Life in Motion with Rodney Myers and his motorcycle

Originally Published in Southeastern Rider Motorcycle Magazine, May 2018 Thoughts on the Give a Shift Survey and Conversation. I realize that there are a lot of you out there on two wheels that are just happy to ride your ride, eat up some scenic roads, and only care about the industry when you need a new ride. Why should we all be concerned about the industry we enjoy so much? More people doing the same interest that you enjoy usually means more choices, more supply, and often a less expensive experience. Here is another reason to be concerned now: motorcycle sales are down, at the same time there has never been a greater variety of options. From Harley Davidson jumping in with 500 and 750cc bikes, to Honda bringing the Africa Twin to the states, to higher tech electric and automatic bikes. From the experienced rider to the newbie, everyone should be able to find something to ride. Then there are traditional models receiving an array of technological upgrades, like Yamaha’...

Originally Published in Southeastern Rider Magazine, April 2018 With my current steed approaching 100,000 miles, I thought it might be time to shop around. Our maiden voyage for a new ride. No local dealers had a Demo Day that fit into our calendar, so we took a ride for ride. For my followers who have read about my exploits on my Blog, or who have been following along for the past year and half in this magazine, you know that I am getting up there in miles on my 2003 Honda VTX 1800c, also known as The Black Pearl. At the end of 2017, I had surpassed 92,000 miles. I purchased the bike in 2004 with only two tenths of a mile on the clock. Since it was my very first brand new bike, I rolled out of the dealership making it a mental goal to take this bike to six figures. With the distance approaching, my riding partner and I have begun the journey to find the next two wheeled goal-setter. So, what’s going to be the next steed in the stable? We haven’t decided this. Like ridi...

Originally Published in Southeastern Rider Magazine, March 2018 As a motorcycle owner, we all know we’re going to make changes. I don’t know a lot of fellow bikers who buy a bike off the show room floor, only put gas, oil, and other essentials in it, and just ride. Sure, it may even have “Custom” in the title, but we buy bikes that are built for the masses. Then begins the journey to make it our own. Buying the bike is just the start, of the miles and accessories. Heck, I think I ordered the seat I have on my Honda VTX 1800 before I even took ownership of the bike! I was already locked into the purchase of the bike with a credit card deposit, so I only needed to sign the papers and take delivery. This is The Black Pearl on the way home from the dealership, completely stock, except for the rain stains from 200 miles in a downpour. After some modifications, like the seat, windshield, bags, trunk mount and exhaust. The biggest modification today i...

Originally Published in Southeastern Rider Magazine, February 2018 The third, and final, in a three-part series of our trip to Gathering of Eagles, Cruiser Club, USA’s Annual Gathering. This is our trip back home. Any trip home is a reflective one. The new memories begin mixing with others, and before long, you are cruising down memory lane. We started out the day, leaving Fantana Village behind us, and rolling back down the mountains. The area is bit of a tourist trap, meaning places for things like food and gas are sparse, and pricey. Another trap is that there is often only one way to get in and out, and this is no exception. For us, that meant another trip down the Moonshiner 28. From that twisty ribbon, we veer off on to US 74, heading north. Still looking for fuel for the bike, and for ourselves, we headed into one of the first towns that popped up, taking Highway 19 in Bryson City. The first gas station we came across was closed for repairs. We made our way through to...