How long have you been a rider?
I'm what they call a "recycler." I began riding in high school 40 years ago. I stopped in my mid-20s (got busy with my career) and then got back into motorcycles when a neighbor bought a bike and brought it over to show me. It reminded me how much fun they were, so I treated myself to a motorcycle for my next birthday and have been riding ever since (about 25 years since my "birthday present" to myself).
I believe a lot of the joy in riding is constantly working to improve your skill set. I'm a better rider now than when I first started, and over the years the bikes I've personally owned keep getting faster and more powerful.
What inspired you to start riding?
In high school, it just seemed like fun. I didn't have a clue what I was doing and was lucky to get through that early riding period with only one minor case of "road rash" - lost the bike trying to take a down-hill corner too fast without seeing that the road surface was covered with loose gravel. Years later, seeing and hearing my neighbor's new bike instantly reminded me how much fun motorcycles are, and my passion for them has only grown with each year that's gone by.
Do you have a favorite bike?
Difficult question. The "in the moment" answer is whatever bike I'm riding right now. Real answer is that the best bike is the one that's designed for the kind of riding you want to do. I've got a BMW K1200RS for two-up sport touring with my wife. She loves it and the bike offers large, well-designed saddle bags so you can pack extra clothes and ride as far and long as you want. For a day ride, it's my Ducati 999. A full-blown sportbike is my real "ride of choice." They do the three things any bike should do - they accelerate, brake and corner better than any other style of motorcycle.
Which location was your favorite?
Every place we rode was special and different. That's one of the greatest joys of motorcycling. As long as they're great corners and decent road surfaces, I'm a happy camper. As for the need for speed, well that's why race tracks have straightaways and why the parts of the Autobahn where there's no speed limit are absolutely marvelous. It's not hard to ride really fast in a straight line, but it's a lot of fun.
What was the biggest challenge?
Trying not to think too much about the camera crews filming us riding. That was a new experience for me. I like to really focus on the ride itself, and I didn't want to be distracted by thinking about the cameras too much. So I adopted my own mantra - when in doubt my focus was only on the ride, and the cameras would get what they could.
What was one of your most memorable motorcycle experiences?
There were so many it's hard to pick just one. But riding back from the track in Italy on a new MV Agusta stands out. We were following two factory riders, and they took the long, fun way back through the mountains. They know the territory and often made crazy passes around large trucks on narrow little roads. It was twilight and difficult to see, since I was riding with a tinted face shield. Made me nervous at first and then I thought, "if they can do, I can do." It was an unreal ride I will never forget.
Any advice for new riders?
First, understand that riding a motorcycle has absolutely nothing in common with riding a bicycle. You need to be taught to ride - not by a well-intentioned friend but by a professional. First-time riders should definitely take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course, which is offered all across the country. It's supported by the industry and you don't even need to own a bike to take the course - they'll give you one for a weekend. BUT DON'T STOP LEARNING. If you continue riding, work your way up to performance riding courses on race tracks, like the Reg Pridmore C.L.A.S.S. series. What you learn will make you a much better rider. What you learn can also save your life. No hype.