Posted on 03/02/2006 12:28:37 PM PST by martin_fierro
ZEN MOTORCYCLE PHOTOGRAPHY REVEALED
02 March 2006
Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance photographs have surfaced on the Internet.
Some of you may have heard of it, and some may have even read it. Written in the late Sixties the book 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance' was a huge hit in the Seventies and even people who didn't ride motorcycle read it. It was in everyone's bookshelf.
The book was based upon a cross-USA motorcycle trip taken by the author Robert Pirsig and mixed the riding experience with Pirsig's mental ramblings on the theme of life, the Universe and everything. However, none of the photographs taken by Pirsig were included.
Now, the photographs have surfaced and can be viewed by going to:
My favorite ride in the spring takes me past blooming honeysuckle that perfumes the air, then past a field of wild onions, and then along a long strait stretch where the temperature will drop twice in a five mile stretch. Funny thing is that the same road in a car is boring. On a motorcycle it's bliss.
I've never owned a bike with windshield or fairing ~ can't stand 'em!
Pirsig's son Chris was the most important figure in the book, aside from the author's alter ego and previous personality, Phaedrus.
Later versions of the book contain an "afterword" written in 1984 where the author mentions the murder of his son. He was killed November 17, 1979 in San Francisco on Haight Street during a botched robbery attempt.
The author mentions later his wife unexpectedly became pregnant, and that "after careful discussion we decided it was not something that should continue". On the way to the "medical appointment" they have a change of heart and reverse their decision. The birth of their daughter, Nell, helps to fill the hole in their lives from the loss of their son Chris.
I have a copy too. It angers me to read it.
Pirsig strikes me as self-centered, self-absorbed and self-indulgent. He put his family through Hell while he toyed with the whirling dervishes he invented in his head.
Screw him.
There were many whirling dervish folks in the 60's and 70's.
That's a great old motorcycle; the Honda Hawk started a trend.
Mmmmmm.....Balaclava!
Yea, the Hawk was/is a groundbreaking bike.
I never did figure out which bike was Phaedrus' ride . . .
Very few people realize the insulating properties of walnuts, cinnamon, thin pastry dough, butter, and honey. Just smear it around the inside of your helmet and you're good to go in virtually any weather conditions.
~ Blue Jays ~
But not in bear country.
~ Blue Jays ~
I thought it was very good - probably among my top 10 best reads. I still remember the quote, "Gumption is the psychic gasoline that keeps the whole thing going."
These days I can only afford low-test Gumption.
The book's worth a read. There is a sad part--the boy was killed in a mugging shortly after he achieved adulthood.
I used to think that way, too -- but have come to LOVE 'em.
Without a doubt, one of the coolest things about being on a bike.
A characteristic of the mystic leftie writer. Look at the mutants that populate "On the Road", as worthless a book as I've ever read.
This might make it clear. >:-}
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/jod/texts/phaedrus.html
Aren't choices great! :):):)
ping
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