Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance...
I read the book "Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenace" by Robert Pirsig way before I started riding motorcycle. This is not really a book about repairing motorcycle, but the philosophical metamorphism into a quality life through the form of a motorcycle.
I started to hear about this book in my Freshman year in college, majoring in Computer Science. Lots of engineering textbooks gave credit to this book in its acknowledgement as helping the authors to achieve better quality life and products. My curiosity was peaked and I bought the book. I still have it 20+ years later.
I can't say that I understand it all, even after reading it from cover to cover several times.
06-APR-2007
Front wheel removed...
When things are removed from a shape that we recognize, the first thing that came to our mind was that "things are falling apart." May be.
May be also that these things that are falling apart are to reveal other things that have been in order that we never noticed...
Only after removing the front wheel that I could see how the bearings work, I could check the axle that was hidden, the brake pistons that I never cleaned and the critical nuts and bolts that I never checked...
06-APR-2007
Rear wheel removed
Revealed a brand new picture of my motorcycle...
06-APR-2007
Wheels
Are the wheels more important than the little bolts that hold the axle?
28-APR-2007
Work
Approaching and Going through things methodically bring us a state of mind that's peaceful and at the same time exciting...
28-APR-2007
Under the air box
is always a good puzzle...
28-APR-2007
The fuel tank
Look how simple it is...and the whole (motorcycle) is definitely more than the sum of its parts...
28-APR-2007
Spark plugs...
The blue color caps are spark plug boots. Removing and installing spark plugs are always a test of dexterity, patience and one's sanity. When one achieves the same state of mind before and after installing the plugs, one passes another test...
The Fascination Of Motorcycling
Beauty and peace are where we perceive.
This morning I left my home with a temperature of 44 degree F (7 degree C). That was with a thermometer standing still on my front porch. The wind chill temperature when I was moving at 75 miles per hour (120 km/h) must be a lot lower.
the chill when I started moving. Incredibly, a good chill going to my head through my helmet's vents and all my body. Not an uncomfortable cold but a "good cold", a cold that makes me feel I was so much sharper and clearer in my mind. My body went with the flow, felt every single ripples on the roads; I and my motorcycle became one. I was the motorcycle and the motorcycle was me. Sneaking through the traffic like a hot knife through butter and sailed under the early morning sun that painted the world in a beautiful golden shade.
Splitting through the rush hour traffic. Going between 2 lanes of cars. A big bus was blocking the carpool lane but moved away seeing my approach. I waved to the driver after I passed. Thanking the driver who extended a courtesy to a motorcycle rider. Another truck, another car, they all moved out so slightly that I could tell they said: "ok, this is the best I could do. Be careful". I passed again, waved back with my left hand, again thanking them for their kindness. Saw a yellow GTO, a new sport car in front. I said to myself, "oh oh, is this go-fast driver going to let me through or will he think I'm challenging his authority?" To test his kindness and courtesy, I moved over to the right, showing myself in his right hand side mirror, following at a distance of a car's length.
He saw me. He moved over to the left and left me room to pass. I closed the throttle for a split second, squeezed the clutch and clicked down 1 gear. I opened the throttle and zipped past him in a millisecond. I passed. Again I waved back with my left hand and thanked him. Now my left arm is getting sore. That's the only way I could express my gratitude to the drivers I passed. This is good. Who said that people in Los Angeles are mean and inconsiderate?
I passed an ambulance, again I waved. I passed a pickup truck. I waved. I passed a Honda civic, I waved. Then I lost count...
Finally I got thru an empty stretch of freeway. I moved to my own lane. Then from the corner of my eyes, I saw a flash of yellow color beside me. I turned my head. It was the GTO. I pointed to his car, raised my thumb to mean "hey, nice car!" He understood. Gave me a nod then accelerate with a throaty exhaust note. I think, cool. I accelerated too. Passed him. He accelerated. I accelerated. Then I reached my destination at work. We waved to each other. Thumbs up to each other. "What a great day!" We said to each other, silently...
Who says that you can't have fun everyday?
The Night Ride
It gets dark early now. This is another cold night in California. Stepping out of my office at 7pm, it was completely dark outside.
Outside temperature shown 48 degree F (9 degree C) so it's slightly warmer than this morning when I left home. At highway speed, the "felt" temperature will be a lot lower. Good, time to clear my head after a full day's work. I can put computer, C++, controls, algorithms, codes, tests, schedules etc... temporarily aside and concentrate on my ride. I can't be distracted while riding or it'll be fatal. I control my motorcycle and I control my fate. I take full responsibility of my destiny and when I make an error, it's me and me alone.
Started the engine, pulled in the clutch and shifted the gear. Opened up the throttle and the motorcycle glided forward smoothly like a magic carpet. The exhaust was near silent. Even if it wasn't, I couldn't hear it as I was wearing ear plugs to protect my hearing from the wind noise. The high performance 4-stroke engine roared satisfyingly as gears were shifted near redline, at 10600 rpm. First gear at redline brought me to 70 mph. Zero to 60 in 2.7 seconds. Faster than all production cars in the world. Faster than a Bell helicopter. Faster than a Ferrari Enzo. Faster than a Mercedes McLaren. Leave them all in the dirt. Shifted to second gear and the front wheel wanted to leave the ground. Things were perfectly under control. Suspensions, tires, chain, throttle, clutch, gear, brakes were working together and enhancing each other like a well coordinated orchestra. Excellent!
I ducked down. Wind slid off the top of my helmet and off my tight leather jacket and pants, like water off a whale. I glided smoothly and effortlessly into the darkness, parting out only by my single headlight. Again, I and my motorcycle became one...
March 25, 2008 - When will be the right time to do something?
Last month I went to watch the Powerpoint presentation (pictures and short videos) of Lisa and Simon Thomas (
http://www.2ridetheworld.com), 2 world travelers on 2 BMW motorcycles, when they stopped by Southern California on the way to Alaska. The presentation and narration were inspiring and I was especially touched by the parting words of Simon at the end of the presentation. He said, I'm paraphrasing here, "we should never wait for the right time to do something like riding around the world. By waiting for the right time, which will certainly rarely come, we will certainly miss our opportunities. Just do it, follow your heart, and if it doesn't work out, stop and reevaluate. "
