Birth of a Biker Babe

My husband Chuck and I started biking in 1999 on our 1982 Yamaha Maxim. The Maxim was only in production one year and we have bought it from our friend when he had purchased a BMW R1100R a year earlier. The Maxim was a bike before it's time, with a 3 disk integrated braking system and an onboard computer with an LCD screen that monitored some of the bikes critical functions. It had the Yamaha X-1 fairing and leather bags on the back that were actually “horse” saddlebags purchased at a saddlery shop.

I had never ridden a motorcycle before except for a five-minute run here and there with various old boyfriends with varying skill levels. I was a long distance vegetarian petal biker who belonged to PETA and would never wear any animal products. Before we were married, my husband was convinced that I would hate motorcycling and try to discourage him from riding. He had been riding a motorcycle of some type since he was a teenager. The bike just sat in the garage for a year to avoid arguments. He took me to the local bike store to find a helmet, grumping the whole time that he was probably wasting his money. I ran around trying on several fabric jackets. Now, armed with a helmet, the day arrived to actually get on the bike and ride. The first hurdle to get through was getting to a paved road. We live on a mountain with a gravel road, that we refer to as “the trail” as it is in such bad shape that it doesn't merit the title of road. I opted to walk that ¼ mile and meet him at the bottom of the road. The first trip should be short and sweet, so we took a very familiar road with moderate to low traffic. The first part of the ride was great! James Madison is straight as an arrow. I didn't have to do that leaning thing that always looked so frightening. We had nice little ride, everything going smoothly and then turned around and headed back home. I was feeling quite assured and safe, when we suddenly heard a loud ear piercing sound. A fire engine was right behind us closing in fast. We were on a two lane road with traffic and only 3 inches of pavement on the outside of the white line – where is a bike to go???? Skillfully Chuck moved to those precious 3 inches while the fire engine roared past us, pushing on the bike with it's trail wind. Whew, we made it.

This experience did two things for me. First, I trusted Chuck's level of motorcycle competence, and second, I wanted a leather jacket!

My husband laughs now as I sling on my leather jacket, leather chaps, leather gloves, $400 helmet and hop on the back of the bike, hoping for at least 400 mile run that includes many tight and twisting turns, on our BMW1200 LT that I picked out.

This is the life for me

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