I just felt like posting this photo of me, some of my family and friends - and my 1982 GS650. I'm the one holding the Corona.
This bike went with me to college, carried me on more than one weekend trip from the California Bay Area to SoCal for a quick visit with my girlfriend and got plenty of compliments back in the day.
I still remember blazing through freeway traffic in Orange County, flying between the cars and the trucks, weaving in and around, barely checking my mirrors because I was confident nothing worth looking at was behind me. Once, squeezing through, I clipped my helmet on the mirror of a delivery van, probably cracking the glass, at least, it felt like it!
When my daughter was born, the bike was put away. I stuck it in a dark corner of my garage, even deflating the tires so I could stuff it below some cabinets. There was no time for pleasure riding and I just didn't think a new dad should keep taking the kind of risks I took riding a motorcycle in LA traffic.
Eventually, I my Suzuki for a fraction of its worth.
It was many years before I re-discovered my love of street bikes and motorcycling in general and now I can't imagine putting the kickstand down for good.
I'm not splitting lanes these days. I've nothing to prove any more. There are no more drag races when the light turns green.
But, still, I'll probably ride to my last days.
This bike went with me to college, carried me on more than one weekend trip from the California Bay Area to SoCal for a quick visit with my girlfriend and got plenty of compliments back in the day.
I still remember blazing through freeway traffic in Orange County, flying between the cars and the trucks, weaving in and around, barely checking my mirrors because I was confident nothing worth looking at was behind me. Once, squeezing through, I clipped my helmet on the mirror of a delivery van, probably cracking the glass, at least, it felt like it!
When my daughter was born, the bike was put away. I stuck it in a dark corner of my garage, even deflating the tires so I could stuff it below some cabinets. There was no time for pleasure riding and I just didn't think a new dad should keep taking the kind of risks I took riding a motorcycle in LA traffic.
Eventually, I my Suzuki for a fraction of its worth.
It was many years before I re-discovered my love of street bikes and motorcycling in general and now I can't imagine putting the kickstand down for good.
I'm not splitting lanes these days. I've nothing to prove any more. There are no more drag races when the light turns green.
But, still, I'll probably ride to my last days.
