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| On the
Move Motorcycles are no longer just for the young and rebellious |
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For some people, four-wheeled transportation is too mundane. To get their juices flowing, twowheels is plenty. Motorcycle riders are an enthusiastic group that rides for a variety of reasons, but for most, it can be summed up by the words of Carl Donelson, owner of Donelson Cycles, who says, “Riding a motorcycle is freedom. It’s very satisfying.” Perhaps the best known name in motorcycles is Harley-Davidson, which is celebrated its 100th anniversary last year. With 27 models to choose from, Harley seems to have something for everyone. According to Tim Luttrell, salesman at Doc’s Harley-Davidson in Kirkwood, executives tend to choose a touring bike, such as the Ultra. If a top-of-the-line bike isn’t enough, there are a myriad of options from which to choose, including a CD player, cruise control, saddle bags and other storage accessories, and lots of chrome options, particularly for the engine and exhaust pieces. Performance modifications to the engine are also popular. An Ultra will run about $22,000, and most people add $2,000 to $3,000 in options. One Doc’s customer added $20,000 in options! Doc’s has a full service department that can install Harley accessories onto the bikes. Luttrell says that most motorcycle buyers are middle-aged people who buy them primarily for recreation. A growing trend is sales to women riders, who he says are tired of riding on the backs of their husbands’ and boyfriends’ bikes and want to drive their own bike. Tom Charleville, owner of Thomas Coffee Co. in St. Louis, is an avid Harley-Davidson rider. Charleville got interested in motorcycles in high school after seeing his older brother drive one. He has now been riding for 37 years, and has accumulated six street Harleys, each with its own personality, which allows him to pick which bike to ride based on his mood. Though he occasionally rides to work, Charleville rides mainly on weekends and on summer evenings, particularly on the back roads of southern Illinois, where he enjoys visiting small towns. Longer trips to the Ozarks and through the hills of Arkansas are also favorites. When asked why he rides, Charleville replies, “I like the feel of the power and the speed — that ‘wind in your face’ thing. There’s nothing else like going into the curves on a twisty road.” Another avid motorcyclist is Dr. Jack Hartstein, who drives a V-Star Yamaha touring motorcycle. He’s been riding for 35 years and rides regularly with a group known as “Jack’s Pack,” a group of 52 people who get together early on Sunday mornings to go for a motorcycle ride. On any given Sunday, 20 to 25 people show up to follow a leader who guides them on a secret route. The group includes doctors, lawyers, judges, policemen, several women and a few couples. The group even has one member who is a paraplegic with a specially designed and built motorcycle that allows him to ride the motorcycle while in his wheelchair. Dr. Hartstein rides his motorcycle because he likes being outdoors. “When you ride in a car, it’s like you’re watching the world outside on TV,” he says. “On a bike, you become a part of nature and can see, feel, hear and smell it directly.” For Dr. Hartstein, riding is primarily a weekend hobby, but one he enjoys almost year-round. “As long as it’s above 40 degrees and not raining, I’ll ride,” he says. “It’s a tremendous thrill.” Hartstein even has special rain gear to keep him dry if he gets caught in a cloudburst, and an electric vest, socks and gloves that plug into the motorcycle to keep him warm. BMW even sells a bike with heated handlebars. A new trend in motorcycles is the scooter, which has an enclosed engine, a lower seating position and smaller tires, but can still have as large an engine as a regular motorcycle. Tom Widman, owner of Widman Motorcycle Sales in South St. Louis, points to the 650cc Suzuki scooter as an example of an easy-to-ride scooter that offers an electric starter and automatic transmission. Widman says that some of the newer scooters have bigger brakes and wheels, and can offer the performance of a regular motorcycle. Some scooters return gas mileage of 100 mpg and offer an abundance of storage space, making them practical commuter vehicle alternatives. According to Widman, “Motorcycle riding is a leisure time activity. You can commute on a bike, but many people use them to take a ride after dinner for fun in the summer and to take rides and travel on the weekends. The number of people touring on cycles is increasing. People are finding the freedom of the road. It’s a great way to see, smell and hear your environment; it gives you a great unobstructed view of the world.” Robert W. Paster is also an attorney in private practice, concentrating in estate planning and probate. |
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