Robert: Yes, Christian, we are an independent company but official solution touring partner of BMW Turkey. We specialise in providing adventure motorcycle tours on the latest BMW bikes, the most popular being the BMW R1200 GS. We cater for intermediate to experienced riders who want to explore this fabulous country by motorcycle. Everyone in the company is an experienced rider and we pride ourselves in understanding the needs of the touring/adventure motorcyclist.

Cristian: How did you started? You are an Englishman but co-founded a motorcycle touring business in Turkey. I bet there is an interesting story behind this.

Robert: Yes, I was formerly a TV Director in the UK, it was a very stressful occupation and one day, after 27 years, I decided enough was enough. I packed up on an adventure and arrived in Turkey. Some called it a mid-life crisis, I call it mid-life heaven. I thought this was the best-kept secret in motorcycling. The riding here is something special and I wanted to share it with other bikers, hence the birth of Bike Turkey.

Cristian: You have quite a big team of guides. How did the team come together?

Robert: What might surprise a lot of people, is that Turkey has a huge ‘adventure biking fraternity’. There is also an advanced rider training programme that is second only to what is offered in the UK. As far I’m aware it’s the only place outside of the UK that you can take the IAM advanced riding exam and our group regularly run advanced courses from intermediate to instructor level. Over the years, through contact with other like-minded riders, we’ve built up a team of professionals who have become specialists in both touring and training. I believe we have one of the largest and most experienced teams of any bike touring company in the world.

Cristian: When thinking about motorcycle touring, most people think about touring in Europe. But from the pictures I saw on your site, Turkey might just be a lifetime experience. How would you describe touring in rural Turkey?

Robert: Turkey is the only country that spans two continents – Europe And Asia. Here there is complete freedom on a motorcycle.  It’s a very bike-friendly country and wherever you go, you are greeted with warmth and hospitality. Combine that with wonderful weather, unbelievable scenery and amazing historical sites and you have a place that is like nowhere else on earth. True, at times the road surfaces might not be perfect, but we find that most riders don’t want the sterility of perfect asphalt and it’s the challenging days that they remember most. Also we ride here all-year round, so as you visit the same place during the different seasons, it’s never the same.

Cristian: What is the most spectacular tour you have?

Robert: Well I would say our tour to Cappadocia is the one that guests enjoy the most. The route to Cappadocia winds through miles of mountains and takes us along the beautiful coastal route of the Turquoise Mediterranean to turn inland and finally reach Cappadocia. The moonscape landscape there always leaves riders in awe. Sleeping in cave hotels, visiting the multi-storey underground cities where five or six thousand early settlers lived thousands of years ago and the opportunity to take a balloon ride and see the landscape from above is something really special and guests often vow to come back for longer.

Cristian: And how many tours in total?

Robert: We run a regular tour programme comprising of three different six-day tours for riders in need  of a ‘weeks fix’ and three different ten-day tour programmes. Add to this weekend tours, special four day training tours and tailor made tours and it adds up to quite a lot. Next year we are introducing some longer expedition tours taking in Eastern and North Eastern Turkey. These are extreme places in the winter and so can only be accessed during the milder months. They will run around 21 days and will be for the more experienced adventure rider.

Cristian: You are also providing the rental bikes for the tour. What bikes do you provide?

Robert: We provide four main models from the BMW range. The workhorse being the R1200GS, if ever a bike was designed for a country it’s the GS for Turkey. During any single day of our tours, riders use every aspect of the GS’s capability. Whether it be fast road riding, comfort touring or some light off-road, the versatility of the bike, combined with the press button electronic suspension, is the perfect tool for these parts. We also offer the 650GS, 800GS and the adventure model for self-guide rentals.

Cristian: How does the touring go, let’s say from booking the tour? What are the main steps?

Robert: Guests normally have a few questions about a specific tour which we do our best to answer. Once they have decided to make a booking, they simply fill out the booking form, receive initial confirmation that the bikes/tour is reserved for them and then send a small deposit to secure the booking. If guests are self-guiding, we provide a suggested itinerary depending on there preferences. Guests then notify us of flight details and we arrange the rest, including airport transfers, hotels, etc. We normally provide an on-road support vehicle that can carry luggage, spares and a non-riding guest if they so choose.

Cristian: From what part of the World do most of your customers come?

