Motorcycles and Motorcycling

American Travel… Progress? 

The invention and advancement of the automobile has had an incredible impact on how we move as a society- how we travel from place to place, faster and faster as each decade passes. We are constantly looking for ways to reduce travel time and increase speed and efficiency, all while unintentionally destroying our own country’s infrastructure and our overall mental health. 

Back in the early days, before the interstate system was built, Americans traveled on two and four lane highways that that followed the landscape and accommodated stops in small towns and cities. All across the country, creative entrepreneurs built neat roadside attractions, cozy diners and motor hotels that were the perfect oases for weary travelers. In 1956, President Eisenhower’s interstate highway system began construction and, in the decades that followed, an unforeseen change began taking place. The new “improved” highway system carved new paths in the landscape- cutting through the mountains and hills instead of going around them and flattening the horizon for miles and miles instead of following the changing elevation of the rolling hills. Small towns all across America were bypassed, their roadside diners forced to close, their silly attractions falling into disrepair and the cozy motels where weary travelers and families once stayed, turning into places fit only for a horror story- nothing more than dirty flops for prostitutes, drug addicts and criminals to hide out and do their ill deeds. Main streets that once bustled with patrons, were forced to shutter their stores, by the strip malls that were built along the interstate corridors. In some places, the new shopping centers were only a few blocks from the historic downtowns where so many Americans once ran their family businesses. All across America, small towns fell into disrepair- their stores closed, their buildings vacated and their economies suffered… all in the name of progress.

Yes, the interstate system made short work of crossing this great country of ours, but with every advancement, it seems there is a sacrifice that must be made… and small town America was forced to pay that debt. 

Motorcycles and Motorcycling

No other vehicle produced has ever brought people together, quite like the motorcycle has. In the early days, the spirit of invention led numerous companies to create motorized bicycles, and later, purpose-built motorcycles. While the intended purpose for these machines was to primarily be a practical and functional form of transportation, it didn’t take long for motorcycle riders to figure out that their machines were much more than just a vehicle. Motorcycles were used for racing and cruising, they were used in wars, commerce, public safety and leisure. Motorcycles have been an integral part of this country’s history, as well as the world’s history. They have been, and still are, used by outlaws and law enforcement, by tough guys and by nice guys. They’re used by women and men of every race, creed and color. Motorcycles don’t discriminate and they don’t judge. Even better than that, for the vast majority of motorcycle riders around the world- the commonality of being a rider is often enough to forge bonds and bridge gaps among people that might not ever even speak to each other. 

Motorcycling is a great conduit for conversations and for building friendships. It’s also a great way to explore the world and overcome fears and adversities, just ask guys like Ted Simon and Dave Barr (R.I.P.). You see, while they are both machines designed to transport people from place to place, the motorcycle is different from its 4-wheeled counterparts in a variety of ways. One significant difference is that the motorcycle becomes an extension of the the rider. It requires… no, it demands, full attention and engagement of its rider. It requires input from every part of the body- the left hand for the clutch, the right hand for the throttle and front brake, the left foot for shifting and the right foot for the rear brakes. Every movement must be accounted for- the turn of the head, the focus of the eyes, the shift of the body, all of these things will affect the movement of these vehicles. Motorcycles are visceral machines and because they become extensions of our bodies, it only makes sense that they become extensions of our personalities.

Exploring the backroads is best done on two wheels

Remember how I said that all of those towns began to fade away? Well, fortunately for them, and for us, many of those towns have regained popularity and, through revitalization efforts, many are making a comeback. Efforts to restore main streets across the country are in full swing and there is a growing trend among Americans, to get off of the interstates, avoid the giant retailers with their concrete cities of discount racks and chain stores, and instead, shop at local establishments that are owned by individuals and their families, eat at local diners and walk along the historical streets of these small towns, once again.

One of the very best ways to explore those small towns is, and has always been, by motorcycle. I know it is presumptuous to say so, but I often wonder if the revitalization of small town America wasn’t started, at least in some small way, by motorcyclists. Consider this, motorcyclists have always preferred the backroads and scenic byways over the superslabs of tractor-trailers and distracted drivers racing to their destinations at breakneck speeds. We have always preferred the curvy, hilly, country roads and two-lane highways and stopping at places where we can get a home-cooked meal and a comfortable, peaceful night of sleep. While a lot of motorcyclists are plain folks like me, and maybe even you, others are influential, some are wealthy entrepreneurs that are looking for investments and some just want to save the history of this great country. While most people speed past these small towns, little main streets and historical downtowns at 70+ mph on the interstates, most motorcyclists cruise into them, admiring the architecture, drinking the coffee and eating in their diners. As word gets out, more and more visitors start to visit, and some even take notice of their charm (and the opportunities) that are hidden in these little communities of Americana. Maybe I’m wrong, but maybe I’m not?

Riding together

I’ve made a lot of friends over the years because of motorcycles. I’ve ridden alongside people I didn’t know, had conversations with people I would have never otherwise spoken to and I have had experiences that have molded who I am as a person. In my motorcycle travels, I have seen the beauty of this world- I’ve slept under the stars, drank from a river, been drenched in rain, watched lightning crackle across a midnight sky and I have felt the presence of God in the air and in the surrounding landscape. 

