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That’s The Way Love Rolls When You Love Motorcycles

Last Update: 28 October 2021

It’s no secret, I confess, I’m head to toe in love with motorcycling! Nothing else to date has succeeded in topping the passion felt for the activity. You can’t break us up and in fact I’ve a license as a full endorsement of the relationship – a marriage license of sorts.  We’ve shared thousands of kilometres together and stayed together through the “rough patches”, the catastrophes (crashes while racing) and on road surprises.  We’ve moved to different continents and adjusted our riding methods through these variations within our bond.

Vicki Gray and the Love of Motorcycling on MOTORESS
*Photo-Vicki Gray – The Netherlands – 2001

The day we first met is still a perfect memory. It was in Nova Scotia while stationed for a short-term corporate business transfer. I was shy and excited when we met. I felt somewhat intimidated by your perception but it seemed so powerful and oh so intriguing! After the first introductions and we became better acquainted – we partnered up, hit the road and never looked back-  except to check blind spots.

Love Exists

So I thought I’d see where others stand when it comes to the love of motorcycles. Thought I suspect most would share the same level of passion I do. I decided to use my social networks where my connections are mostly made up of motorcyclists. I posted a question asking: Would u say you have feelings of ‘love’ for your motorcycle? Would you say it has a life or personality of its own with an anthropomorphic tendency for your ride?  Well, the responses were overwhelming! One reply stated “It sure does. It’s a part of me. I talk to my motorbike as though it’s real and feel bad during the winter while it sits all by itself in the garage!” Another expressed “I definitely feel like there’s a connection between me and my bike! I talk to her, pet her… and I “feel” her when I ride, especially on the track. She becomes part of me and me a part of her!”  Then there was a:  “YES!!! I love riding” and “I love- love-love my bike!!” and then just a simple response of “I do. I do. I do!”

I posted the question asking: Would u say you have feelings of ‘love’ for your motorcycle? Would you say it has a life or personality all its own with an anthropomorphic tendency for your ride? 

When you love motorcycles – there’s no forgetting the moment we officially purchased and then picked up our first motorcycle. We remember that moment when the bike truly became ours. We also remember, with sad regret, the occasions when we had to sell a bike or trade it in for an upgrade. I’ll also bet that every rider has at least one photo of their motorcycle in their smart phone photo library.

I still have the key to my first sport bike. I told the person who purchased the bike from me that I had lost the spare key. I did this just so I could keep a small memento. Crazy right? It was the key from my 1987 Honda Hurricane CBR600. I had to sell it because of my move to the Caribbean. The other motorcycle “divorce” that still causes me pain, was my recent move to Canada. Customs would not allow me to bring my 1995 Ducati 900SSE due to emission and engine issues. Still hurts to this day.

Motorcycling seems also to make love happen. I know of so many rider friends, who met their life-partners during a motorcycle trip or event of some sort. The shared camaraderie, the rider commonality removes a lot of social barriers that normally stand between everyday potential casual encounters. The renowned “biker’s wave” already symbolizes our kinship with each other. Could you imagine what reactions would occur if we waved at every one else in an auto?

Love Story

One of the best motorcycle love story I’ve heard was shared with me during Daytona Bike week while filming our TLC biker girls show. We were co-hosting the largest “biker wedding vow renewal ceremony”. Motorcycle couples had gathered in the hundreds aiming to set the new record for this special ceremony. Our view from the stage was thrilling and equally overwhelming. The energy emitted from all the “in love” motorcycle married couples was moving emotionally. It was after this ceremony I met an elderly couple in their mid 60’s. They had been together their entire lives. When I spoke with the wife who had been her husband’s life long passenger said to me, “If we were in a car and had to speak to each other all those years, we would never have stayed together!” I guess the space and simplicity of conversation is another plus point when you love motorcycles.

Motorcycling is my life’s passion as well as my life’s work. The way I see it, this thing which  “starts my heart” in such a way like none other – must indeed be true love!


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2 comments

Wyn 24 March 2015 at 09:06

I have always had a crush on bikes since i was young and in fact one of my favourite toys as a little girl was a RC bike. No longer a little girl, it was a goal in life to be at one with my bike – to feel her every reaction and her, mine such that there was a connection. While i am still quite the novice, I whole-heartedly agree with you, i love motorcycling in all its entirety, i take the good with the bad, and i have already committed to forever.

-Wyn

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Michael William Scott 11 December 2014 at 11:15

I couldn’t agree with you more, Vicki…a motorcycle romance is very easy to have. After all, bikes are the ULTIMATE GADGET! They have a plethora of parts, a multitude of materials…a cacophony of colors. There are lights, levers, curves, wires, mirrors, chrome, steel, glass, rubber, and best of all…..the wonder of internal combustion!

All of us who have ridden for any number of years are aware of the thrill that comes from just thinking about being on our bikes, and of course that doesn’t even come close to the joy of actually wrapping our legs around them, hitting the Start button then letting out the clutch and beginning to move!

As I write this (in December)
I’m already living (surviving?) in anticipation of the first ride of Spring, and I already know it’ll be just like “falling in love all over again” as it has been every year since I got my first bike, 49 years ago. THAT, my friends, is romantic staying power.

-Michael Scott

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