In Keanu we trust.
For those that don’t know, he really loves motorcycles.
he co-founded Arch Motorcycles
he seems to make an appearance every year at MotoGP, Moto America, and/or other moto racing events
he’s a track rider
he has owned 16 bikes
The instagram video above is not a one-off. There are other interviews he’s done and done well. He’s a great ambassador for riding and that video depicts a ton of what riders feel out there, including me.
Some people know they’re going to love riding before they ever throw a leg over a bike. This is known as having the soul of a rider. If you find yourself gawking at bikes, there’s a good chance that’s you.
That was definitely me. I’ve always known, but life had other plans and enough people telling me not to ride that it wasn’t until I was 37 when I started riding. But, I made up for lost time in a lot of ways.
In less than 18 months I found myself all in on track riding, something I didn’t even know existed when I started.
I’ve rented bikes and ridden through Death Valley, Zion National Park, and the Grand Staircase.
I’ve ridden through the Triple Nickel of Ohio and can’t wait to hit the Tail of the Dragon
Now, why do I ride? Why do I love motorcycles?
Let us start with a picture. Well, 2 pictures.
This is from a screenshot from a 360 video I recorded when riding through the Artist Palette in Death Valley National Park. It’s grainy, I know. It doesn’t do the locale justice, hence the 2nd picture.
Death Valley Artists’ Palette by Robert Cook. Justice done.
I didn’t know this place existed. When I rented a 2018 Triumph Street Triple R from Twisted Road, the only thing I knew was that I wanted to ride through Death Valley. I was in Vegas for AIMExpo and Death Valley was close enough. I had a route in mind, but it was far from concrete.
So, how did I come across this beautiful scene?
Moto serendipity.
I actually passed the entrance to Artist Palette wondering what it was, but not stopping as I needed fuel. It was at the gas station someone got my attention and asked if I rode through Artist Palette. When I said no, he insisted that I go because of the scenery and the road. I listened and if anything, he was underselling the experience.
That nano story is a microcosm of why I ride. The more I ride, the more moto serendipity happens. Artist Palette is far from a one-off experience, it’s the norm.
Freedom is what enables that to be the norm. Freedom to take detours. Freedom from not knowing your destination or your route. Close to home I regularly get on my bike without a destination or route in mind.
Some people don't get it and they never will. I remember someone asking me why I ride and freedom was the first thing I offered. I was challenged immediately, "you can ride a horse, how is that different?"
Do not concern yourself with this type of person. They lend credence to the concept of the rider’s soul. That innate desire to ride and the one thing that unites all riders into one community.
No matter where you are or what you’re riding, you can expect the rider’s salute and the meaningful camaraderie behind it. It is not an empty gesture. I’ve lived it firsthand.
A melted duffel bag courtesy of an idiot, me.
Yep, this is what happens when you don’t stow your bag properly. I’d gotten away with bungee cords and straps many times before, but not this time. I was making my way up to UT-12, one of America’s most scenic byways. For some reason I was riding slower than usual and lucky for me I was.
The bag completely slipped off and locked up the rear tire. I started fishtailing, but somehow maintained enough control to brake gradually and get off the road safely. An older couple stopped to help me out. They were behind me and saw everything. We all wondered how I didn’t go down. This was in 2023 so I was an avid track rider by then and had some events on track as well. Part luck, part skill I’d say. The skill and experience allowed luck to kick in. I knew snatching the front brake would send me down. It’s one of the first things you learn. But, saying it and doing it are 2 different things.
The older couple were riders too, but just happened to be in their truck. We shared stories and I expressed my gratitude profusely.
The duffel bag patched up, a win for the rider community!
That is community. That is camaraderie. That is why riders salute each other.
Make no mistake. Riding a motorcycle is more dangerous than driving a car.
There’s no bubble, or cage as many riders call it, with airbags protecting you if something goes wrong. Even if you gear up for the ride, you are still exposed to the elements and other vehicles. Like freedom often does, it comes at a price. That price is exposure.
