I would say that ´adventure´ has been abused by marketing for all and sundry. Even a luxury cruise in the med is marketed as such
According to dictionaries: Adventure refers to an unusual, exciting, and often risky activity or experience, such as a journey or undertaking that involves unknown dangers or challenges. It embodies the spirit of exploration and excitement in facing the unknown.
I think the last bit captures it; the last word being the crux. Of course there is the individual reference sets and perception involved. Just look at ´risk´. Crossing the street involves risk.
Riding a motorcycle is most definitely a risk choice compared to taking the car. As such it already is adventure though not in the way marketing wants it
Commuting and personal circumstances obviously set the prameters. Heck, the world, culture we live in does.
For this thread I am, perhaps unwarranted, assuming riding a motorcycling as a first world hobby. I take the R18 very much as a luxury product, even in our world for many bordering on the ostentacious.
Now enjoying a coffee in the kitchen and one window looks out over a bridge where a quite popular secondary road enters the village, at the other end meandering further inland through the mountains.
It is wonderful motorcycling weather, weekend and as such several groups of motorcyclist pass through the view. All in groups so far. Mixes, per group, of allroad, custom/cruiser and an entry model apt for car license. Very, véry few sports bikes. Without exception it is follow the leader; a large allroad with GPS.
Also without exception dressed as aliens. I mean full mc gear even though the night did not drop below 18 C. with midday max expected to go to 30.
Now I unreservedly applaud this. They are out there having fun in a group of friends. The car license bike FAT underlining the social aspect as well as the leisure nature of the trips.
In the light of the topic subject though, not an adventure in sight no?! Marketing be damned.
An unfortunate aspect is the effect of the thundering sound of a group of larger capacity bikes and the motorcycle blothing. For the average passer by it creates a distance, even a bit of threatening perception.
The difference with a handful of Vespas or a single sidecar pulling up at the town square for breakast/lunch is close to binairy. I, we, find pulling up dressed in leisure clothing with a single well muffled R18 base falls in this category.
I blame Hollywood, starting with the for me infamous Wild One. Decades of mc bands still permeate main stream movies, almost as a rule adding a sense of suspense, threat.
The absolutely brílliant sixties Honda slogan was a breakthrough counterbalancing the wild one. Unfortunately that colourful fun aspect is all but forgotten, overwritten by Hollywood and in a sense literally blacked out by modern motorcycle gear, with integral helmets not helping.
To add insult upon injury, this Honda campagne would now be impossible. Protective gear being the norm, mandatory even and kids cannot be taken along like that.
Over here in the village there is one old bloke in his late seventies in his daily clothes, no gloves, just an open faced helmet on his retro metallic red 2024 Honda Cub coming into the village for this breakfast or whatever. What a contast with the politically correct suited up groups out for ´adventure´
One saillant detail is that he hangs his hard hat on a mirror and the groups most have topcases to lock the helmet up. I have recently bought a simple strap lock; again half way solution
