LOL... yes.. see what you are saying Clarissa....                                                                                                                                                                             

You a translator by profession, Paul ?                                                                                                                                                                             

Well why would we ever want to grow up, in this modern world we live in we work more hours than any other country, we have mounting debts and face shit everything tax, fuel, congestion, just so much these days.... The young years are usually carefree memories so if getting out on your bike gives you a release from lifes everyday struggles then that's your fix... You could get hit by a bus tomorrow or drop dead from all sorts so I say hAve fun ride within your limits and do get the heart racing every now and again...

We all live out our life time .. But only a few of us really live .. Life is not about living to a ripe old age it's how you get there that counts.... And what you have experienced in that time.....

Stop now will get all philosophical in my old age lol

Don't confuse being a grown up with turning into a boring old fart.  Being a grown up doesn't mean I have to sit in my twinset and pearls knitting up a lovely pattern from the womans weekly, whilst nibbling on the victoria sandwich that I lovingly baked earlier.    It means I've got the money for a bike and can afford to insure it, and can bugger off to a rally for the weekend and be a complete lush if I want. Don't knock it!...   But then my kids aren't little any more. I would guess from the Mrs' attitude to you having fun, you would get the same comments if rugby or skydiving were your passion, coming home with broken bones every weekend, or for the non adrenaline junkie, coming home trashed all the time and ending up under a bus or with a pickled liver.  Rather than stifling you, she's probably more concerned with being turned into a boring old fart herself, frightened at the thought of having to bring up kids on her own. Accepting responsibilities is not being grown up, it's being selfless!                                                                                                                                                                             

Grow up ????????   Why ???????   Tried it once, too much like hard work !!!!!                                                                                                                                                                              

To canyoutame - about the 320 miles & gettin the Harley Brochure out, I now feel like a boring OLD git cause I've got a Harley :- ( .......... they can be fun and frisky honest (the bike as well lol)                                                                                                                                                                             

Yup old .... Harley lol ...... You need your pension lump sum to be able to afford one lol let alone keep the thing running with all the bits that fall of lol                                                                                                                                                                             

No I think you've got me wrong 
I actually like harley's, but theres only one i've got me sights on and thats a V Rod. I'll just have some fun on me 'old mans beemer' first. Lol

Cytm Mate you dont ride like an old man as I seem to remember you trying to launch it up the Horshoe Pass at Warp 6                                                                                                                                                                              

Tel - yep that was FUN                                                                                                                                                                              

Hfg , was worried you going to end up on mi petrol tank !!!!!!                                                                                                                                                                             

johnnytb: the bits falling off are from the rider - not the bike lol                                                                                                                                                                             

Bob- I think Tel was worried that I was gonna end up on his tank - the speed that we took off at                                                                                                                                                                              

Life to short regret what you have done not what you have'nt                                                                                                                                                                             

"regret what you have done not what you have'nt"

 I like 

                                                                                                                                                                             

grow up hmmm no thanks , the best years of my life were spent on pilly on my bfs old cb500! we went everywhere and anywhere, never been so happy, had loads of mates then and a brilliant social life , hope it gets back to that again,.                                                                                                                                                                             

hmmmm, I've acted 'grown up' for the past 38 years and it's done me no good, besides I've got a mental age of two, the last three years  have been a 'practice' session and if the blasts around the country roads  at silly speeds I've recently experienced are anything to go by, then whenever I leave this world, I will know I've had a blast........                                                                                                                                                                             

im a born again biker, just call me peter pan                                                                                                                                                                              

So what the hell does "grown up" mean then?

I've got a responsible job, manage people and systems, decent standard of living, I don't drink during the week, don't drink and drive, I have saved some money in the bank.

I have a bike that I enjoy and some good mates that I spend some time with, I have other interests than biking.

I haven't forgot how to enjoy myself and enjoy flirting and occasionally getting the black tie on for a "posh" do as well a scruffy pair of trackie bottoms for dossing around the house.

In other words to quote that famous philosopher Popeye, "I am what I am"

I think I am grown up                                                                                                                                                                             

i think in the biking community the phrase grown up maybe means, not acting like a loudmouthed irresponsible teenager? just a guess.