My first clear memory of riding a motorcycle is hopping along side the ‘Big Black Bike’, one leg over the seat, other on the ground getting moving (way too big for me to sit on it and touch the ground.) I remember that if I dropped it it was too big for me to pick up and I couldn’t start it either.
I’m told I was 4 at the time and the bike is one of those lawnmower engine mini bike things that they had in the late 60s.
Today I ride a custom Vrod which is my 13th motorcycle (gulp) and I ride about 10kmi/year – which is pretty good if you consider that I work for myself and my commute is from the bed to the coffee pot.
Living in SC I ride all year long, bike gets more miles than the truck which might sit for months in the summer.
I grew up riding dirt, when I broke my leg in a supercross race at age 30 I sold the dirtbike and when I was finally walking again got a streetbike.
The only HD emblem on my Vrod is in the gauges and of my gear only the boots are HD, (on their 2nd set of soles.)
My riding style ranges from chick & luggage on the back to sharpening the pegs on the Dragon's Tail.
I ride because I’d rather be on two wheels than in a cage.
A few recent pics for your enjoyment.
For those of you considering starting riding, some bits…
Learn on something small and inexpensive. Big bikes look cool, but are heavy, unwieldy, expensive and often have a temperament that places them squarely out of the category of ‘beginner motorcycle’.
Better yet, spend ten years riding in the dirt before ever getting on the street. Falling down on a dirt bike is a wonderful way to learn how to fall, and trust me when I say that falling down is part of learning to ride.
Of course take all the rider courses you can, these can only help. I took the Ducati road racing class (4 days) and it really improved my street riding and what I now know I can do with a motorcycle.
You need to be hyperalert when riding on the street. Relaxing and spacing out will get you squished, maybe dead. Ride like everyone is out to get you. This is not paranoia, someone IS out to get you, but you have no idea who that is. Always leave yourself an exit. Everywhere, all the time.
Loud exhausts save lives, jerks abusing loud exhausts cause others to think we are all idiots.
Learn to do your own maintenance. This is part of owning a motorcycle. Don’t go to the stealer for every little loose screw, fix it yourself.
Drinking & riding is stupid, sooner or later it’ll get you.