This time around, I bring up a story about my eye-opening experience.

One day, while living abroad on an overseas assignment, I went for a test drive of my motorcycle as my customized machine was ready for driving on the road. As I stopped at a red light, a car drew abreast of me after leaving the nursing home. Then I noticed an elderly woman was staring at me from its passenger seat. She appeared angry as she wore sunglasses with a knot between her brows.

Moments later, she slightly opened the window and said something to me waiting for the light to change. Honestly, I didn’t want any trouble, so I pointed a finger at my ear trying to convey a message that I could hardly hear her voices because of my helmet. Then she made a gesture of twisting her wrist with her hand clenched. That’s exactly the sign of GAS well known to motorcycle riders. In response, I opened the throttle to make an exhaust sound. Trembling with surprise, she gave me her brightest smile and thumbs-up.

That was the moment that I realized the depth of the motorcycle culture. An elderly woman, who apparently had little interest in motorcycles, shared motorcycle riders’ in-group language and even enjoyed it. I felt satisfied that I am involved in an industry with such cultural background.

Isn’t it important for designers to share the moments like this?

Jun Tamura
Hybrid Design Dept.
Senior Director