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Dodging the Roadkill: I Bought It To Ride It

Dodging the Roadkill - A Biker's JourneyClarksville, TN – For those of you who might be new to my blog, I want to remind you that I don’t claim to be an expert on motorcycles, or the biker lifestyle.  This is merely a journal of one man’s biker experience, that includes the people and places I meet.

I have a lot to learn and I’ve learned a lot along the way, but having discovered this experience late in life, I want to absorb all that I can, for as long as I am able.  So please don’t take offense over anything I might say, or anything I might be curious about, because that’s all it is, curiosity.

If you’ve been following my journey from the beginning, then you know my story, and how I came to being a biker.  When I finally bought my first motorcycle, I was ready to rumble.

Hank Bonecutter
Hank Bonecutter

I bought it to ride it!

Now, 96,000 miles into this journey, in just 2 1/2 years, and I’ve met so many people, heard so many stories, and visited places I would have never seen had it not been for this Harley.  But, something that I encounter all the time, are people who own a motorcycle, but they don’t ride. 

I respect the fact that you aren’t able to ride, that’s one thing.  But if you can, why don’t you?  Why is that beautiful machine just sitting in the garage?  Are you not interested anymore?  Think it’s too dangerous?  Well, I respect all of that, I just don’t understand it.

My simple mind, along with my frugal nature, tells me that if I invest in something, I’m going to use it.  Whether it was golf clubs, or cameras, or whatever I was interested in.  Money wasn’t hanging on trees, so if I bought it, I used it.

Now if you don’t have money problems and you just like to have a lot of toys, then, there you go.  Power to you.  But I’m SO passionate about this experience, I just can’t understand having a motorcycle that just sits in the garage collecting dust.

I might be on to a new business venture here.  You pay me, I’ll come ride your bike for a couple of hours, put some miles on it and at least one of you gets to enjoy the thrill of riding a motorcycle.  Even if it’s just the motorcycle itself.

Smoky Mountains
Smoky Mountains

Again, it’s NONE of my business, but since I first bought my bike, one of the beautiful things about it is, if I want to ride, then by God, I straddle that beast and take off.  I don’t worry if anyone can go with me, or if there’s a group, I don’t care, I just “throttle up” and hit the road.

I guess deep down inside, I REALLY want everyone to have this experience, and our nature is that we want everyone to enjoy or participate in the things that WE find interesting but that’s not always the case.  

I had a friend suggest to me once that he thinks some people have a Harley in the garage just so they can tell everyone they have one.  Like a status symbol.  Well, that’s your business, but I don’t have that sort of disposable income to just have it sit there, not ride it, but tell everyone I own one.  If I had the money, I would own one for each day of the week!

This biker lifestyle is custom built.  From the motorcycle we choose, to the accessories, the clothing, the helmet, EVERYTHING about it is custom made by EACH of us.  There’s not a “one size fits all” model, and that’s what’s so amazing about this experience.

You can put thousands of miles per year on the bike, or you can ride a couple of hundred miles a year.  It’s nobody’s business, certainly not mine, and if you’re happy, then I’m happy.

I just want all of you to feel the love and passion I’m experiencing right now with this journey I’m on.  I want all of you to see something you might have once had, and now you want it back. 

Go ride my brothers and sisters!  Life is too short.  You bought it now ride it! 

I’ve never had this much fun since I sat in a motel fountain with Ann and Nancy Wilson of the group “Heart.” 

I’ve never been so excited about anything in my life and as I say all the time, if I could live forever, I would ride forever!

So if you’re one of those bikers who doesn’t get out and ride as much as you used to, let’s change that.  Let’s find that spark you once had for putting some miles on that beast.  Even if it’s just a couple of hours a week. 

Don’t leave that beautiful machine just sitting alone in the garage.  It’s kind of like tying a dog to a chain.  That’s not good.  Unchain that dog and let him run.  Unchain your motorcycle and let her run.  Straddle on and go for a ride.  

Ride safe my friends and thanks for following my journey.  I hope to ride with you all someday.

Hank Bonecutter
Hank Bonecutterhttp://www.clarksvillesmotorcycle.com/
Hank Bonecutter is a retired broadcaster and media consultant based in Clarksville, Tennessee. His career includes stints at WKDA/WKDF and WKQB Rock 106FM, WLAC-AM in Nashville. He concluded his career as owner/talk show host at WJZM-AM in Clarksville. Currently the President of Bonehead Promotions, he's an advertising consultant and media strategist. An avid motorcyclist, Hank blogs about his travels exclusively at www.clarksvillemotorcycle.com and www.clarksvilleonline.com You can follow Hank on on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/dodgintheroadkill/, on Twitter at https://twitter.com/?lang=en, and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dodgetheroadkill/?hl=en  
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