I came from a _total_ obsession with cars from the time I got a driver's license at 16 to a _total_ obsession with racing bicycles when I started riding at 32 in 1976 (you do the math). I was particularly fascinated with Formula 1 race cars.
The first thing that struck me then was that all racing bikes were streetable, while Formula 1 cars were not. I was really tickled that I could ride and afford these totally cost is no object state of the art racing bikes, and do daily errands with them if I liked.
Of course, the by product of leaving the car culture behind was that the engine sitting on the bike improved over the ensuing years with daily use. Something that can't be said for car use.
And I love to kid my motorcycle friends that their reduced to bare essentials machines have an extra motor that is going to waste sitting on the saddle.
Chuck Schmidt
South Pasadena, Southern California