Robert: The riders come from many places including, Australia, North and South America, South Africa, Italy, Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, UK and of course many Turkish riders join us.

Cristian: Any great stories from the tours?

Robert: There was one group of five sports-bike riders that had only ever ridden on perfect, European asphalt. In fact they want to rent sports bikes, which we don’t supply. I think they were thinking that the GS might be a bit tame for them. However, they arrived and took the GS’s – all with the new 110HP boxer engine. After seeing and experiencing what the bikes could do in the right hands, on every type of road or terrain, they left with huge smiles on the faces and as converts to the GS. Back home four of them sold their sports bikes and now ride GS’s. They are returning next year!

Cristian: I know the Turkish cuisine is really mouth watering, so I’m sure the evenings are reserved to try different foods. What do you recommend?

Robert: Well we had a journalist from the USA visit us and this is what he wrote, do I need to say more?
“Dinner was a sumptuous blend of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes, and we feasted on fried zucchini in garlic and yoghourt, grape leaves stuffed with rice and walnut and red pepper dip served with fresh, oven baked, flat bread. For the main course I had to go for the şiş kebab – skewered lamb cooked on charcoal with onions, peppers and herbs. With my taste buds buzzing and my willpower shot, I opted for the dessert of roasted sesame halva followed by Turkish coffee.”

Cristian: And to have an idea of how many of these spectacular dishes I could have, how many days is a typical tour?

Robert: Well all these dishes were just one meal, so one day might be enough! Seriously though, a 10 day tour covers the best locations and the best food.

Cristian: The riding season is about to start in Europe, so I guess bikers are already making plans for the next great tour they are going to have. What tour shouldn’t they miss this year from yours?

Robert: Well as I said, the Cappadocia tour is a ‘must’ for a first time visit to Turkey. I go there several times a year and I never tire of the wonderful landscape. Have a look at the pictures on our website:www.bike-turkey.com they say it all. And just on that point of the riding season, as I mentioned, with the climate here, we’re able to bike all year round, so there is no real set season for the biker. In the UK, I used to winter my bike for three months, but not here. We have riders visiting throughout the year and it’s worth mentioning we are only two and a half hours flying time from central Europe.

Cristian: Finally what would you say to riders considering Turkey as a touring vacation.

Robert: Of course I would say ‘come to Turkey’. But seriously, as our website slogan says – ‘it’s a bikers paradise’, and it really is. We can assure riders they will have an adventure of a lifetime that will have them wanting to return hopefully, time and time again.

Linda: I’m a team member with my husband, and we wear many hats… Architectural Design Business: Thornapple Design Company, my business training business: Training Focus, and our Motorcycle Tour Business: Canyon Vista Motorcycle Tours.

Cristian: So, you’re also running a motorcycle touring business? What is it about?

Linda: We cater to groups of 8 or more riders and provide tours customized to the group’s riding ability and interests.  Most of our tours are headquartered in Historic Wellsboro, PA – home to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, Scenic Route 6, and gateway to the PA Wilds. We also take groups into the Finger Lake District of Southern New York State, and often include “the other grand canyon of the east” – the Letchworth Gorge.

Cristian: What are the most appreciated tours?

Linda: The Big Woods West tour seems to be the most popular… it’s a great tour, and people usually find us when they’re looking for the PA Grand Canyon. It starts with a look at the canyon from above, and ends with dinner in the bottom of the canyon.  Depending on the group’s interest, it can include a couple of historical museum stops, stops at MC Shops, a picnic lunch or lunch on your own. The tour moves into the big woods west of the PA Grand Canyon and includes scenic vistas along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, as well as a ride up the twists and turns to Hyner View. We often see hang gliders from that vista. We then come back down and follow the Pine Creek through the bottom of the canyon, stopping for dinner at one of our favorite Creek side restaurants, then back to Wellsboro by dark. Tours usually include 2 nights lodging, a welcome party or dinner on the first night, Breakfast Buffet before kick stands up, Dinner the night of the ride; a bountiful Breakfast Brunch at our historical hotel on Sunday morning, and a surprise route toward home for the group… selected after a brunch discussion. Our knowledgeable tour guide rides with the group for ½ a day, then sends them off toward home.

Cristian: Who is your typical customer?

