My Life with Spencer

weighs about 450lbs, of german descent, powerful but quiet. it’s hard to articulate how i feel when i’m on the bike. it’s my first motorcycle. i did my homework, took the lessons, bought the right gear, even got a GPS for the back roads. but in the end, it’s about the experience, the freedom, and the odd sense of peace. i always scoffed at the notion there is something zen about being on a motorcycle, until i bought one. after the first 1,000 miles or so, it all started to happen….

the roads out here are curvy and challenging, and for the most part empty in the off season. when i put on the helmet and fit the key into the ignition, i know i’m in for a few hours of exploration, both physical and emotional. as i back it out of the garage, both hands on the grips, my mind clears, my body calms, and the breath becomes steady and slow; in and out of the nose. when i turn out onto the first road, it all just comes together. and that first sharp turn shoots adrenaline and calm through my body in an instant.

the destinations out here are limitless; shelter island, the north fork, montauk, or there is always the option of heading west towards the city. long beach, rockaways, manhattan and beyond; the southern state has become a recent favorite. the engine hums, precise and with purpose. the bike wants to be ridden hard but there is always the reminder that it is more bike than i am rider, so there is a need for control and patience. unlike a video game, there is only one life to be valued and no restart button.

my posture is upright, it’s no ‘crotch rocket,’ but neither is it a cruiser in the traditional sense. my thighs hug the gas tank, feet positioned slightly behind my knees. it’s almost like the top part of a capital Z. the other day i felt like a jockey on a horse; an odd sensation for a man who is 6′3″.

this time of year it’s cold, so the right gear is essential; lined jeans tucked into warm boots, a face mask under a full face helmet, gloves and a neck warmer. and of course the jacket; black, leather, fitted and snug. sunglasses or a tinted shield complete the package. i have my favorite roads; deerfield, northwest path, swamp road, watermill town road, three mile harbor, the back roads on the north fork, wainscott northwest road into daniels hole road, etc.

i like the windy roads. when i see the sign up ahead that indicates a sharp turn and a reduced speed limit mph i know it’s time for the bike to really shine. i downshift, see through the turn, plan my angle, and begin the turn; a hard acceleration simultaneously accompanied by a hard ‘push down’ on the grip that is appropriate for the turn direction. as the bike begins to counter steer, my body instinctively leans in the direction of the turn. the faster i’m going, the more extreme the lean of both body and motorcycle, always keeping my eyes focused on the destination. this is when the bike is at it’s best, the tires gripping the road aided by the acceleration and my body leaning to help achieve the physics necessary to make a sharp turn at higher speeds. nothing like it..

then there are those days when the sun is shining and the roads that border the beach are calling me and it’s just spectacular; to see it all unfold is special. i remember when i used to play alot of basketball one of the things i loved about it the most was when i was on the court, nothing else mattered, i thought only about the game, my teammates, and winning. the bike gives me that singular purpose for those few hours.