OUR BIKES
THINKING THE
Words: Peter Elliott | Photos: Geoff Osborne
T
here is a sweet spot in motorcycling, where the body and mind are one with a
motorcycle and everything becomes liquid flow, when joy rises to the surface of
consciousness, and flowers miraculously. I have sometimes sung out, shouted
in my helmet, or laughed like a man released from prison; there’s a warmth and
strength in your solar plexus that just spreads ease, happiness and promise to your
whole being (ok, Hard Man, deny it how you will, it has happened to you…).
And, this occurs more often on my Triumph Thruxton R than any other bike I have
ever ridden. And that’s been a few over the last few years, because, courtesy of this
very magazine, I have been able to ride some truly exceptional machines. Aprilia,
Beta, BMW, GasGas, Harley, Honda, Husqvarna, Indian, Kawasaki, KTM, Moto Guzzi,
Piaggio, Suzuki, Triumph, and the mighty Vespa, to alphabetically list a few. In
every model and style – road cruisers, scooters, street fighters, race bikes, tourers,
adventurers and off-road machines.
During those rides I have had thrills and excitement and not a little pleasure
– every bike has something to say, some wail and scream, and some work away
at you like an earworm song, while others can make you throb. As you all know.
28 KIWI RIDER