I've been into bikes as long as I can remember. I got my first one at 4 years old; it was baby blue, all plastic, and ran on a 6-volt battery. I loved that thing and rode it constantly until my Uncle decided to take it for a spin and broke it as he far exceeded the 50 lb. weight limit.

Soon thereafter, it was bicycle time. I can never recall being without a bicycle as a kid, even when times were tough financially. I guess my parents knew more about me than I thought! I used to ride constantly, miles at a time, pretending in my mind that I had an engine in that frame and I was cruising the entire nation, with the wind in my hair and the smell of freedom.

In my teens I got into the skateboarding thing but still lusted after a motorcycle (a crotch rocket in my wild, impetus days of youth) in my dream of dreams. I had several friends who had the ATV's and motocross bikes and they showed me how to ride. The old feelings of freedom and power came back and I promised myself that one day, I would ride.

After putting myself through college and marrying the girl of my dreams, my promise was fulfilled as my brother gave me the keys to his 1979 Honda CB750 as a wedding gift! I had been hounding him for months about selling it to me but he kept giving me excuses about how he was going to fix it up, etc., etc. Little did I realize he had been planning all along to give it to me. It had sat outside, untouched, for nearly 18 months and needed a lot of work! My first assignment was to take it to the shop. After almost a month, a multitude of parts and labor, and $750 cash, it was street ready!

For nearly 3 years that old girl with more miles than anyone knew kept me mobile and free! However, like any old bike, it had given its all to me and it was time for something a bit more reliable and stylish, dammit! I sold it as is and used the cash for a down payment on my current ride, "Back In Black", my 1998 Honda Shadow Spirit.


In the five years I've owned this beauty, I have put over 60,000 miles on it and it shows no signs of slowing down. I plan on having this ride for a long time but I'm still lusting after the 6-cylinder Honda Valkyrie!! Someday soon...

I ride almost every day; rain, shine, cold, whatever. It's all part of the challenge, experience, and repsonsibility of motorcycling.






Here's a few more pics of the Shadow

And here's some links to my favorite motorcycle sites and forums: