Zer, I'm curious, what exactly do you mean by this? Do you think Persig is full of shit? Bob ----- Original Message ----- From: Zerhackermann . <chopp-@hotmail.com> To: <Loopfram-@topica.com> Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2001 1:51 PM Subject: Re: LONG DISTANCE LOOP FRAME
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It's because of junk like this in his book, giving folks incorrect misconceptions, that I consider that book to just be a poor substitue for toilet paper.
"His riding partners are on BMW's. They enjoy riding but consider repair and maintenance as things that are done to your bike by others and inherently take away from the experience if you have to do them yourself. Their bikes either run or they don't. They do not with to analyze even the simplest problems since they look at the bike as a single entity. When it's broke, it's broke and someone with that knowledge must fix it. I read this book before ever getting a motorcycle and early on, identified that I would never be satisfied with a bike that I did not have the ability to work on myself. "
From: psabr-@aol.com Reply-To: Loopfram-@topica.com To: Loopfram-@topica.com Subject: Re: LONG DISTANCE LOOP FRAME Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2001 13:04:25 EST
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OK,
Since we have introduced discussions on books and Guzzi vs BMW/Goldwing, I'll bring up the annual "Zen" reference. If you've never read it, sit down with "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". A book of Philosophy intertwined with a study of motorcycles and their riders. The reading can be dry at times, so be forewarned. The author (Pirsig) rides an old motorcycle and performs routine and roadside maintenance because
it
is an anticipated and expected part of the entire riding experience. He understands that his bike is a collection of interoperating systems that all tie together to make the bike run. If one system fails then the
entire
"system" fails. Troubleshooting and analysis of problems adds to his pleasure.
His riding partners are on BMW's. They enjoy riding but consider repair and maintenance as things that are done to your bike by others and inherently take away from the experience if you have to do them yourself. Their bikes either run or they don't. They do not with to analyze even
the
simplest problems since they look at the bike as a single entity. When it's broke, it's broke and someone with that knowledge must fix it. I
read
this book before ever getting a motorcycle and early on, identified that
I
would never be satisfied with a bike that I did not have the ability to work on myself. It is that reputation of low maintenance and longevity that gives me little desire to own a BMW, Although I respect their bikes greatly. My experience with HD is that one must perform the same basic tasks (i.e. replace primary cover bolts) nearly everytime the bike is ridden. That, to me, is silly stuff. I want a machine that when properly "repaired", will hold that state reliably until another "repair" is
needed.
Moto Guzzi fits nicely somewhere between the two. Generally when a repair must me made repeatedly to a Guzzi, then perhaps there are other factors which must be contributing to the problem. We can see this, in that many of us have started with neglected bikes, but with time and persistence, the bikes end up being very reliable and consistent. The owners grow in knowledge and through familiarity and experience, begin to anti
cipate when items must be worked on and why.
This may be a little deep and long-winded, but in my mind, it is this common experience and and ATTITUDE which binds the members of this list together.
To paraphrase the author one one of my favorite statements: "When working on a motorcycle, the first and foremost tool one must have
is
Gumption. Without that, no other tools will do you any good."
Thanks for the bandwidth David Whitmore '71 Ambassador (still gathering up the Gumption)
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