Old men on motorcycles

For the very first time in my life, I let someone else work on my motorcycle.

The Ninja was due for its 15,000-mile service, which includes valve check and adjustment, spark plug swap, and throttle body sync. I’ve done all these things. I have the tools to do them. What I don’t seem to have is the time or inclination to take a sport bike apart for basic service. I asked around for some recommendations, found a shop that came highly recommended, and took it there.

Don’t worry, this post isn’t about that. Not exactly, anyway.

Saturday, when I went to pick up the bike, it was cold – 38 degrees, to be exact. I don’t have winter motorcycle gear, so I grabbed the trailer and headed to the shop.

When I got there, the owner looked at me and said, “You’re not riding out of here, are you?” I told him no, I had no desire to freeze to death for a seven-mile ride through the ‘burbs. He laughed and pointed to a couple young guys who had ridden to the shop that morning. “Neither of us are 20 anymore.”

That statement is fraught with meaning. When I was 20, if I’d overheard that, I’d have taken it as two old men admitting they’d lost their edge, that they couldn’t handle riding in extreme conditions anymore. Now, as one of those older men, to me it implies a certain wisdom. We’re not dumb enough to ride when it’s freezing cold without the right gear to handle it. It also implies that we’ve got nothing to prove. We’ve had adventures. We’ve survived them. We’ve got some stories to tell, but no need to add to the collection.

He asked “You’re not riding are you?” I said no, I had no desire to freeze for a 7-mile ride thru the 'burbs. If I'd overheard that @ 20, I’d have taken it as 2 old men admitting they’d lost their edge. Click To Tweet

Now that I think of it, maybe the idea of not freezing myself to death and letting someone else do the hard work on my bike are related. When it comes to mechanical things, I’ve been there and done that, and I have the tools to prove it. I did the parts of the 15,000-mile service that I enjoy, and let a professional handle the rest. Not many years ago, I’d have interpreted that as having lost my edge. Now it implies a certain wisdom.

Do the parts you like. Let someone else handle the rest.