I started my Sunday ride with a bit of nervous energy. I quickly rode over to a local pizza shop parking lot, and practiced a few slow speed maneuvers. Slow speed maneuvers always allows me to settle into my ride, relax and, focus. I had a big day in front of me. I would be riding in my first group ride, the 2025 Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR) hosted by Charleston Triumph. With this known to me, I had to settle down and get in my bubble. I reference “bubble” as a metaphor for focusing on what is happening in front of me during a ride, and letting go of distractions. Seeing some lovely flowers along the road or an animal digging a hole, can all lead to a few moments of lost focus, which is dangerous. Failure to obey the present moment, getting lost in the surroundings, can create a troubling experience on two-wheels. I would need to be in my bubble the next few hours.

Arriving at Charleston Triumph a few minutes after 10am, I quickly realized how many other motorcyclists had arrived before me because the parking lot was full of motorbikes. This was an amazing sight to see. I was directed to a parking spot, near the front, and dismounted from Lucy, my 2024 Triumph Speed Twin 900. Listening to a live DJ playing some tunes made the vibe just right. As soon as I unlatched my helmet, got my motorcycle gloves off, I felt the sun and the heat beginning to intensify. It was going to be a hot one today. I checked in, grabbed a sticker, and walked swiftly over to the food truck for a much need bottled water. Still in my black motorcycle jacket, I knew I would need to hydrate as much as possible.

Mingling with the crowd, I introduced myself to a few other DGR riders and we spoke about our bikes. As much as I love riding, meeting fellow riders and speaking to them about their bikes really makes my heart sing. I was definitely in my element. “2 minutes everyone,” the announcer call out, and a strong wave of adrenaline filled my spirit. It was time to gear up, shut up, and ride. I hastily got myself ready, turned the ignition key, and pressed down on the starter button. Lucy fired up quickly. “Now what do I do?” I asked myself. Having never ridden in a group ride, I was completely unsure of when to leave my parking spot. I noticed other riders leaving the parking lot of Charleston Triumph forming a tight group and stopping. “Do I join them?” I asked myself. Remembering a few words from the MC of the event, the older bikes would be the first to leave. Then I heard the police escort arrive and quickly I joined the group exiting the parking lot. This was going to be very cool.

Departing Charleston Triumph, I slowly gained confidence with my abilities and played follow-the-leader with the motorcyclist in front of me. A few riders had been chosen before departing Charleston Triumph as our designated road blockers. This would mean, as the Police escorted the DGR down the road, a few riders would block cross traffic and allow all the DGR riders to safely ignored redlights and ride unstopped towards our first designation, the U.S. Customs House in Downtown Charleston. “Wow”, I thought, how cool is that. What was so impressive about the DGR is the sound of all the motorbikes riding down the road as one group, supporting men’s health, and forming a bond with each other. It would be an experience I would never forget.

Making our way to the U.S. Custom’s House in Downtown Charleston was very eventful. During a pre-ride check-in, our MC made it clear our route, and encouraged us to wave, honk our horns, and smile to the on-lookers. I did not expect the reaction of the folks on the streets who cheered us on as we made our way down King Street towards the battery. I must have showed the peace sign a few dozen times and pushed the button for my horn a few hundred times. It was grand. Parking outside the U.S. Custom’s House, on the sidewalk no less, the scope of the DGR was in full effect. We riders, ascended the steps of the Custom House for a group pic and I smiled the biggest smile in a long time. I felt the heat and humidity of the day, but the power of the DGR kept me cool and I looked forward to our final designation, the Royal American. An ice cold water, a bit of shade, a fan, maybe some AC, would be perfect to complete my first group ride ever. I was really looking forward to some shade 8)

Finishing up the DGR at the Royal American, I was able to thank the organizers, the other riders who did the road blocks, and speak with new friends about their bikes just as I had when we started. To be honest, it was magical and I have already bookmarked next year’s DGR. I will be looking forward to a new route and making new friends. Below are a few pics of classic motorbikes that rode in this year’s DGR in Charleston, South Carolina. Enjoy!

