Addicted to “Stuff”

I ordered a new Laguna Seca Pro suit today from Dainese, which wouldn’t really be worth writing about if I didn’t already have one. Why would I order another? The reality is that I’ve only worn my current suit once and it’s not only in perfect condition, but fully personalized to boot. Well, I’m addicted to “stuff.” Oh, I can usually find a way of rationalizing why I’m purchasing the stuff that I seem to lust for, but the harsh reality is that I just love stuff, and sadly it’s usually the “nicer” stuff, that always seems to cost more than I can really afford. Yet I always seem to find a way; after all, food’s not really all it’s cracked up to be, so not only can it be moved a bit down the priority list, but by doing so I haven’t gained any weight in the 40 plus years since I was in high school!

The suit I own is a non-perforated white suit, where the one I just ordered is a perforated black suit. Other than that, they are the same model in the same size from the same manufacturer, and will be identically personalized with my name and the logos of everyone who helped make it possible for me to feed my addiction. Yes, I’ve rationalized that one will be better in the cooler weather and the other better in the warmer weather. But the reality is that I just love looking at how beautifully they’re made, and how the leather smells and feels (Dainese’s “D” Skin is like no other!). Being in the business of selling motorcycle productive wear for the past two decades certainly makes it easier for me to both rationalize and feed my addiction to motorcycle stuff.

Sadly, I like other stuff as well, as not all of it is motorcycle related. According to Mommy Dearest, though, if not for my 40-year fascination for motorcycle stuff, I’d be living in a stone English Tudor on Philadelphia’s Main Line without a mortgage rather than a brick row home in the “hood,” with only half of it paid for. She’s absolutely right. But every morning, after I walk through a house filled with motorcycle racing memorabilia, including several dozen motorcycle racing books, motorcycle racing art, and motorcycle racing gear (probably six racing suits, several pairs of boots and gloves, and 29(!) helmets), I arrive at the bottom of the stairs to my basement on the way to my garage. I take an admiring look at the few bicycles there (all of which I built and are also products of my addiction to stuff, but I’m really probably just making sure they’re all still there...remember, I live in the “hood”), but then a much longer, and perhaps an even loving look at my race bike, which wears an amount of aftermarket stuff that cost me almost twice the list price of the bike itself. “Stuff” from companies like Ohlins, Marchesini, Brembo, Akropovic, Attack, Harris, etc., all held together with Yoyodyne titanium fasteners just about everywhere.  

I always enjoy being asked by those at the racetrack who actually know what they’re looking at, how each and every modification to my current machine (and all of those that preceded it, each and every one enjoying the same amount of attention) has contributed to its performance. The reality is that (perhaps with the exception of the tires) none of the standard parts were ever factors in limiting the performance of the standard machine nearly as much as were my own personal limitations in the ability department. I could probably circle the track just as quickly without having added any of the “stuff.” But those long, loving looks that my girlfriend is so jealous of would no longer exist, and whatever I get from looking at things that I find so beautiful is, well...priceless.

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Source: http://motorcycleracingtrackdays.com/addicted-to-stuff-42099

Manliff Barrington Alex Barros Geoff Barry Hans Bartl Harald Bartol