Gotta post this link; "Motorcycling and mind-set"; New York Times.....

[oldnortonrider]

Bob Jones would have loved this >

http://fish.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/0...d-motorcycles/

[CatatonicBug]

A bit long-winded, but a good read. Even the comments are surprisingly well-written. Gives a good perspective on a few points of life.

[DGXSER]

Ok, I made it five paragraphs in and gave up!! I hated philosophy classes in college let alone reading about it now! Sorry, perhaps I quit on it early, but ouch. That desk hurt my forehead.

[randy]

DGXSER;

DITTO! I read the Persig book (ages ago), but couldn't get through that article!

[blue giant]

Hey Randy,

I couldnt get through Persig's book so I won't even bother to look at that one!

[latexeses]

I was struck by tis comment posted at the end in the article...

"What an extraordinary combination of material things: the absurd, motorcycles, the operation of which now causes over 5,000 deaths a year in America and the sublimely ridiculous, Jaguar motor cars, of which it is accurately said there is no such thing as a high mileage Jaguar."

I am really going to have to keep an eye those XS's on my patio. I never remember an urge to kill anyone while operating my old Virago???????

[ZombieRob]

neat article, i think i'll have to check out those other two books as well, already read persig about four years ago. brings up some interesting theories.

[Poprock]

If I understood what I just read, it's about how true knowledge is a combination of facts, experience and familiarity, expertise and creativity. The 19 year-old kid at the parts counter can look up a part number, but you really want to talk to Joe or Bill back in the shop, because they've been working on bikes since before the kid was born. They know the book and the marginal notes.
What I'm talking about is the kind of lore about XS11s that is all over this board. It takes more than facts to tweak out an 11. It takes a large dose of lore and usually a nice helping of (someone else's) expertise.
Thanks for putting up that article. Good food for thought on many levels.

[tw1980]

If you want my opinion on this article,I would have to say without a doubt that ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

[CatatonicBug]

It's funny how philosophy really strikes a chord with some people, and even brings out emotions and passionate responses, while it can also cause involuntary slumber in others. Some people really enjoy it, while others just don't.