motochick
Well-known member
I thought this was a nice piece written by a local FJR rider (maybe you're reading this Derek) in our paper.
https://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?.../MTIA13VJNQ.DTL
Here's the text:
"I first started riding a motor bike about 10 years ago when I was 60. An elder brother died in a motor bike accident when I was growing up in Britain, so naturally my family was totally against me riding. My wife and I moved to California 11 years ago; prior to that we lived in the United Kingdom where uncertain weather, rain, damp gray skies, marriage and raising three children did not encourage the independence and freedom of motor bike riding.
That all changed when we moved to California and set up home in Daly City. The excellent weather, coastal scenery and access to interesting locations and great roads - together with my wife's support - rekindled my enthusiasm and I duly bought a Yamaha 650 Secca. After a couple of years I bought a Yamaha V Star 1100 and rode that for about five years. Although I ride several times a week, mainly to relatively nearby locations, my main interest is long-distance touring. I've done several of those trips, including a ride to Seattle and down the Pacific Coast Highway. Last year I rode to the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley.
A ride I dreamed about for several years included trips to Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore. As the trip would be longer than 3,500 miles, it prompted the purchase of a Yamaha FJR 1300 ABS, which I have owned for about six months. It is the perfect touring machine: comfortable, more than enough power, great brakes, a large fuel tank and capacious hard bags to accommodate about two weeks worth of clothing!
When planning the ride I realized that I could visit friends in Spokane, Wash., before heading east, and that the ride to Mount Rushmore would take me through or close to several places that are part of the American heritage. I set out on this year's ride in July. My route took me through Northern California, Oregon and along the Columbia River, part of Lewis and Clark's route west, to Spokane. I then headed east through Idaho, Montana and Wyoming to Yellowstone National Park, which has amazing scenery. From there I went to Cody, Wyo., and took in a rodeo. Next, on to the site of Custer's Last Stand where Custer lost to the American Indians under Chief Sitting Bull. From there I headed to Devil's Tower, used extensively in the film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." At last I was heading to South Dakota and my destination.
I stayed in historic Custer, which was only a short distance from the Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore monuments. They were epic and awe-inspiring monuments to American history, and I felt privileged to be there and to visit them. I had completed my journey and had visited many American classic locations that until then I had only read about. The return trip took me back through Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Nevada and back to California - 3,927 miles later.
There is no better way of enjoying the varied, interesting and diverse scenery of this country than on a motor bike. An old biker was once asked to explain the enjoyment of riding in the open air, and he apparently responded: "Look at a dog who has its head out of a car window. He knows."
I learned to ride and make the transition from four wheels to two through the California Motorcycle Training Program. I recommend and encourage anyone thinking of enjoying the freedom and flexibility of motor bike riding to utilize this program, it is excellent and makes you aware of - and prepared for - riding on the congested roads of the Bay Area and to adventures beyond."
https://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?.../MTIA13VJNQ.DTL
Here's the text:
"I first started riding a motor bike about 10 years ago when I was 60. An elder brother died in a motor bike accident when I was growing up in Britain, so naturally my family was totally against me riding. My wife and I moved to California 11 years ago; prior to that we lived in the United Kingdom where uncertain weather, rain, damp gray skies, marriage and raising three children did not encourage the independence and freedom of motor bike riding.
That all changed when we moved to California and set up home in Daly City. The excellent weather, coastal scenery and access to interesting locations and great roads - together with my wife's support - rekindled my enthusiasm and I duly bought a Yamaha 650 Secca. After a couple of years I bought a Yamaha V Star 1100 and rode that for about five years. Although I ride several times a week, mainly to relatively nearby locations, my main interest is long-distance touring. I've done several of those trips, including a ride to Seattle and down the Pacific Coast Highway. Last year I rode to the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley.
A ride I dreamed about for several years included trips to Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore. As the trip would be longer than 3,500 miles, it prompted the purchase of a Yamaha FJR 1300 ABS, which I have owned for about six months. It is the perfect touring machine: comfortable, more than enough power, great brakes, a large fuel tank and capacious hard bags to accommodate about two weeks worth of clothing!
When planning the ride I realized that I could visit friends in Spokane, Wash., before heading east, and that the ride to Mount Rushmore would take me through or close to several places that are part of the American heritage. I set out on this year's ride in July. My route took me through Northern California, Oregon and along the Columbia River, part of Lewis and Clark's route west, to Spokane. I then headed east through Idaho, Montana and Wyoming to Yellowstone National Park, which has amazing scenery. From there I went to Cody, Wyo., and took in a rodeo. Next, on to the site of Custer's Last Stand where Custer lost to the American Indians under Chief Sitting Bull. From there I headed to Devil's Tower, used extensively in the film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." At last I was heading to South Dakota and my destination.
I stayed in historic Custer, which was only a short distance from the Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore monuments. They were epic and awe-inspiring monuments to American history, and I felt privileged to be there and to visit them. I had completed my journey and had visited many American classic locations that until then I had only read about. The return trip took me back through Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Nevada and back to California - 3,927 miles later.
There is no better way of enjoying the varied, interesting and diverse scenery of this country than on a motor bike. An old biker was once asked to explain the enjoyment of riding in the open air, and he apparently responded: "Look at a dog who has its head out of a car window. He knows."
I learned to ride and make the transition from four wheels to two through the California Motorcycle Training Program. I recommend and encourage anyone thinking of enjoying the freedom and flexibility of motor bike riding to utilize this program, it is excellent and makes you aware of - and prepared for - riding on the congested roads of the Bay Area and to adventures beyond."
