Kelly’s Korner: When Riding Takes a Back Seat to Life
Last Updated: March 4th, 2024
Kelly’s Korner: When Riding Takes a Back Seat to Life
Sometimes life throws the unexpected, and arguably cruel, at us and riding takes a back seat to the business of survival. Two main thoughts about that harsh reality come to mind:
1. There are ways to save money on, and care for, the bike(s) while the brain and finances are focused elsewhere;
2. Motorcycling friends usually turn out to be family.
To point No. 1, start with the insurance. If you know you’re not going to be riding for a while, pare down coverage to the lowest possible minimum. Don’t do like me, who wanted to put all coverage on hold. It’s good that someone else thinks clearly when I cannot and Rusty Creed, insurance agent extraordinaire, came to the rescue. He recommended retaining the bare essentials like theft and damage for obvious reasons. I took Rusty’s suggestion because the universe enjoys curve balls. I don’t even want to imagine having to deal with a break-in on top of everything else. (Seriously, dear readers, Rusty and his team are the best. Please call him.)
But bikes that won’t be in motion still need TLC. Batteries can die, fluids can gum up and hoses can rot without proper sitting-in-the-garage maintenance. The first order of business is to keep a charger on the batteries. The second is to start and run the bikes for a few minutes once a week — or have a friend do it for you if you’re not able. Both of these best practices will save you hours of frustration and potentially hundreds of dollars.
To point No. 2, life inevitably will lob unwelcome nonsense at you. The question is not “Why?”; rather, the question is, “What do I learn from this?” Some possibilities:
Resilience
Patience
Gratitude
Letting other people help
All of the above and more
When the unwelcome arrives, don’t be surprised when your riding friends get to your side before anyone else, and stick around. These are the people with whom kinship extends beyond the road or the dirt. We don’t all ride the same bikes, or have the same motorcycling goals or pursuits — and it matters not one bit. Our shared lifestyle, for the most part, attracts some of the most genuine, caring, generous people (blustery, crass exteriors notwithstanding) one could hope to know.
And don’t question the love. If you’ve put good and light into the world, you deserve it. If you haven’t, well, you’re one lucky schmo with a second chance.
Until next time,
Kelly
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