My motorcycle journey is, in short, overcoming fear. Maybe as a new rider, I just don’t have the confidence yet as fear tends to redirect my path of travel, avoiding areas that would make me uncomfortable. The fear I feel during my rides is also a welcome as it keeps me within my riding limits. Because at the end of the day, it is about getting home in one piece; for me and my motorcycle. But achieving my riding goals with each ride is helping me become a more confident rider. As my boss says to me, “one day you will need to get on the highway”. While highways miles is something I am working on, breaking apart my fears into manageable goals is what I am about as a motorcyclist.

This past Saturday, before the sunrise, I decided it was time to face one of those fears. I decided to ride the entire span of the James Island Connector. The James Island Connector allows JI residents like me to quickly get to downtown Charleston or West Ashley, in a brief time. To my credit, the past week I decided to ride the Connector to the West Ashley exit as part of my commute to work. The West Ashley exit on the Connector is about the half way point. Early Saturday morning, I made up my mind to ride the entire Connector all the way to downtown Charleston. The JI Connector offers some of the best views of Downtown Charleston as well as the marina that makes Charleston so unique.

Before I left my mom’s house a wonderful feeling of calmness transcended me. I was relaxed. I was focused. I knew the task at hand. Riding along Folly Road, approaching the Connector, a spell of butterflies erupted in my stomach. My hands and feet started to tingle. Turning left onto the entrance to the Connector, I turned up the techno music I was listening to in my headphones, took some deep breathes, and rolled the throttle. Being so early there was very little traffic and the Connector was empty. Just my single headlight shinning on the two lanes heading towards Downtown. Passing the West Ashley exit I looked down at the long span of the Connector towards Downtown and a wave of confidence showered over me. I was making progress with personal riding fears about the Connector. I saw my end goal.

Taking a lovely big swooping right turn, I crossed into the far-right lane and traveled down from the Connector to Downtown. I did it! I traveled the entire span of the James Island Connector. As with anything while motorcycling the victories are sweet, often short, but the memory of making a personal breakthrough is an achievement I can proudly say I have done. And now it’s onto the next fear….

Rolf

Cleaning my motorbike is a passion of mine. Like cleaning my Nissan Murano, after a good scrubbing, vehicles just seem to run better. Maybe they know they are clean, and that feels good. So, when I was thinking about cleaning Lucy, my new 2024 Triumph Speed Twin 900, I immediately went to the Triumph owner’s handbook that came with my purchase of Lucy. To my surprise, the handbook went at length about specific areas to avoid while cleaning this lovely machine. In short, I had to rethink my process. When I owned my 2023 Moto Morini, I soaked that bike in all areas covering only the exhaust, battery, and ignition key. Triumph made it very clear to me that additional layers of protection would need to be made to minimize the impact to sensitive areas. I put down the handbook, and quickly realized I didn’t know how to clean Lucy without completely making myself a worry wort. I was stump. I watched a few videos on YouTube about cleaning a motorcycle, and each one ignored what the handbook told me. What would I do?

With some researching, I discovered a product called Vulcanet. A French based company that produces cleaning wipes for cars and motorbikes. I watched a few videos on Vulcanet, mostly in French, and slowly started to believe a cleaning solution for Lucy was at hand. Not only would the cleaning wipes by Vulcanet eliminate the need to hose off my bike, potentially harming parts of Lucy, Vulcanet also provides a microfiber cloth to wipe the surface after using the cleaning wipe, which results in a streak free finish. Gone are the need for buckets, and sponges. All you need is what comes in the Vulcanet tube. This seemed too good to be true. I order a tube of Vulcanet and started to strategize my cleaning methods with the wipes and microfiber cloth. Would this really work? I have tried cleaning wipes in the past, mostly for touching up the interior of my Murano. Though they did work, the wipes left streaks and the appearance was shitty.

Once the Vulcanet wipes arrived, I was impressed with the size. Not only is there plenty of wipes for a few cleaning sessions, but the microfiber cloth was big to allow me to believe I could get a good cleaning in on Lucy. I started with the gas tank and worked my way through the handlebars, seat, lights, and tail area. Vulcanet recommended to use 2-3 wipes for an entire bike. Vulcanet also recommended to use the old wipes on the wheels and undercarriage. I followed the advice and sure enough, I used only 3 wipes. My cleaning process was simple. Clean an area on Lucy, then wipe with the microfiber cloth. In less than an hour I had a clean bike. I even cleaned the real dirty areas like under the rear fender and bottom of the bike. Both of which cleaned up fabulously.

