Why I blame my parents for my covetous ways

Posted on by Bill
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When I think back on the day many decades ago I got my first motorcycle, I can hardly believe it. It seems so story-book, so unreal. And certainly, my parents were never nicer.

My bike looked just like this

I was 9 years old and woke up Christmas morning to find a brand-new Honda SL-70 under the tree. It was yellow with a black stripe across the tank and sported lights, which would soon be removed and lost forever in some forgotten storage box.

It was the beginning of a life-long interest — bordering on obsession — and the first of more than 15 motorcycles that I’ve owned. I’ve had dirt bikes, street bikes, cafe racers. Some were nice; others, junk. I bought them new and used, at flea markets and on the Internet.

Today, I scour Craigslist almost daily for good deals. The winter season is the best time for that. It’s become habit, one that takes priority over actual work. The routine: get to the office, logon, search Craigslist, then eBay. Reluctantly begin working.

I covet all things fast and exotic. And lately, as I advance into middle-age, I’m thinking for the first time about a Harley. Imagine that!

My wife, non-rider that she is, groans. I tell her it’s my parents’ fault for getting me started.
Anyway, here are the bikes on my short list of future acquisitions (I’ll be lucky to get one of them). Let’s see yours.

Ducati ST4s
BMW R1200GS
Triumph Daytona 955i
Harley Road King Classic

Dream machine? The Ducati ST4s.

Swiss Army knife of bikes -- BMW R1200GS

Triumph Daytona 955i. British royalty.

The King. Name speaks for itself.

What are your favorite places to ride in Northern California?

Posted on by Bill
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As an avid motorcyclist, I’m fortunate to live in Northern California, north of the Golden Gate Bridge, where there are an abundance of places to ride.

Anderson Valley farmhouse, Highway 128, Mendocino County

I can go short or long, taking day trips to picturesque coastal towns like Pt. Reyes Station or Mendocino, or pack my saddlebags and head off for multi-day adventures up the Redwood Highway or to the Northern Sierra. Personal favorites include Highway 128 through Anderson Valley for short jaunts and Highway 36 to the Trinity Wilderness for overnight stays.

Mt. Lassen from Highway 89

Last summer, I ventured northeast into the foothills and up Highway 70 to Bucks Lake, where patches of snow remained into late July. This year I hope to cross state lines into Oregon or points north in a weeklong escape.

I’m open to suggestions on exactly where to go, not just for long trips but for weekend rides. Where do you like to get out on two wheels in Northern California? What are you favorites trips? What are road conditions like? Please share.

If this is winter, how come I’m still riding?

Posted on by Bill
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It’s the middle of winter in the Bay Area and my internal motorcycling clock should be directing me toward a number of off-season repair projects.

My bike’s in desperate need of a valve adjustment and oil change. And there are two small scratches I picked up last summer that need to be sanded down and re-painted.

But the valves are still clacking. The oil is unchanged. And the can of touch-up paint I bought at great expense is still staring at me from across my garage, unopened.

I can’t bring myself to do the usual chores in preparation for spring because winter never really came this year. I never stopped riding.

Motorcycling with friends on the Central Coast, near Lake Nacimiento

Unlike years past when I camped out with my bike in the garage, staring out the window at a cold rain, this winter has been dry and sunny. I’m taking advantage of the great weather, feeling almost guilty as I don a spring riding jacket and hit the road.

I’m not alone. As I hurtle down the freeway I see the rest of you out there too. I feel like we’re getting away with something that people in cars don’t understand. It’s February … and we’re riding! I’m grinning under my full-coverage helmet.

But as I pull onto a favorite country road and head into some twisties, I feel the bike hesitate, ever-so-slightly. I should change the air cleaner and replace the plugs, I think. I sense throttle play when I exit a turn a little wide. Maybe the cables are worn. I should fix that.

Then my mind drifts to the ugly scratches on the front fairing. I hope no one sees me in this condition, I think.

Damn.

What am I doing out here? I slow down, flip a u-turn, head back to the barn. I’ve got work to do.