motorcyclemeditation.com

Had to go somewhere about a mile away. Could walk, but as a walk it’s not very appealing, too much traffic. Seems a tiny journey for the motorcycle, though. I know, the little Vespa hasn’t been used for weeks, let’s take that.

Getting the thing out, thinking, gee, this is very light and easy to move around. Firing it up, getting going. Tootling about, fun for about a hundred yards, then, gee why doesn’t it do anything when you open the throttle, you just keep going the same speed you were doing to start with. And what’s this woozy steering, supposed to be easier in traffic, just feels less precise.

Remembering. Before my current big motorcycle, used to ride a midrange inline four. In those days, and even before that when it was nothing but Vespas, motorcycling used to be mostly a matter of convenience. Very good for neutering gridlocked London traffic, very good for floating past motorway jams, that was about it. Use the thing, forget about it.

A satisfactory situation only in the sense of lacking negatives. The chrysalis transformation awaiting. By luck, circumstances conspiring such as to justify a bigger motorcycle, something more capable for a fifty mile each way daily commute. By further luck, deciding, might as well try something different. By yet another stroke of good fortune, happening on the motorcycle that exactly suits.

The transformation occurring gradually, or perhaps quickly but only being recognized slowly. One day being asked, are you still finding it a chore to be on the motorcycle all those hours. Answering, gee, did I really think that once, is that what I said, well no, it’s not a chore at all. Starting to say, actually it’s life enriching, hesitating, changing the subject, don’t want to come across as a motorcycle junkie. Another motorcyclist, overhearing, taking me aside later, laughing, remarking, you ride a litre motorcycle, you can’t go back.

Riding the Vespa today, thinking, this is the last time I do this. Nice little machine, but not the genuine article. Can’t go back.