These are also from a few weeks ago. Then (and also now), I was still trying different methods. A few people wanted to see more bikes, but my stubborn heart was not set on that feature. Sure, bikes are significant aspects of these people’s lives; I ask these people questions about their bikes because they ride them to Cook’s. However, I believe that the mystery of what the bike actually looks like, the curiosity of the viewer to see what isn’t shown is more intriguing. I also thrive for the stories and conversations.
Yet, there are a few biker + motorcycle photographs that I do like – these are scarce.
I’ve been riding for 15 years. I’m interested in the old style.
This one’s a ’69; my other one is a ’67.
I bought it from a donut shop in Huntington Beach. The guy told me they were all original parts, but I later found out that more than half weren’t. So I stripped down the bike. I went to England to get all the original parts.
I like the personal contact with motorcycles and restoring. The best part of restoring is that it can be a social thing. I got to meet a lot of people while finding parts and befriend them over the years. My wife and I actually met here.
When I was 13, I got my first Yamaha, ’60. I raced motocross from 16 to 21. Went 25 years without a bike to raise a family.
I used to be into hot rods, but all they do is park and sit around.
One day, my wife just bought me a bike and I did mods.
I like long rides. My longest was 4k to Canada. Yearly, I probably ride around 15k. I’ve been to every state west of Nebraska, and I always take the scenic routes.
It’s like riding a horse, you can sense everything.
This project surprised me. Never could I have imagined, nor predicted, the phenomenal variety of subjects and their amiability. There’s still that split second of fear before speaking with strangers, but for the most part, I have learned to disregard it. I think myself quite fortunate, and I am ecstatic that I took the plunge.
Dori: We bought the bike in ’05 in Maryland. Ted owned one before when he was in the military over in Germany.
Ted: We live in Spokane, Washington, and trailered the motorcycle down here for “Run for the Wall.” It’s a ride from LA to DC to bring attention to the MIA in the Vietnam War.
Dori: Last year, there were 400 cycles. It lasts 10 days. Then we’re going to Key West and up to Bar Harbor, Maine; just the entire East Coast.
Ted: For me, the draw is never knowing what’s around the corner. It’s so much different than the workplace. I was a CFO of a non-profit for 10 years.
Dori: I’m a Buddhist meditation teacher.
Rode for 37 years, currently on a trike. I used to ride in a sidecart until I was 16. Then I bought a Harley.
I love the feeling of freedom.
I don’t ride everyday because of my back because I had spinal cord issues. Right now, I can’t do more than 25 miles. I have a spinal cord simulator in my back – it generates electricity in my legs, or I’d lose them sooner. The spinal damage was from work. I was a Microsoft engineer, working on MCP, MCP+I and stuff like that.
I met a guy who runs a place called Motortrike in Nevada. He let me ride in a trike for a week.
I’m building it up, like the seat. [My bike] has 5 leg pegs because I have to move my feet often; 5 airbags in back. It’ll look completely different in a month. It’s about 15k to convert the trike.
I told the guy that’s helping me build that if it’s not one-of-a-kind, I don’t want it. Hopefully I’ll get it published in magazines.
*I am aware of the inconsistent text style.
It is impossible to continue this project without knowing the slightest bit about motorcycles. Since the project began, I have been learning bits and pieces about them and also picked up subtle similarities between people who ride certain types. Overall, it seems the greatest thing about riding is the FREEDOM, a word every rider says with something like pride and a wistfulness, as if imagining the feeling at that very moment. Alas, in consideration of a promise I made to my mother not to ride a motorcycle on my own, I will have to live vicariously through their words.