All I Need To Know About Life I Learned from Motorcycling.

I found this article online. Pretty damned good, in my opinion.



As much as many small brained people may claim otherwise, motorcyclists are human - to varying degrees of course. (They’re not ALL knuckle-draggers) And, like all humans, we develop a philosophy of life and basic values, many of these being shaped by our lifestyle of riding motorcycles. I found an article on the variety of basic life philosophies online at www.megarider.com/articles , life philosophies that have been shaped by the pursuit of motorcycling. The more repeatable of these they list, without prejudice, below:

• Variety is the spice of life: one day travel at the speed of a tired turtle, the next day give it heaps!

• Find your place in the sun, even if it's while you wait for your daughter to finally show up for breakfast which has now become lunchtime.

• If you're not receiving enough attention, try giving a cop the finger.

• Always give generously - a large patch of oil left on a friend's driveway tells them that you care. (only if you have a Harley-METRICS don’ DO that)

• Always be willing to accept another's seniority - especially if it's a big rig.

• Only put your foot down when you really need to.

• Success is a frame of mind, so think quickly as that cop approaches you.

• Strive for excellence, not perfection - leave the latter useless pursuit to those who build custom motorcycles.

• Get acquainted with a good lawyer, accountant and mechanic - the order in which you do this depends upon what and how you ride.

• Wear out - don't crash out, or rust out.

• Learn to recognize the inconsequential, then ignore it - unless it's a speed limit in a speed camera area.

• Lie on your back and look up at the stars - unless you are riding your motorcycle at the time.

• Measure people by the size of their hearts, not the size of their motorcycle. Or any body part.

• Know when to speak up - which is not at 75 MPH into a headwind.

• Evaluate yourself by your own standards, not by someone else's - they may be riding on borrowed time.

• Be a self-starter - better still, be an electric starter.

• Smile a lot - but only if you have a visor on your helmet.

• Re-ride your favorite road.

• Never under-estimate your ability to change yourself - after a close call it will come naturally.

• Never acquire just one riding buddy.

• Focus on making things better, not bigger - especially if it's your motorcycle.

• Once in your life own and ride a motorcycle.

• Never encourage anyone to become a politician - unless they ride a motorcycle.

• Learn to do something beautiful with your hands - and you'll never be lonely. ??? I'm afraid to ask what this actually means.

• Show respect for everyone who works for a living, even streetsweepers - a happy streetsweeper keeps the road surface clean.

• Wave to people for the fun of it - it keeps people happy, makes you feel good, and keeps the clutch arm supple.

• Every day look for some small way to improve the way you do things - especially the way you ride.

• Never use the last nine - tenths.

• Even if you cannot give the very best, give your very best.

• When you are hot under the collar, keep your head cool.

• Never under-estimate the power of forgiveness - your bike will forgive all sorts of poor riding actions if they are isolated incidents.

• Don't carry a grudge - a motorcycle has no room for excess baggage.

• Never tell anyone they look tired or depressed - even if you're lifting their bike off them at the time.

• Be enthusiastic about the success of others - even if you're insanely jealous at the time.

• Improve your performance by improving your attitude.

• Go the distance - and on your own bike.

• Every once in a while take the scenic route.

• Move up when you feel you are ready - not when others think you are ready.

• When playing games with children, let them win - when riding with a boy racer, let him win.

• Don't learn the tricks of the trade, learn the trade.

• Teach, Learn, Ask "why" and "what if" a lot?

• Look as if you are in control of your motorcycle - it will probably fool the motorcycle into believing it too.

• Don't lend precious things to friends - you might lose both.

• Don't give advice. Just say what you do or would do in a similar situation - you're not there to teach. You're there to help them learn.

• Leave whining to CX500 drive shafts.

• Your epitaph should read "No regrets and lots of fun".  AMEN AMEN AMEN-I'm gonna change my Facebook to reflect that.

• Invest in skill and knowledge. The returns are fantastic.

• If friends ask you to be honest with them, don't.

• Don't smoke - and the same goes for your motorcycle.

• Rekindle old friendships - ride an older model once in a while. Not just motorcycles.

• Never ask a policeman or mechanic for riding advice - they're trained to find problems, not solutions.

• Don't spread yourself too thinly - learn how to ride within your abilities.

• Give thanks before every ride - and greater thanks at the end of every enjoyable ride.

• Compliment even small improvements - especially when made by a learner or a mechanic.

• Don't expect life to be fair - that way you're more likely to see hidden speed cameras.

• Try never to set yourself a strict timetable - otherwise you'll never have time to explore unexpectedly delightful highways and bi-ways.

• Happiness is not dependant on possessions, power, or prestige but on relationships with people you love and respect - and your motorcycle.

• Clothes maketh the man - and protective clothing holds him together.

• 'Tis not victory nor speed that defines a man, but wisdom and courage.

• If you miss the magic of the moment by focusing on what's to come, you need to slow down.

• Donate two pints of blood every year - someday the gift may be repaid.

• Love your fellow human being but install an anti-theft alarm on your motorcycle.

• Leave everything a little better than you found it - especially if the bike was loaned by a friend.

• Write a "thank you" note to the policeman who gave you the speeding ticket - a little confusion goes a long way.

• Don't expect money to bring you happiness - unless it's spent on a good bike.

• Avoid making sarcastic remarks - actions speak louder than words.

• Never take action when you're angry - cool down before you kick that car door in.

• Learn CPR - you'll need it for CPR (Charlies Practicing Racing) victims.

• Take time to smell the roses - and the cow poo and diesel on the road surface, too.

• Occasionally stop and read historical roadside markers - it will give you a future excuse to stop when things get too hot on a Sunday ride.

• Get your priorities right. No dying motorcyclist ever said; "Gee, I've spent too much time riding motorcycles”.

And that's the way it was on Sunday, August 8th, 2010.

L