From the start of the motorcycle era, riders have loved capturing portraits with their bikes. These photos aren’t just about showing off a machine, they’re about celebrating the bond between rider and motorcycle, marking milestones, and sharing the spirit of the open road.
Whether it’s a vintage snapshot or a modern selfie, the tradition continues because every motorcycle portrait tells a story of adventure and identity. At http://www.ijustwant2ride.com, we know that a great ride deserves a great photo—so keep riding, and don’t forget to snap that shot!
Add your motorcycle portrait in the comments below.
Why just 9 ideas for your motorcyclist? Because 10 is too much work!! LOL
Your biker/motorcyclist, deep down, wants some motorcycle related stuff. Any parts or accessories for the bike or new gear for them will likely work, but here are a few other items to think about. If you have some different ideas include them in the comments!
9 – Communication Gear – There are several options out there that will allow your motorcycle rider to talk to a group of other riders, listen to music or answer your phone call. Sena and Cardio are two of the more popular brands.
7 – Cleaning equipment – Take a look at your riders cleaning equipment. Does it look worn and tattered? Consider replacing their current equipment for new cleaning equipment. For those times you just want to clean the bike quickly between rides I use and recommend Bugslide. I am not paid by, but I do endorse Bugslide.
6 – Recording equipment – A GoPro or similar type of device to record their rides.
5 – New riding gear – Do their riding gloves look ratty? What about their boots or jackets? Now might be a good time to gift them with new motorcycle riding gear.
4 – Motorcycle related books – There are a lot of them out there. I just finished reading the memoir of Willie G. Davidson, grandson of the founders of Harley Davison. You can read my review here.
3 – Their bike on something – and I am not talking about crack or meth. There are a lot of companies that will take a photo of their motorcycle and put it on mugs, pillows, t-shirts and even make it into a 3d Christmas ornament.
2 – Custom Dynamics Motorcycle Lights – Custom Dynamics makes SUPER BRIGHT, eye catching lights for many motorcycle models. I suggest their ProBeam LED Motorcycle Turn Signals! I have had them on 3 motorcycles and highly recommend them. As before, I am not getting paid to promote these motorcycle lights, I just believe in them.
1 – Membership – Motorcyclist need to make sure their rights are not trampled upon. There are two good groups that help preserve those rights. Sign your rider up for either or both!
American Motorcycle Association – Membership does not only help in the political arena but also include discounts on products and emergency towing. The AMA is the largest motorcycle lobbyist group.
Motorcycle Rider Foundation – In addition to their pro-motorcycle lobbying efforts membership will get you a $4000 AD&D insurance policy and regular weekly/monthly updates on what is going on in Washington DC.
More of Europe has now barred motorcycles from traveling along public roads. To limit “noise pollution” motorcycles are barred from parts of Pyrenees National Park. There were no restrictions on cars applied.
The year-round ban impacts not just motorcycles but also quads, buggies and mountain bikes. According to what I read this ban on “particularly noisy” vehicles occurred without taking into account actual sound levels of the vehicles in question.
From the documentation:
Limit the passage of noisy vehicles to certain areas of the ZEPQA, taking into account the regulation of motorized traffic inside the park, restricting access to certain tracks either throughout the year or at certain periods.
Restrict motorized access to the entire network of forest trails and paved paths of the ZEPQA of Alt Àneu and Farrera, except the access roads to urban centres, by vehicles considered excessively noisy consisting of all types of vehicles such as motorcycles, quads, ATVs and buggies that are not electric, except those of registered residents, beneficiaries of livestock forest exploitation, public services and those duly authorized by the Alt Pirineo Natural Park and/or the respective local entities.
Promote the use of electric vehicles.
In addition, there is a specific point dedicated to ‘Carrying out awareness actions specifically aimed at drivers of vehicles that emit more noise: motorcycles, mountain bikes, quads and buggies.’
My Take: This is not the first area in Europe to ban motorcycles. I have written several articles on this issue referencing the following:
IMHO this is a continuation of a Vision Zero mind state. If there are no places to ride motorcycles, then there will be no motorcycle accidents. Call me cynical but the bureaucracy of the EU will beat down motorcycling over time
Representative Susie Lee of Nevada and Representative Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin were recently honored as the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) 2022 Legislators of the Year.
Representative Lee was instrumental in seeking answers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the profiling of bikers. Representative Gallagher was the lead sponsor of the Motorcyclist Advisory Council (MAC) bill which was included in a larger transportation bill that officially reestablished the MAC.
Other pro-motorcycle Senators and Congress members
Senator Ron Johnson (Wisconsin)
Senator John Thune (South Dakota)
Senator Joni Ernst (Iowa)
Senator Gary Peters (Michigan)
Congressman Tim Walberg (Michigan)
Congressman Michael Burgess (Texas)
Congressman Troy Balderson (Ohio)
Congressman Darin LaHood (Illinois)
My Take – I am just so glad that we have some pro-motorcycle folks in our national legislation branch of government! If any of these people are representing you, you now have an avenue to approach them for more motorcycle actions! Sadly, none of these are representing my state.
Good news but your support is needed to ensure success.
Senators from New Hampshire, West Virginia and Wisconsin have put forward a bill to prohibit the federal government from funding motorcycle only checkpoints! As it stands today the federal government provides a majority of states funds to setup motorcycle only “safety” checkpoints.
As an example Georgia received a $70,000 grant to hold two checkpoints on two major interstates highways that connected with Florida. Does not sound like a big deal until you notice that the checkpoints coincided with the opening and closing of Daytona Bike Week! Wonder how much money Georgia raised in fines and tickets?
So why is this a big deal? From my POV I register by bike with my state annually, I have to pass an annual safety inspection both of which I have to pay money to the state just like cars. But, unlike cars, I am possibly subject to additional investigation and inspection just because I ride a bike. That is not right on many levels.
If you agree that this is an area in which the Federal Government need to stay out of contact your state’s Senators. You can contact them by calling the capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.
For more information you can review the Motorcycle Rider Foundation press release here and a news article from the Washington Times here.
I just ran across another congressman who has sent a letter to the CDC (back in September, obviously I got to this late).
Congressmen Tom Petri of Wisconsin has written the CDC telling them to stay out of motorcycle safety issues and to focus on their mission of disease prevention. The congressmen said this:
“Given the demands on your budget and the unique ability of the CDC to address such pressing issues as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s, and a host of other conditions and issues, which afflict millions of Americans and others around the globe, we encourage you to direct your attention and resources to areas that are not currently already being addressed elsewhere in the government.”
ABATE of Wisconsin and the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is working with the congressmen, who is apparently a motorcycle fan, on this and other biking related issues.
As I mentioned in my other posts about this issue, allowing the government to label any part of motorcycling a health cost risk is to open the door to the elimination of what we love. I am personally in favor of helmets, and think we should all use them but using the new health care laws will, eventually, slowly, eliminate motorcycles “for the safety of the children”.
Make sure you contact your congressmen about making the CDC stay out of transportation issues! You can call your representatives by calling the US Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.
I JUST WANT 2 RIDE!! 