Hello Jesters! I hope that the change in weather finds you well and getting ready for the holidays while taking a look at your winter projects. Here in the North East we only have a few more weeks of riding weather before most of us are forced to put our rides up for the next few months and just dream about warmer weather and longer rides.
With the holidays quickly approaching I see a lot of Toy Runs popping up and I love Toy Runs and the camaraderie that it brings. During your regular Toy Run it is common to see a Hyabusa next to a Harley Wide Glide, or a Triumph Thruxton next to a Honda Gold Wing. Now I ask you, why do we not see this more often?
Like most of you I fell in love with Motorcycle culture at a very young age. And probably like most of you an older rider influenced my preference in motorcycle styles; Harley “Cruisers”. I would snub my nose at those Japanese Crotch Rockets or British Cafe Racers. Those guys were not real bikers, were they? Boy was I ignorant!!
The more time I spend around motorcycles and the longer relationships that I have with riders I have learned one very important fact, RIDING IS RIDING!! We really need to put the labels and the cliques behind us and just hit the road with as many two wheel lovers that exist out there. All of us love the road with the adventures it offers, love wrenching on our bikes and love the freedom that hopping on a motorcycle brings. We need to stop limiting our “clique” to only those who ride a similar bike. Who knows how many missed opportunities this has caused?
Now when I go to a motorcycle show I can not wait to see the latest bikes in all the catergories. I look forward to seeing the newest Scramblers, Flat Tracks, Race Bikes, Cruisers and Cafe Racers. Show me your chopper you built in your garage or the Moto Guzzi your grandfather left you, I have equal appreciation for both. When I visit our local motorcycle hang out I enjoy talking to everyone.
So as we start to settle into a long winter of wrenching and road trip planning I hope that you too include riders of all things on two or three wheels. The world is divided enough,let us not forget those in cars who already consider us a menace to the road. The last thing we need is to separate us internally. When you are out on the road give a wave to your fellow rider regardless of what they are riding and the next time your at the local hang out start a conversation with someone you normally would not. Because in the end, we are all in this together.