Live Free, Ride Hard

“It might sound a bit cliché, but really, the freedom is why we ride,” said Mike O’Meara of radio station WJFK, when asked what is so great about riding a motorcycle. Most people who have never ridden on a motorcycle are excited by the thrill of being “bad,” while those who do ride are exhilarated by the total control of destiny they have on their bike. 

A lot of bikers like to take beautiful days and go on destination rides. A destination ride is when a rider or group of riders meets at a location, and then rides down to another location. These rides may consist of scenic routes, back roads, or even a straight shot down a highway to the location. In any case, the point of the ride is to be in the group and the feel of the open road. 

“The truth is, when you go on rides with your fellow riders, it gives you a sense of patriotism,” O’Meara continued, describing how destination rides and recreational rides all lead to a common purpose, which makes the riders feel patriotic.

Lisa Gardner of Gainesville recalled her first ride. “My husband got me a Harley, but had me practicing on a dirt bike,” she remarked. “I rode it ‘til I got the hang of the gears, hopped on my Harley and rode it around the block.” 

Her advice to new riders; “Just do it!” When I told her how her story inspired me, she gave this Harley fan a ride around the lot. 

 

The Bike Shop

The Patriot Harley Davidson store in Fairfax has beautiful bikes, amazing gear, and some really cool people. Deano Ventura, an associate at the Patriot Harley Davidson, enlightened me on Harleys and what new riders should look for. 

Ventura stated that the average use of a “starter bike” is about one to three years at the most. “Many people trade in their starters and get themselves a bike with a lower center of gravity within the first year.” He explained the differences between the starter bikes, saying there were two main kinds he sells: the Harley 883 Sportster, which is about the same as a 3-cylinder car, while a 1200 Sportster is equal to a 4-cylinder car. “A 1200 Sportster would be the best choice if you plan on taking your bike on to the highways” Ventura added.

When asked what a new rider look for in a Harley when they are ready to trade in their starter, Ventura responded that most riders want a lower center of gravity. “When you’re looking at a Harley, if you want the best ride you need to get one with a low center of gravity,” he explained. “The starters have a higher center of gravity, and so its harder to manuever through traffic, but when you're ready to move on to a bigger bike the lower the center of gravity the easier to throw it around.” 

 

Getting Started

What about getting a licence to operate a motorcycle?

Northern Virginia Community College teaches basic, advanced, and intermediate riding classes throughout the year. Students between the 16-18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. An extensive five hours in class and ten hours on-bike training entitles the student to a permit, which will enable them to ride alone for 30-days. After that time, they must get a motorcycle classification added to their valid driver’s licence. 

The classes held at NVCC (www.nvcc.edu) will provide the bikes, but participants will be asked to provide the following:

 

• Helmet: 3/4 or Full face (minimum DOT rating); some are available for students to borrow.
• Eye protection (glasses, goggles or face shield).
• Long sleeve shirt and/or jacket. 
• Gloves (full-fingered, abrasion resistant, no skin exposed, preferably leather).
• Sturdy pants (denim jeans or better) that come down over the top of the footwear.
• Sturdy, over-the-ankle footwear with a low heel.

 

These classes are beneficial to not only the riders, but all who share the roads and highways. 

Before buying any motor vehicle one must learn all about the actual vehicle, and all the safety information. A motorcycle is a new experience to many, and without the proper information it can be risky. Motorcycle saftey is a major concern for bikers on and off the road. “If you’re starting out, be sure to take the riding courses–they are worth it, said Harley rider Tony Cockrell of Hillsboro. 

After getting a motorcycle, there are many options within the Harley community to take rides, or even set them up yourself. The Harley Owner’s Group (HOGs), is a informative group where owners and prospective owners can go to educate themselves about bikes in general and activities in the area. 

The HOGs host rides around the area where a rider can register and spend their day with fellow riders or a non- biker can register to be a passenger and feel the ride.