Scooter in the Sticks

Exploring life on a Vespa, Royal Enfield Himalayan, Honda Trail 125, and a Kawasaki W650

Aging and the Desire to Ride Motorcycles

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A Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle parked at a forest vista.
Stopped at Wampler Vista in Rothrock State Forest.

As Old as I Think

The air was clear, the light brilliant as my friend Dave and I started our ride to breakfast. I can’t count how many times I’ve stopped at Wampler to take in the view, thrilled that the only evidence of civilization are motorcycles and the path carved from the side of the mountain. I’m still drawn to this place, visited many times as a simple destination for an evening ride to watch the light change, see a black bear cross the road, or listen to a hawk shriek overhead.

I’ve been speaking with a friend about getting old and what that means. The conversation highlighted the value of curiosity and adventure as a way to keep old age at bay. My body is aging but my mind stays young through motion, thought, and living. I wonder whether I ride to stay young or I feel young because I ride.

Whatever it is, the desire to ride motorcycles remains strong.

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Is 24-Horsepower Enough for a Motorcycle?

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2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle parked along a farm field.
Simple, reliable, but too weak for serious riding?

Enter the Era of Downsizing Motorcycles

YouTube is currently full of content declaring the virtues of moving to smaller machines. The reasons vary but the changes are happening. Mostly because so many riders are older and perhaps feeling how much heavier machines are feeling. I’m familiar with those feelings.

The median age of an American motorcycle owner is around 50. In 1990 the median rider age was 32. And in 1985 it was 27. Not great news for manufacturers wondering where new customers are going to come from but no surprise the Boomers and GenXers, used to ever bigger and better SUVs and trucks, seem to end up with mammoth machines that are now getting a little uncomfortable.

Downsizing can be the result of wanting a motorcycle that’s just easier to handle. Or less expensive to own and operate. Or more fun. All that stands in the way of downsizing in an clear understanding of needs and an honest assessment of ego. Ego is a bitch to get past though. Just this morning I was talking with a fellow rider about Helite Turtle 2 airbags. Expensive. Probably useful. But when I saw the Hi-Viz yellow my first reaction was in how it would interrupt the elegant look of my Merlin Hixon II leather jacket.

Style before safety right? Turns out they do offer them in black.

Back to my 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan. I downsized to it from my BMW K75 because that motorcycle was feeling heavy for the kind of riding I was doing. And it had more power than I needed. Ultimately I wanted a motorcycle to ride in the dirt and gravel. The Himalayan was a much better choice.

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Little Juniata Machine and Cycle

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Two men standing next to a 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle.
Picking up the freshly serviced Himalayan.

Service Completed

I dropped the bike off on Saturday. The service was complete of Monday. I was thrilled to get the message. Being able to have the Himalayan worked on locally was something I wished for but firmly believed I only had three choices — haul the bike to the dealer a hundred miles away, do the service myself, or sell the motorcycle. None of those choices felt good. Finding Little Juniata Machine and Cycle purely by accident was an unlooked for gift.

My friend Howard drove my to Tyrone to get the Himalayan so I could ride it home. Brent Knarr, the owner and machinist/mechanic is standing on the right.

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Is It Time to Surrender the Royal Enfield Himalayan?

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2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan.
I can go anywhere and do anything with my Himalayan.

A Workhorse

Make no mistake, the 411 version of the Himalayan is a unique motorcycle. It looks different, sounds different, and acts differently than any other motorcycle I have ever ridden. Even with a meager 24 horsepower it far exceeds most of my riding abilities. And for the kind of rides I make it’s a nearly perfect companion.

Making this photograph of it in the driveway before a recent ride I wasn’t thinking about the positive aspects of ownership. Or admiring the camouflage styling.

I was standing there wondering, after four years of riding, is it time to surrender the Royal Enfield Himalayan?

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The Perfect Ride

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2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle parked near an old barn.
Arriving on a rainy morning for breakfast at Cafe Lemont.

What is the Perfect Ride?

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that there are no bad rides. Doesn’t matter if it is too hot or too cold, too far or too short, or if the scenery or roads are just boring. When I learned that all rides are good rides and that the idea of the perfect ride just doesn’t exist my riding world opened and I put more time in the saddle.

Cafe Lemont was my second choice for breakfast after Barnes and Noble had to toss all their food because of a storm-caused power outage trashed their refrigeration. Like this ride and so many others, the circumstances don’t matter. Just being able to ride is enough.

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