The cost of a tube of Vulcanet, with shipping is about $50. This can hurt a bit up front. I honestly feel I will be able to use the Vulcanet for at least 2-3 months depending on how frequently I wipe Lucy. The results were amazing. Dirt just lifted off the surface and a used wipe went a long way on the real nasty bits like the wheels and bottom of the bike. Again, the best practice is between rides. I plan to use Vulcanet once a week. But if things do get real dirty, I will go back to the old fashion way; two buckets, a hose, wash mitt, and automobile cleaner. Below is a list of things I noted about my experience.

A few things to think about:

• Works great on motorbikes with light road grime on them.
• I wouldn’t clean my car with this product. Stick to traditional methods.
• If your bike is caked with dirt best to use traditional methods.
• Works best in the shade like a garage.
• Don’t let the cleaning solution dry on the surface.
• My plan is to use this between rides to keep dirt, etc., down to a minimum.

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Process: 5/5

Cost: 3/5

Overall: 4/5

I was a bit skeptical when I first started considering installing a Quad Lock to my Triumph motorbike, Lucy. Yet, my desire to free my iPhone from my motorcycle jacket pocket, and use navigation and music apps during rides, only created a strong desire to improve my riding experience. Lucy does not have a internal nav system, so why not use Google Maps to help me explore more of the Lowcountry that I love. But would mounting a Quad Lock system to the handlebars of my new Triumph remove the retro aesthetic I love, and a major reason why I purchased this particular model. After a few rides, I am not only surprised how well the Quad Lock works, but marvel at the doors of possibility it is opening for me.

For those that are unfamiliar with Quad Lock, it is an Australian based company that designs mounting solutions for motorcycles and a whole host of other applications that I will not describe. This review is focused on what got Quad Lock going, developing a great product for motorcyclists. I was a bit aware of Quad Lock from all the YouTubers promoting it on their channels devoted to motorcycles. Not a single one of them had a bad thing to say. What is great, is Quad Lock fits almost every type of motorcycle. The mounting solutions are endless. From the picture above, my mounting solution was the most popular, mounting the Quad Lock to my handlebar. I choose the left side of the handlebar on Lucy because I would have more freedom with my left hand, as my right hand is occupied by the throttle. I decided to add an arm, and a vibration dampener to the mix. iPhones a very intelligent devices and I thought that the roads of Charleston would knock around my iPhone silly. Plus, repeated bumps without the vibration dampener might create internal damage to the iPhone. Best to be safe.

When I went to the Quad Lock website, you are provided with so many opinions. What is important is to pick the right case for you phone. My iPhone is an XR, and old model. And sure enough Quad Lock had a case for my specific phone. Next you choose your mounting head with two opinions, the original, which is a blue plastic release tab, or a metal one that includes a stronger head. Considering Quad Lock started with the blue plastic release tab, I went with this opinion. Next, I added an arm to give my iPhone a better view angle. That was one of main concerns I had, would I be able to view my iPhone while it was on the Quad Lock during a ride. I am happy to report that viewing directions while riding is very intuitive. Aside from my early user error of orienteering my Google Maps to true North, I was able to pull into a parking lot and quickly reset my Google Maps navigation icon to follow my path of travel. Quick heads up, DON’T TRY TO TWEAK SHIT while riding. I could adjust the volume, but that is about it. Make your decisions before hitting the road. Make adjustments when you come to a stop. I did have my Bluetooth earbuds in during my ride, and I could have had voice assist with my directions, but instead opted for music. When I travel to a new location, I will activate voice assist and see how that goes. But for now, I followed the blue line to my destination of Folly Beach without trouble. I do wish Google Maps had a motorcycle icon instead of just cars and trucks.

