I need to ride some more… But anyway, here is the 40k mark on my CBF. If I’m lucky I’ll try to turn it into 50k this year.

I’ve got my first bike ( a Russian IJ with sidecar) back in 2004. I think I’ve actually become a bike owner and less of a biker in the first years. 2007 was a really important year in becoming a biker, the year I bought my third Honda, started going to biker meetings and more importantly taking the open road and not a destination.

Last Sunday I had my fence painting episode and while I was contemplating the reasons why I enjoyed painting in the backyard as much as riding my bike I realized that now, even when I’m driving my car, I’m still a biker. I’ve never told you but I always have been obsessed with cars too. Just that now, when I’m riding I feel like a biker, when I’m driving I still fill like a biker that temporarily uses a car.

So what this has to do with biker being happier? Simple. While I was enjoying the results of my fence painting, I wasn’t just a man painting in the backyard. I was a biker painting in the backyard. If you ride, you know what I’m saying. Everything that you do, you do feeling you are a biker.

And you get to enjoy the simple things in life. Being a car freak as well, I traveled a lot. But food tastes better on the side of the road when you’re riding. You feel the road better on a bike, and you don’t have a destination unless you feel like stopping. Mountain rides on a Saturday morning. It smells different. Sun and rain are different. Bikers fellowship. The admiration of your colleagues when you come back from the long rides. Go out for a ride just because you feel like riding. Even meeting God.

You see, all very simple and basic things that make you happy. Bikers are happier.

Until I found a genuine review of the VFR1200 done by Arthur Coldwells. It talks about the engine. It also talks about the automatic transmission in a way I could almost feel it. It seems interesting to try. And even more interesting for touring. I almost want one now… But is there a Honda bike I don’t want to at least try?

What’s up with the fence painting? Well. It seems this is a strange year. Because of the very long winter I actually got to drive my car for a few months. And while in the last 2 years you could hardly get me off the bike (rain actually made me wanting to ride even more to  get me faster through the traffic) this year is different. Today was a perfectly good day for riding. I got up as usual by looking at he window and checking if it’s a good riding day. It was. Then, I thought, it’s also a perfect day for painting my backyard fence, something I never had time in the last 2-3 years (I actually found the paint I bought 2 ears ago). And I painted.

Now, I’m in my backyard and looking at the freshly painted fence it looks rewarding. Am I getting old?

I also enjoyed the review they made: “The writer behind this blog, Cristian Dorobantescu from Romania, clearly thinks big about Honda. Wherever there is a show, ride out or event that might include a Honda, this guy and his camera seem to be there. It seems to have paid off for him, with pictures of some beautiful scenery, outstanding bikes and great events. Oh, and there’s the odd babe picture thrown in for good measure!”

Looking through their blog I found some interesting things: a list and calendar of bike shows and events (which I was looking for since a few months) and a genuine section of bike reviews (which I always hope to be able to do at some point…).

Thinking about bike reviews and that I always wanted to be involved into bike and auto things makes me feel I might not be following my dreams to the fullest. And it hurts to know that’s something in my power to change and still I don’t… Last weekend at the Smaeb exposition I’ve meet one of my family contacts -  a guy that competed on dirt bikes and now has a motorcycle dealership. For me a true example of finding a way to follow your dreams. Maybe I should also do something about my dreams as well…

Strangely enough, the first year of owning a new bike wasn’t so glorious. The previous year I had 2 accidents and a broken leg which I never regret but somehow took the joy out of riding. The last 2 years, complete joy!

What went wrong with the bike? Not much. It’s a Honda

I did change: front and rear tire (rear tire lasted 29000km!). New chain and sprockets, handlebar bearing (but I can safely say they took way too much punishment on the very bad roads I’m riding. New battery. Brake pads.

The 3 years journey on the CBF (follow the links to see more pictures)

Cars, babes and bikes at Smaeb2008

Crossing the Danube – the greatest river in Europe

Moldavia Bikers party 2008

Trip to Slanic Prahova Salt mine

Targu Secuiesc 2008 bikers party

Riding Trip to Valea Siriului

Trip to Transfagarasan – the “Highway to the sky”

Pro Biker’s party, Bucharest, 2008

Country night at the Biker’s Club in Bucharest

Heavy Riders Bike Fest, Ploiesti, 2008

Babes and bikes Smaeb 2009

Trip to Nereju – like going back 100 years!

