If you've been riding a motorcycle for 50 years, you'd think you'd have experienced it all; but Tim E. of CA shows us that there's always something more to learn, exciting places to explore, and new people to meet. Read on to hear about the impressive list of motorcycles that Tim has owned and ridden with family, friends, and solo. We should all take note and pick a location, rent a bike, and get out to experience something new.
How long have you been riding, which bikes have you owned, and how you did you become interested in riding?
I have been riding for 50 years. The bikes I have had are Hodaka Ace 100, Ossa 250 Pioneer, 1984 Honda XL600, 1987 Honda Reflex TL200r, street legal 1988 Honda XR200, 1988 Honda XR80, and a 2019 Beta 125 RRS. My family took up dirt bike riding in the 70's and we all learned and did many family adventures in the Mendocino National Forest.
What moto trips have you taken (long or short). Where did you go, stay and explore? Tell us some highlights.
I spent childhood and high school riding on weekend forest adventures with my dad and brothers. In college, I always wanted to tour in a rock band, then at some point I realized I just wanted to tour.
I thought I might try a bicycle tour, but then did the math on how much it would cost to drive a motorcycle 7,000 miles and it was $90. Decision made. In 1986, I had saved up a few thousand dollars and bought a a 1984 XL600.
In mid-August of that year, I overloaded my bike and set off to go across the US and back. I had done a lot of library research and knew lots of places to check out, and I had a few people I could visit along the way. Out of excitement I ended up zooming quickly through the west and made it to Chicago in 2 weeks by way of Yosemite, Great Basin, Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park.
I spent a week housesitting in Chicago as a local with a dog to walk and some friends of friends to show me around. Here was the first time I heard, "No way, he did not ride that from California!" when they saw my out-of-state plates. I loved the great museums and architecture in downtown Chicago.
I spent a few days with my brother in Michigan, then crossed the lowest part of Canada to get back to the US at Niagara falls. Two days later I was in New York where I stayed with a friend for three weeks, loving the NYC lifestyle. From there, I headed to Washington, DC to visit our old neighbor who worked in the Reagan White House.
After that I took the Blue Ridge Parkway to its terminus. In a camp in the Smoky Mountains, I heard again while sitting in my tent in the morning, "There is no way he rode this here!" I came out and met another motorcycle tourer with a much more plush set up than I had. We decided to ride together for a while until it started raining; we shared a motel--one of only three I stayed in on the whole trip.
I then headed back west through Tennessee to Memphis. After that I visited a relatives in Idabel, Oklahoma for a few days until I headed to Santa Fe to hang with some old college friends. From there I went north on Route 666 to Moab and spent Halloween just outside of there. I toured around the area for a few days then headed to Zion for my last national park.
From there, I rode to LA where I stayed with a college friend's family, then up to home for my last campsite of the trip on the Big Sur coast. It was two and a half months of the best times. I could have kept going, but I stopped.
I did two small tours of Northern California before my XL needed more engine work than it was worth, so it got retired. I look forward to buying an adventure bike in retirement and making up for all of the touring I've missed out during my working years.
What hobbies do you enjoy when you're not riding?
Mountain biking, skiing, hiking, roller and ice skating, camping, making music and art.
What do you enjoy about being part of the Twisted Road community?
Learning about the greater community of motorcycle lovers. From one of your articles I learned about a great group, the Re-Cycle Garage and the Motorcycles and Misfits Podcast. They run a garage and do a podcast just a little ways from me. I mostly ride by myself but it put me in touch with this much larger community that I was unaware of in my own town!
What are your favorite biker-friendly places around your hometown?
I don't socialize with many motorcyclists except my family yet, but who knows. I am planning to go to Re-Cycle Garage, but I have been too shy so far.
What are your favorite rides near your hometown?
Anywhere North of UCSC in the Santa Cruz mountains; I can be riding miles of tiny curvy roads from my house with out ever hitting a major intersection.
What location is on your moto trip bucket list?
Pakistan. I have studied mountaineering history, and I would love to see those amazing mountains and the friendly people.