Linda:  We mostly get groups who ride together anyway… clubs, organizations, and families.  We’ve had Suzuki groups, Harley Groups, Mixed groups, Scooters, … you name it. We really enjoy the Women’s groups we’ve had!  They know how to be safe and have a good time together!

Cristian: How are these tours organized? I’m talking about the logistics.

Linda: it all starts with a look at our web site at WWW.CanyonVistaMotorcycleTours.com
Then a call to either myself, or Bob our tour director. (570-724-2535 or 570-439-1006 cell.) Usually we deal with a group representative, who speaks for the group. We discuss the options, suggest they meet with their group and fill out our Ride application, which points out the choices they have to make. Eventually, once a ride is established, we send individual registration sheets out for each rider to complete that tells us the sizes and makes of bikes, any medical issues, etc.
Payment is usually ½ down to hold the tour date, and the balance due 30 days in advance.  One group evaluation commented that it felt like a free tour by the time they got here.  Paying in two installments was easy. And it hardly cost them anything other than some souvenirs and private refreshments after they got here.

Cristian: What do the tours include?

Linda:  Tours include 1 and ½ day (or more) touring with a knowledgeable guide who will provide historical background and interesting stories about the area you are visiting; lodging, most meals, special attractions, a welcome night party or dinner. Can include other options such as an ice cream or dinner train ride on the Tioga Central; a covered wagon ride through the canyon; whatever the group sets up.  We do all of the booking and arranging, the group just comes and enjoys!

Cristian: How did you come with the idea?

Linda:  Bob has been riding since he bought his first scooter – a Bella – when he was 14 years old. We’ve been riding in this area since we came here in l975, and love the area. Bob figured we’d get to share the area we love with others, we’d help the community by bringing people here, and mostly, he’d get to go riding more and not feel guilty that he wasn’t working!  We both love meeting the people and making good things happen for them.

Cristian: What would you say it’s different about the way you’re doing tours?

Linda:  Ours are very personal… customized to suit the group. And we are personally involved with all the groups. We’ve made good friends along the way. Some of the comments are that the riders feel like they know us!  We treat them like good friends and/or family and try to provide the kind of experience we’d like to have.

Cristian: Any success stories you would like to share?

Linda:  Wow!  I guess the very first tour we did was a success story because we were new at it and had a group of over 30 people as our first time out.  I don’t know if Bob was as nervous as I was… but it all went really well with no major problems.
But as far as real successes, being chosen to do a tour option for the International Norton Owners Association annual Rally was a great experience.  They were “camped” just outside of Wellsboro, and we provided a day tour to Watkins Glen, as described above , for I think 58 of them.  It was so cool seeing them all lined up ready to take off from Ives Run Camp Ground, and then watching them along the highway!  We brought them back to Wellsboro for a Bike Night sponsored by Canyon Vista and The Frog Hut. We’re still friends with a lot of those riders.

Cristian: What are the most important benefits as opposed to hitting the road by yourself?

Linda: Our Tour director knows the roads in the area, and will take you on roads you might find by yourself, but probably not on your first time out… or even second or third.  He also keeps track of construction on the roads, and any issues that need to be dealt with. Because we live here, we know what’s going on where and when, and will provide that info to our groups.  For example, we do not recommend a tour during Wellsboro’s Annual Laurel Festival which brings 40,000 people to the area, and fills all of the lodging a year in advance.  The roads we’d like to travel are crowded at that time as well.  It just isn’t a good time for a tour. A great time to come to Wellsboro for the Festival, however.
Another benefit is the safety factor. CVMctours has contacts in all of the places we ride incase we have a breakdown of any kind (people or bikes).  If we have larger groups, we provide extra follow riders who communicate with the leader.  Keeps us from losing any stragglers and we know if there is a problem behind us.

Cristian: Riding the motorcycle is also about food (at least in my case). What would be the most interesting places to eat in your tours?

Linda: Arrival night could be hearty snacks and beverages by the pool at the motel; a sit down white table cloth dinner at a local restaurant; a family style dinner at another restaurant; fun food like smoked pork barbecue or dynamite fried chicken or burgers at our local Dairy Bar – The Frog Hut; or bar food and beverages at one of our taverns who serve food.
Dinner in the Canyon overlooking Pine Creek is a great place to eat- everything from fantastic cheese steak sandwiches to pasta dinners.   Depending on the size of the group and the weather, we can eat out on the deck and often see eagles, deer and fishermen. One group was large enough that they actually catered a Barbecue for us out on the lawn by the creek.
Brunch at the Penn Wells hotel is copious!  There is food for breakfast or dinner spread out on the hot and cold buffet and it is all you can eat!  Usually there is even a chocolate fountain for covering strawberries, pretzels, or sweets! And Starbucks Coffee.
In Watkins Glen we like to stop at the Seneca Harbor, which has a wonderful selection of great food and looks out over the length of Seneca Lake.
We try to schedule some ice cream stops along the way as well. Seems that Motorcycle riders crave ice cream!

