Bonus that I enjoy customizing this bike.

A good MC-based book which really spoke to me when I read it about 15 years ago (just when I started riding) was Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I didn't agree with some of what he said but did appreciate the adventure he took his son on. It also made me think about some things in a different way.

I read that book as well, don't remember a lot of it, kinda sad at the end. Maybe time to revisit it. Thanks for reminding me about it.

 

[dmonkey]

I am suspect of any owner of a CT125 who has a strictly mechanical relationship with the machine, as it's a bike that just doesn't look great on paper in terms of specifications

When working on the bike it is mechanical/engineer brain for me and an appreciation for the history that lead to the bike being what it is today. That's me nerding out. When riding the bike it is dreamer/philosopher mode though.

A friend of mine experienced a loss years back and had read Neil Peart's Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road which inspired him to do a long distance motorcycle tour around the USA. I joined him for some of his trip, and pieced it together that "oh yeah, this travel thing is kind of therapeutic for me". Soon after that I read about a gentleman named Earl Shaffer "walking off the war" (WWII) by backpacking the Appalachian Trail which got me interested in long distance backpacking to deal with PTSD. Travel of course was not a cure for the human condition, both my friend and myself have faced the post-adventure depression that can hit hard after a trip ends. In spite of that, every journey has been worth it, and therapeutic. I got hooked on backpacking same as I have various forms of travel, from flying across the country to pick up a jalopy car and drive it home, to riding an underpowered motorcycle across the country. There is a lot of time to switch between letting your mind wander, working through things, and coming to realizations, or to be mindful and present in the moment of what you are experiencing. It is also a way of meeting people to expand your views and build community. Even just riding out to get groceries, it's a conversation starter with strangers and there is so much to experience and take in riding a motorcycle. They don't call them freedom machines for nothing!

How was A Gift of Wings, and did you finish it?

Someone gifted me Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance years ago. I put myself through painful boredom and sadness trying to read it, two different times. The second time I maybe got to page 200 before throwing in the towel. I don't think that I give up on books easily either, I've read Atlas Shrugged.
I later read Shop Class As Soulcraft which I thoroughly enjoyed. I think Robert Pirsig may have been trying to get at the same topics of quality, value, and pride in ZATAOMM but I got lost trying to make sense of all the disjointed places it went. I suspect his mental distress did not help in writing the book, but having read William S. Burroughs and Hunter S. Thompson they at least provided some amusement while losing their minds. Maybe the book just went over my head.

 

[bryanchurch06]

I am suspect of any owner of a CT125 who has a strictly mechanical relationship with the machine, as it's a bike that just doesn't look great on paper in terms of specifications

When working on the bike it is mechanical/engineer brain for me and an appreciation for the history that lead to the bike being what it is today. That's me nerding out. When riding the bike it is dreamer/philosopher mode though.

A friend of mine experienced a loss years back and had read Neil Peart's Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road which inspired him to do a long distance motorcycle tour around the USA. I joined him for some of his trip, and pieced it together that "oh yeah, this travel thing is kind of therapeutic for me". Soon after that I read about a gentleman named Earl Shaffer "walking off the war" (WWII) by backpacking the Appalachian Trail which got me interested in long distance backpacking to deal with PTSD. Travel of course was not a cure for the human condition, both my friend and myself have faced the post-adventure depression that can hit hard after a trip ends. In spite of that, every journey has been worth it, and therapeutic. I got hooked on backpacking same as I have various forms of travel, from flying across the country to pick up a jalopy car and drive it home, to riding an underpowered motorcycle across the country. There is a lot of time to switch between letting your mind wander, working through things, and coming to realizations, or to be mindful and present in the moment of what you are experiencing. It is also a way of meeting people to expand your views and build community. Even just riding out to get groceries, it's a conversation starter with strangers and there is so much to experience and take in riding a motorcycle. They don't call them freedom machines for nothing!

How was A Gift of Wings, and did you finish it?

Someone gifted me Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance years ago. I put myself through painful boredom and sadness trying to read it, two different times. The second time I maybe got to page 200 before throwing in the towel. I don't think that I give up on books easily either, I've read Atlas Shrugged.
I later read Shop Class As Soulcraft which I thoroughly enjoyed. I think Robert Pirsig may have been trying to get at the same topics of quality, value, and pride in ZATAOMM but I got lost trying to make sense of all the disjointed places it went. I suspect his mental distress did not help in writing the book, but having read William S. Burroughs and Hunter S. Thompson they at least provided some amusement while losing their minds. Maybe the book just went over my head.

A gift of wings was a wonderful collection of short stories about the freedom provided by ownership of an airplane. I've been a fan of Bachs since a girlfriend sent me his book illusions when I was at Ft Bragg in 1982. I briefly took flight lessons in the late 80s but traveling for work made it almost impossible, I suppose motorcycles have always given me the same sense as flying in a way, but a gift of tires isn't as catchy a title

 

[G19Tony]

I have read all of Richards books, multiple times. I'm the guy that pats the G550 or 737 on the nose and thanks her for a safe flight.

 

[Kritou]

I have read all of Richards books, multiple times. I'm the guy that pats the G550 or 737 on the nose and thanks her for a safe flight.

Do you go to the funerals?

 

[ssaigol]

As the sites resident sh*thouse philosopher/poet I have a question for you the ct125 owner? Is your relationship with your bike based more on the mechanical/engineer brain? Or would you classify yourself more of the dreamer/philosopher owner? I will freely admit to the latter, my bike is much more to me than specifications and mechanical ability. However I'll also freely admit that the site and myself would be lost without its resident engineers/mechanics, m_in_sc, dmonkey and Sneakydingo to name a few. Who if you look at their past posts spend hours accumulating, assimilating and posting the part numbers and schematics needed by some lost soul such as myself last year prepping my bike, these guy and others seem to have charts for brains and the patience to answer the same 25 questions over and over, well maybe not m_in_sc who gets a little grumpy sometimes , so which side do you fall on?
ps if you're wondering what I'm on about you may want to read Richard Bachs book [ A gift of wings ] any of you aviation guys out there?
pps if the 2 guys who read my silly posts would like to see a weekly feature of what the heck is he talking about please let me know.

I'm like Drake the Outlaw in Gift of Wings.

 

[bryanchurch06]

I'm like Drake the Outlaw in Gift of Wings.

One of my favorite stories, and the one about the cat.

 

[bryanchurch06]

I was driving a truck in 2014 for FedEx custom critical, I picked up a biplane engine in AZ I believe and delivered it to a man in northern Maine who flew tourists in old tail dragers who said he was a personal friend of Richard Bachs, cannot remember his name but he promised me a free ride when his plane was flying again. Any chance you're on this site? Seems reasonable you'd own a CT? If so I'd like to schedule my ride this summer please

 

[G19Tony]

Do you go to the funerals?
View attachment 8881

No. I'm never around for that. It's sad, but we all end up in the boneyard at some point.

 

[m in sc]

actually, its both for me. and who you calling grumpy?

 

[bryanchurch06]

actually, its both for me. and who you calling grumpy?

I love ya brother, but sometimes

 

[m in sc]

IM A VIRTUAL RAY OF SUNSHINE! (@ deals gap 2023).

 

[Kev250R]

As am I LOL! Pic taken at the end of a long day when I was dispatched to a call which I knew was bogus. My friend who snapped the pic said he couldn't tell if I was pissed or focused on what I was going to spend the OT on! I generally try to be more approachable though.

 

[Plotus]

Just an opinion but I think there is an abundant amount of dreamers or Owners trying to re-live their youth, or 'nostalga'. There are more capable rides in this segment-type of bike/scooter Honda CT. Seems the first few things owners want to do is accessorize, bigger tires, racks, side panniers, 'comando' appearance. Well fine...... but not all of these things account for ride quality.

ie. CT125's are a destination.