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🚨 The Brutal Truth: Why You Can NEVER Truly Quit Motorcycling, once it's IN YOUR BLOOD!

stuart fillingham

35,722 views

Video Description:

Have you ever tried to explain to a non-rider why you just can't seem to hang up your helmet? Or perhaps you’ve thought about giving it up yourself, only to find the pull of the open road is too strong to resist?

In today’s video, we’re stepping away from the technical specs and tool reviews to talk about the "soul" of motorcycling. I’m sharing the 5 fundamental reasons why, once this passion gets into your blood, it becomes a permanent part of who you are.

From the psychological "reset" of a solo ride to the unique community we share, we explore why motorcycling is more than just a hobby—it’s a necessity for many of us.

In this video, we discuss:

The Mental Reset: Why the helmet is the ultimate "Do Not Disturb" sign.
The Sensory Experience: Feeling the environment, not just passing through it.
The Bond: The connection between man and machine.
The Community: Why a simple nod from a stranger means so much.
The Freedom: Rediscovering the world on your own terms.
I’d love to hear from you in the comments—what is the ONE reason you could never give up riding? Whether you’ve been in the saddle for forty years or four months, let’s share our stories.

If you enjoyed this video, you might also like:

My Full Review of the Wera Kraftform Kompakt

Don't forget to Subscribe to the channel for more "no-nonsense" motorcycle content, reviews, and reflections.

#Motorcycling #MotorcycleLife #RideSafe #StuartFillingham #WeraTools #WhyWeRide #BikerCommunity
This channel comprises a number of my interests including politics, motoring legislation and the motorcycle lifestyle with an emphasis on modern classics.
This includes the review of new and existing motorcycles from various manufacturer as well as parts, accessories and clothing.
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PATREON. Patreon: stuartfillingham

20 Comments

@stuartfillingham Creator 5 months ago Pinned

Let me know what has kept you in the saddle over the years. Would particularly be interested in any specific event that brought you back from the brink of giving it up?

@TheBulldogBiker1 5 months ago

For those that understand no explanation is necessary, for those that don't no explanation is possible. 👍

@paulshenton6527 5 months ago

73 now and been enjoying it since 1969. Never will i give up bikes. The freedom, the friends i have made, the mindset of bikers. Yes it does make you more fit, and you get a deep satisfaction from riding. Everyone should experience it. Nothing like been one with nature.

@marcomalo02 5 months ago

From Kentucky USA...At age 78, the feeling is still strong. As long as I can throw a leg over...

@phildivalerio 5 months ago

I had a similar moment last weekend. I "downscaled" to an ADV 350 from my CB 500X recently. I took the bike to my favorite local spot for a milkshake. While sitting inside I noticed a Harley rider pull up. He ordered a coffee and took it outside for a smoke. After finishing his coffee he walked over to my new bike and have a look at it. Nice feeling.

@KhillariSadovnik 5 months ago

Stuart once again a well placed video with sound reasoning. I'm into my 82 year and have been riding for nigh on 69 years albeit the first 3 years with no licence but that changed on the date of my 16th birthday when the local copper pulled me up and said "I think you better come down to the station today and we will sort out a licence for you" Yes a very different era way back then. Still riding but not as much as in the younger days.

@casper1240 5 months ago

Honda Cub 90 resonated with me after not riding for 50 odd years so i bought one

@Likes2Travel 5 months ago

Hi Stuart, 100% right my friend.
My wife (who used to enjoyed being a pillion) now doesn't get my sadness of not having a bike in my life for the past year it's pure torture
I've had to give up work due health reasons and helping our daughter and grandkids (1 disabled) move in
with us after the kids father walked out on them and doesn't support them so funds are low.
Yep I watch bike videos and at the age of 65 this of one worse times in my life not being able to afford a motorbike, everytime I hear or see a motorbike I feel like I'm trapped but happy to see them about !

@traceymay5369 5 months ago

I totally agree, at 76 I cannot give up riding, it’s who I am. The one thing that scares me is if my licence is not renewed every 3 years due to some health issue. I have bad arthritis in my knees and a lot of pain but that won’t stop me riding. Ride safe

@jameskeefe4797 5 months ago (edited)

I had been away from motorcycling for twenty odd years. My sons had grown up, so I felt a bit redundant and lacking purpose. I asked myself "What gets me excited and interested in life?" Motorcycles immediately popped into my mind, so I visited my nearest dealer who gave me a test ride on a Hunter 350! Such a cheeky little bike, but solid and confidence inspiring! I ended up with a Scram 411 and haven't looked back! Just twenty minutes around the block, resets and refreshes mind, body and spirit! It's an all consuming passion, where there's always something to see, do or experience. For me, motorcycling is magic! Nice video Uncle Stu!

