I Had One Of THOSE Conversations Yesterday...

[bronzeflex42]

I agree

I've had a lot of questions asked to me bout my Spyder. I like the attention it gets in my small town. It's just a kid and he just see a machine unlike anything out there. He was just amazed i guess. You see a motorcycle almost everyday, but not a Spyder, a totally different machine.hyea:

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I was a long distance motorcycle rider for a long time and I have to say I have a hard time calling the Spyder a motorcycle.

Along that line here is a very interesting article. http://www.atthecreation.com/first.mc/Worlds.First.Motorcycle.html. On the face of it it appears to be a credible discussion of the history of motorcycles and the word "motorcycle".

Based on the author's discussion it looks like we two choices. One is to resurrect the term "motocycle", without the "r", which would unquestionably include oddities like the Slingshot, or work to evolve the definition of "motorcycle", which clearly would have to include three wheelers that make us Spyder Lovers cringe, like the Slingshot!

As much as I hate to say it, according to the author the word "motorcycle", in its original definition, does not include three wheelers like the Spyder.

 

[PrairieSpyder]

...While voting! :shocked:
This is a small Town; we might have 600 residents who are registered to vote. Everybody knows everybody else, and it's a chance to visit a little bit with the friends and neighbors who are there.
I ride the Spyder down to the Town Hall to vote, and I head toward the voter registration tables. There's the normal crew of folks there, and two strangers... :shocked:
An older gentleman in a suit and tie, and a "Thirty-Something" in a sweatshirt...
This "Kid" jumps me..."Are you the guy on the Spyder?", he asks while I'm exchanging pleasantries and getting signed-in.
"I'm ONE of them; they're getting more and more popular every day.", is my reply.
Judy; the Lady who signed me in; turns to him and says, "They even take their Pomeranian for rides on their motorcycle".
"It's not a motorcycle; it's a... vehicle!", the kid says.
"Did you ride your bike here today?", I ask with a big smile.
"No. I don't have one,"

"Oh... I thought not".
With a big smile; I turn and go cast my ballot.

Did you ever find out what those strangers were there for? Maybe they were DOJ poll-watchers!

 

[PrairieSpyder]

About 30% turn out...so sad that so few see value in exercising one of our greatest freedoms. When someone starts complaining about (whatever gov't)...I ask "did you vote"...if they did I will listen. If they say no......I say than you don't have a right to complain to me....Nope, I don't understand the "not voting" mentality. :gaah::gaah::gaah:

I also wish more people would vote, but not if they don't have a clue what's going on in the country - or even their district. I'd rather have 30% of the people vote if they are informed and have some knowledge how the constitution is supposed to work. I fear people who go vote blindly for some emotional or avaricious reasons.

 

[flaggerphil]

...While voting! :shocked:
This is a small Town; we might have 600 residents who are registered to vote. Everybody knows everybody else, and it's a chance to visit a little bit with the friends and neighbors who are there.
I ride the Spyder down to the Town Hall to vote, and I head toward the voter registration tables. There's the normal crew of folks there, and two strangers... :shocked:
An older gentleman in a suit and tie, and a "Thirty-Something" in a sweatshirt...
This "Kid" jumps me..."Are you the guy on the Spyder?", he asks while I'm exchanging pleasantries and getting signed-in.
"I'm ONE of them; they're getting more and more popular every day.", is my reply.
Judy; the Lady who signed me in; turns to him and says, "They even take their Pomeranian for rides on their motorcycle".
"It's not a motorcycle; it's a... vehicle!", the kid says.
"Did you ride your bike here today?", I ask with a big smile.
"No. I don't have one,"

"Oh... I thought not".
With a big smile; I turn and go cast my ballot.

I love people who have "opinions" on something they know nothing about.

And people can say what they will, I consider the Spyder a motorcycle.

Others mileage may vary.

 

[ARtraveler]

Way to go Bob. You handled the conversation well! :thumbup::thumbup:

We had a good turn out in Alaska. A very hot contest for Senator. It looks the Red team took back the seat. This AM, there was an 8000 vote lead. The election was won last time on a 4000 vote lead.

The state also voted for marijuana legalization. Hello Colorado, here we come. 52 % yea and 48% nay. I was not one of the Duuuuuuuuuude, farrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ouuuuuuuuuuuuuut! votes. :yikes:

The polling place banter included (once they saw my address) have I seen the mother bear and her three cubs in my yard yet? No, I have so far missed that. It's getting cold enough that they should be finding a place to hibernate pretty quick. Hope they don't get into either of my sheds. :roflblack:

 

[Bob Denman]

So you legalized it... :2thumbs:

Dude...

