Does your motorcycle have "soul"?

[ScottRNelson]

[I wrote this for another forum and thought I should share it with my friends here.  After a few days maybe a moderator could move it to the General forum.]

The question of which motorcycles have "soul" keeps coming up on various motorcycle forums.  For a long time now I've tried to understand why some bikes seem to have it while others don't.  In particular, I've tried to understand why most Ducati motorcycles seem to have it while many Japanese bikes don't.

As I was riding around on my Ducati ST2 throughout the day yesterday I kept thinking about what characteristics of a motorcycle give it "soul", and I finally had some insights about it.  I had had to park the bike for about three weeks due to a broken chain adjuster plate.  This is the first time in nearly a dozen years that a Ducati motorcycle had left me stranded.  I was screwing around on the bike giving it some (inappropriately) heavy applications of throttle as I pulled away from traffic on a nearby city street when a little piece of metal that helps keep the rear axle at the correct position along the swingarm could no longer do its job and shattered, allowing the axle to move forward about 15 mm and the chain came off.  It wasn't a catastrophic failure, but I ended up walking nearly five miles back home (my wife had recently left town) and it cost me more than $100 to fix - most of that for the new chain to replace the old one that sort of got twisted.

So I was left riding my Honda XR650L for the three weeks - which is plenty of fun by itself - until I could get the ST2 fixed.  I could have gotten out the Ducati 888, but I don't ride that one for short trips, nor to leave in a parking lot somewhere, nor for leading group rides that will be run at a newbie pace, so it remained covered up in the garage.

Any time I've been off of the Ducati for a few weeks I feel a bit of a relief to be back on it again.  Even though it's quite a bit heavier than the XR, there is something about it that just feels good to me.  So as I was riding it to work and back, over to the library and back, and to some other errands that I had to do, I kept pondering what it was about the bike that gave it soul.  This is when I finally had the insight about how every second that I'm on the bike I'm aware of what I'm riding.  Besides the very pleasing engine sounds, there are other mechanical sounds that are always present.  Nearly all of them are very pleasing sounds except maybe the dry clutch noise at idle.  And I noticed that the bike produced very specific vibrations that were also pleasing to me.  At whatever engine speed I'm running the bike, whether below 3000 rpms or up past 9000 rpms approaching redline, there is a "good" vibration that I, as a rider, can feel.  I can feel the engine on my XR as well, but the big power pulses at low speed don't convey the same sort of pleasure to the rider, and revving the thing up high certainly doesn't feel all that pleasant.

So then I began thinking about other bikes that I've ridden over the past few years (and I've ridden dozens of other motorcycles).  It finally came to me that if I were unable to see the motorcycle I was riding at the time, I would have a hard time telling the difference between a Honda XR650L, a Suzuki DR650, or a Kawasaki KLR650.  I could maybe tell the XR because I happen to own one, but that would only be because I would know the difference between the bike I ride a lot and the other similar bike that doesn't quite feel the same.

Moreover, if you were to put me on a CBR600RR, a ZX-6R, a GSX-R600, or an R6 in such a manner that I couldn't see anything in particular to identify it, I wouldn't be able to tell you which one I was on.  They would all feel pretty much the same to me.

Since we can't blindfold riders and let them tell us by sight and feel whether or not they are on a motorcycle with soul, I was wondering what would happen if you could get on as a blindfolded passenger and try to make that judgment.  I'm quite certain that you could put me on the back of just about any Ducati from the past twenty years and I would know that it's a Ducati.  In fact, you could just ride it past me and I could probably tell you whether or not it was a Ducati.  The same goes for Harley-Davidsons and BMW boxers.  But there is more to it than just the uniqueness of the particular motorcycle or brand.  A bike like the two-stroke RZ-350 is fairly unique and identifiable by feel and sound, but it was missing something that the RD-400 had.

So of the bikes that I've ridden over the past few years, I've tried to identify which ones had "soul" and which ones didn't.  Of the Triumphs that I've ridden, the 1050 Sprint ST was a very competent sport touring bike, but it was missing a strong sense of soul about it.  The Rocket III maybe had it, but I can't be sure.  The Thruxton twin definitely did have it, but the Scrambler didn't seem to, and the 1050 Tiger was clearly missing a feeling of soul.