Cristian: What makes a perfect tour in your opinion?

Linda:  Having everything run smoothly as planned and everyone having a great time and getting along well, and all telling us at the end that they want to come back!  Bob and I feel personally responsible… just as we would if we invited a group to our home for a party.  We want everyone to be safe and have fun!

Cristian: I bet you get to meet a lot of nice folks on the bike on tours. But what about the friendship of bikers?

Linda:  We’ve established some good friendships on the rides that we keep in touch with.  We have two guys who come back every year and become the core group (which has now extended to include two other guys) for our “European/British bikes tour excursion” This one we let people sign into as singles or couples and actually build the group.  That has been fun, and we’ve seen friendships develop with the riders as well.

Cristian: Tell me a bit about Watkins Glen/Finger Lakes/Glen Curtis Tour

Linda:  This tour starts, like the others, in Wellsboro, with the group arriving in the evening – usually a Friday evening, though we encourage week day tours.  In the morning, after breakfast, Bob leads them north on a surreptitious route toward Watkins Glen.  Depending on the plan for the day, the tour may include the Glen Curtis Museum on the way, or wait and do that after the Watkins Glen part of the tour.  The Museum features motorcycles and sea planes and a lot of history about a man who was once billed as “The fastest man on earth” on a motorcycle. He was a pioneer of flying at the same time the Wright Brothers were working on their planes. Lots of good History.
In Watkins Glen, if the timing is right and there are no races going on, we can arrange to get the group on several laps of the race track behind a pace car. One of our other loves is Vintage Racing, and Bob and I both work with the Sports Car Vintage Racing Association and the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Committee to help put on the Vintage Festival held in the Glen each September. So, Bob has lots of stories to tell about how racing started in Watkins Glen. After leaving the track he will lead the group along the original race through the streets and back into town for dinner at the Seneca Harbor. Then a leisurely trip back home… with maybe an ice cream stop along the way.

Cristian: If you were to start all over again, what would you do differently?

Linda:  I wouldn’t try to do my own Web Site to begin with.  The second one we did was so much better and was done by someone who knows what they are doing: Electron Monkey from Wellsboro. .  We’re about to work together to re-do it again, just because it’s time for a change. Otherwise, I think we’ve done pretty well.  We tweak and change a bit each time we do a tour, so it gets better and better, but it’s all worked well for us.

Cristian: And any plans for the future?

Linda: We plan to keep the tours we have, but are looking at some other options… just expansion on what we already do. Always looking for better ways to get the word out to people, so I really appreciate your interview, Christian.

You can contact Canyon Vista Motorcycle Tours at mctours@epix.net or by phone at 570-439-1006.

• Interview with Mr. Motorcycle
• Interview with Rick from Keep The Rubber Side Down
• Interview with Atlas Rider
• Interview with Joker from The Harley-Davidson “Mystique”
• Interview with RoadCaptainUSA
• Interview with motorcycle blogger Praveen from India

The thing is that for no real reasons I’ve somehow paused taking interviews, even thought I had Dean “D-Day” and Biker Betty scheduled for interviews and I didn’t got the chance to actually do them. Dean, Betty are you still up for the interviews?

So now I was thinking to resume the interviews with an interview with … me. I could do a self interview. The self interview would be quite innovative amongst biker bloggers (I guess), but  Joker from Harley Davidson Mystique offered to do one with me a while ago. So what do you think, Joker ?

• Cristian: Hi Praveen, and welcome on board! I did most of my interviews with bikers from US, so how is to ride in India?

