Nickname: NiceMike

Hometown: The South

Marital Status: Married

Age: ..

Children: 0

About Me: Grew up moving around the South a lot and the Pensacola area was a place I left and came back to several times. Mom, Brother, Sister and their Kids live here also so this is home. Single until I was 35 and married Karen. Never had or wanted children. I guess it took me a long time to find a good woman that could go along with me on that part. I’m lucky to have her. Professionally I had to change careers late in life from an Instrument Technician to Selling Real Estate. I changed so I could stay in Pensacola full time to be with Karen and pursue my hedonistic quest locally.

When did you FIRST THINK about getting a motorcycle? Didn’t think about it, my Dad just brought one home one day if a Vespa counts. Had it in the mid 60s, late 60s got a Honda 160 Dream while still in High School and I did beg for it and Dad came thru again. We wore white T-shirts and black windbreakers and they called us Hoods back then. Had several other metric bikes including one with a Suzuki Rotary engine, it was very odd. Then in the late 70s I had a pretty good crash totaling my bike and hurting me pretty good. After that accident I stopped having ownership for many years even though I rode others bikes off and on and kept my endorsement current. I got my own again in the summer of 2001 so I could enjoy the hills and scenery of South Alabama while I was working out of town. I knew right away I was hooked like never before. Maybe that is why I still like to head up that way so often.

What attracted you to your current bike? I like my current bikes because they are big, I’m big and I need a big bike. My X is like no others I know and fun around town when you don’t need a shield and the Venture is a great hi way bike. The “X” I will keep a long time and the Venture will be replaced when it is worn out.

Fastest you’ve ridden? The feeling of speed does not change much after about 120. Cruisers should not be going that fast.

How long does it take you to polish your bike? I clean my bikes in steps and to different degrees so it takes days sometimes.

Helmet or no helmet? I enjoy the freedom to choose to wear a lid or not and will go helmet less sometimes. I think a full face is the best way to go and benefited from wearing one while sliding along the ground in Tennessee year before last.

How many bikes have you owned? I have owned eleven bikes and hope to own several more in my life.

If you could change something about your bike, what would it be? Changing things about bikes should not be done; all who know me know that I keep mine bone stock. I do wish I could lose the Yammie engine whine it makes at certain speeds. Larger frame for more legroom and larger tank capacity would be welcome. Taller so the pegs don’t grind so easy would be an improvement. OK I guess I wish everything was bigger, longer, taller, wider, heavier.

What is the next accessory you will be adding? I may add the third set of slip on pipes to the Venture, still not satisfied with the sound.

Favorite road song? Favorite road song is any thing edgy and with a hard beat. Nothing old. This month I like The Rat by Dead Confederate, copy and paste link:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OTqpi0mrm8&feature=related

What are 3 lessons you’ve learned about riding safely in the past 12 months? Proper braking to avoid rear wheel lock up, I continue to wear more safety gear as I get older and the importance of keeping good tires on the bike and properly inflated.

Longest ride? 1600 miles in four days up to and around in the Smokies.  The one-day record is the recent IB of over 1100 miles. It was so easy I’m now looking at places like Canada for a four-day weekend trip. LOL

What was the worst weather you’ve ridden? 120 miles in hard rain coming home from a trip.

Favorite time of the year to ride? Late fall is my favorite time to ride, the trees have lost their leaves and you can see the countryside much better. Also cold enough to wear the gear.

Next event you would like to attend? Events are not high on my list of things I want to do but I guess any event that lets you test ride new bikes would be good.

Ever hit any critters, alive or dead? I have run over a snake or three and a couple of unknown lumps.

Do you have a ride bell on your bike? One with a bell and one with out. It is just decoration.

Why do you ride? I’m been told that I’m obsessive about things, sometimes by others but mostly by my Wife Karen. I do tend to really like things to the point where that is the only thing I want to do so I guess they are correct. It has been many things over the years like sports, the beach, boating, or playing poker, but motorcycling stands out as my all time number one passion. What else can give you: The solitude of rushing air while listing to the cadence of pipes and enjoying the smell of fresh cut grass in the air. Seeing the look of excitement in the eyes of children and the look of lost chances from the old. The small rush from feeling you are living close to the edge. The feel of flying in acrobatic formations when cruising fast with good friends you trust. And the knowledge that only you and others who ride know the real secret of why a dog hangs his head out a car window. Do you think I’m obsessed?

What is your “dream machine”? Boss Hoss would be a hoot to own but don’t think I ever will.

If you had only 7 bucks left in your wallet, what would you do with it? Buy a gallon of gas and hang out in Dave’s driveway. Always some bikes and bike talk around. He always keeps cold beer close by also. Put the last few bucks in the beer fund can. Any other money I had I would just spend on something wasteful.

Why did you join the Pensacola SCRC Chapter? I joined in hopes I would meet people that were as crazy as me about bikes. I was successful and in addition I met some who were just plain crazy.