Ok, deadly sins is probably over-selling it a little, but I've never been averse to a little clickbait. However, having said that, I've somehow managed to relate all of The Seven Deadly Sins to motorcycling. I'll admit that a couple of them are a bit tenuous, but it's a little bit of fun with a sprinkling of serious points. How many of the sins are you guilty of, dear reader?
1. LUST
Lust is wanton desire, and it can be a big deal for bikers. For example, I'm sure I'm not alone in having lusty thoughts when I see a Brutale 1000RR or a Panigale V4R. It sometimes gets to the point where I think I should sell my bike - and possibly one of my kidneys - and dive headfirst into the world of Italian exotica. However, it's an urge which doesn't help us.
Whatever we ride, we bought our bikes for a reason. The reason is usually that we saw it, loved it and then handed over vast wads of hard-earned cash to buy it. We should avoid lust and remember why we love our bikes so much. Of course, none of this applies if you're fortunate enough to own a Brutale 1000RR. Additionally, if you do own one of the aforementioned pieces of exotica, do you want to be mates?
2. GLUTTONY
Gluttony is an excessive and ongoing eating of food or drink. You may be wondering what this has to do with motorcycling. To be honest, when I had the idea of writing The Seven Deadly Sins, I was a little worried about this one. However, it's as simple as it is literal. How many of us tuck up our bikes for winter, enjoy a boozy feeding frenzy over the holiday period, and then, come Spring, wonder why our leathers feel significantly tighter than they did the previous Autumn? That'll be gluttony, my biking brethren.
There's a serious point in there somewhere. Given how much we spend on fancy leather suits, expensive Gore-Tex jackets and amazing trousers, it would be tragic for them to become horribly uncomfortable and spoil the pleasure we get from riding just because we couldn't keep away from the mini pork pies and eggnog. However, if your gear really is too tight and small, pop down to Bike Stop and get kitted out in a whole new outfit! Honestly, these ads are seamless.
3. GREED
Greed is an excessive pursuit of material goods. In motorcycling terms, this is perhaps directed at people with multiple bikes. However, unlike most of the other sins, this is something I can get on board with. With so many choices in styles and types of bikes these days, it makes sense to have two or more bikes to cover all the bases.
Owning multiple bikes can be great, but it's important to look after them equally. I used to own two bikes but found myself caught in a trap of favouring one of them more than the other. One was fast but uncomfortable and required plenty of attention. The other was a big, floppy adventure bike, and it was always the first choice when going for a Sunday ride. If you're going to have multiple bikes, make sure you use them. Spread the love.
4. SLOTH
Laziness. This relates to motorcycling in two ways. The first is not using your bike in the first place. This is clearly a sin. You went through all that trouble to learn how to ride, and you spent a fortune on a bike, clothing, and insurance. Additionally, I'm sure bikes powered by internal combustion will be illegal at some point in the future, so get out on your bike now and make the most of it!
The second point is more important. We should never become complacent while we're riding. Inattention and complacency lead to accidents. Even if we're riding on the same roads, day after day, year after year, we have to remain vigilant. It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking we know what lies ahead, but things change, and one of those sudden changes could put you in a ditch, wondering what happened. Stay focused on the job, read the road ahead, make good observations and never let your guard down.
5. ENVY
Envy is similar to lust but differs in the response to it. With lust, it's a daydream, but with envy, you're making yourself feel bad because someone has something you don't. I guess it's pretty natural to feel envy. If you see someone pull up at a bike meet on a Desmosedici RR, there's going to be a little pang in the gut about why you're not riding it.
However, you don't need to be envious. Sure, people may have more expensive, newer or more exotic bikes. Maybe they have a custom-painted helmet or CustomWorks leathers, but that's not important. You have a bike, and it's great. You know it's great because you bought it. I'll let you have a little bit of lust, but being envious is silly. Enjoy what you have while you have it.
Unless, of course, you see a Desmosedici, then you can be as envious as you like—that's just natural.
6. WRATH
Arguably the worst of the motorcycling sins. Wrath is frequently born out of frustration with cars. I'm sure we've all felt the anger levels rise when someone pulls out of a junction without looking or blocking us when filtering through traffic. It's both dangerous and annoying in equal measure. However, we should keep the anger in check.
As terrible as someone's actions might be, we shouldn't sink to their level. We don't gain anything from swearing, shouting or revving our engines. If it gets to the point of punching wing mirrors or kicking cars, it's really gone too far. When someone wrongs you, try to take a deep breath, take a moment, and then get yourself away from the imbecile who perpetrated the crime. The last thing you should do is escalate the incident with possibly unjust retribution. You're on a bike. They're vulnerable, but they're quick and agile, so you can remove yourself from the situation with relative ease. Don't let wrath consume you.
7. PRIDE
There's good pride, and there's bad pride. The former relates to how you treat your bike and gear. Taking pride in your bike by keeping it clean and well-maintained is positively virtuous and makes you feel better and safer when you're riding. However, there's a darker, more nefarious face of pride.
As vulnerable road users, we should know it's nearly always safer to back away from a problem than ride into it. If someone's driving badly, remove yourself from the situation. Don't be roped into trying to educate them on road safety by engaging in dangerous riding yourself. If you genuinely believe someone's driving is so incredibly dangerous, putting yourself in harm's way to prove a point isn't going to end well. As with wrath, it's better to take a breath and move on with your life. Additionally, if the driving was truly horrendous, you're far better off stopping and informing the police, who are far better equipped to deal with it.
