When a young boy begins to transform into a man, there are many changes his body and mind goes through.
A sense of independence begins to prevail in his thoughts, a sense of ambition develops. His blood raging with every sight of a sophisticated fast machine on the road or the very sight of a beautiful woman.
When I hit 18, I was fascinated by motorcycles, the way they were shaped, the sound of the engine and how men looked absolutely macho and stunning riding them.
I had wallpapers of Hayabusa’s and R1’s on my computer all the time, staring at the mega machines and their curves. The beauty that they were on the outside and the beast that was within.
Bajaj pulsar was my love at first sight. Their fear the black Ad was over the top and made one feel invincible.
I never got the Bajaj pulsar as my first motocycle, it was the CT-100 by Bajaj. A 100cc engine with a body as skinny as mine.
It served the purpose of my daily commute and that was it. No cool looks, no speed thrills nothing of that sort. But it was then I really began to understand the man and machine connection.
My second motorcycle was a FZ-16 by Yamaha. I was stunned at the way the motorcycle looked. It was a 150 cc engine, the fastest I had ridden. It also flaunted the first rear wide grip tyre on any motorcycle in the market. It impersonated a super bike, I was stoked by the very sight of it.
The Fz-16 was my companion all the way in my graduation days, I had an advantage and I made full use of it. It was the time I impressed my girlfriend with it.
Enough history said, the point I am trying to make is how a man’s journey through his life has a machine attached so closely to him. It could be a motorcycle to some or it could be a car for some others, but both machines nevertheless.
It’s a funny thought but it holds truth that when a man is younger he rides a machine that syncs with his energies, he wants it fast, raging and reving to the max. Full throttle and no less. It gives them a strange high, a feeling of pure acceleration and thrill. Making them invincible in its own sense.
But as a man gets older, his choice of machines also evolves and then he is naturally inclined towards a Royal Enfield or a Harley Davidson. Both these brands of motorcycles donot make the fastest bikes on the market, rather they are heavy and chunky.
But what is that makes men inclined towards these motorcycles? Is it the design? or the engine capacity, is the mileage? or is it the price point?
The fact remains that it is none of the above, when a man rides a motorcycle of these builds, he becomes an evolved being. The slow thump of the engine syncs with his heart beat and a profound connection is formed.
The man unites with the machine at that very instant and they create an inseparable bond.
Why do men love going on long motorcycle tours?
Why would they risk the heat, the rain and the treacherous roads to make a journey to no particular destination?
The answer lies within, men are stoic is nature, the motorcycle becomes a vehicle of meditation. A medium for them to go into a deep state of thoughts and seek answers within them.
It relaxes them, it gives them a sense of purpose, a sense of fulfillment.
and that is why you will never see a man complain about building a motorcycle, or riding one ever. It is his absolution.
My last motorcycle was a Royal Enfield Himalayan, a true warrior built to conquer anything in it’s path. I have toured most of the south India with it. And with every thump and every kilometre, I was close to salvation.
Such is the Man and Motorcycle Connection.
