Motorcycling

I started riding at 15 when I would sneak my Dad’s Lambretta motor scooter out of the garage. I never got caught, and Dad never let on like he knew. When I turned 16 in 1966 and obtained my driver’s license, it was a moot point. I rode that Lambretta all over town. It set me on my path to motorcycling. I bought a new Honda CL350 when I returned from the US Army, and owned a bunch of other Hondas over the course of many years until I discovered Adventure Motorcycling. I learned that “Less is More.”

Over the years, and on many adventures, I realized that I was traveling to or through many of the 48 states. Visiting family out west, riding the Pony Express Trail and the Oregon Trail, I rode a lot of miles. Then, I got serious about filling in my states. In June 2017, I completed a bucket list item by riding to the northeast USA. When I entered Vermont, I entered my 48th State Visited by Motorcycle.

Welcome to Vermont
Welcome to Vermont, my 48th state.

After 14 years of V-Strom ownership, and owning three 650s and one 1000, I thought I would never ride/own a bike that I liked more than my V-Strom 650s. But, I did, and it was owning a Moto Guzzi V7 that made me look at the V85tt Adventure motorcycle. It’s an incredible motorcycle, and Italian sexy. It turns heads. More importantly, it’s a great bike to ride, especially in the twisties. I traded my 2017 V-Strom 650, March 1, 2022, for this 2021 V85tt. 

2021 Moto Guzzi V85tt Adventure
2021 Moto Guzzi V85tt Adventure

In 2020, I sold my 2014 DL1000, and bought a Moto Guzzi V7iii. I had looked at Guzzis for years. Was fascinated by them, and I finally pulled the trigger. 

2020 Moto Guzzi V7iii Rough, the Urban Scrambler
2020 Moto Guzzi V7iii Rough, the Urban Scrambler

Motorcycles I have owned in the recent past:

2014 Suzuki V-Strom DL1000 Adventure
The V-Strom 1000
2017 Suzuki V-Strom DL650
The V-Strom 650
2015 Suzuki V-Strom 650
2015 Suzuki V-Strom 650.
2018 Kawasaki KLR 650
2018 Kawasaki KKLR 650.
2017 Suzuki SV650
2017 Suzuki SV650
V-Strom-and-KLR_thumb.jpg
2008 Suzuki V-Strom 650 and 2014.5 Kawasaki KLR 650.

Motorcycles and travel have been a source of inspiration for me. You will find musings of travel scattered throughout the web site.

OrTrail-64
Chimney Rock, Nebraska, was an important landmark for travelers on the Oregon Trail.
End_of_Trail-26
The end of the Oregon Trail. It was an epic ride from Kansas City to Portland, Oregon. The trip from home and return was just over 6,000 miles in 19 days.
There are plenty of scenic pullouts on the Great River Road in Illinois--right next to the river.
There are plenty of scenic pullouts on the Great River Road in Illinois–right next to the river. Originally produced for Road Runner Magazine as a feature story.

I began my adventure rides when I purchased the Suzuki V-Strom DL650 in March 2008 after doing probably too much research. I set out to write a review of the motorcycle, because I had not found anything lengthy or adequate. The magazines tend to be too technical and cite the manufacturers specs. So, I wrote a review, and then another one. I put more than 67,000 miles on that bike (Dec. 2014) before trading it on a new 2015. I have not changed my mind about V-Stroms.

Originally published at Sojourn Chronicles:

Suzuki V-Strom: The First 1,000 Miles PDF

Suzuki V-Strom: The Next 5,000 Miles PDF

See you on the highway!

Brent