My final attachment for my Quad Lock setup was the “Poncho”. A plastic cover that sides over your phone during travels. Heads up, if you do plan to purchase the Poncho, the touch screen on your phone is completely useless. My work around, was to setup everything I needed, music, directions, and then add the Poncho as a final layer before departing. The Poncho is a great layer of protection for your phone while traveling. Remember the Quad Lock case doesn’t protect the screen. Sure your screen protector might do well while walking and talking, but the Poncho does a wonderful job and reducing harm while riding road or dirt. Just don’t expect to answer a call with your motorcycle gloves on.

In conclusion, I am very impressed with the Quad Lock. Once you get one, Quad Lock makes all types of products for your home/work, automobile, sporting activities, and of course motorcycles. The possibilities are really endless. Head over to Quad Lock’s website today and get quad locking y’all.

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Installation: 5/5

Useability: 5/5

Overall: 5/5

When I fired up Lucy, Sunday morning, a little after 6am, I felt that time away from my love of Sunday rides would be replenished. Little did I know that 4 hours later, standing in my mom’s garage, staring at Lucy, I would quickly realize how much my Sunday rides improve my outlook for the week ahead. For two months, while NOT riding on Sundays because my 2023 Moto Morini was a complete mess, I so longed for travel on two-wheels. This past Sunday renewed my spirit, blessed me with gratitude, increased my energy, and overall created a specific time for myself that allowed me to understand how important motorcycling is to me. There is a balance to motorcycling that weighs the extreme fun you can have, with the dangerous envelop motorcycling opens. I always accept the risk, pray to God before I leave, and that living with this risk while riding a motorcycle makes me feel so alive. It is very addictive and I am absolutely in love with Lucy.

I began my Sunday ride with about eight minutes of slow speed maneuvers in a empty pizza shop parking lot. Warming up with practicing turns, quick stops, weaves and other exercises on the bike helps me prepare for my Sunday ride, or any ride actually. After this, I filled up the gas tank and headed to Folly Beach for the first time with Lucy. With the sun rising I crossed into Folly Beach surrounded by peaceful water and beautiful marshes. I decided to head to the Washout, a local surfing spot, and parked Lucy near the beach. I took a few minutes to enjoy the beautiful sun glistening down on the ocean water as surfers quickly rode waves in a beautiful, mesmerizing dance above water. I marveled at effortless motion of the surfers and remembered my time twenty years ago as I surfed Folly Beach. I breathed in the warm salted air, closed my eyes, and knew it was time for coffee.

I knew the perfect spot for a snack and a large cup of joe. Highfalutin Coffee Roasters off Harbor View Road on James Island might be my favorite coffee spot. One of the reasons is Highfalutin has a large outdoor patio to enjoy your beverage and eats. With my redeye in had, a slice of banana bread, and a bottle of Sam Pellegrino, I sat in the sun and loved every minute of it. Once my snack was finished, I quickly launched Google Maps to see were I would like to go next. Part of my Sunday Rides is to leave room for the unknow. Though I plan the start, I don’t necessarily dictate the entire ride. I love to leave it up to chance. Looking at a map of Downtown Charleston, I knew that is where I wanted to go.

Riding a motorcycle through Downtown Charleston is wonderful. So much of Charleston downtown is built upon post Civil War architectures. Mixing modern taste, and old southern charm, Downtown Charleston should be on very rider’s wish list. Cruising past old cobble stone roads and world class restaurants, I decided, while riding along East Bay, in the heart of Rainbow Row, that another coffee stop would be needed. My only issue with Downtown Charleston, is the parking. Or lack of it. Sure there is plenty of garage parking, yet maneuvering a motorcycle in a parking garage is something I have not done yet nor do I want too. Finding street parking is very limited, and for better or worst, parking my brand new motorcycle on the street is not ideal for my mentality. Quickly, I decided a visit to the Orange Spot, in Park Circle, would be perfect. I rolled the throttle down King Street, heading to North Charleston, feeling excited for the ride ahead. Leaving Downtown thru King Street offers a unique idea of urban growth quickly giving way to the industrial areas of upper King Street. Entering Rivers Avenue from King Street gives a motorcycle rider, depending on the time of day, a great chance to give your bike the beans and get some speed. Passing a few dormant buildings, fast food chains, and retail stores, I turned sharply onto Remount Road and headed to Park Circle.