Some become monks, some just need a bike and a road

Moldavia Bikers Party, Bacau 2009

East European Motorshow Predeal 2009

Trip to Bolboci

986KM weekend trip

Failed trip to the mountains turns in 880 km trip to the seaside

Austrian Alps Tour mit Vlad

Trip to Valenii de munte

and many more! Many bedtime stories for my nephews for when I will get old! Thank you CBF for providing so much enjoyment and asking so little in return. I’m a happy biker. Long live my Honda(s)!

So how did I become a biker? My uncle is a biker for 30 something years, I’ve got to ride as a bitch on several occasions but that wasn’t the thing. In fact I felt mostly afraid and looking forward to the ride end each time.

That happen until about 5 years ago when I went to a bikers party to meet my uncle there (I’ve drove my car there). And what do you know. Everybody knew anybody. Long stories about trips. Long stories about adventures, accidents, getting your buddies help and an overall warm feeling of belonging to a special group. Oh and the sound of engines!

I’ve got home mad! It was a Sunday and I remember I could hardly wait for the Monday to find a moto learning school. 2 days later I was taking lessons – I remember I was very afraid of loosing the bike there and in the same day I went and bought myself a bicycle – I had a fake feeling it would help me get my equilibrium and confidence, that is how afraid I was. The exam day came a month later – I was still very afraid and quit and took some more lessons. By the time I was convinced I will never be able to actually ride.

I somehow managed to fight my fear and took the exam some 2 weeks later. And went ahead and bought myself a $400 Russian motorcycle bike with sidecar and kickstart. An absolute nightmare – nothing was working. So anyway I went in traffic in Bucharest which is a very bad traffic city – crowded, nobody follows the rules and nobody notices the bikers. I remember I stopped at a traffic light next to a bus and the rear wheel was incredible close and big.

About 3 months later I decided that riding the Russian bike was simply totally unreliable, borrowed some money from my mother and bought myself a ‘86 Honda CB450S – that’s when my love for Hondas started. Now, you should know that this “86 Honda was very tired, and had like millions of Km done. And still, it started each morning and got me everywhere. It was a Honda!

By this time I managed to fight my fear somehow, and I remember I was thinking: well maybe in a few years I will become a real biker. Go to the Alps, ride and ride and ride like a real biker. I think this is one of the very few moments in life when your dreams come true.

Good news in the second year, my uncle sold me his Honda CB750 Nighthawk – which I still own today and take a great pride when riding it. I’m very convinced that this bike will “outrun the Universe” as the Top Gear show says about Hondas. It got me my first true rides, the biker feeling and the first brooken leg. Yep, I had an accident on my second year – a car didn’t stop at the sign. Nothing major, just remember my mom going crazy.

Third year started and I was kind of shaken because of the accident. I was riding really slowwwww. I still had fun, but I wasn’t riding each day. Totally unrelated, one day I had a business lunch next to the Honda dealer. I entered the shop just to have a look at the new Hornet 2007 – it was just launched and in the magazines it was looking amazing. I’ve sat on it. Looked at it. It wasn’t what I expected. It wasn’t me.

I was trying to see the Hornet from different perspectives and got about 2 steps back – that was when my back went for the first time in contact with the CBF600. I turned to see what I was touching, and here is was. My love at first sight bike: the 2007 CBF600s -  naked bike, classic looks, non-digital gauges, no ABS and with carburators. As close as it gets to the real biking experience – no fancy electronics, no allien looks.

I jumped on the seat. I had an incredible feeling – it was like I didn’t need to change anything – perfect seat position, perfect handlebars, everything was already set for me. I bought it – I remember my mom saying I’m crazy to pay the price – it was almost the same price with a low cost car. I was thinking the same.

30.000 km later, Alps trip done, may riding stories, I know that no money can buy what a bike can give you. It doesn’t matter how much it costs, it changed and maybe saved my life. Looking forward for the French Alps ride in about 5 months.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRpHJlaG_-U

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCQgYHaYJms