Why I ride a motorcycle.

[Boulevard Billy]

Well it’s not fall yet but it certainly feels that way in the Great White North. I wrote a short diatribe on “blipping” or bleeping . . . burping, the other day and a couple of my comrades in arms were hoping I would do it again, so here goes.

First if I have an interest in motorcycles then it is because I have driven very large trucks and have a kinship to the road and living life as a desperado albeit a mild mannered one that has a healthy respect for the law and the order they try to preserve. I ended my trucking career with over a million miles under my belt and had drive trucks in excess of 240,000 lbs. GVW. I don’t think I would be bragging that I know how to drive but let us examine the damage one must survive to achieve trucking immortality. To this date, no one has died under my wheels but some have tried. I have had the following accidents on two wheels or more:

1970 – crashed Larry’s Honda CB70 on loose gravel
result – scarred right leg from burning exhaust, scratches and contusions on lower body
reason – no helmet, in shorts and wearing sneakers

1974 – rolled the ‘Old Man’s pickup truck
result – nothing $250 couldn’t fix
reason – had my license 3 days and I went out on a gravel road in a snow storm doing 180’s, hit the berm on the ditch and over I went

1975 – backed into another four wheeler with the ‘Old Man’s new pickup truck
result – another few hundred
reason – didn’t know what a mirror was for

1976 – head-on collision with a car and a combined speed of 120 mph.
result – this one hurt as the truck burned and my Herb Tarlich pants melted to my legs. My right knee was shattered and I required two operations and physiotherapy for 18 months.
reason – the other guy was drunk and crossed into my lane at 70 mph. I didn’t know how to react and avoid the idiot due to my inexperience.

1977 – first truck accident. I hit a low overhead sign with the load on a straight truck on private property.
Result – $500 for the sign and I quit the job in shame
Reason – you have to look up in a big truck when passing under bridges and signs

1980 – Totaled my ’78 Trans Am (which the drunken idiot bought for me in ’78 – see head-on) when I tried to corner at 100 mph on a tight 90 degree sweeper.
Result – no more Trans Am, one concussion and a failing to wear a seat belt fine. Hello junky old yellow Toyota Corona
Reason – I was drunk as a skunk and forgot the 90 degree curve was ahead after the narrow railway underpass. At this point I refrained from drinking and driving.

1981 – a fish gut trucker from Boston backed into my International 4070B at a rest area on the Mass Tpke.
Result - $5,000 damage and bondo in the front showing through for a year.
Reason – fish gut truckers from Boston smoke really good weed.

1982 – felt real bad about this one! I hit a four wheeler with my International in Wausau, WI.
Result – scared the crap out of a young mother and child. Cost about $2,500 and no one hurt.
Reason – careless, in a hurry and didn’t check my left side blind spot before changing lanes. That never happened again.

1985 – Another drunk hit me head-on but this time I was in a new International tractor.
Result – I was a nervous wreck as well as the truck. The four wheeler woke up in the hospital and commented on that he felt like he was run over by a Mack truck. The doctor astutely informed him that it was an International.
Reason – you normally stop drinking a 7:30 am in the morning and go to bed. No one told the fool this point.

1986 – laid a Kenworth cabover with an empty flatbed on its side when a local drunk forced me too far to the shoulder.
Result - $60 for a tow job – no bs, and the trucking company still doesn’t know their truck was on its side. I was lucky I slid into the swamp and lucky the hillbilly that pulled me out was a pro with a block & tackle.
Reason – when driving a truck on a remote tertiary road 12’ wide, the drunk in the middle of the road always has the right of way.

1988 – Another one I feel real bad about but do not accept moral responsibility, only legal. The trailer light failed when the umbilical cord pulled free from a flatbed I was pulling in the dark and during a severe rainstorm. An 80 year old man and his wife ran into the back of me and while shaken up, were with out injury.
Result – one totaled four wheeler and a charge for failing to display the proper lights. Another four wheeler was speeding and came upon the crash before I could get out any flares. This four wheeler ended up in the ditch on her roof with only minor abrasions.
Reason – This was the first day I had driven this new truck and the trailer umbilical line which carrier the power to the trailer was too short. I was smart enough to point out this problem to the terminal manger and wrote the potential problem in my daily inspection report. The cord stretched too far on the trailer when making a right hand turn.

2005 – I crashed a Honda 125 twice, viciously during my motorcycle training when I high-sided it during panic stop.
Result – cuts, abrasions, torn rotator in my shoulder and a brand shiny new license.
Reason – never ride a motorcycle that weighs less than you.

As a result of the previous endeavors, I have endured the following:
a) scars on my lower right leg from the CB70
b) a rebuilt right patella and my knee is arthritic and hurts like hell
c) I broke my right ankle while chaining a load of steel. It’s also arthritic and susceptible to gout.
d) My shoulder still hurts from the Honda 125
e) As a result of rheumatic fever when I was a child, I had my first heart operation in ’97 when they replaced the aortic valve
f) The doctor screwed the first operation and in 2003 I had to have the same valve replaced and the mitril valve as well.
g) Since ’97 I have be diagnosed as Type II diabetic and am now a walking pin cushion.

I don’t feel bad about my lot in life because I have a wonderful wife and two little girls. Also note that because of the heart problems I gave up trucking and used my experience and education to start an international freight forwarding firm which has been successful for 8 years. I own a C50 and I have yet to crash, injure or wound any other pedestrian, motorist or little animal. Life is good and I am very proud of my accomplishments.

Here comes the punch line. The following is taken from the M109R post where a couple of clowns have chosen 128 hp bike as therir first.

Originally Posted by tb17
No Iam retarded, I dont understand the difference between the weights, dynamics, etc. The techniques are the same in theory? My point was that I know the difference between the bikes, but it doesnt matter if your in a semi or a ferrari if you cross the line and lose control your f-ed. Thanks for the advice though honestly... But from some of the comments it almost seems like I will be dead by the time some of you think someone is experienced enough to ride this bike.

1. It does matter if you are in a semi as opposed to a Ferrari. In a Ferrari you die. In a semi someone else dies.
2. Anyone that would buy an M109R as a first bike is a fool and should have their life insurance policy cancelled.
3. Anyone buying a sport bike with an R at the end should be towed behind a pickup truck to the dealership to pick it up.
4. To be a good driver you must always be cognizant of your limitations. To be a great driver you must be willing to expand your limitations in a controlled manner and not kill anyone.
5. The bumps and bruises suffered as a youngster will become major issues as you grow older. Be careful that you don’t go to the bank too many times.

Lastly, I will tell you why I ride a bike. I am a 48 year old, busted-up fat man. Scarred, limping and hardly able to pull my fat *** off the couch but when I get on a black bike wearing leathers I become nimble, svelte, quick and totally aware of the environment that I am in. I become the walrus in the ocean.

Next posting, Spring 2007

[Trapper]

Billy, you should run for president. I'd vote for ya. To bad I'm Canadian... wait , I'll go to Florida, anyone can vote there. I can't wait til next spring.

[Louis]

Now that's an intro!

[Boulevard Billy]

trappercase
Billy, you should run for president. I'd vote for ya. To bad I'm Canadian... wait , I'll go to Florida, anyone can vote there. I can't wait til next spring.

You'd know where I am from if I said there are only two things that smell like cod and Sheila Copps is one of them!

[RampageRider]

WOW! Now that's a intro!

[jackM50black]

That's one of the most significant posts I've ever read on Motorcycle Journal, and I've been a semi-regular when I was just reading the posts a year ago.

Blvd. Billy: I think you've got an appreciation of what it means to be alive. So it stands to reason you've got an opinion on noobe (new) riders starting out on 1000 cc bikes and a Blvd M109, for instance. This forum has plenty of people like you who try to talk some sense into kids (and older guys who should know better). I guess all we can do is to give our advice when the opportunity is there. I can tell you that there are several guys who did listen and decided to start with a safe and sane bike.

Thanks for posting and sharing your story.

[texrider]

That's a lengthy rap sheet.... Probably a few more like it here, anyone?

I went back into bike ownership with a 1200 VMax after several years off. Started riding dirt at 13, and then getting a license with the old man's bikes available. these included CB 750, Z1 900, Gold Wing, etc. These were first year production bikes, and each a classic in it's own right.

Have had my share of misadventures, injuries, and near-misses. Sold a perfectly good V 65 Magna, and hung it up for a while, mostly due to habitual high speed riding. Rode it like I stole it, then carelessly dropped it in a parking lot. Felt like I was headed for the "big one", so I quit......

Of course, after a while I began renting HD's to ride around Vegas and such, when on a trip to interesting places.... So, I felt the old feelings, and soon was looking to buy again. Riding the various newer models made it tough to pick. Went with the VMax, then picked up the M50, then traded the VMax for a Vulcan 2000. Along the way, a Triumph vintage single needing restoration found it's way into my stable. You might say I've gone bike batty, my wife does....

What's different is me. Not willing to take the chances I used to. Having the benefit of a lifetime of riding, and the associated skill and reflexes, I am qualified to ride anything I choose. Feeling your own mortality, yet rediscovering the sheer pleasures of riding is an odd mixture of old and new.

So then, the reasons I ride are many. Here were some of them, for your consideration.....Ride safely.

[TechJD]

The Reason I'm starting riding at almost 50 is I needed cheap transpertation,
we have a van the wife drives, to and from work, we cant afford insurance on a second car, and gas prices are out of this world ( remember pumping gas for 40 cents a gal)
my son bought me my 1981 Honda GL500I, in Sept, 05.
I dont work due to back troubles, well I do work on computers some, and I now have a low cost to operate mode to get around while wife is at work.
Besides it's just Plain Fun

first ride was a honda 90 scooter 2 gears slow and slower
second time I rode was on a CB750 Hondamatic several years later
2 gears fast and faster lol

now many years later learning it all and having fun, have loged about 2000 miles sence Sept, 05.

[Trapper]

Originally Posted by Boulevard Billy

trappercase
Billy, you should run for president. I'd vote for ya. To bad I'm Canadian... wait , I'll go to Florida, anyone can vote there. I can't wait til next spring.

