Raven’s Rides
Raven's Rides Motorcycle Blog

On the fifth of March 2005, I brought home my new “baby”–Beastie, the beastly bike whose only problem, it turned out, was that the tires were underinflated by ten pounds. It was raining, and we didn’t get off to a good start.

I was his fourth owner, and in nine years those three prior owners had done a mere 6,800 miles.

I knew I’d fix that.

On February 25th, I pulled over beside the road on a glorious spring day to photograph the turning of these wheels to 36,800 miles.

And oh, such miles they have been! Texas, Nevada, hundreds of historical markers. A reconnection with Spirit; a rediscovery of the joy that a strong, working bike can bring. A hit and run; a bruised ego; a chipped elbow. Through Beastie, I have become a professional writer; I have grown as a person and as a rider.

Even now, I delight in the way the power kicks in as I shift from first to second. It’s how I imagine it would be when a horse is given full rein.

On Beastie, continuing the work begun on Boris, Katie and Arnie, I became a motorcyclist. Through riding this bike, I have grown and learned that really, anything is possible.

You just have to lean.

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