Praveen: First of all thanks for including my blog in your list and this interview. Will try my best to represent my country at you space. I am sure it would be awesome to ride in US with those wide open spaces and various terrains in offer. As for riding in India with the kinda bikes we have and the prevalent roads conditions, we would take as much saddle time to ride 100 kms or more as much you would for 100 miles in US. So are our average speeds in KMs as it would be in miles in US. 60kmph is considered a s good touring average including breaks and all here. The terrain changes every few hundred kms and you don’t really have enough time to get bored of a terrain you are in.

• Cristian:From your blog I get that you like long roads and riding in groups. What would be your dream tour?

Praveen: I have been following sites like advrider enough to grow my wish list. An RTW is quite a dream tour.

• Cristian: I’m really impressed about the pictures you are taking while riding. How do you decide this or that could be a nice picture?

Praveen: Thanks. The albums in my gallery except from last year are from my friends. We do take photographs to save the memories just like every one. Of course we have to choose a few from the many we take. All my riding buddies are inclined towards photography as well. So i do get tips from them.

• Cristian: What bike do you have, and how did you choose it?

Praveen: I currently have HeroHonda CBZ. 156cc mill dishing out 12.8 bhp. Its detuned version of Honda cbx200. Its from Hero motors India in collaboration with Honda. As for choosing it, it was based on looks. Now looking for an upgrade of more than what is available currently. We have Karizma again a HH bike 223cc 17 bhp bike(Derived from Honda crf230 engine).Want something bettor than this. Hope something gets launched here soon. Of course there is the Royal Enfield and i am not an enfield kinda guy

• Cristian: Any tips for riding a bike in India?

Praveen: As my friend says, Road here is alive! Its unpredictable. An US client who visited our company on business, exclaimed “Driving in India is like playing Video game. You never know what comes in your way to dodge!”. Need to be lot more alert as a lot more things can happen on the road. Fender benders, People not on vehicles and animals do use the road as well. But its a matter of time getting used to the unpredictability and then every thing works out. The speeds involved are less, the accident rates are comparable to else where in the world. The roads in themselves are very good most of the places and improving with more lanes all over the country. You even get lot of opportunities to go flat out on what ever bike/car you own. Speed detection is not yet employed here at least not out of town. We do get to ride around 65 to 75 mph when not in hilly areas. At least that’s what our bikes are able to do max.

• Cristian: I’ve seen a lot of reports in your blog about problems with your bike. What skills do you need to keep it in working condition?

Praveen: The problems that i had in a couple of trips was because I got modification done in the electrical to get better light output by installing HID xenon headlights just hours before the trip. It went out on those trips without adequate testing and chinks proved problematic. Else when the bike was running stock, no problems as such. Just keep learning some things which may help. But we do maintain it and get it properly serviced before heading out.

• Cristian: Putting money aside, what would be your dream bike?

Praveen: I would really like the Suzuki V-Strom. 90% of the time i am on roads, but do like to take the bike offroading at will. Like riding in Himalayas and also should not feel very out of place on track. I guess V-Strom fits the bill. And looks great as well.

• Cristian: What would be an excellent route to ride in India? (name some places to visit)

Praveen: There are three main areas of riding:

1) Himalayan circuit covering the highest passes in the world. The following is popular route Delhi-Srinagar -kargil-Leh-KhardungLa(Officially the highest pass)-PangongTso Lake-Leh-Manali-Delhi. There are lot of other places to explore
2) Rajasthan: This is the Desert area where on can ride visiting various historical cityes, forts, sand dunes. Jaiselmer, Jaipur, Bikener to name a few places and u have flat lands of ‘Rann of Kutch’ a lil south.

3) Western Ghats in South India: This is where i am based and a lot of riding can be done as u got beaches green mountains, historical places etc. Goa, Gokarn, Udupi, Kemmmangundi, Kudremukh, Munnar, Wayanad etc and lot more.

• Cristian: Favorite food while on tour?

Praveen: We have a lot of diversity in food habits from place to place. Travel a 100 kms and the food is different. So we actually get to taste different foods and cant really pick a favorite. But there are some common foods like ‘Idli’ which basically a rice dumpling. This is what i resort to if my health goes bad as this has no oil no spice and wont mess with metabolism. Of course have to resort to ‘Roti’ for simple food as we head north.

• Cristian: Any other motorcycle blogs you are reading?

Praveen: I read my friend Arun’s ‘Chasing the clouds‘ and Vinod’s ‘Motorcycle Dairies‘. But now i got your blog and the amazing collection from the world over in your list.