Motorcycles are more than just machines for transportation; they are devices for transcending differences. They can heal broken friendships, they can help to overcome fears and insecurities. They are tools for individuality and togetherness. The motorcycle is the physical manifestation of independence. That is why there are museums dedicated to them, like Barber Motorcycle Museum in Alabama and Wheels Through Time in North Carolina.

While there are always certain exceptions, most riders will ride with just about anyone, regardless of what they ride. Most riders don’t care about race or nationality. Proof of this is found in just about any place there are motorcycle gatherings. You can find riders of every background, walking around and checking out the other bikes and talking to the other riders at these places. That’s because they all have that one thing in common- they all ride.  Nearly every person that I’ve met, who is on two wheels now, got started on some sort of similar machine. Many started on small bore Japanese motorcycles, several on dirt bikes, and even more on those little single cylinder, centrifugal clutch, solid frame motorbikes. Because we all have a shared history of how we started riding, and because we can all relate to the riding experiences that we share with each other… we find ourselves on common ground, and it becomes easy to overlook our differences. 

Bad actors

In every facet of our society, there are bad apples, the worst among us that are selfish, inconsiderate, immature, lawless and reckless. They are the bad actors who make us all look bad. They are the ones that cause us to be vilified and antagonized by those among us that can’t, or won’t, make the distinctions between us. I won’t give them any time or recognition here, as we all know who they are. Instead, I’ll focus on those among us that do the most. 

The squeaky wheel gets the grease, and as such, the shitty motorcyclists get the attention. But while those among us are getting negative attention, the others (the majority) among us that are doing good, still keep up their good works. Groups like the Patriot Guard and Bikers Against Child Abuse, just to mention a couple. Not to mention all of the smaller, local clubs that are doing God’s work- raising money for local sick kids, injured veterans and first responders and just about any other charitable cause you can think of. Here, in my little corner of the world, there is a group that collects toys for Toys for Tots every year and they’ve been doing it for the past 40 years! Just think about how many kids over the past 4 decades, that have woken up on Christmas morning with toys under the tree… toys that weren’t delivered by a chubby guy in a red suit, but rather by a scruffy guy in a leather jacket!

Groups like this rarely get the attention they deserve and you may be wondering why. Well, it’s simple- it’s easier to vilify things that we are unfamiliar with, especially when those things oppose and challenge what is considered societal “norms.” While motorcycling seems to be coming into the mainstream a little more now, it is still considered a pastime and conveyance of the rebels and risk-takers of our society. Consider this- automobiles are getting bigger and bigger with every passing model year. If you don’t believe me, park a 2024 Chevrolet 1500 or Ford F-150 next to it’s 1984 predecessor- the difference in size is mind boggling. Motorcycles though… well, they are still the small, fast, nimble machines that they have always been. Some are designed for two, and many others are meant for the solo adventurer. You see, society as a whole, still sees bikers as The Wild One, when most of us are actually more like Wild Hogs. This is another reason why, when my friends or family ask why I ride motorcycles, I will recommend the movie Why We Ride. It does a great job of explaining the passion of riding to the unfamiliar. 

The takeaway 

Look, the reality is that riding motorcycles isn’t for everyone. But, to be fair, that goes for every activity. Golfing, fishing, hunting, shopping, paragliding, skydiving… I could go on and on… are not activities for everyone, and that is okay. Everyone has something that they are passionate about and to that end, I say- send it! Have fun! Enjoy yourselves and activate those brain cells, dump those endorphins, breathe it all in and live the life that you have! 

I don’t know what motorcycles mean to you… but I know what they mean to me. I know that being a motorcyclist has given me memories that will last a lifetime. I know that I have more stories of my adventures on two wheels than I probably have time left in my life to tell them. I know that riding motorcycles has enriched my life with friendships, and bonds of brotherhood that can never be broken or lost to the cruel march of time. I know that motorcycles and motorcycling has given life to my pen (or keyboard, as it were) and they have allowed me to express my thoughts, insights and advice to a worldwide audience that I would have, otherwise, never known had it not been for my desire to share my passion of riding with others. Others who, like me, are overwhelmed with their joy of the open road and their everlasting longing for their next adventure in the wind. A shared love of motorcycles has led thousands of good folks from across the globe- from Germany to the Netherlands, Moldova to Morocco, India to Luxembourg, and everywhere in between… to read this very blog… this one, specific site, among this massive omnium-gatherum, that we call the Internet. 

Motorcycles have led me to so many wonderful things in life, and they have allowed me to experience this world in a way that most people never will. God has blessed me with the ability to, not only, ride these machines, but to also write about them… and that is something that I’m most grateful for, because had it not been for my motorcycling exploits, I would have never had the opportunities that I’ve had. 

So go…go ahead and shut the computer down, put your riding gear on, take that bike of yours out of the garage and blow the cobwebs off of it. But remember, there’s someone that loves you and wants you to come back home, safe and unbroken… 

…so please…

…ride safe and make good choices!