As much as many small brained people may claim otherwise, motorcyclists are human - to varying degrees of course. And, like all humans, we develop a philosophy of life and basic values, many of these being shaped by our lifestyle of riding motorcycles. Having talked to a good many motorcyclists we've found a variety of basic life philosophies that have been shaped by the pursuit of motorcycling. The more repeatable of these we list, without prejudice, below:

• Variety is the spice of life: one day travel at the speed of a tired turtle, the next day give it heaps!
• Reach the top, that's why there's space between the queue of cars at stop lights.
• Find your place in the sun, even if it's while you wait for the wife to bring the trailer to pick up your bike.
• Make your mark on the world - but not on the wife's carpet!
• If you're not receiving enough attention, try giving a cop the fingers.
• Always give generously - a large patch of oil left on a friend's driveway tells them that you care.
• Always be willing to accept another's seniority - especially if it's a big rig.
• Demand the best - but settle for a second hand one if the bank manager is getting restless.
• Only put your foot down when you really need to.
• Success is a frame of mind, so think quickly as that cop approaches you.
• Strive for excellence, not perfection - leave the latter useless pursuit to those who build custom motorcycles.
• Get acquainted with a good lawyer, accountant and mechanic - the order in which you do this depends upon what you ride.
• Wear out - don't crash out, or rust out.
• Learn to recognise the inconsequential, then ignore it - unless it's a speed limit in a speed camera area.
• Lie on your back and look up at the stars - unless you are riding your motorcycle at the time.
• Measure people by the size of their hearts, not the size of their motorcycle.
• Know when to speak up - which is not at 150km/h into a headwind.
• Evaulate yourself by your own standards, not by someone else's - they may be riding on borrowed time.
• Be a self-starter - better still, be an electric starter.
• Smile a lot - but only if you have a visor on your helmet.
• Re-ride your favourite road.
• Never under-estimate your ability to change yourself - after a close call it will come naturally.
• Never over-estimate your power to change others - pillion riding is not always an aphrodisiac.
• Never acquire just one riding buddy.
• Focus on making things better, not bigger - especially if it's your motorcycle.
• Once in your life own and ride a motorcycle.
• Keep your boots clean - that way the oil runs off them better.
• Never encourage anyone to become a politician - unless they ride a motorcycle.
• Learn to do something beautiful with your hands - and you'll never be lonely.
• Show respect for everyone who works for a living, even streetsweepers - a happy streetsweeper keeps the road surface clean.
• Wave to people for the fun of it - it keeps people happy, makes you feel good, and keeps the clutch arm supple.
• Every day look for some small way to improve the way you do things - especially the way you ride.
• No matter how well off you are, have your children earn and pay for all of their motor vehicle insurance premiums.
• Never use the last ten tenths.
• The quality of a neighbourhood is determined by the manners of the dogs living there.
• Even if you cannot give the very best, give your very best.
• The tightest nut is the worst nut - especially when riding a motorcycle.
• When you are hot under the collar, keep your head cool.
• The leader faces the unknown and has an exposed back - but if you're middle of the pack, you're sweet.
• Never under-estimate the power of forgiveness - your bike will forgive all sorts of poor riding actions if they are isolated incidents.
• Don't carry a grudge - a motorcycle has no room for excess baggage.
• Never tell anyone they look tired or depressed - even if you're lifting their bike off them at the time.
• Be enthusiastic about the success of others - even if you're insanely jealous at the time.
• Don't procrastinate. Do what needs doing when it needs to be done - even if those new tyres will cost an arm and leg.
• Improve your performance by improving your attitude.
• Go the distance - and on your own bike.
• Every once in a while take the scenic route.
• Move up when you feel you are ready - not when others think you are ready.
• When playing games with children, let them win - when riding with a boy racer, let him win.
• Don't learn the tricks of the trade, learn the trade.
• Keep on using your head - wear a crash helmet.
• Teach, Learn, Ask "why" and "what if" a lot?
• Look as if you are in control of your motorcycle - it will probably fool the motorcycle into believing it too.
• Don't lend precious things to friends - you might lose both.
• Don't give advice. Just say what you do or would do in a similar situation - you're not there to teach. You're there to help them learn.
• Leave whining to CX500 drive shafts.
• Your epitaph should read "No regrets and lots of fun".
• Invest in skill and knowledge. The returns are fantastic.
• If friends ask you to be honest with them, don't.
• Don't smoke - and the same goes for your motorcycle.
• Rekindle old friendships - ride an older model once in a while.
• Never ask a policeman or mechanic for riding advice - they're trained to find problems, not solutions.
• Don't spread yourself too thinly - learn how to ride within your abilities.
• Give thanks before every ride - and greater thanks at the end of every enjoyable ride.
• Compliment even small improvements - especially when made by a learner or a mechanic.
• Don't expect life to be fair - that way you're more likely to see hidden speed cameras.
• Try never to set yourself a strict timetable - otherwise you'll never have time to explore unexpectedly delightful highways and bi-ways.
• Never give a motorcyclist prunes on a wet day.
• Feed a stranger's expired marking meter - especially if you're sharing the space.
• Happiness is not dependant on possessions, power, or prestige but on relationships with people you love and respect - and your motorcycle.
• Clothes maketh the man - and protective clothing holds him together.
• 'Tis not victory nor speed that defines a man, but wisdom and courage.
• Listen to your children - if they say "Daddy, who taught you to drive before you married Mummy?", buy a motorcycle.
• If you miss the magic of the moment by focusing on what's to come, you need to slow down.
• Wave traffic on the sideroad ahead into your lane.
• Donate two pints of blood every year - someday the gift may be repaid.
• Love your fellow human being but install an anti-theft alarm on your motorcycle.
• Teach your children the value of money and importance of saving - take them for a ride on your bike often.
• Leave everything a little better than you found it - especially if the bike was loaned by a friend.
• May your pillion hug you, not hold on tight.
• Write a "thank you" note to the policeman who gave you the speeding ticket - a little confusion goes a long way.
• Don't expect money to bring you happiness - unless it's spent on a good bike.
• Avoid making sarcastic remarks - actions speak louder than words.
• Never take action when you're angry - cool down before you kick that car door in.
• Learn CPR - you'll need it for CPR (Charlies Practicing Racing) victims.
• Take time to smell the roses - and the cow poo and diesel on the road surface too.
• Occasionally stop and read historical roadside markers - it will give you a future excuse to stop when things get too hot on a Sunday ride.
• Get your priorities right. No dying motorcyclist ever said; "Gee, I've spent too much time riding motorcycles.
  

   
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