Do not let this deter you.
Riding smart and aggressively defensive goes a long way to bringing that risk down to a manageable level. Continuous training and gaining more experience on and off track helps build the muscle memory to react appropriately in sticky situations, bringing the risk down even more.
For that reason, Champ School is a resource that I’d recommend every rider and prospective rider use. Their videos and online courses do a great job of introducing key concepts and applying them seamlessly between the track and the street. If you have the funds and don’t mind healthy servings of humble pie, take that to the next level by attending their street and/or track programs. I did and it probably condensed months if not years of riding into 2 full days.
Maybe you noticed I used the word continuous. That was intentional. Regardless of what riding you want to do there’s no finish line for learning. It’s not a checklist. There are milestones for sure, but you can never stop learning. Especially, if you want to ride different bikes in different ways. I’ve seen a Honda Gold Wing on track and he was cooking!
Riding is a sensory experience, it’s “visceral” to borrow Keanu’s word.
I personally love the aggressive purr of an Italian V4. Sometimes I would start up my Aprilia just to hear it! It gets even better when you’re carving corners. You may prefer the growl of a cruiser, good on ya! It doesn’t matter what you like, you’ll find it.
With experience and training your eyes will see things you never saw when you were driving. And that will make you a better driver too. You will pay more attention to people’s faces and micro movements to help you anticipate and plan for sticky situations. You’ll learn to scan and look ahead without losing sight of directly what’s in front of you. You’ll turn your head to guide your bike where you want to go.
Then, touch comes into play. The rolling on and off of the throttle. The wind. The rain. The seemingly never-ending battle to find neutral at a stop or parked at home. Clicking through gears and feeling the friction zone. Perhaps, most importantly at least for sportbike riders, front brake. Whether it’s the progressive braking or trail braking through a corner, you can feel the difference between 5% and 10% or more. And all of that becomes muscle memory.
And since you’re exposed while all of this is happening you will smell everything. Grass. Roadkill, yes roadkill. Exhaust. Everything. This leaves taste for last and since it’s so closely tied to smell, they go hand in hand. Some of those smells, you can definitely taste…
It can even go so far as to elicit associations. For me, coffee and motorcycles go together. I usually have a cup before I ride in the morning and bring coffee with me for any stops I make. That means I’m smelling and tasting great specialty coffee within the confines of my helmet throughout riding.
This all adds up to a sensory smorgasbord that becomes therapeutic. Riding demands your body’s full attention and for some that forces you to unplug. It’s just you, your senses, your thoughts, and maybe your music.
I can’t tell you how good it feels to come home after a great ride. I feel loose, relaxed. And this happens while riding too, even on the track. You will hit a zone almost like a runner’s high. It can also provide catharsis. Maybe the day at the office sucked. Riding at speed or going full send on a dirt track helps relieve some of that pent-up stress.
But, there is a downside to this and Keanu hits it. Withdrawal. All of that good becomes addictive and when you live somewhere with a winter, the absence of riding can take its toll. If you don’t address it, this can lead to depression. Make sure you have something to fall back on during winter.
Speaking of addiction, most addictions tend to cost money. As you surmised, motorcycles are no different. Whether you keep the same bike(s) forever or move from 1 bike to the next, you’ll need gear and if you ride the track, you’ll need so much more. While cheaper than the car equivalent, it still adds up.
All of this adds up to stories, amazing stories. Your stories. Other riders’ stories. I’m a classic introvert, but when it comes to riding I can talk and listen all day to a complete stranger.
This realization of how many stories I’ve accumulated in such a short time actually brought a sense of loss, the aftertaste of FOMO. Dramatic, yes. Hyperbole, maybe.
Since I only started riding at 37, that’s well over 25 years of stories I could have had! The thought brings a hint of sadness. But, it could be worse. There are people with the soul of a rider who will never ride whether it’s their choice or not.
If you have the soul of a rider and the choice, find a way to ride. The community will welcome you with open arms.
