Moto Explorer

[I've written about this before but it's one of my favorite topics. And though I tell some stories over and over, at least I never tell them the same way twice.]

I enjoy riding a motorcycle. I don't have to go fast or look cool or impress anyone in any way. Just being on a motorcycle makes me happy. I make this distinction because many people who ride motorcycles don't simply enjoy riding motorcycles. They are dissatisfied if their mount isn't fast enough or cool enough or impressive enough. But put me on any motorcycle and you'll put a smile on my face.

I do prefer naked standard midsize motorcycles. "Naked" means no fairing or other body work. "Standard" means an upright seating position with feet straight down, instead of reclining like on a cruiser or laying face down like on a "sport bike." Midsize these days would be around 750cc - 1000cc. My 865cc 2008 Triumph Bonneville T100 is all these things.

My favorite kind of riding is unhurriedly exploring back roads. I take off in no particular direction and when I see any road that looks interesting I explore it. I've equipped my Triumph with dual-sport tires for roads that turn to gravel or worse. I ride roads that aren't suitable for cruisers or sport bikes.

I've done this kind of riding since I was 16 and rode a 250cc Honda Dream.* As a result, I've seen countless interesting sights that no one else has seen unless they live down those roads or have had some kind of business there.

I know there are more moto-explorers like me out there, but I bet there aren't many. And I bet that between us we've seen as many interesting sights as all other riders combined.

You, too, can be a moto-explorer. You just:

get your motor running,
head out on the back way,
slow the @#$% down,
pay attention to your surroundings,
stop and take a closer look sometimes.

You can thank me later.

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*It wasn't fast or cool and no one was impressed, but I had a blast on that little bike!