In July of 2005, I bought a Honda 2003 ST 1300... on ebay from
Alabama! It arrived in a crate so big I thought there might be a pet elephant
inside!
I realize it sounds crazy to buy a 700 pound motorcycle without a test ride
and then crate it up and send it North to Connecticut... but I actually found the former owner
of this bike in the Honda ST 1300 usergroup, got the complete maintenance history from him, and
received wonderful photos from the ebayer. Alas, the bike was everything I hoped
it would be and Leslie and I have enjoyed 3000 trouble free miles on a wonderful
bike.
You can bet I was pretty nervous/excited/wondering if I was crazy when we
opened this crate! The seller was kind enough to send me a picture of the bike
prior to shipping... that helped. These are the photos from the day our Honda arrived. We uncrated it on the freight dock and
were all ready to go before we realized there was no ramp to get to street
level. My maiden ride was into a a tractor trailer with a lift deck...
there was no other way to get from the freight depot down to street level! I
gently backed it onto the lift deck, which seemed to be no bigger than the
bike's footprint. Gently, we lowered to the ground and we were off.
This bike is very special... in fact the best motorcycle I have ever ridden. Fast,
well balanced, exceptional braking, very visible, holds lots of gear,
comfortable, economical, low maintenance. This particular bike has ABS brakes
and wonderful driving lights. I use this bike as my primary vehicle when weather
permits. This January, the mild weather made a number of rides possible. The big
saddlebags make errands and grocery shopping possible. So I ride on two wheels
whenever I can.
I constantly think about risk and adventure in life... how to support people
to have more peace with risk... and how to push the limits of what adventure
means for me and for my coaching clients. Motorcycling is both terrifying and
blissful for me. I am shocked to see the percentage of drivers who now
habitually straddle the double yellow line, cell phone in hand or eyes and
fingers on the GPS. I work hard while riding to anticipate that I am not seen,
that the phone is ringing in the approaching car, that I am vulnerable.
Sometimes, it's exhausting.
Yet travel on two wheels for me is pure joy. I look at every turn as an
opportunity for perfection, the feeling of a well carved turn is addictive. I am
skiing on this bike, searching for the proper balance to ride an edge right
through the turn. To properly brake, lean and accelerate through a turn,
especially with a bike as powerful as this one, is pure ecstasy. I ride in
pursuit of that next blissful turn. I sometimes feel I am out on a horse,
playing on the way to the store. To accelerate on the highway onramp is a brief
moment of sheer elation, with a 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds.
Motorcycling could kill me. Yet I am at peace on two wheels. I choose to
celebrate my journey to the store rather than lock myself in a tank, which would
perhaps keep me safe on the ride, but leave me no less vulnerable to a heart
attack in the produce aisle.
The coaching I offer is an inquiry into what it takes to lead a rich life of
adventure and authenticity. If you'd like a partner in the exploration of your
own personal expression of a rich life, click
here to try an introductory coaching session today!
If you want to learn more about motorcycling I suggest you look at the
Motorcycle Safety Foundation training courses. Many motorcycle accidents happen
with untrained riders who have learned from friends. I've taken their courses,
including the experienced rider course with Leslie on the back. We rode all the
drills two-up, which helped me to ride well with and without a passenger. For
info on their courses:
