Proficient Motorcycling Reader Feedback

[FrankS]

Most, if not all, of the material has appeared in Hough's columns in "Motorcycle Consumer News". Of course that may not matter to folks who do not subscribe to MCN; as it happens, I do subscribe, and I find the columns to be a consistent high in that magazine.



I'm only human, and I don't always agree with the rating criteria in MCN. Well, I don't always agree with Hough, either, but most of the time he makes perfectly good sense. There are times I've found myself thinking "Why didn't I think of that?" That's despite being an experienced motorcyclist, assuming 40 years makes me experienced, that is.



There's always something new to learn, and Hough does a fine job of teaching it. Get the book, it may not be perfect but it's hard to imagine a rider who couldn't benefit from what it says.

[roadload]

Unfortunately I cannot watch any television since i suffrer from ADD



CRAIG RAINES

[ZRXRy]

Uh, how does ADD stop you from watching television? Hell, I'm AD and I've watched way too much television in my 33 years. Seriously, I'm wondering what the mechanism is that stops you from watching tv - I haven't heard of that before.

[Gabe]

Since we're making up Gore quotes, how's about some REAL Shrub quotes? I wish I was funny enough to write this ...



Be careful what you wish for, dittoheads, you might actually get it. All of this is from www.georgewbushspeaks.com



"The fundamental question is: 'Will I be a successful president when it comes to foreign policy?' I will be, but until I'm the president, it's going to be hard for me to verify that I think I'll be more effective."

--George W. Bush sounds less than confident, making this statement in Wayne, Mich.

(Quote is from the New York Times, 7/28/99)



"Uh, I support winning."

--George W. Bush takes a bold stand when asked for his position on U.S. involvement in Kosovo. He added: "And, uh, the strategy must ... America should be slow to engage military, but once we engage, we must do so to win."

(Quote is from CNN, 4/7/99)



"Will the highways on the Internet become more few?"

--George W. Bush asks a provocative, if not bizarre, question.

(Quote is from a Bush statement in Concord, N.H. on 1/29/00)



"We must all hear the universal call to like your neighbor just like you like to be liked yourself."

--George W. Bush puts an interesting twist on Jesus Christ's proverb: "Love thy neighbor."

(Quote is from the Financial Times)



"I understand small business growth. I was one."

--George W. Bush reveals the depth of his identity crisis. Bush's oil business failed, and the only successful business that Bush had could hardly be called "small." It was his ownership stake in a major league baseball team, the Texas Rangers. After the team's value was enhanced by a taxpayer-financed stadium, Bush sold his stake.

(Quote is from the New York Daily News, 2/19/00)



"As you know, I hope I'm not here to have to deal with it."

-- George W. Bush responds to reports of a $750 million state budget shortfall in Texas. He can't keep his own state budget balanced in a time of economic prosperity, but now he wants the power to oversee the federal budget.

(Quote is from the Dallas Morning News, 7/13/00)

[Gabe]

You're absolutely right- I say all kinds of wacky things I later regret. Then again, I'm not PRESIDENT OF THE 3RD MOST POPULOUS STATE AND FAVORED CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT OF THE FREAKIN' UNITED STATES!!!!!!



But hey, Ventura makes Bush look like Abraham Lincoln, so what can I say.

[Gabe]

Bunch of commies tellin' me what to do!!! Next thing, you'll be wantin to take my guns, and steaks, and then you'll turn my son gay!!!!



You keep yer governement off of my body! (Except when it comes to abortion!) If I want to ride the most powerful sportbike in the universe, with no training at all, that's my God-given right as an amurrukan! As long as I've got the money,(or credit) what do you care!



I'm gonna kick yer ass!

[bobdog]

You may read "fast" as "efficient" or even "proficient" in my original post. My own experience with going fast has nothing to do with impressing other people -- that's for the wheelie, stoppie in public crowd -- it has to do with pusing my self and my skills to the limit, always in situations where others are not threatened, i.e. quiet backroads. Part of the art of motorcycling is learning how to color within the lines, and knowing when you can go outside of them.

[Gabe]

Now maybe they'll stay there!

[MotorcycleMan]

FrankS wrote:

>Most, if not all, of the material has appeared

>in Hough's columns in "Motorcycle Consumer News".



>There are times I've found myself thinking "Why

>didn't I think of that?" That's despite being an

>experienced motorcyclist, assuming 40 years

>makes me experienced, that is.



Maybe it's just me, but I have to force myself to read through Hough's column. My reaction to most of his columns isn't "Why didn't I think of that?" but rather "Err, isn't that rather obvious?"



Most of his advice seems to be based on "common sense". The funny thing is that it sure doesn't seem to be very common...