Your Stories

Flying. Today I went flying. Flying, like a bird only me and the wind and my motorcycle gliding through air. It is comfortable, like a second skin. It is man and machine morphing into one entity. I am relaxed and loose. My thoughts dont exist. There is total absence of thought. Feel takes over. Snippets of images waft in and out, but no plans, no grabbing on to an idea, no holding on tight for fear of forgetting, no fear of anything.

I have been keeping track of the things people have said to me or comments made about me over the last two and a half years Ive been riding. I find some quirky, funny or even complimentary, and others just insulting. There are some doozies that Id like to address.

Ive always loved motorcycles but came from a family that was not motorcycle enthusiasts. As a matter of fact, I was forbidden as a young girl to get on the back of one. The boy I had a crush on in high school had a dirt bike and though I didnt ride with him I envied him (sometimes to the point of jealousy that he chose the bike over me).

I took the weekend MSF course shortly after September 11, 2001. It was a challenging year for me. I made it through a serious illness and like every other American, my life was changed by the events of that fateful Tuesday morning. I also turned 40, but that didnt bother me all that much as I was grateful for regaining my health. These things made me realize that life is a precious gift and we need to enjoy our days here on earth to the fullest.

My husband Jack and I took our first cross country trip last year. I still cant believe Im riding again. I will soon be 53 years old, and have gone through some medical problems over the past seven years, so when I look back at it all, I am amazed at the accomplishment.

This story is for women who would like to ride a motorcycle, but for many reasons feel they dont dare. Im a fifty-two year old woman and all my life Ive wanted to ride my own motorcycle. My place until recently, was always as a passenger. At that time, I could not imagine having my own motorcycle.

In the spring of 2004 I experienced the scare of a possible MS diagnosis. That was it. It was time make the most of now. I had sportbikes in the past but had given them up because I was told supporting a riding habit as a single mom was not the best use of my time or money. My son always will come first, but I had to ask myself, “If tomorrow is my last day, am I doing what I want to be doing today?”

How many of you are braggin of draggin the Dragon? Doing a buck forty on the interstate? Best wheelie? While lane-splitting? Timing the lights just right? Why are you still riding on the street? We have all found ourselves in a foolish situation on a street bike. Dropping a knee in the corner to discover the corner is full of gravel. Sliding sideways on wet leaves at a stop sign. I can’t imagine wasting time on a street bike.

I am one of many bikers that gave up riding years ago and have recently taken it up again. Back in the early 80s I rode with friends on my 1000cc Sportster. I had many great times but when I had my son I chose to give up biking. Now he is 22 and Ive hit the road again!