I took an unwanted break from riding during my college years as my bike was stolen from me. At that time I couldn't afford to buy another bike with the cost of school an didn't want to risk having another bike stolen. Looking back it, a part of me is glad that bike was stolen. I was too young and dumb to own a sport bike as I was always pushing the limits with it (rode only for the thrill back then) and went down a few times playing around (luckily no injuries from any).
Once I finished school and got my first professional job I was ready to get a new toy. I tried out the car scene for a few years, but it just didn't have the same feel. So I grabbed a new to me shadow 750 to start back into riding. This second entrance into the sport was different for me, as I wasn't in it just for the thrill of the speed. Now I took up riding for the feeling of being connected to the road and crunching miles. Today I get most of miles commuting to and from work and its a highlight of my day! But its true I rarely get an adrenaline rush like I did with my old sport bike.
So my thought on riding is like many hobbies where it always comes in waves depending on what you have going on in your life. That is why I use my bike to commute so I always get to enjoy it, but also get practical day to day use out of it.