But where are you gonna find a store open at 3:00 am, when "The Munchies" strike? :roflblack:

 

[ARtraveler]

So you legalized it... :2thumbs:

Dude...

But where are you gonna find a store open at 3:00 am, when "The Munchies" strike? :roflblack:

Well, thank you Bob. I had a feeling your were going to play us "the song." Can honestly say I have never used the stuff, never even been around anyone who was. My loss I guess. :roflblack::roflblack: Don't plan on trying it regardless.

I do like the song though. I am a sucker for pretty steel guitar music. The one instrument I played that you could really get lost in the feeling of the music. Don't need to be on grass either. :yes:

 

[Bob Denman]

I picked it out for you; for the music; the lyrics just happened to fit your State's latest balloting results!

 

[Laila's Dad]

curious

I always wonder what the thought process is for people who are 100% committed to saying the Spyder is not a motorcycle and for the people who are 100% committed to saying it is. I wonder if the people who say it is not a motorcycle are really trying to say "it is not a bike"? And I wonder if the people who say it is a motorcycle are of the mindset that you ride it the same way you do a bike even if the Spyder doesn't respond the same in every condition(i.e... I lean in curves but the Spyder stays upright). I don't call the Spyder a bike, but per my license in the state of Texas, it is a motorcycle(but to debate myself I guess the SlingShot is too). I imagine folks who have ridden bikes for years refer to there Spyder as a bike because they consider themselves bikers so it is a natural thing to say. The topic of "is it a motorcycle?" and "what is the top speed?" always peaks my interest.

Y'all have a great day.

Grady b.k.a. Laila's dad

 

[FullCircle]

Well I look at it this way, I have to have a motorcycle endorsement to ride it, I have to wear a DOT approved motorcycle helmet while I ride it, and my insurance company insured it as a motorcycle. So who am I to argue????:dontknow:

 

[Bob Denman]

I just was amused by this kid who didn't even own a motorcycle; feeling the need to tell me what my ride was... or wasn't!
I just call mine, "Fun"! :2thumbs:

 

[JerryB]

Hi Art,

Re: What's in a name?

I think that Shakespeare put it best: A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_rose_by_any_other_name_would_smell_as_sweet

Call her what you want IMO,

Jerry Baumchen

PS) I have never failed to vote since my first vote in 1964.

 

[Kwalsh]

I refer to mine as a bike, daughter refers to it as tricycle . Who is right??

 

[ARtraveler]

I refer to mine as a bike, daughter refers to it as tricycle . Who is right??

According to BRP, its a "roadster."

I call all motorcycles including the :spyder2: a bike. So...I would say you are right on. :roflblack::roflblack:

 

[GunDoctor]

I call mine a Tri-Rod.

 

[billybovine]

A motorcycle is defined differently around the world but for the US I would go with NHSTA since it is the safety regulating body.

Motorcycle is defined as a motor vehicle with motive power having a seat or saddle for the use of
the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground.

 

[ursamajor35126]

A motorcycle is defined differently around the world but for the US I would go with NHSTA since it is the safety regulating body.

Motorcycle is defined as a motor vehicle with motive power having a seat or saddle for the use of
the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground.

Well THERE ya go:thumbup:..... a definitive answer..... Thanks you sir!:bowdown::bowdown:

 

[cptjam]

Hmmmmmm

On voting: the privilege of voting in a democracy is huge! Years ago, our army had to guard polling booths in certain Central America countries to ensure voters lived to vote! People walked 25 miles to cast a vote - here, people can't be bothered! Sad! It is important to vote for the candidate who represents your opinions.
On Spyders: Nevada considers any vehicle with a single driven rear wheel a motorcycle. My insurance company considers it a motorcycle, and a helmet is required. Makes it a motorcycle. Not my opinion - legal facts. Michigan required an M endorsement. Sure seems like a bike to me!

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

A motorcycle is defined differently around the world but for the US I would go with NHSTA since it is the safety regulating body.

Motorcycle is defined as a motor vehicle with motive power having a seat or saddle for the use of
the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground.

Here's the exact reference.

Code of Federal Regulations - Part 49 -Section 571.3, Definitions

Motorcycle means a motor vehicle with motive power having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground.

Motor-driven cycle means a motorcycle with a motor that produces 5-brake horsepower or less.

Of course guys like the one Denman was talking with will argue that Gov't doesn't know what it's doing and just because Uncle Sam says it, doesn't make it so. But I'll buy it. It simplifies the issue! Thanks, Billy. I really enjoyed our chat at Lamont's BBQ.