You'd know where I am from if I said there are only two things that smell like cod and Sheila Copps is one of them!

[Louis]

Originally Posted by RampageRider

WOW! Now that's a intro!

Didn't know we had echo in here!

[Uncle Bob]

My long lost brother finally came home..............


Welcome Billy, how've you been, how's my wife ?


Welcome

[Rockhead]

Excellent Post

Just stay away from me when your on the road. I'll be looking for the black cloud.

[sunny]

i started riding two years ago this month at the age of 38, because after decades of being told that there were no bikes small enough for me to ride on my own, my boss decided to prove everyone wrong. he then took me from shop to shop to shop till we found one that i could ride on the interstate AND that i could put my feet down flat while sitting on.

i have dumped it twice. had to take a long break due to health issues. and have put about 7000 miles on it.

[S2Design]

Very well written! You must have been educated in the US...j/k.

[Clint]

Great stuff, bud. We're glad to have you.

[James_C50]

I'd like to quote someone on this Forum, I don't remember who, for my reason for riding.
I ride for the same reason a dog sticks his head out the window of a car!

[Trapper]

Originally Posted by James_C50

I'd like to quote someone on this Forum, I don't remember who, for my reason for riding.
I ride for the same reason a dog sticks his head out the window of a car!

Whadda ya mean? You can smell a cow's butt from 4 miles away?

[Boulevard Billy]

Well I'd like to thank everyone for the nice comments. It was certainly appreciated. I think the important lesson one must learn is that whenever you fall off you have to get back up on the saddle and never admit defeat. Normally I would not confess any of this information to my friends and associates as it is so personal but I find the anonymity of the board to be a release. I think I have an interesting life story and would share another couple of points this evening.

I really enjoyed telling the cardiologist that I had taken up motorcycle riding. He just shook his head and smiled because he has gotten to know me well over the years and he knows the more he tells me to slow down the harder I will go. He commented that he should rip ‘em out without anesthetic. At this point I would note that I take a drug to limit clotting around my mechanical heart valves. This first operation used a pig’s valve and did not require the consumption of coumodin commonly called rat poison. The second go-round replaced the tissue valves with mechanical ones and now I must monitor these levels closely. I know that if I crash on the motorcycle I could bleed to death in a matter of minutes but hey, you just don’t lay it down!

What has really got me depressed the last few days is the fact that the DOT are going to pull my class AC license because of the aforementioned health issues and they were real *****s about it! I received a letter several months ago from the DOT based on my heart history, eight years after the first operation. I jumped through all the hoops with several visits to the cardiologist and hospital. Stress tests, Holter monitor, blood work and x-rays. The cardiologist had no problem signing the waiver as my heart condition was normal save for the titanium metal and carbon fiber valves in the middle of my heart. I was very happy and sent off the waiver to the bureaucrats in their little paper palace.

I am a hardcore trucker. Conceived in a truck, raised in a truck, lived in a truck. My first paid job was when I was thirteen. I had a class D at seventeen and an AC at nineteen. I owned my first truck at twenty-one and I was pulling over dimensional loads throughout Canada and the United States before I was twenty-five. I’ve been from the Peace River to the Rio Grande and lived through the beauty of summer and the hell of winter. See trucking and biking are a lot alike because for some it is not a profession or hobby but a lifestyle. You don’t hang it up after eight hours and if you were in it for only the money, well you just wouldn’t be happy. I haven’t driven a truck since January 10, 1997 but I never stopped being a trucker. I wear fine suits and drink the best wines but I’d still rather piss on a truck tire in the back forty.

I got the letter from the DOT on Friday. I had beaten them on the heart rap but now they are going after me on the diabetes and I can’t win this one. My blood sugars are a mess and I have to shoot insulin to keep cooking. I know that it is the responsible and safe thing to do as low blood sugars could make you pass out and I definitely do not want to endanger the motoring public by powering a seventy ton truck. Unfortunately it is not about driving but being a member of a group for over thirty years. My friends are truckers and I eat, sleep and breathe trucking. My business is in global transport and I now hire many of the same companies that I once worked for. To them I will always be a trucker but after April 24th, I know in my busted up bionic heart that I won’t and this makes me cry.

Being a biker is not the same but it does take most of the pain away. I love being on the road and the thrill of a powerful bike is very similar to sitting on top of five hundred diesel horsepower. It allows me to remember the excitement of looking for what is beyond the next hill and to develop new skills in handling a machine through constant improvement. It reminds me of the first time I crossed the Mississippi River at Cairo, IL with Leslie West playing on the radio. It reminds me of the first sunset on US 212 in South Dakota where I had never seen land so flat traveling into eternity. These are the opportunities that I once again experience on my bike. It makes me feel alive and bullet proof.

[MagnumForce]

Thanks for sharing your story. Ride strong, ride free, and ride safe.

[Trapper]

Originally Posted by EZridr1

Thanks for sharing your story. Ride strong, ride free, and ride safe.

And if you don't ride, you've got a bikers heart; passionate and metalic! You're always welcome with these bunch of bikers.