Riding Since: 1980
First motorcycle: a brand-new 1980 Suzuki GN-400
Current Motorcycle: 1999 Honda GL-1500 Gold Wing Aspencade
Brand-new 1980 Suzuki GN-400. Great bike on which to learn; I kept it much longer than the year-or-two I’d planned. It aptly demonstrated why single-cylinder engines are referred to as “thumpers.” I’d never ridden a motorcycle before; the dealership gave me a quick “there’s the throttle, there’s the brakes, do this, do that, there you go…” And there I went: out their parking lot, left turn onto a side street, and nearly hit the third car on the right. I managed to make it to a parking lot where I rode around for a while. Sure wish the dealership had told me about the MSF…
In 1989, I bought a 1984 GL-1200 Gold Wing. Going from a 350 pound bike to one weighing almost 1000 pounds, my first reaction was “what have I gotten myself into!?!?” After a short time, I felt comfortable on it.
Soon after buying it I took the predecessor to the BRC; the MRC:RSS “Motorcycle RiderCourse: Riding and Street Skills.” I was surprised at how much I didn’t know, and how much I was doing wrong.
Just under 100,000 miles later, the Wing needed some major work. Traded it in on my current bike, a 1999 Honda GL-1500 Gold Wing Aspencade.
As part of my RiderCoach training, I took the BRC again. Even as an experienced rider, I improved my riding. Training never ends!
Gold Wing Road Riders Association, American Motorcyclist Association, NeDOD (just an occasional ‘lurker’ though…)
A motorcycle is more than mere transportation – even when just going from here to there. The ‘going’ becomes part of the complete experience – the ride is *enjoyed*; not just tolerated to reach a destination. No “are we there yet?”
Anywhere except bumper-to-bumper traffic.
When my wife and I rode the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia, it rained the entire time. Since we were already in rain suits, we stopped and walked several trails – had we been in a car we wouldn’t have done that.
Another trip changed from simply visiting family into a 3000 mile ride – out to Indiana, back through Canada, and a whole lot of side trips.
New Hampshire’s White Mountains are always beautiful.
Met some wonderful folks when we broke down on a trip to South Carolina.
We frequently ride locally as a get-away-from-it-all break. Instead of boring-drive/coffee break/boring-drive, the ride *is* the break – coffee’s just a nice excuse to get on the bike!