I just want to ride
By: Richard Toynton (wnt2rd)

The pale, old man stared intently at the cashier as the tan-skinned bystander asked the question, “You picking up a Harley?” The man turned his face and focused on the source of the question from underneath his denim no-brand baseball cap as he replied, “What me? No! I just bought that Rebel outside. I just want to ride.”

The Kawasaki Rebel is a 250cc street bike that has long been the number one motorcycle to pick on for a countless number of motorcyclists. Well, everyone that doesn’t own a Rebel. I have heard people that ride motorcycles less threatening than Rebels who use Rebels in creative metaphors about “girly men,” “wannabees,” etc…

The Rebel is picked on so ferociously because of what it is not and what it is trying to be. It’s a tough looking motorcycle with an engine that couldn’t frighten a moped.

However, don’t get me wrong; I would never rank a motorcycle under a moped in the hierarchy of two-wheeled vehicles. Unlike mopeds, the Rebel can traverse freeways legally, carry a passenger without losing a significant amount of tire pressure and still attract the females (after all, it is a motorcycle).

The reason I now defend this meek transport is because of the smile—the smile of the pale, old man within the motorcycle dealership as he explained his purchase to the tan-skinned bystander. The smile was true, genuine and without bias. The man truly loved that motorcycle because he just wanted to ride.

The pale, old man had a want, or perhaps, a need (transportation), and approached it from a minimalist point of view—he just bought what he needed, nothing more, nothing less. He didn’t care about impressing his friends, neighbors or wife. He just wanted to get from A to B on two wheels, and now he’s doing it.