Readers Rides – Sue Johnson-Wendt
My ride- by Sue Johnson-Wendt
I‘m 61 years young and started riding on a motorcycle at the Delta Motorcycle Safety Class in 2009 with my son. He wanted a motorcycle and wanted someone to take the class with him. I had never been on a motorcycle, snow mobile or Quad in my life. Needless to say, I did not pass the course the first time (I parked the bike on a curb). I am a competitive person, so I practiced on my son’s Honda in parking lots that summer and I took the course the next year. I was so excited that I passed!! I love the feeling of being one with the road and the bike. Words cannot express the freedom and exhilaration I experience when I am on a back road, riding my bike on a beautiful sunny day.
My first bike was a vivid green 2016 Kawasaki Vulcan 650cc (I call him Kermit). I rode almost every day and racked up 4000 miles that year just riding around the area, to work, and with my son. Love that bike- he is so quick and agile. Got the urge to get a bigger bike so I purchased a 2015 Yamaha V-star 1300 cc in 2017. She’s a big red bike and great for cruising. Her plate says “Nana’s ride” as my grandkids like to see me ride by their house. I still have and love both motorcycles.
I’ve ridden solo from Midland Michigan to the Tunnel of trees in Harbor Springs and southwest to Kalamazoo. I hope to ride every day this summer- someday I want to ride West to see the Redwoods in California.
