It is often said “You are never too old” to do something. As I’ve passed the last few decades, I’m here to tell you that as I’ve aged there are things I can’t do as well or fast as I used to. It doesn’t mean that I’ve stopped doing those things, I just accept my current state of being and do the best I can. In the last couple years there has been one thing I’ve wondered if possibly my time has passed by on, riding a motorcycle.

During my entire adult life I thought about getting a motorcycle. As a child we had mini bikes that we road in the yard and nearby fields. In my teen years I rode my cousin’s dirt bike some. As an adult a couple friends let me try out their street bikes. I loved every time I rode but just couldn’t make myself buy one. I always had plenty of reasons to wait a little longer because of things I perceived as more important at the time. On more than one occasion I went to motorcycle shops and said it I got there and got the “fever” I would get one. But I went in and saw the motorcycles and left without the extreme urge to buy. I should have told myself, “Self, you are not an impulse buyer on big ticket items. There will be no ‘fever'”. So I’m not sure why I ever tested myself that way. Maybe I was scared to spend the money only to leave an expensive toy in the garage.

So, after my last decade milestone I decided that either I get a bike or just forget about it forever. We lived in North Mississippi at the time about 2 miles from the local Harley Davidson dealer. They also did the MSF Basic Rider Course, too. Perfect spot, perfect timing. But a few life delays like COVID and moving to Texas happened and another birthday passed with no movement. Maybe I was too old. Or it wasn’t right for me. What other excuses could I come up with?

Along the way I was looking at motorcycles online. Reading, watching Youtube reviews, scouring manufacturers websites just trying to sort out all the options. What I did learn was that I’m not the typical older guy that needs the leather, rumble and lifestyle of a Harley. Nothing against that. My father-in-law is a Harley guy. It just isn’t me. And I’m not the crotch rocket type either. Sorry Maverick, I don’t have “the need for speed”. I just wanted a bike that has enough power to go when I need to go and decent styling. That opens up tons of options.

So I finally pulled the trigger and signed up for the last riding class of they year in December 2021. It was my Christmas present to me. The class was at Red River Harley Davidson in Wichita Falls, TX. The dealership is great and all the employees were super nice. The instructors for the class were very good and kept encouraging us newbies not to give up. And there were times during the range training that I thought I might not be able to pass the skills test. But they kept on helping me to fine tune and focus and I passed! Ok, so now I had taken the first step. I didn’t delay and went the next week to get my Texas motorcycle license. I’ve waited long enough so keep the ball rolling. So after the first of the year my official license comes in the mail. I’m ready to ride. Except I still have no motorcycle.

Late last year I met a coworker in our Engineering department that is an avid motorcycle rider. I shared with him my motorcycle story. So he has been encouraging me to continue my journey. He was my sounding board on ideas way before I took the riders course. I had told him I wasn’t going to buy a new bike just in case I didn’t like riding and it ended up collecting dust. So after getting my license the used bike hunt began. I set a price limit, which was probably too low, and I just never saw anything I was interested in. Part of the problem was I really liked the Kawasaki Vulcan S. Used Vulcan S’s are in limited supply so if I found one it was still priced near new and wasn’t close by. So in the end I went against my plan and decided to buy a new bike from a dealer. The exact model is a 2021 Kawasaki Vulcan S Café. The dealer had a 2021 still in the showroom marked down for sale. Also, the 2022 models no longer have ABS brakes and that is something I wanted. So I borrowed my friend’s trailer and went to Dallas to get my new motorcycle.

I’ve had the bike since February 2022, and I ride as often as I can. New motorcycles have a defined break-in period. You are supposed to keep the engine below certain RPM’s for different miles traveled ranges. For me, this was more of a break-in period for me. Approaching 50 mph seemed like plenty. And with the wind we’ve had this year, 20 mph head or cross winds added to the adventure of learning. Now at the 600 mile mark of riding, with the wind to my back, 80 mph isn’t scary at all.

In my short travels so far, I’ve been riding the backroads between the little surrounding towns. The countryside is varied and pretty. The historical markers along the roads make for nice stopping points and very educational about the history of the area. Wildlife abounds and plenty of rancher’s herds to see. I even saw my first roadrunner in the wild! And you never know what you’ll find. The picture for this post of the doll on a bench was in front of an abandoned store in a little community nearby. I wish I knew the story behind it. But it’s also fun making up my own creepy tale.

My rides are 2-3 hours max so far which includes stopping often to look at things. I guess I’m more of a sightseer than an “iron butt” long distance rider. I am increasing my distance and plan to take a trip to Louisiana to see my grandkids. I don’t care anything about riding the interstate, so I’ll travel backroads as usual. But just so you know, the Texas backroads and two-lane highways often have 75 mph speed limits. Nice travel speeds, less traffic.

Guys at work have also invited me to go ride with them. I look forward to learning from more experienced riders. Also, my father-in-law intends to bring his Harley out so we can cruise Texas together. There is also a guy from my riding class that told me to give him a shout when I got a bike, and we could ride together. So many solo and group adventures lie ahead. As with many of my posts I promise to keep you up to date, but as you see, those updates are slow to come. I guess if I’m out riding, I can’t be writing. So maybe I’ll see you out on the road sometime. I’ll be the old guy stopped at the historical markers. Pull over and we can chat for a while. That’s better than reading a blog post anyway!