Reader Story: Her Mean Streak Makes It Happen

I understand why it#8217;s hard to explain the life-changing experience of riding to people that haven#8217;t even been on the back of a bike. I used to be that woman. In 1995, I had my first ride on the back of a friend#8217;s sportbike, going 110 down I-5 north of San Diego#8212;definitely a thrill. A month later, a stranger took me for a short spin on his Harley-Davidson, and I loved the rumble beneath my thighs. But the memory faded as time passed, and my life took its turns and detours until one fateful day in 2007. A man I worked with took me to lunch on his 2003 Road King. I spent the next two months trying to decide if I was in love with him or his ride. Turns out it was both.

Fast forward a bit#8212;I rode on the back of my boyfriend Joey#8217;s Harley for just over a year, riding to the Republic of Texas (ROT) Biker Rally in Austin, Houston and Nacogdoches. I loved hugging the back of his bike, sorting through whatever was weighing on my brain at the time, nothing more.

There were two women in our group who rode their own bikes. The thought didn#8217;t cross my mind until they mentioned it. I knew I was capable, and the fire of my desire had been lit. Joey suggested I take the safety course just to see if I really wanted to entertain this notion. So in August 2009, I took the motorcycle safety course, and I haven#8217;t looked back since. A month later, I bought a used Honda 750 from a guy who#8217;d had it sitting in his shed for 10 years, during which he#8217;d put only 400 miles on it.

In June 2009, I had to take her in for new tires because we were preparing to go to ROT in Austin. Meanwhile, Joey took me over to check out the bikes at a resale shop a block away, where I fell in love for the second time. Id previously sat on the 2007 model of the Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Mean Streak and had not felt comfortable. But this was different. Heavy, weighing in at 640 pounds dry versus the Honda#8217;s 540 wet, the 2008 model was lower to the ground, making it super easy for my 5-foot-6 frame (wearing platform clogs, of course) to handle.

Red and black, the 2008 Kawasaki Vulcan Mean Streak 1600 would soon be mine. She had a meager 283 miles on her, a showroom model ousted to make space for new models coming in. I went in the next morning for a test drive, prepared to pay, and off I rode on my new soul mate. As a new rider, many of my (male) friends insisted it was too much power for me. I not only informed them that I intended to use only the power I needed, but that they were just being petty because the girl in the group had more guns than they did. They knew I was right#8212;even the name was an indicative match.

That was just over a year ago, and we#8217;ve logged well over 10,000 miles together. As much anxiety as I feel every time I ride, I also anticipate the thrill of adrenaline coursing through my veins. I appreciate her power, giving me the ability to stay safe despite all the distracted drivers, debris on the road and other dangers out there. I still ride on the back of Joey#8217;s bike once in awhile, but I will always love the power and freedom I enjoy as a female rider, commandeering my own vehicle and mastering the road, never taking safety for granted, always vigilant.

So why do I ride? I ride for many reasons, among them power, confidence and freedom. I ride because I want to see what scenery is out there for my senses to behold, whether that includes beautiful foliage, butterflies and wild birds, or crazy fellow riders searching for fulfillment of their own dreams.

I ride because I can. I ride because too many people don#8217;t think I can#8212;don#8217;t think I should. Because sometimes I just need to get away from everyone and everywhere, just ride off into the obscurity of whatever destination I don#8217;t have planned. Sometimes I take Joey with me, sometimes I disappear on my own. Maybe I#8217;ll cover 30 miles of little back roads with stop signs or 100 miles of two-lane state highway. Bottom line#8212;I ride because I have the freedom, the will and the opportunity. And no one can stop me.