Of the KTMs that I've ridden, most seemed to have soul.  Definitely the 950SM and 990 Adventure had it.  I'm not quite so sure about the 530EXC, but I didn't ride that one for long.  For Aprilia, the 750 Dorsoduro didn't have it, but the Tuono did, so it's not just a V-twin thing.  All of the air-cooled Harleys have it, but not so much the water-cooled V-Rod.

I haven't ridden too many BMW's, but the boxer twins seemed to have it where the F800GS vertical twin didn't.  The F800GS is a very competent all around bike, but missing the strong dose of soul that I need in a motorcycle.

So I've kind of come to the conclusion that soul has something to do with constantly being aware of exactly what you're riding through both sound and feel, and they're always pleasant sounds and feelings.  It's why, when I wrecked my Ducati Monster in 2003 and was looking for a replacement, I had to rule out most other non-ducati motorcycles.  They were just missing that certain something that motorcycles communicate to their riders.  I knew at the time that Moto Guzzi motorcycles have it, but there weren't enough of them available at the time for me to end up with one of those.  Now, at least, I'm beginning to understand why I seem to have gotten "hooked" on Ducati motorcycles. 

[sally101]

Well put.. 

I do enjoy the communication that both my multi and monster (with termis) have.. No need to look at the Tac.. All/most of the shifting can all be done by feel/sound. I hopped off my Monster and on to a Streetfigher with no Termis and I hit the rev limiter so fast I thought the bike died.. Took me 2 seconds to figure out what had happened. derrrr

[Michael Moore]

Thanks Scott - very true insights. My R6 was an incredibly competent track bike, but I never cared about it, never saw it as anything more than an appliance. (For a track bike, this is a good thing.) I never got a smile on my face when I went out to the garage and saw it.

Contrast this with my old monster, which, now that I have the Streetfighter, is sort of redundant. it's got 57K miles, a dinged tank, black anodized bits that have turned purple, and wear marks all over from where I've rubbed against it. I should really sell it, but I can't bring myself to do that. It is like family. I ride it now and can see the brakes aren't as great as I thought, the power is still good, but not warp speed like the SF, but it still fits me like a favorite pair of boots, and every quirk is known and appreciated.

So yeah, I totally get the soul thing.

[tigre]

 

[mstevens]

I was all set to post a reply along the line of "nope - my bike is a machine, and machines don't have soul."

Then I thought about what I did today. It's my day off, but there was an issue with a patient. Instead of asking my colleague to take care of it, I volunteered to go in and take care of it even though it's pissing down rain because it would be an excuse to ride.

That got me thinking about what my wife and I have been doing for the last few weeks: looking for a bike for her. We looked at the new Suzuki Gladius, which was certainly a fine bike, but each of us kept noting that it was clearly a fake 696. We looked at Hyonsung GT650's, which are way less expensive and perfectly good. We looked at SV650's, Ninjas, various BMW's, a Triumph - all sort of things. Not a single one "spoke" to us in the sense of awakening interest or engendering excitement.

By contrast, the Ducatis we looked at were, well, the way they were supposed to be. They looked the way they were supposed to, the controls were where they belonged, they behaved as intended. There's something deeply satisfying about an object that is completely what it is rather than reaching to be something it's not.

We looked at a poor little 620 that was advertised as in perfect condition but had obviously been crashed. On the way home, both of use said we "felt sorry for" it. "Sorry?!" for a machine?!

Sometimes I just go out in the barn and look at the bikes and smile.

Maybe they do have "soul."

[mattb]

I like your thinking here.  I had an sv650 -- solid bike, fun to ride, good engine -- sucky suspension and average brakes, so I upgraded to the S4 which is just nicer all the way around and has introduced me to the brand.

I think it's really cool that my head snaps to look when I hear the sound of a Duc -- be it the clutch or just the sound of the exhaust, I'm usually spot-on that it's some sort of Ducati if I'm able to lay eyes on it before it's past me.  And I'm starting to get the same feel for my beemer too -- I can identify the boxer twin by sound and the different models of the 70's versions by sight.  I think that's pretty neat since I knew next to nothing about them when I first bought that bike.

