I’ve always had a certain penchant towards what the motorcycle represents. As a kid, I remember watching “The Great Escape” (United Artists, 1963) and being absolutely consumed by what Steve McQueen did with his Triumph (and, of course, to Bud Ekins for that incredulous leap over the wire/fence). I had the classic poster of Steve McQueen in my room…for years. I would dream about, one day, having a motorcycle of my own, building that unique relationship between rider and machine… and imagined of all the places I could travel.

McQueen

And while “Easy Rider” (Columbia Pictures, 1969) brought plenty of controversy from a social study, i couldn’t dismiss the charm of being on a bike and riding the open road.

Hell, even Evel Knievel brought the motorcycle front and center in his own unique and difficult to ignore manner.

In my 20s, I got a little exposure to some riding, but I wasn’t ready at the time…I actually respected the power of the motorcycle and realized that I wasn’t ready to take on the responsibility. So I waited and waited and it would take about twenty years before i finally committed to buying my first motorcycle. During that time, I grew to appreciate the brilliance and legacy of BMW Motorrad. I initially invested in a 1987 K75s. I’m 6’4″, so it was a good size for me to start with and the bike had been well cared for – it was in solid shape and it treated me well…and I, in turn, treated it well. After a few years on that saddle, I felt like I was ready to take the step to the motorcycle that I had my eye on for a long time: the R1150 GS Adventure.

Unexpectedly, I found the 1150GSA on eBay. Not the first place I would have expected to shop but the motorcycle (a 2002 model year) was being sold with low miles (23k) and had been owned and cared for by a BMW/Triumph technician. When I flew in from San Francisco to Tacoma to pick up the motorcycle, I was immediately drawn to the bike…it felt right…and I also recognized that there was an evident sense of seller’s remorse. The bike had been maintained beautifully, with the exception of a failed odometer (which was replaced by the seller by the time I arrived to pick it up)…as a result, the odometer shows the actual miles that we have ridden together…and I kinda like that. To date, she has proven to be nothing short of mechanically consistent and an absolute joy to ride.

So, now, after years of riding, I’m putting a little more focus on where we’ve been and where we’re headed. Consider this a travelogue. Or a resource for you to discover more about you and your world. Regardless of how my words are read and used, I just want to offer a place to put some thoughts on paper and reflect on how very nice it is to put down the technology, put on the helmet and chase the sun.

In fact, nothing beats it.