Defining A Classic
An almost review of the Suzuki V-Strom
When does something fall into reverence for us? Is it solely based on time or nostalgia? Typically, a classic means something that stands the test of time and is considered high quality. Undisputed classics are often seen in the automotive and literary fields, while other quality works are left in the shadows.
I recently spent time in the Pacific Northwest and had a few days to explore the national forests on a Suzuki V-Strom. This bike was chosen mainly on price and location, so my expectations were in check, or so I thought. After a quick overview and introduction of the bike, I was ready to get moving and head westward toward the Olympic National Forest. It only took a few miles and some gear grinding to feel fully acclimated to the bike. I was finally ready to hop on the freeway headed toward Tacoma.
My immediate thoughts cruising at an easy 80 mph and dodging fog amongst the cagers was this bike has of plenty of power and more in the tank, but it does not use it as effortlessly as other bikes. The V-Strom seems to be at its best at 4000 RPM and prefers to live between 5th and 6th gear.
The seat height is 33” making it an almost perfect fit for my 6’ frame. In addition to an ideal height, the seat and handlebars seemed to be perfectly set up for me. I can confidently say that because of the comfortability the V-Strom provided me, I was willing and determined to overlook the chudder when trying to use the clutch at low speeds.
With the fog and highway in my rear view it was time to lose myself into the music playing in my ears and let the bike charter me toward the evergreens and ocean waves calling my name. While passing Lake Crescent on the 101 in on the Olympic Peninsula, I thought to myself, will this bike ever be a classic? In twenty years, will a new generation of builders pick these up for $1500, only to chop or modify them? The answer is probably no, and if any end up lasting that long, they will be horded away in garage for sentimental reasons.
During adulthood I have slowly watched the classics grow in popularity while the cost of ownership skyrocketed even quicker. When this happened, the lines began to blur on what was truly a classic, a status symbol, or just plain nostalgia for an aging demographic. No matter where the truth lies, this hobby of collecting and enjoying the classics is a perfect example of the extraordinary wealth and the extended period of peace for most of the western civilization that ignores the fleeting existence they are trapped in.
It's in the irony and the realization that I am privileged enough to live during the transition to the tech revolution and death of the mechanical age. I find solace that the enjoyment of our past creations is not solely earmarked for the wealthy. Even though the level of involvement varies based on the echelon designated to us at birth, it’s the appreciation that transcends the stratum we are relegated to.
Even though the V-Strom was not my first choice, it served a purpose and served it well. Everything in our lives cannot be as refined as the routine we consciously surround ourselves in. The idea of time is relative without a comparison. The experiences in life are all that we have to define our moments of being alive. It’s with that thought that I am left to reshape the definition of classic. The feeling of riding an old motorcycle creates a feeling of connectivity and freedom. Wearing an old watch constructs an aesthetic in our style while breathing new life into an old soul. Driving an air-cooled vintage car inspires ideas and emotions that laid dormant within us.
No matter what the topic of conversation is, if you are attempting to define a classic, do yourself a favor and leave the textbooks behind you. Let your heart and soul guide you toward that classic feeling. You’ll know it when you feel it because few things in life ever feel instantly right.