Envisioning my 85-year-old mother riding a motorcycle is a challenge now, but, yes, she did ride. It was a 1974 Suzuki GT 185, orange in color, small in stature. It sounded more like a weedwhacker than a motorcycle, but that bike came in handy for a number of my friends and me when we took the driving tests to earn our motorcycle licenses. Smaller motorcycles were easy to maneuver around the pylons, and you couldn’t find a motorcycle much smaller than this one.
I learned how to ride on that Suzuki — up and down the alley near my childhood home. The neighbors probably didn’t appreciate it, which was obvious by the occasional visits I received from police officers.
A few years later, I bought my own motorcycle — a custom-painted 1985 Honda Interceptor 750. The stock version was red, white and blue, but this “crotch rocket” was all gloss black. That bike went away when Jolene and I bought our first home and started having children. The baby carrier wouldn’t fit very well on the back seat, I was told.
Many years went by, but I did not give up on my fascination with motorcycles. My next bike was a Kawasaki Vulcan 1600, a cruiser meant for long travels. That 750-pound machine was overkill for my needs, and Jolene decided that we should have new countertops instead. So I sold it, but not before giving my then-70-year-old mother a spirited ride around town.
A few years ago, I got the itch again, so I purchased another Vulcan — this one a more reasonable 900cc that better fit my travels to and from the office and the occasional trips around Saylorville Lake.
Yes, motorcycles are in my blood. In fact, every member of my family (except for my sister) owned a motorcycle at one point or another in their lives. And she is only 64, so there’s still a chance.
As for that 1974 Suzuki GT 185, I sold it for my mother in 1995 to a guy who owned a motorcycle shop in Storm Lake. He was amazed at the condition it was in at 21 years old. If it is still running today, it can likely be seen at the motorcycle driving test course — or it is part of a weedwhacker.
Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
