What Does #Motorcycles Mean to You?

To me, the word "motorcycle" signifies freedom, joy, happiness, and no stress. It also represents a break from the everyday routine, an opportunity to be myself, to do what I want, and to do it on my own terms.

Spontaneous Adventures

The best thing about having access to a motorcycle is the freedom to embark on spontaneous adventures without needing to plan ahead. I can decide very late, for example, tonight I want a little adventure. For me, it takes about 15 minutes after I've made up my mind, and my little adventure becomes a reality. It becomes a break from the day's normal chores, a break that I feel I deserve to take if I want to.

Spending More Time on Adventures with a Small Budget

Life is short, and I believe in enjoying the life we have. Unfortunately, I've also experienced what it's like to be really sick, near death, and contemplating family, children, and wills. What do I want my wife (she who almost became my future widow) to inherit from me, what should my daughters receive, and should my son inherit my motorcycle, etc.? But for now this is history, and now I live in the present.

I also remember lying in the hospital bed, looking out the window, and feeling a rush of excitement when I saw a motorcycle pass by. Thoughts of new adventures flooded my mind, fantasizing about new things to see and experience. Life is short and can quickly come to an end. That's why I recommend to others to seize life, do what you love, and experience new things. Going on adventure trips makes you feel alive. An adventure doesn't have to be extensive or expensive; it can be as simple as a short evening ride and a cup of coffee or tea somewhere in a different setting or in another town or city. My recommendation is that whenever the opportunity arises, embark on a small or big adventure for yourself; it'll make you feel good and ultimately happy.

More Time on the Roads and in Nature, Not in Front of the Computer

If you find yourself with a bit of extra time one day, evening, or weekend, why not seize the opportunity to travel away from home, even for a short while. Leaving the computer behind you means that you also are leaving your problems behind you. Go on a short or slightly longer trip, and you'll automatically get a small nature experience for free.

For me, this is one of the best things there is. Freedom begins for me when I hear the delightful sound of a motorcycle's engine and catch a whiff of the burnt scent of exhaust fumes. Before starting my journey, I always let the engine warm up for about a minute at idle. During that time, the oil in the engine has a chance to lubricate the parts that need lubrication, and both the engine and I warm up. Then it's just a matter of setting off again.

The best part of the whole event is that I get to decide where I want to go and what I want to see. I prefer winding asphalt roads in natural settings. You feel close to nature and experience it in a completely different way than if you were, for example, driving a car. As a motorcyclist, you're much more present with your own vehicle, with the surroundings, with other motorists, and with nature than you are when driving a car. This is something I know other motorcyclists experience too, and it's a wonderful feeling of freedom. Everyday problems or challenges are forgotten during the time spent riding a motorcycle in traffic.

See More of the Country and the World and Meet New People

One of the advantages of riding a motorcycle, especially if you vary your routes, is that you see and experience so much. Personally, over the past few years, I've discovered a lot of new things even in my local area because I've been out riding my motorcycle. It might sound incredible, but those who enjoy riding motorcycles know exactly what I'm talking about.

Discovering new things and meeting new people is something I find interesting and rewarding. I believe I share this opinion with most motorcycle enthusiasts around the world. It's so easy to strike up a conversation, for example, at a café or in a parking lot with other motorcyclists. I've experienced it so many times that most motorcyclists are quite like-minded, and then you have a common and interesting topic to talk about, which is fun.

Escape from the Consumption of Modern Life

I believe you're all familiar with this. Society is structured so that we, as citizens, should consume as much as possible. We're supposed to buy new goods and consume these new goods as quickly as possible, only to then buy new goods again. Society wants us to pay high taxes because that makes both society and us happy.

But am I consuming society's products when I ride a motorcycle - the answer is yes. After all, I've acquired a motorcycle that needs servicing, new parts, oil changes, spark plugs, etc. At the same time, I've also acquired motorcycle clothing, equipment, and accessories that I need. Additionally, the motorcycle needs gasoline to function, etc. So, indeed, I am also a consumer.

But here's my point: I decide for myself what kind of consumer I want to be, not society. I decide for myself where I want to allocate my money. And when it comes to hobbies, the motorcycle is one of the hobbies where my extra pennies go. I don't buy anything unnecessary when it comes to the motorcycle hobby; the things I buy give me a sense of 'I want this' and 'I need this.' Therefore, at least I don't have any qualms about investing a little extra money in the hobby I love.

Having the Freedom to Live the Life I've Decided

For me, like many others, the motorcycle has become the life I want to live. I enjoy being able to ride it in traffic, feeling with my hands, thighs, and feet how the motorcycle behaves and responds to my commands. The feeling is satisfying when you know that the motorcycle does exactly what I want it to do. For example, it cuts through the curve exactly the way and at the place on the road that I want it to, and at the same time, I have full control of the situation. This knowledge comes from the specialized hard training I received when I studied to become a motorcycle police officer. I have no doubt that my prior specialized training plays a crucial role in my passion for motorcycles and the specialized knowledge I possess in riding them. But I can revisit the rich and tough training at a later stage.

The motorcycle is indeed an excellent tool when you want to live your own life without anyone else telling you how life should be. For me, and surely for many others, the motorcycle instills a hobby activity that brings joy and peace of mind. I congratulate all other motorcyclists in the world, those who are already motorcycle riders and those who will soon become one.

Ride on, Kjell (helmet)