@Buggapanda 5 months ago

The zen like sensation of disconnecting from the world and just focusing on the ride si nothing short of therapeutic for the soul

@reinmansmith 5 months ago (edited)

Totally agree Stuart with all of your points. As someone who has been riding for nearly 52yrs from the age of 16 I will never give up motorcycling until I’m forced to and one of the reasons I keep myself fit is to ensure I’m physically capable of continuing to ride my bikes. One of your points really struck me, that riding our bikes as we get older actually helps to keep us mentally alert and has health benefits which someone who doesn’t ride bikes will never understand 😊

@FlyRideBeemer 5 months ago

Just an example. Commuting to work is not the same with a car or with a motorcycle. I always arrive with a smile when I'm commuting on two wheels, regardless of the weather 😉

@dinakaransivalingam4112 4 months ago

Good day sir. I totally agree. I can't give up riding. I met with 2 accident's and I still ride. I realized that the satisfaction you get on a motorcycle is very much more that what one gets in a car.

@EvanHeisler-w6l 5 months ago

I share the same passion that you have for motorcycling. Like a lot of comments here, I plan to ride as long as I can. At 72 years old I ride much more carefully having had a terrible accident 6 years ago. I was talking to a doctor the other day and he told me that 70% of broken bones occur when older people fall off ladders. Many of those old people go on to suffer a lot and even die. I know that having a bad accident on a bike is far worse than falling off a ladder. So to avoid a possible life threatening accident I have been riding smaller displacement bikes and I ride at a slower speed. Using this approach I hope that I will continue riding for many years to come.

@grey-adventures 5 months ago

Riding is my therapy. I get on the bike and the world's problems disappear. It's just me and the motorcycle. A rare time where man, machine, and the environment become one. I enjoy the relaxation, the character of the machine, and the sights, sounds, and smells in nature. As I age simplicity is taking over. I don't want features, I want a motorcycle.

@andrewhayes4246 5 months ago

There is an aspect of riding motorcycles that I have discovered only during the last 5 years of riding bikes, and that is because I ride in company now whereas before I was more of a lone rider. When you ride in company to the same destination, whether you are using 'second man drop off' or 'follow the leader', it adds not only an aspect of responsibility to the riders to keep the group together, but I find it adds an element of caring for each others safety which brings you all closer together as friends. This has proved very valuable to me as the years go by.

@ashleyralston9142 5 months ago

Stuart, I'll give you a laugh in regards to Hells Angels. Back in 1976 just after I started riding, I was on a Honda CB200 (a very small machine) but great to ride. At the time I was serving in London not from Heathrow. I decided to go for a ride whilst still on "L"'s meaning no motorways towards Bristol. I got past Bath and half way to Bristol and decided to turn back. I'd just passed Bath again when the little 200 packed up and wouldn't start. I was only a mile or so from the train station. I was swearing something chronic, when a Hell's Angel pulled up to help. He spent quite some time and had no idea and I'm still swearing like the typical serviceman I was. It was then he took off his leather jacket, HE WAS WEARING A DOG'S COLLAR UNDERNEATH - he was a priest. I'd been swearing like a trooper with a Hell's Angel who turned out to be a priest. He helped me get the bike back to the train station, I spent the night there and next morning on the train with the bike back to the station near my base. Bike had to have a minor service though to fix the issue. Now I'm a member of the "Patriots" Veteran's Charity Motorcycle Group. I'm still helping others, just as I did in the military.

@StephenSkinner-k4w 5 months ago

Great presentation Stu, totally agree.

My Interceptor 650 reminded just recently me of how wonderful it is to have the great freedom action available on a smaller machine. I went for a Southern Highlands ride in sunny New South Wales. There was a long queue of vehicles because of road works. I rode past all the vehicles to the head of the queue. Took off when the light changed and enjoyed the windy road leaving the cars far behind. Then I saw a turtle crossing the road on a blind corner. Quickly stopped on a verge too narrow for a car and ran back to pick up the little fellow and put him safely on the far side of the road he was headed for. Got to Kangaroo Valley, a popular tourist stop crowded with people. Felt like a coffee and was able to easily park outside the cafe in a space no car could fit in. Had a great coffee then took off towards Fitzroy Falls, easily passing the slower cars on the steep ascent. Decided to head down a dirt track that was a bit too rough for most cars to the clifftop Manning lookout, took some photos of the beautiful landscape and very satisfied, headed home.

I could have done none of that if I had been in my car, and the day trip would have cost almost four times as much in petrol. Been riding since 1972, not stopping anytime soon.

@McChoc55 5 months ago (edited)

A moment when I realised that I would never give up bikes - it's 2014, I'm on an organised tour of Peru, riding alone on the Altiplano at 12,000 feet, my oxygen-starved 650GS Sertao plock-plocking between my legs. I look in my mirrors - nothing behind me for miles except the support truck an hour away. Ahead, total emptiness under a dark blue sky, ink blue lakes dotted with pink flamingos, snow capped Andean peaks on the horizon, a king sized bed waiting for me at the end of the day. Overwhelmed by sheer ecstasy, I screamed and whooped so loudly that I gave myself a sore throat.