Another wonderful patio spot, a small cup of coffee, and another bottle of Sam Pellegrino, I found a great 30 minute window to relax and check the time at the Orange Spot. 10am! I was shocked. Almost four hours riding my new Triumph Speed Twin 900. I had to walk a little bit to stretch out my legs and start to process how incredible my Sunday ride had been. The various landscapes from the beach of Folly, the revolutionary buildings of Downtown, the industrial spaces of North Charleston, to the charming slice of Park Circle, I was completely amazed at it all. Yet, I knew that heading home was a priority now. Playing some techno in my earbuds, hearing the exhaust rubble to life, I knew Lucy and I would get home safety. Until the next Sunday comes, I will cherish this ride for the week, maybe for life.

Rolf

For two months my beloved Moto Morini became a source of frustration and unhappiness. As my first motorcycle, I developed a deep bond with this machine and discovered my passion for motorcycling, riding my Moto Morini all around the Lowcountry. Over bridges, through the ACE Basin, a short bit on I-26, and overall falling in love with life on two-wheels. I was looking forward to our 1 year anniversary together in August, but as faith would have it, this was not to be. Beginning in early March of this year, the Moto Morini started having issues that snowballed into a breakdown on Camp Road, followed by weeks of engine stalls and jerky riding. I did my best to trouble shoot as much of the difficulties as I could from YouTube videos as well as Reddit and Moto Morini forums. All of which lead me back to Charleston Triumph with hopes that new parts would save this bike for me. During the past month, I decided to revisit researching motorcycles. At the time I hadn’t thought of new bike, but was curious to see where my curiosity would lead me. I ended up visiting a few motorcycle dealerships in my area. I even blogged about my visit to Harley-Davidson, yet in the end their motorcycles didn’t fit my style.

Having visited Charleston Triumph many times since my purchase of my Moto Morini, I kept thinking about Triumph motorcycles. The retro styling and Bonneville engines made me believe my path to my second motorcycle would be through the gates a Triumph. But what Triumph bike? Having time during a service at Charleston Triumph, for my Moto Morini, I really started looking at the various Triumphs. You have Scramblers, Adventure Bikes called the Tiger, Speed Triples and Daytona’s the sport bike class, then other various models which all made me smile. Then, as I was walking the parking lot of Charleston Triumph, looking at all the used bikes, I found a used 2023 Triumph Speed Twin 900 which quickly became an obsession. Sitting on this motorcycle I instantly loved the low seating position, was amazed at how easy it felt to turn this machine, and the modern retro classic look just sent me over the moon. But, my Moto Morini was still my bike.

I would leave Charleston Triumph with my Moto Morini hitched to a U-Haul trailer on my way home clearly thinking about the used Triumph Speed Twin 900. A few days later while riding my Moto Morini to Folly Beach, I stopped at the Harris Teeter. Though the engine light was on, the Morini was running fine. I checked my phone and Dana, from Charleston Triumph, sent me a text. In short, Dana mentioned that he was curious to know if I was interested in any NEW Triumph motorcycles. Wow I thought. A new Triumph? I quickly replied back to Dana and after a few text message exchanges, Dana had a good idea of the Triumph I wanted, the Speed Twin 900. Dana let me know that he had a new 2024 Triumph Speed Twin 900 on the showroom floor, and to let me know if I was interested. Having sat on the used 2023 Speed Twin, a new model would be wonderful. But the Morini was running, so no reason to upgrade.

Within two weeks my beloved Moto Morini sat in my Mom’s garage, not running well and a hazard to ride. Thinking about the text message from Dana I decide that it might be time to trade-in the Moto Morini for the new 2024 Triumph Speed Twin 900. On April 22, 2025 I rode Lucy the Triumph Speed Twin 900 home from Charleston Triumph for the first time. Lucy is renewing my faith in motorcycling and I could be happier. Please give Lucy a warm welcome.

