Motorcycle Freedom - Is it an illusion?

[@apacherider7110]

I've been riding for over 40 years, toured all of western Europe &;UK. I still have biker mates from the 70,80s and most of our friends ride. As a kid of the 60s & and 70s, I cycled everywhere on my bikes, so 2 wheels is my go to place, as i have a road & mtb cycles, plus a Triumph Trophy SE &,Royal Enfield Himalayan. I wouldn't call riding a motorcycle as a freedom, as i get it them same from the cycles and our VW T6 camper. I feel young when i ride, its an escapism from every day life. I work from home but do travel for work. I hate package and beach holidays, but loved safaris to Africa, or trips down the Nile or visiting India,this is an escapism too. Same travelling by bike with my wife and our friends around Cumbria where we now live, and Scotland is great fun. We have the same fun with our camper with the same friends. Freedom sounds a bit naff, its an alternative from what most other people do. Have you ever noticed when you're queuing up for a ferry to Europe how people sat in cars, look at you with jealously in their eyes, wishing they weren't stuck with their husband or wife in a car but on a bike, even their kids look. Riding connects me with my younger self. I stopped at Hartside Pass last weekend and chatted to a young lad out on his 125. We had a good about bikes, and i gave him some tips on riding and to explore Europe& UK (ex instructor) he thanked my time, shook my hand and said i wished other experienced riders spoke to us young riders rather than ignoring us. So my tip is to share our life stories with the young, as we all know its an old man pursuit...

[@MightyGuruYoghourt]

Thanks for commenting. And especially because you clearly put a lot of thought into your response. I'm going to pick up on some of your points in the next film. Ride safe. (I also make a point of sharing knowledge and experience with younger riders!)

[@RayZach68]

That looks like a lovely ride out, mate. Nice.

[@MightyGuruYoghourt]

@@RayZach68 It's a beautiful stretch of road very close to my home. I ride it regularly. You should visit Cumbria! Liking your work, by the way.

[@RayZach68]

@ thanks a lot, mate. I obviously Appreciate your comment. The gran Canary trip was really good as. Great weather there always. I would love to ride there sometime soon.

[@MightyGuruYoghourt]

@RayZach68 I'm hoping to revisit sometime soon!

[@SloboloboVFR]

No more freedom than having a car really maybe a bit more freedom than a bus pass. Perhaps when bikes were cheaper and so was fuel.

[@MightyGuruYoghourt]

@@SloboloboVFR Valid point. Are you feeling ok?😁

[@SloboloboVFR]

@@MightyGuruYoghourt I've been battered by the winds today and have had some time to wonder why I do this to myself. I haven't actually come up[ with an answer maybe I`ll try riding in a tornado next to see if that helps....

[@apacherider7110]

@@SloboloboVFR it all we could afford in the late 70s. Being an apprentice mechanical engineer taking home £25.00 a week. Fiver to my mum for housekeeping. Fiver to my dad for the HP for my Suzuki GT250 X7. £720.00 list price. The rest was for beer & petrol.

[@Leonard-kd7uj]

Hi rideing I do think give a feeling of freedom and well-being that's the reason I ride and have for over 40 years I love to moto camp and to ride alone .free to stop when I like so for me yes rideing gives me freedom.are we constrained by rules and restrictions yes but that is our lot in the UK

[@MightyGuruYoghourt]

@@Leonard-kd7uj Hi Leonard, and thanks for the comment. Always appreciated. I too have been riding for four decades and fully appreciate that riding motorcycles is conducive to mental and physical wellbeing. No question about that. It's the freedom issue that I'm questioning, and I'll be exploring that and developing my argument in the next couple of films. Stay tuned!