Why is it we devote large proportion of time and expense to old pieces of metal and plastic that should have long ago been recycled into cellphones, flowerpots and garden ornaments? We tell our significant others about there investment value and how we are making a significant contribution to the heritage of our country. Whilst this is all very true maybe there is a more basic reason. It makes us feel human!
As parents, grandparents, uncles and aunties we take great pleasure in seeing little people experiencing new things in the world. The first ice cream, touching snow for the first time and watching the little persons head follow that two wheeled machine that just went past. As we get older some say we gradually revert back to being a child (Some more rapidly than others. As can be seen on the video!) and we start to treasure those memories from the past. Rekindling those memories is best experienced through our senses and whilst putting the video together for this post it was sound of an H2 on song that put a smile on my dial! The sound of a Kawasaki triple is so very unique. Watching and hearing Sir Al punting one of these through our countryside and hearing two of them together as he followed Paul D on his reminds us of why we love these old machines. It is these visceral experiences that we get from restoring and then riding them that makes us fell human. If it also means reverting back to our younger selves so be it!
Enough ruminations, the sound thing was definitely a nice way to frame the ride we had in late January with an assortment of bikes out for a spin. We certainly encourage and enjoy a 'broad church' on our rides and great to have a variety of 'sounds' along. Alan and Bruce came up from the Horowhenua on two very different types of machinery. Alan on his lovely cafed R100 that just burbles along whilst Bruce was on his frantic sounding CBR600. Paul turned up on his bright white Guzzi that loops along with that lovely tappety sound unique to them. Terrys GL700 was another take on the across the frame v configuration with that same Guzzi sound minus the tappets and a little more subdued in the exhaust note. The V theme was continued with Bruce Andrews VF750. It is a unique sound that many of us heard for the first time in the early eighties and has become an integral part of our motorcycling experience ever since. The XJ750 is very much an underrated motorcycle and often called in a derogatory manner a UJM (Universal Japanese Motorcycle). Most bikes UJMs ended up with four into ones so the fact that it still has standard pipes gives it that nice muted four cylinder sound typical of this genre of bikes. Ians very busy GS450 rounds out the four strokes with its chromed cam caps and rustling top end pumping out that very revvy twin cylinder bark through its cycleworks two into one.
Our trip around the Apiti loop certainly mixed together this cacophony of sounds as we made our way through the countryside. With stops along the way at Cheltenham Hill, Kimbolton and Totara Reserve we finally 'orchestrated' (yes I know, very corny) our way into the Fusion Cafe in Ashhurst.
What did we take away from our time on the road? The sights, the smells and yes those wonderful sounds still ringing in our ears and that wonderful feeling to be alive and feel human!
PS. No apologies for the extended play video. Its not for now, but when we are all older and retro retro and have plenty of time to remember our Golden Summers together on the road!
Enjoy,
Gary