Rolf

As excited as I was a week ago to be back on my bike, a 2023 Moto Morini 650 SCR, it was short lived. As of last Saturday, my beloved Moto Morini is becoming more problematic that I care to think about. It is as if, after 3 thousand miles, my bike is just not wanting to ride anymore. I spent about a week trouble shooting all possibilities that I could source from Reddit, Google, and Moto Morini forums. I filled up the gas tank, checked the battery, inspected the air filter and air box, made sure all the cables and wiring were fit, and after a few tests rides my Moto Morini is scheduled for a shop appointment at Charleston Triumph. What is positive about my shop appointment is my new parts; new seat, new exhaust, and new handlebar risers have arrived at Charleston Triumph. I honestly feel that with these accessories added to my Moto Morini, and inspection into the mysterious troubles of my bike by pro mechanics, I hopefully will be able to ride my bike home after the appointment. At least that is my feeling.

So, what is the issue or issues Rolf? I am happy you asked. The main problem is with the engine stalling during rides and while idling. In short, the bike starts up, which is good, will run for a few minutes then die. In some cases, during my test rides, I would actually be riding along and when I made a turn, in first gear, the bike would quit on me. Lucky for me, I have chosen my neighborhood as my test ride territory, so I don’t have a bike dying on me while riding down a busy road. That would be a bit unpleasant. Compounding the problems, is I believe that catalytic converter is bad. Essentially the engine is having trouble breathing. Which in a way leads to engine failure. I am very familiar with a faulty catalytic converter. My old car, a 2009 Nissan Cube, had a bad catalytic converter and boy did that create an unpleasant ride. Again, as luck would have it, the new exhaust I ordered, and will be installed on my Moto Morini will replace the catalytic converter. This I hope leads to solution. But I am also thinking about trading in my Moto Morini.

During the past month of troubles with the MM, a salesperson from Charleston Triumph reached out to me and suggested that maybe I would like to trade in my Moto Morini for a green 2024 Triumph Speed Twin 900. I was flushed with excitement about this opportunity. I even went so far as filling out some paperwork to see if I qualify for financing the Speed Twin. A bike that fits my personally quite well. And as a rode my Moto Morini last night, with its jerky ride, engine stalls, and lack of willingness to ride, I told myself I love this bike. To trade-in this Moto Morini now would be heartbreaking. Yet the persistent troubles over the last month have led me to believe that maybe I own a lemon. Maybe these problems won’t go away after the upgrades. Maybe this Moto Morini is just cursed.

I watched a commercial for the Viking cruise line. While I don’t see myself as taking a cruise on a Viking ship anytime soon, the founder did offer some advice. What we don’t have enough of is time he said. That is very true. While I hope that my 2023 Moto Morini will get fixed and things will improve, there is something honest about the situation that maybe this bike is a lemon. And I don’t really have more time for lemons. It might be better to cut my loses and get myself a new bike. I am thinking of the color green might be in my future.

Rolf

Spring has arrived and I am happy to say I am back on my bike! After a few weeks of waiting for new tires, a runnability test performed by my favorable local dealership Charleston Triumph, then a check engine light that mysteriously came on, and to my happiness, turned off. What I am learning about my beloved Moto Morini over the past month is, my motorcycle hates to be parked in my mom’s garage for extend periods of time. Releasing my bike from the garage after such a long hiatus, my bike develops, what I call the “Italian Attitude”. The engine will sound angry and the bike will be unhappy until I ride her. Checking the Moto Morini forums the best thing to do is keep all the fluids level, a full tank of gas, and ride my bike like it’s my last ride. I am happy to say that as of today, everything is working. Praise God!

Throughout the month of April, I will be making some upgrades to my Moto Morini that will transform my bike into a whole new machine. I am excited for this and with the new riding season, I look forward to rolling the throttle with my new upgrades. I will say that my new tires, Bridgestone Battlax AdventureCross Scrambler, have offered a smooth ride compared to the original rubber I had on my bike. These tires have improved my riding experience while on the road, which is where 90% of my riding takes place.

