Ironically, despite being a fan of classic-style motorcycles, I had never really had the chance to ride a bike for any decent distance without LED lighting, ABS, or alloy wheels. I had always relied on those and other modern features to feel comfortable on the road—until I got the opportunity to take this V7 Racer III, courtesy of a friend who doesn't use Reddit, up to the Verapaces.
On top of that, I had deliberately avoided racing-style motorcycles out of fear that the riding position would simply be too uncomfortable. To my surprise, though, it wasn't nearly as punishing as I had initially imagined. That said, it did force me to stop more often than usual.
Now, with that being said, once you're sitting on it, there's something about that aggressive riding position that DEMANDS THAT YOU ACCELERATE, show off that red frame on the road, and forget for a moment that there's a world beyond the asphalt opening ahead under the amber glow of that halogen headlight.
At first, the lighting felt insufficient after spending so many years getting my eyes accustomed to LEDs. But as I made my way down the road, the details gradually became clearer, and the warmth of the light gave me a new perspective on what it used to be like—and, in many cases, still is—to travel at night. It meant leaving behind the artificial comfort of the harsh lighting I had relied on for so long and being forced to embrace the softness of the contours and shadows unfolding around us as we passed.
