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I just read Fulton's "One Man Caravan" last year - incredible book & strange memories it leaves, like of the fish he saw in Burma (I think) that he watched jump itself from a puddle on one side of the road to a neighbouring puddle the other side...

Sander Abernathy wrote:He looked like a much, much dirtier version of that.Someone asked if it could have actually been him. I would say that is highly unlikely. Nonetheless, it was an odd experience.

I'd guess it wasn't Pirsig; at least in the book, he seemed to use the bike as a metaphor for quality, not a manifestation of quality itself.

Sander, where did you see this character?

I had to read Pirsig's book for a graduate school class in economics. The professor's focus was to examine the two points of view regarding the employment of technology and the mechanical ability required to maintain it. In other words, the contrast between Pirsig, who had difficulty separating the mechanics from his metaphysical philosophy and his friend on the BMW, who couldn't care less about Pirsig's philosophical perspective. The friend just wanted the bike to start up and perform on each ride. That is why he rode a BMW, so he wouldn't be bothered with the mechanical stuff.

Of course, the friend rode a BMW in the days before final drive faulures, fuel strip failures, EWS failures, rear wheel brake flange failures, early battery failures, pull to the right syndrome, ABS or non ABS, synthetic oil vs. dino oil, high mileage vs. performance tires, Aerostich vs. jeans, DOT vs. SNELL, windshield aerodynamics, BMWMOA vs. BMWRA and the complete lack of empathy between BMW Mottorad and their customer base.

These conundrums would have driven Pirsig into an existential overload. Alternatively, the friend would have become a member of any of the various BMW forums and discussed these things in a civilized manner much as we do.

Bill

fastdogs2 wrote: Of course, the friend rode a BMW in the days before final drive faulures, fuel strip failures, EWS failures, rear wheel brake flange failures, early battery failures, pull to the right syndrome, ABS or non ABS, synthetic oil vs. dino oil, high mileage vs. performance tires, Aerostich vs. jeans, DOT vs. SNELL, windshield aerodynamics, BMWMOA vs. BMWRA and the complete lack of empathy between BMW Mottorad and their customer base.
Bill

And that's why I keep my /5 on the road.

This at Antietam Battlefield about 250 miles from home. Got me there and back without, digital gear indicator, ABS,GPS,EWS,TSC,Fuel Strip, Ambient Temperature gage,Tire Pressure monitors or 100,000cp auxiliary lighting on skinny Metzeler tires, running Castrol 20/50 real oil. And enjoyed every mile.