Today, I want to speak about my Part III in my Mindfulness & Motorcycling journey. Returning to riding after a month off was a bit overwhelming. I didn’t help my anxiety by deciding that my first ride back on my Moto Morini with fresh new tires would be 40 mile around work commute ride. Yet, I am happy I did it because I learned something new about myself as a motorcyclist. I learned, that I need to focus more on what is happening in front of me, and pay less attention to what my inner dialogue. In other words, “don’t be a head case while riding your motorcycle Rolf!” Discovering this I thought a great addition to my riding experience would be to listen to music while riding. I listen to music all the time. It helps me focus, relax, and brings me joy. So why not add this ingredient to my rides on my Moto Morini. On a cool late March Saturday morning, I popped in my AirPods and hit the road. This was transformational.

For safety, I kept the volume low, just above the sound of my engine. My playlist for my first ride with music was the SiriusXM channel “Chill Instrumentals”. A perfect blend of downtown temp beats with no vocals. Just listening to the slow uplifting beat and knifing my way around James Island and Folly Beach. Within a few minutes I was completely dialed in with my machine and my surroundings. A few brief seconds of brain talk was immediately canceled by Chill’s music vibes. I refocused my attention to the road and ended up riding for 2 hours. Granted traffic was light but it was a wonderful test. Allowing music to drive me forward, allowed me to reach a clarity during my ride that I attribute to Mindfulness & Motorcycling….with music.

Since my first ride with music, I have completed a wonderful work commute listening to music as I make my way to North Charleston from James Island and back home. Again, music played an important part in my mental state throughout my ride. Relaxing me, focusing me, and above all creating a peaceful motorcycling experience. Something I have been searching for.

Rolf

Harley-Davidson is a fixture in motorcycle culture, worldwide. As someone who is a new rider, seeing Harley’s out in the wild and hearing Harley’s pass me by while I ride my Moto Morini is a heart stopping experience. Even before I began my motorcycle career there were so many cultural opinions on Harley-Davidson that I really didn’t care for HD at all. In fact, I hated Harley. Maybe it’s the fact that an ex-boss of mine, who was an asshole, rode a Harley. I held onto the idea that the typical Harley owner is just a bunch of old white guys with too much money. My attitude came from a place of personal dissatisfaction of where I was in my life at that time. Unhappy. Drinking heavily. Battling an untreated bi-polar disorder. Not to make excuses, but I was a very unhappy person 10 years ago which created a strong hatred for Harley’s image, and the motorcycles.

Walking into Lowcountry Harley-Davidson on a crisp Saturday afternoon with still a bit of Harley hatred in me, quickly dissolved into shear motorcycle bliss. The motorcycles, the huge inventory of merchandise, and the showroom bikes telling the history of Harley-Davidson blew me away. It was part dealership, and part Harley-Davidson Museum. To be honest, over the past year, I have slowly began loving Harley-Davidson. The build quality, the customization, and the power engines that are mounted on their motorcycles is a thing of beauty. My salesperson met me after I start walking the showroom floor, was terrific. Funny, honest, and to the point. I liked his style. Originally, I had my eyes set on a Harley-Davidson Sportster S model bike. Please note it is very important that you don’t forget the “S” because that would mean a completely different bike. You learn quickly that the Harley-Davidson model names define that bike so don’t fuck that up LOL, like I did, a few times in speaking with my salesperson. Unfortunately, I couldn’t test ride any bikes this day due to an ankle injury, but the salesperson was more than willing to ride the Sportster S for me, in the parking lot. After hearing the Sportster S and watching the salesperson ride the bike a few laps in the parking lot, I decided very quickly this was not the bike for me.

The 2019 Harley-Davidson Softail Fat Bob 114 with over 1800cc engine was like looking at a movie prop from the latest Mad Max movie. Completely blacked out. Very comfortable seat. High handlebar setup. Big, meaty tires, and a killer exhaust with a deep throaty sound, I fell in love immediately. As part of my Harley-Davidson research for this blog post, I was not going to buy a new motorcycle this day. I didn’t have the money. And my heart and my savings were set to get my beloved Moto Morini fixed in two short weeks. What I wanted to do was drink the Harley Kool-Aid for a few hours. See that all the hype is surrounding HD. Once the salesperson let me roll the throttle of this Fat Bob while the bike was in neutral, that sound made me forget all about my financial struggles, my depression, my anxiety, and feel so damn alive! It truly is a life changing experience. And I didn’t even ride that damn bike LOL.

