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I had a 'discussion' with a stranger today who is about to buy a ZX14 - or so he tells me. He pointed at my bike (I didn't tell him it was mine) and gave me a sorry account of the aging king. Described all its faults. At one point he even whispered to me "the brakes are so bad, it's a death trap."
I sat there thrilled and enthralled by his all-knowing lecture. He went on to tell me how the ZX14 is the bees knees. Blah blah. I thanked him profusely for giving me the good oil and he seemed very pleased with himself. I didn't rise to the bait. He left before I did so he never worked out the bike was mine. On the way home, I remembered a poem I wrote about how the ZX14 and the Hayabusa might be remembered in 20 years time... so I went looking for it in the old threads.
Then it struck me that there are a lot of members here who are dab hands at the odd bit of poetry, so maybe it should have a thread of its own. C'mon Faster Faster... pitch a couple of yours in and lets get the ball rolling.
All welcome... write something and stick it here. Or, if someone else writes it and you think its great, post it here and give them some recognition.
This poem was originally posted on the old board, in a thread comparing the ZX14 and the Hayabusa.
---- Extract from original post ----
Lets face it... only history will decide if just being the new speed king is enough to make a bike a legend. Personally, I think it takes more than that... and the busa has whatever that 'more' is.
So.... lets look into the crystal ball... into the mists of the future... and see who won....
Ode to the Legend
On a sunny porch many years from now, an old man takes his rest.
His creaking bones and snow white hair to a long, long life attest.
Far off he hears a motorbike, cog swapping fast and loud
Rolling thunder through the rev range as it howls on, strong and proud.
The sound approaches quickly. Pulls right up to his drive
The vision brings back memories of how much he'd felt alive
Back in his days of glory, that now seem so far away
Then he hears his grandsons voice "Hey Pa, you well today ?�"
"Mum told me you once rode a bike, so I've brought mine 'round today"
"I only got it yesterday, I'm out to have a play"
"It's the fastest thing upon two wheels. A lot I've had to spend !"
"Its bound to be the next upon the list of bike lore legend !"
The old man says "Got something here I think you'd like to see"
"Not sure it will mean much to you, but it means a lot to me"
He wanders down the well worn path that leads back to the shed
He lifts the roller door and inside, light begins to spread.
At first the young man cannot see, the object of Pa's pride
But through the dim his eyes detect a gleam, a shape inside.
The flowing lines, distinctive hump, a shape that's like no other.
With shock and reverence he cries "YOU RODE A HAYABUSA ?!?!"
"I cannot wait to spread the news among my riding friends !"
"You're riding with the grandson of a Hayabusa legend !"
The boy's in shock ! At bike and man he stares in disbelief.
"Tell me all about it Pa, and don�t you make it brief !"
"The busa was undisputed King, 'til the ZX14 stole our fame"
"Technology had moved along, but the busa stayed the same"
The memory of the change of guard made the old man sad and flat
Until the younger asked, "Whats a ZX14 ????�, I've never heard of that ?"
Astro
I sat there thrilled and enthralled by his all-knowing lecture. He went on to tell me how the ZX14 is the bees knees. Blah blah. I thanked him profusely for giving me the good oil and he seemed very pleased with himself. I didn't rise to the bait. He left before I did so he never worked out the bike was mine. On the way home, I remembered a poem I wrote about how the ZX14 and the Hayabusa might be remembered in 20 years time... so I went looking for it in the old threads.
Then it struck me that there are a lot of members here who are dab hands at the odd bit of poetry, so maybe it should have a thread of its own. C'mon Faster Faster... pitch a couple of yours in and lets get the ball rolling.
All welcome... write something and stick it here. Or, if someone else writes it and you think its great, post it here and give them some recognition.
This poem was originally posted on the old board, in a thread comparing the ZX14 and the Hayabusa.
---- Extract from original post ----
Lets face it... only history will decide if just being the new speed king is enough to make a bike a legend. Personally, I think it takes more than that... and the busa has whatever that 'more' is.
So.... lets look into the crystal ball... into the mists of the future... and see who won....
Ode to the Legend
On a sunny porch many years from now, an old man takes his rest.
His creaking bones and snow white hair to a long, long life attest.
Far off he hears a motorbike, cog swapping fast and loud
Rolling thunder through the rev range as it howls on, strong and proud.
The sound approaches quickly. Pulls right up to his drive
The vision brings back memories of how much he'd felt alive
Back in his days of glory, that now seem so far away
Then he hears his grandsons voice "Hey Pa, you well today ?�"
"Mum told me you once rode a bike, so I've brought mine 'round today"
"I only got it yesterday, I'm out to have a play"
"It's the fastest thing upon two wheels. A lot I've had to spend !"
"Its bound to be the next upon the list of bike lore legend !"
The old man says "Got something here I think you'd like to see"
"Not sure it will mean much to you, but it means a lot to me"
He wanders down the well worn path that leads back to the shed
He lifts the roller door and inside, light begins to spread.
At first the young man cannot see, the object of Pa's pride
But through the dim his eyes detect a gleam, a shape inside.
The flowing lines, distinctive hump, a shape that's like no other.
With shock and reverence he cries "YOU RODE A HAYABUSA ?!?!"
"I cannot wait to spread the news among my riding friends !"
"You're riding with the grandson of a Hayabusa legend !"
The boy's in shock ! At bike and man he stares in disbelief.
"Tell me all about it Pa, and don�t you make it brief !"
"The busa was undisputed King, 'til the ZX14 stole our fame"
"Technology had moved along, but the busa stayed the same"
The memory of the change of guard made the old man sad and flat
Until the younger asked, "Whats a ZX14 ????�, I've never heard of that ?"
Astro
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