Mama Springer is big. By any measure – weight or engine size or horsepower or torque – she has the ability to thump. Weighing in at six hundred pounds plus with a 125 cubic in engine (1800 cc’s), 125 horsepower, and lots of low-end torque, she is big. Having ridden her for four years, I find that the fun to ride has nothing to do with any of these data points.
I look at other riders and I see the quest for size, muscle, or agility. In the conversations about past, present, and future bike choices, most understand that there are tradeoffs to be made. If one listens to their words, size and muscle are the primary decision points, with agility running second, comfort a distance fifth or less.
Each time I ride, Mama likes to remind me of some enduring truths. “Horsepower is not the answer; no one gets by on muscle alone.” (Psalm 33.17) It is never about how much power one has. Riding and the memories that go with is come from what you do with the power you have.
Knowing how to ride, learning from what each ride teaches you, is a good thing. My experience with Mama now is very different than when I started. Riding education classes and time on the road has given me the opportunity to grow. The variety of settings, up and over mountains, across deserts, and in the tropics, has changed my perspective. When I look at Mama, thinking of the road ahead, it is about the ride, not the muscle.
Data does not tell the whole story. There is a narrative that comes with it. It adds context, perspective, and even community to the mix. With Mama, I know the weight is manageable because of the low center of gravity. She is fun to ride, easier than you might imagine. I also know that the way the engine responds to your touch, responsive and smooth, invites one to work with what one has. Pushing and forcing the situation is never the answer.
It is time to ride.
