The Prophet

Just a nice short read I stumbled upon today, and wanted to share...

Note "Illusions and Metaphor's"

My Philosophy on Motorcycles

I couldn't agree more. Nice thoughts.

Ride safe!

Bob

Forchetto

As this is a grown-up forum I can freely and shamelessly admit that I derive tremendous enjoyment from small, simple bikes as well.

I have a fleet of small bikes, ranging from hopped-up Honda Monkey Bike and Dax replicas, a 200 cc Super Moto this being a sort of dirt bike with road tyres and 17" wheels, and also a modern interpretation of the old Honda Cub, but of 125 cc capacity.

They're so economical, light, fun, easy to live with and to repair that sometimes I wonder why I need anything else...

I knew a young couple that toured Europe aboard 2 Honda Cub 50's and had a lot of fun doing it. Neither of the bikes missed a beat in thousands of miles.

I also remember what a friend of mine, that used to have a road-legal 350 cc ISDT trials Jawa, complete with all sorts of easy and quick maintenance features as befits a competition bike, tons of power and low-down grunt, robust but extremely light and manouverable, that he couldn't see why anyone would need any other sort of bike.

The Prophet

Sunday, August 01, 2010

Todays Zen:

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -- Mark Twain

Sounds like good advice to me!

Ride Safe!

Bob

motowebmaster

I've seen some small-displacement Aprilia bikes around here, but not enough to learn about what it takes to ride them. There are likely several 250cc cruisers being sold, but have seen them ridden only within city limits. These days, I'd suppose it would be more cool to get a scooter instead.

The Prophet

Today's Zen... Friday the 13th (!) by the way...

"There will always be those who know more than me and will prove it to themselves" - Anonymous

Oooooommmmm...

Ride Safe!

Bob

The Prophet

Some new "Zen" thoughts for today, September 9th, 2010...

Chilling Out!

Copy and paste these 15 steps on a word document, tape it to your fridge, and "Chill Out"!

1. Breathe. So simple, and yet so effective. Take a few deep breaths, and then for a few minutes, just focus on your breathing. Concentrate on your breathing as it comes into your body, and then as it goes out. It has a calming effect, especially if you continue to return your focus to your breath when your mind strays.

2. Write it down. If you have a bunch of things on your mind, it helps to get them on paper and off your mind.. This keeps your head from being filled with everything you need to do and remember.

3. Identify the essential. if you want to simplify or declutter, the first step is identifying what is most important. In this case, identify what is most important in your life, and what’s most important for you to focus on right now. Make a short list for each of these things.

4. Eliminate. Now that you’ve identified the essential, you can identify what’s not essential. What things in your life are not truly necessary or important to you? What are you thinking about right now that’s not on your short list? By eliminating as many of these things as possible, you can get a bunch of junk off your mind.

5. Journal. Journaling (whether it’s in a paper journal or online doesn’t matter) helps you explore different areas of your life that you don’t think about much. And this exploration might allow you to find some things on your mind that you didn’t realize were there, some things that can be eliminated or pursued. And just getting these thoughts into some kind of a journal is a way of getting them out of your mind as well.

6. Rethink your sleep. Sometimes we aren’t getting enough sleep, or our sleeping patterns aren’t ideal. Do something positive to fix them.

7. Take a walk. Getting outside and doing some kind of physical activity is a great way to get stuff off your mind Spending some physical energy clears the mind.

8. Watch less TV. TV fills your head with noise, without the redeeming qualities of music or reading or good conversation. Watch less TV, and you’ll notice your mind begin to quieten.

9. Get in touch with nature. Go somewhere with water … the ocean, a river, a lake, even just a man-made fountain if nothing else is available. Or watching rain does the trick for me too. Somehow this can be calming and focusing at the same time.

10. Do less. Take your to-do list and cross off half the things on it. Just pick a few things to get done today, and focus on those. Let the rest go away. If you do less, you’ll have less on your mind.

11. Go slower. Seems kinda weird, I know, but walking and talking and working and riding slower can make a very big difference. It’s kind of like you’re saying, “I’m not willing to rush through life, no matter what artificial time demands others are putting on me. I want to take it at my pace.” And as a result, your mind is less harried as well.

12. Let go. Worrying about something? Angry about somebody? Frustrated? Harboring a grudge? While these are all natural emotions and thoughts, none of them are really necessary. See if you can let go of them.

13. Declutter your surroundings. Having a lot of stuff around you is just visual clutter — it occupies part of your mind, even if you don’t realize it.

14. Single-task. Multi-tasking, for the most part, is a good way to fill your mind with a lot of activity without a lot of productivity or happiness as a result. Instead, try to "one" task— just focus on one task at a time. Clear away everything else, until you’re done with that task. Then focus on the next task, and so on.

15. Get a load off. Sometimes it can make a huge difference to unload our troubles on another human being. If you have a significant other or a best friend or a close family member or coworker … unload your thoughts on them. And listen to them, to return the favor. Sure, it’s just talk … but it can make a huge difference to your mental sanity.

Ride Safe!

Bob

__________________

• A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. ~Lao Tzu
• Motorcyles are not my whole life, but they make my life whole. ` me

motowebmaster

Excellent points Bob, several of those I'm guilty of not doing.

I do think that those who still ride are doing it with less these days, just some moderate gear and a decent machine. Being overly protective is one thing, but there is something to be said about the casual cruise. If I'm destined to keep my VFR then I'll likely make my second bike something less sporty and more basic.

The Prophet

Something I'm working on right now is #13 de-cluttering. It's amazing how NOT doing this creates a ton of hassles and stress situations daily, and how DOING it eventually relaxes the entire atmosphere.

This goes for the office, the workshop, your Tool Chest, the Garage, your basement, etc. Anywhere you spend ample time, or store... stuff.

#4 sort of goes along with this as well.

What does any of this have to do with motorcycles?

1.) Think about not choosing to ride when your pee'd about something, or overly stressed, and
2.) We may find it more enjoyable to work on our bikes if the workspace is clean and organised.

Just a thought.


Ride Safe(and stress free)!

Bob

The Prophet

Some Zen for October 28th, 2010 (or anytime!)

A few thought provoking quotations around the subject of travel. Hopefully some good incentive for everyone to plan a trip soon, long or short, doesn’t matter.

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.
Saint Augustine


Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost

Traveling is the death of ignorance.
Mark Twain

Ride (and travel) Safe!

Bob

The Prophet

Some good thoughts to ponder over the weekend... or anytime.

November 12th, 2010

• A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.
  
  
  
• Be Content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.
  
  

• If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.

All by our good ol' buddy, Lao Tzu


Ride Safe!

Bob