Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance Anyone read this book? I started it years ago when I was young and foolish enough to think it was just about motorcycle maintenance . Well now, about fifty years later, I am trying again. This time, I will finish it. Mr Determined visits town.
I read it about 50 years ago, thinking it was about bikes, but luckily was in my far out man phase, so finished it. Mostly, if I recall, I was disappointed because the motorcycle in question was a BMW. About a month ago, for some reason, I thought of reading it again.
Ahh Pirsig at his finest The title is an apparent play on the title of the 1948 book Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel. In its introduction, Pirsig explains that, despite its title, "it should in no way be associated with that great body of factual information relating to orthodox Zen Buddhist practice. It's not very factual on motorcycles, either." The book is a fictionalized autobiography of a 17-day journey that Pirsig made with his Honda CB77 motorcycle from Minnesota to Northern California along with his son Chris in 1968. The story of this journey is recounted in a first-person narrative, although the author is not identified. Father and son are also accompanied, for the first nine days of the journey, by close friends John and Sylvia Sutherland, with whom they part ways in Montana. And here’s the bit that got on my tits, the journey is punctuated by numerous philosophical discussions, referred to as Chautauquas by the author, on topics including epistemology, the history of philosophy, and the philosophy of science. Didn’t finish it Good luck
I read it way back when. I don't really remember that much about the book apart from not being too impressed after all the hype. Enjoy
Dont need to read a book to be Zen when it comes to maintenance....probably one of my favorite past-times...nothing better than dismantling something to repair/service/upgrade - i probably enjoy a sunny sunday afternoon in the garage as much as going out for a ride....
In fact, that is quite Zen. I think. Maybe. HI have no clue, really. I will finish the book and relate the answer.
Ironcially just got off the phone to Rich at Louigi - going over on saturday to collect a nitrile o-ring from a 996 which 'should' fit the sprag bearing of the $XV making the sprag a little bit more reliable....did the same upgrade on the sprag on my Hyper a few years back...apparently the band/o-ring is lots more resilient to stretching than the stock spring that comes on the bearing....infact when i took the near new 'heavy duty' bearing out that was in there literally for a week the spring had stretched in places... That, is fun for me....
Same era as Jonathan Livingston Seagull, philosophical ramblings tied to a subject matter of your choice equals best seller
"I started it years ago when I was young and foolish enough to think it was just about motorcycle maintenance . Well now, about fifty years later, I am trying again.” Same here……. but conked out already and now lost the frickin book in a house move
"nothing better than dismantling something to repair/service/upgrade”. Which usually ends in damaging something or a mystery component not finding its home again. “Know your failure point……."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_M._Pirsig More info on Wiki about him. I never realised he was on a Honda, I thought that it was a Brit bike, but know not which one, or why I thought that.
It's not an easy read, got through it on the third attempt some 35 years ago. Might try and dig it out.
Read this many moons ago, seem to remember him and son had some serious mental issues. Also seem to remember author was murdered in early 20s ?
Just had Google, it was his son who was murdered. 'Define Quality' I was working 12hr nights in print reading this, lucky it was on the bosses time !
I do...i know what i can and cant handle....if i cant handle it then i take it to someone else....case in point...my hyper (widely documented on here) but, i might add it was still immense fun...nice to meet Ducati John and watch him strip my motor to pieces in under and hour (and have it all bagged up and labelled) then the process of getting the motor cerakoted, back up to John and then collect a complete engine.....its all fun....
