Readers Rides – 007
Katrina D. – Muskegon, MI
I’ve always been envious of Motorcyclists. The way they look on their machine, the carefree attitude they always seem to display. It’s always been a dream of mine to ride my own, unfortunately I was always told I couldn’t or shouldn’t. I’ve ridden as a passenger with “exes” that had motorcycles, but never had control of my own. Being “taken’ for most of my life it was a choice I could not make. Now, being single for the last four years and with the sudden passing of my father in April of 2021, I decided to do things I’ve always wanted to. Riding my own being one of them.
I think what “flipped my switch” was Bike Time in Muskegon last year. I was being an innocent bystander when a dude on a bike pointed at me then gestured to the back of his bike. I didn’t hesitate. I rode with him and his MC for a while and there was a chick riding her own bike. I wanted to be her!
A coworker of mine had bought himself a bike and was encouraging me to do the same, every day. He was “helping me” search and finally found one that I couldn’t say no to. A 2000 Honda Nighthawk 250. Beautiful bike. It happened to be a Detroit Police training bike with the officer’s badge number still on the tank! I have this badge number tattooed on the inside of my throttle wrist and decided to name MY bike, Clarice! The keys that came with the bike also had a dog license with one number higher so a K9? I haven’t found an answer for that one yet. It doesn’t seem long ago that I drove down to Detroit to pick up Clarice on July 28, 2023, but I found myself outgrowing her pretty quickly. So, I’ve decided she will be given to my daughter to learn to ride when she is ready to do so. And I’ll remember to share some of the things that I have been told that stuck with me; like, “Ride like you are invisible and everyone is out to get you.” “Don’t ride faster than you guardian agnel can fly.”
“You’re going to drop your bike, don’t be so hard on yourself, but learn to pick it up yourself.”
Clarice is fun, but not as much fun as my new 007! I named my 2010 Harley-Davidson Nightster 007 in memory of my father and to keep his memory alive. He was a huge James Bond fan. So, when I introduce people to my bike, I get to speak and think about my father. I found 007 about 4 a.m. on my third shift work break when I was scanning the HD Dealerships all around Michigan. He was at the Harley-Davidson Dealership in Battle Creek. I got off work at 7am, called my guy and said, “let’s go get me this bike!” He was super supportive, and we drove to Battle Creek with the trailer and waited for them to open! As soon I could, I told them I wanted the bike. It wasn’t cleaned up or ready yet, but they took me to the back so I could check it out. I sat on it, started it and tears of pure joy started to well up in my eyes! After they got him cleaned up, we trailered him home on December 12th, 2023. He sat in my garage where I could start him up and push him around a bit. I felt super intimidated and felt like maybe I had made a mistake since it is a lot of bike for someone who is 5’4 110 pounds. I didn’t get a chance to take a ride on it until Christmas Eve, and when I did, it was the best Christmas Eve ever!! The sound, the feel, there is nothing else like it!
Then came the snow, again. I have never felt so tortured in my life. I had this amazing machine that I couldn’t ride. I don’t know if watching movies and videos made it better or worse. Thankfully, there have been a few warm days scattered through the last couple months, but it’s not enough. If the temperature is 40 degrees or above, I try to ride. I’m pretty sure I will invest in heated gear for this winter. C’mon spring! Until then, my spring plans and future adventures, Oh boy. I’m lucky to have a guy in my life who has a 2010 Road Glide and who isn’t bothered by me riding my own. We plan on attending Blessing of The Bikes in Baldwin, Bike Time in Muskegon, and trips to Columbus, Ohio to see my adult children. We would also like to visit the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, WI. Eventually, camping trips to the Upper Peninsula, Tail of The Dragon and Daytona Bike Week would be nice.
Whatever I’m doing, I’m going to enjoy it to the fullest. I’ve become that cool biker chick that I’ve always envied! After my Dad passed, I realized that we really don’t know when our time is up. So, do the things you want to do and say the things you want to say. Happy and safe riding to all!
