Don’t Pay It Back, Pay It Forward

I got a fan letter from Robert “Bob” R. and it made my day.

Hey Adrian,

I just got my M1 beginner motorcycle license and I wanted to send a word of appreciation to you and your friends who make YouMotorcycle happen. I started studying the Ontario Motorcycle Handbook but wanted some experience with test questions.

That’s when I found your M1 test, in fact, that’s how I found YouMotorcycle, in an online search for M1 tests. Since then I’ve read a lot of your articles reviewing beginner bikes (a very important source of info in deciding what to purchase) and a host of other areas of interest by experienced motorcyclists. You produce a really fine product, and …I did really well on the test!

Thanks!

Bob

The site reaches 20,000 motorcyclists every month and whenever one of them chimes in that we’re doing something right it makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Thank you, Bob.

When I wanted to buy a motorcycle there was a gent named SLIM (Andrew) from the magical world of the internet that lived inside of my computer. He answered the endless questions about motorcycling that I asked. Eventually we met when I needed a drive out of town to pick up my first motorcycle.

Photo by Mondo Lulu, Toronto Photographer and Motorcyclist

SLIM gave me a lot of advice when I started riding. Sometimes the tips were simple. “I can hear your chain clanging from here, tighten that thing!” Sometimes the tips were a little more technical, and we would go to empty parking lots to ride in circles around lamp posts as fast as possible to work on leaning while trying not to throw up from nausea.

I helped SLIM move once or twice, and for Christmas he bought me a socket set. Over the years I’ve acquired many tools and tool sets, but that set was the first and never gets dusty.

Whenever I asked SLIM what I could do to return the favor he always said, “Don’t pay it back, pay it forward.”

Fan mail like this tells me that I’ve lived up to that request. I’m glad to produce a website that benefits motorcyclists new and old. If YouMotorcycle has helped you, informed you, or at the very least, entertained you, then I’m a happy guy. You’re welcome to share the posts with anyone you feel could also benefit from the site, or find your own way to make the world a better place.

Ride safe brothers and sisters, and thank you to everyone who’s ever sent an email of support, suggestions, or helped out with the site!

Adrian