A good buddy of mine has owned a couple japanese bikes -- he likes them, they're solid and reliable, and fun to ride.  I don't think he gets why I'm into these other brands of motorcycles which are more expensive and more expensive to maintain, but part of the fun for me is the charm of the bikes I own -- their quirkyness, I enjoy, and to me, it's totally worth it.

I'd happily ride anything on two wheels tho -- it's all gravy as long as you're not in the cage

m

[Michael Moore]

I'd happily ride anything on two wheels tho -- it's all gravy as long as you're not in the cage

Amen.

[Popeye the Sailor]

I argue soul gets infused to a machine (any machine) after you've sharded certain things with it, many miles, roadtrips, etc-once memories are established.
That soul is part of you infused into the machine-it's why you can't sell things you don't need or use but still love.



I am completely against the notion I occasionally see that it's somehow factory installed in Ducati motorbikes, and only Ducati motorbikes.

[ducleaner]

The exact same amount that I have. No more. No less. 

[Spidey]

So I've kind of come to the conclusion that soul has something to do with constantly being aware of exactly what you're riding through both sound and feel, and they're always pleasant sounds and feelings. 

<snip>

Now, at least, I'm beginning to understand why I seem to have gotten "hooked" on Ducati motorcycles. 

Nice write-up and a good piece of introspection, Scott.  Talking about a motorcycle with "soul" evokes such strong reactions from people.  They scream about Ducati elitism, brand snobbery, get all defensive about whatever brand of bike they ride, blah blah blah.  But your post captures the internal monologue about what might make one really feel something special about their bike.  And it's not the same for everyone or for every brand. 

Still, it's curious that certain brands--Ducati among them--evoke the "my bike has soul" response from many riders.  Whether that is something empirical (sound/feel/whatever it is you identified) or just branding/marketing, we'll never know.  <shrug>.  I suspect it's often both.  Personally, I've always 'felt' something more on Ducs than on my other bikes, but that's just me.  Maybe I'm just programmed to respond to desmo L-twins.  Others will feel that same thing from their Gixxer 1k or their YZF.  And more power to them.   [moto]

[ScottRNelson]

Nice write-up and a good piece of introspection, Scott.  Talking about a motorcycle with "soul" evokes such strong reactions from people.  They scream about Ducati elitism, brand snobbery, get all defensive about whatever brand of bike they ride, blah blah blah.

Have you been reading BARF or something? 

I posted this same thing there and got many responses just like you've described.  It might already be the longest thread I've ever started.

[Spidey]

Have you been reading BARF or something? 

Yeah, I saw that thread after I posted up here.   Teh BARF is pretty predictable when anything involves Ducs. 

[Drunken Monkey]

The exact same amount that I have. No more. No less. 

 

I'll flip this around: Bikes have whatever soul we decide to infuse them with.

My first bike a "disposable" Honda CB-400F had tons. As did my first new bike (GPZ-750.) But I spent so much time riding, wrenching and otherwise "communing" with them it was impossible not to feel their soul.

My Vespa currently has none, but only because I've never bothered to really get to know it.

Mind you, some bikes (as Scott more eloquently puts it) are constantly throwing their character out there (in the way they feel, sound and even smell ) so it's hard not to 'get to know them' right away.

[Itsasickness]

In a word, "YES," love her with all my heart 

[mostrobelle]

Have you been reading BARF or something? 

I posted this same thing there and got many responses just like you've described.  It might already be the longest thread I've ever started.

I almost said something to you on there, Scott, but decided to let the chips fall where they may.  BTW, all you have to do is tell a mod to lock/bin the thread and it shall be done.  I think it's good that it stays up if for no other reason than show the haters for who they are and out the rest of us completely unreasonable spaghetti lovers.   

But to your point, I think that machines feel like they have soul because some or many aspects about them appeal to us.  Simply having ridden one bike for a long time and gotten used to it will make many people feel that it has soul.  I don't believe that machines have souls, but they do have the capacity to make us feel things that are beyond the easily explainable.  It's all just synapses firing, hormones, enzymes, other sensations.... I don't belittle these things, but it doesn't equate to "soul" for me.  I don't believe that people have souls for that matter, so perhaps that's why I look at these things a bit less romantically.  FWIW, I like your version better.