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You'll have to forgive me. I've just come from the garage. My Daytona sits on stands near the fridge which holds my beer. I've made quite a few trips, but the last one stopped me. The Daytona is gorgeous. Dormant, but gorgeous. Powerful, taut, solid... but only in memory, unfortunately. Riding season is NOT upon me. I can imagine the bark of the triple, I just haven't heard it in a while. As I studied the Daytona and imagined the sound of the triple, fully ensconced in my ale cocoon, I got to thinking about European motorcycle ownership. Again. 
Ok, here's the thing. European motorcycle ownership is like a state of mind. Either you get it, or you don't. If you do get it, then you're either lucky enough to be part of it, or you're scheming some way in which to crash the party.
I know, I know. The mags. We all read them and they all say the GSXR this, the R1 that, the CBR and ZX other thing... whatever. Ask an Aprilia Mille/Falco/Tuono rider when they're planning to sell their mount for an R1. Talk to a Triumph Daytona/Sp3/Tiger/Sprint rider and find out when they're going to give up their community for a Japanese ride. Assault a Ducati SS/ST/Monster rider and demand that they step back from their desmo lust and consider the sheer numbers put up by the Japanese supersports for just a MINUTE! What do you get from this? For the most part, one raised eyebrow and a whole lot of confused faced riders.
No one else feels the Ducati twin fire early in the morning. No one is there when the Triumph triple is bouncing it's exhaust note off of the trees en-route to the Sunday morning meeting spot. It's just the rider and the bike when the Aprilia leans through the 3rd and 4th corner in the morning, reassuring the owner that everything is still in working order and ready to go much deeper and hotter.
Do the Japanese bike riders feel that kind of connection? The deep down, in your gut, connection? Maybe, but I tend to doubt it. Do they imagine the artisan lost in his/her work as they assemble the motorcycle? Can they feel the pulse of the engine? Do they sense the timelessness of the design? Are the intangibles, the just-beyond-the-tip-of-your-tongue, the almost-there thought, present when they roll on the throttle at the exit of the corner?
Do they stare at their motorcycle well after the ride because it is a representation of their being in a form that suggests both beauty and strength? The feeling that all is good with life and the good fortune for what lays at your fingertip? Or do they revel in the efficiency of yet another competent vehicle owned by thousands upon thousands of others riders who lay claim to the mantle of the lap time?
One rider feels. One rider sees. Which is the preferred experience?
Ok, here's the thing. European motorcycle ownership is like a state of mind. Either you get it, or you don't. If you do get it, then you're either lucky enough to be part of it, or you're scheming some way in which to crash the party.
I know, I know. The mags. We all read them and they all say the GSXR this, the R1 that, the CBR and ZX other thing... whatever. Ask an Aprilia Mille/Falco/Tuono rider when they're planning to sell their mount for an R1. Talk to a Triumph Daytona/Sp3/Tiger/Sprint rider and find out when they're going to give up their community for a Japanese ride. Assault a Ducati SS/ST/Monster rider and demand that they step back from their desmo lust and consider the sheer numbers put up by the Japanese supersports for just a MINUTE! What do you get from this? For the most part, one raised eyebrow and a whole lot of confused faced riders.
No one else feels the Ducati twin fire early in the morning. No one is there when the Triumph triple is bouncing it's exhaust note off of the trees en-route to the Sunday morning meeting spot. It's just the rider and the bike when the Aprilia leans through the 3rd and 4th corner in the morning, reassuring the owner that everything is still in working order and ready to go much deeper and hotter.
Do the Japanese bike riders feel that kind of connection? The deep down, in your gut, connection? Maybe, but I tend to doubt it. Do they imagine the artisan lost in his/her work as they assemble the motorcycle? Can they feel the pulse of the engine? Do they sense the timelessness of the design? Are the intangibles, the just-beyond-the-tip-of-your-tongue, the almost-there thought, present when they roll on the throttle at the exit of the corner?
Do they stare at their motorcycle well after the ride because it is a representation of their being in a form that suggests both beauty and strength? The feeling that all is good with life and the good fortune for what lays at your fingertip? Or do they revel in the efficiency of yet another competent vehicle owned by thousands upon thousands of others riders who lay claim to the mantle of the lap time?
One rider feels. One rider sees. Which is the preferred experience?
