Just saw this, sooo true. Had an accident in Jan on way to work, people immediately asked me, when I returned to work or assumed, I wouldn't ride again. I asked, "why not"...well you just wrecked, it's not safe. Then I got my Vmax, "why did you get a new bike?!?! you just wrecked." Then...when I ride in the cold or even the rain (my KLR not my max) "why do you do that?"
I've tried to explain, they never get it. One girl here who used to ride with a boyfriend does, no one else does. There is no explanation for it, you get it or you don't. If you've never ridden, there's no guarantee you will get it but I can guarantee until you ride you won't know if you get it or not.