Maybe I have written about this a few times, that I have found my next bike, and in full disclosure, as a motorcyclist each new bike I fall in love with basically becomes my next bike. Yet the 2019 Harley-Davidson Softail Fat Bob 114 is a bright light that will not go out for me. I will definitely keep this bike on my radar over the next few years as I work towards saving enough money for a downpayment and insurance, as well as cleaning up my financial mess I am currently in. Trust me, the Harley Kool-Aid is delicious.

Rolf

Riding my Moto Morini is a feeling I wish I could bottle and save for the future. Seeing the world around you flash bye, the sound and feeling of the engine below you, the rolling of the throttle, and shifting gears as you pull in the clutch, are heavenly. What happened to me the other day while riding my Moto Morini, put a lot into perspective for me as a motorcyclist. I have driven cars before that have broken down. Had a few flat tires. All of which makes me say, “now what?”. I even had the wonderful experience of driving my old Nissan Cube with my mother as passenger when it broke down while my mom said, “Rolf, you need a new car”. But breaking down on my Moto Morini motorcycle after work on a lovely Thursday afternoon, got me thinking about my survival as a motorcyclist. As helpless as you are when your car breaks down, it is even more earth shattering to break down on a motorcycle. My time spent standing in the James Island VFW parking lot, while I tried to understand what was wrong with my Moto Morini, drinking bottled water from the Circle K, I knew I had reached a new experience as a motorcyclist. So, what to do?

Lucky for me, the afternoon rush hour had not started building up, so Camp Road was fairly welcoming. I fiddled with a few parts to the engine thinking I was a roadside mechanic, which made me quickly realize how little I know about motorcycles. I turned the ignition key to the on position, and pushed the electric starter button, and instantly my Moto Morini came to life. But as quickly as my bike roared to life, the sooner my bike started to give out again. “Nope!”, I said to myself, and turned the bike off. I was not going to take the chance and ride this Moto Morini home. I walked to the edge of Camp Road and stared down the 1.5-mile road to Farmington Road, the street that takes me to my home. “Fuck it! I am going to push this bitch!” I said to myself. My only experience pushing my Moto Morini in the driveway, never a long distance. Given the situation, it was time to make radical decisions.

Looking back, I knew I was in for trouble when I came to a stop at Jenkins and Spruill Avenues. All of sudden my motorcycle wouldn’t rev down. Meaning, the rpms were very high when I came to a stop. “What the heck is going on?” I said to myself. Unsure as what to do, I decide to keep riding and hope my bike would figure itself out. Wrong! Riding through downtown Charleston on my way to James Island, my poor bike was suffering. Revving high at stop lights, having a hard time when I shifted gears, and overall creating a sense that I might not make it home. As soon as I got to the stoplight at Camp and Folly Roads, I knew I had reached the end of my ride. The engine was giving out, my wits were fried, and lucky for me I was close to home.

Two hands on the handlebar, feet parked on the left side of the motorbike, I started my journey home pushing my Moto Morini. I soon realized, that surviving as motorcyclist, is about adapting to situations. You make the best effort to control the situation but sometimes shit goes bad. My situation could have been a whole lot worst. I am thankful I was only a mile from my home street on James Island. But as I was pushing my motorcycle home, I kept thinking, is this motorcycling hobby/outlet worth it? Am I actually enjoying my new adventures on my Moto Morini? And in short, I am. Even pushing my motorbike home over a mile, next to a busy road, allowed to think how irrational motorcycling is. How it is such an oddity to ride a motorcycle in today’s times with all the safety features that 4-wheels provide. Why would anyone want to ride a 2-wheeled death wish. And honestly, I can’t sum up why I ride a motorcycle, and why I will continue to ride a motorcycle. But I will say that the whole time I was pushing my bike home, with sweat dripping down my face, a Circle K water bottle stuck in my rear jean pocket, that all I could do was think about my next ride, and how I was going to enjoy it even more.

Rolf