I loved my various motorbikes dearly, not that I’ve had one for a long time (and I’ve never been a man). I liked driving, not being a passenger.
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Thixotropy my dear boy,
Maybe it is a man thing, to celebrate birthdays or events with stuff. I certainly did: a 6-string bass, handmade by Martin Petersen at The Bass Gallery in Camden.
It wasn’t a good idea, though it made me realise that 4 were enough for me.
Ooh like paddling pools full of cornstarch slurry and the blood of st januarius, cool!
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Nice! Enjoy yourself…
I’m assuming that @Johnnnnn is implying that I’m undergoing some sort of midlife crisis.
Everyone needs to know their limits.
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Sadly few do. 
talking of limits… on Friday I glared at a motorist who was going too fast through our sleepy village. He pulled over and called to me “I’m only doing 35” to which I replied “the limit is 30”… aaaargh… he’d missed the sign!
It’s only been in place since 2011… and still folk look with eyes closed
I know him well and will whack him (in gentle fashion) when we next meet 
I’ve got to admit that I find it really difficult to keep to 30, it feels like it would be quicker to walk. Typically I’ll stick on the cruise control as a means of self-control.
My car’s cruise control won’t work when going that slowly! 
Sadly, the route through the village is winding and narrow and… in all the wrong places the narrow pavement disappears (particularly near the school) and folk have to walk in the road which is why the 30 is in place.
I have never seen a biker come through the village at 30 or below. At least they make a roaring noise which makes the kids (hopefully) jump out of the way 
While I don’t profess to being an angel, I do behave in town.
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You have just gained a brownie point 
Ditto. Not just about respecting the law but also because towns are places where lots of unexpected stuff can happen. I once had a football appear over a garden wall and bounce across the road, fortunately not followed by a child but nonetheless. It’s the stuff of rider training ; examples of potential dangers that you think will never actually happen.
Simply asking a question. Our area is flooded with old men on expensive bikes, personally I’m not a bike or car or transport man. There is an increase in women on bikes but still in a small minority, lots more on the back of men’s bikes. Seems bikes are generally a bastion of male machismo.
I think it’s more a past time for many men that find themselves single and with disposable income, later in life. What’s not to like about the companionship of like minded people.
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Nothing. I think they make pleasant communities for each other and apart from the noise and occasional speeding give a lot of enjoyment to the subset.
The motorbike is a solo pursuit for me. My wife did ride for many years, packed in maybe 10 years ago but periodically toys with the idea of getting another bike. We’ll see. Maybe it’s machismo for me, maybe it isn’t. I don’t think so, since it’s not about the typical speed or power thing, but if it is then so be it. I’ll live with the label.
I’m not one for group rides preferring to make my own way at my own pace. I did do ‘ride outs’ back when biking went through a bit of a resurgence in the UK but tbh didn’t like the group dynamic that could too easily take over. Tbh, though it sounds like a cliche, I enjoy riding for the sense of freedom and control. I’m more alive on a motorbike than when driving.
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Well at least you’re not backward about showing your prejudice. Riding a motorcycle is actually very enjoyable in the right circumstances.
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I think I understand the feeling. I’m too old to try it now, but I get a sense of it when riding in open top sports cars with my butt inches off the pavement.