• Cristian: What is the biggest adventure or the ride you will never forget you had while touring?

Praveen: I cant really forget any of my rides cos that’s the reason I blog almost all of them, so that i could re-live them. The biggest one was an almost cross country ride last year covering 4500 kms in 9 days. We sped through our familiar area and visited the other two riding areas i mentioned above. Here’s the LINK for that trip.

• Cristian: How did you get into riding a motorcycle?

Praveen: Bikes here are used as mode of transport to commute in the city. I bought mine, as a young guy needs to have bike! That’s the norm here. Chanced upon a Indian biking forum looking for something and then was enlightened about the concept of touring on bikes. I got hooked and have been riding ever since.

Read Praveen’s motorcycle blog

• Favorite brand of bike? Well, I do have a Honda blog, and 2 Hondas in my backyard. I would say, it’s Honda.

• Favorite color of bike? Blue, black or a combination.

• Do you always wear a helmet? Always – it’s requested by the law here also.

• Most miles ridden in a day? Around 400, small country.

• Do you belong to a riding club? Well, no big/real clubs around here (Romania)

• How many bikes do you currently own? 3… I’m a buyer not a seller

• Do you wave at passing bikers? Always.

• How many brand t-shirts do you own? None! I don’t understand clothes (and colours).

• Do people think you are obsessed with motorcycles? Not sure about people, but I do think I’m obsessed.

• What is your favorite type of riding? Touring.

• Do you have any riding superstitions? Ha? What’s that?

Here is how Stephanie aka IowaHarleyGirl answered the questions. And Connie from One Big Harley Family.

Let’s see if someone else is picking up the questions.

• Cristian: Jay, I have to say you have an interesting blog name. How did you come up with the name?

Jay: Good question and thank you for the compliment. I lay awake many nights pondering what I would call my blog. To me it was one of the most important decisions regarding my blog. I hope that one day RoadCaptainUSA.com will be considered a well known brand and generate some sort of financial return so I put a lot of thought into it. My web address had to be memorable. It had to help with my search rankings and most of all it would dictate the image or character of my website and what it was all about. I love HelmetHairBlog by Jesper Bram. His URL is unique and memorable. He has a great website with great graphics. I wanted to role model my site after his. I was thinking about something more humorous like MonkeyButtBlog.com for riders who ride long distances. This would set a comedic tone to the site. I don’t think MonkeyButt was available so I started researching Road Captain and of course www.RoadCaptainUSA.com was available. I felt this name captured the spirit of what I want to write about.

• Cristian: You say in an article on your blog about your first motorcycle:”You never forget your first! Your first beer, your first girl, your first kiss, your “first time”, your first wife, your first divorce, your first Harley, the list goes on. “ You trade it in for a better bike, but how is the feeling of owning your first bike?

Jay: We would have to go back to 1980 when I was thirteen years old for me to answer that, but I will try. Imagine being a kid again and wanting something so bad you could taste it. Like the kid in A Christmas Story who wanted the Red Rider BB Gun. I wanted a new YZ80 worse than that! I wanted to race motocross and be just like Bob Hannah. So when my parents finally took me to buy that brand new bike and we loaded in my Dad’s van I was the happiest proudest kid in the world.

• Cristian: Any interesting roads in Delaware?

Jay: Now that is a funny question. Sorry to say this but we don’t have many interesting roads here. The great thing is we are centrally located to other states that have great roads like Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.

• Cristian: What about the day trips with your local HOG Chapter. How important is the feeling of belonging to a special group?

Jay: If it wasn’t for my HOG Chapter I might still be hanging around the Hooters parking lot on bike night trying to be as cool as all the other guys that have never left the state on their motorcycles. The camaraderie, sense of belonging and acceptance that come with owning a Harley Davidson is very important to me now. The more I evolve as a motorcyclist this might change, but for now the camaraderie of my club is very rewarding.

• Cristian: I have to say I’m not a Harley guy, but I do fantasize about doing a part of Route 66 on a Harley. What do you think about the idea?

Jay: Of course I think it’s a great idea! I hope to do it myself someday. There are so many rides and so little time! I hope I will someday be able to retire and have the health and the means to ride all the scenic byways this great country has to offer.

• Cristian: You have an article about the “wave” and the latest fraternity in the World (your wife Diana, wrote it). How do you describe the friendship that forms when going on a road trip with other bikers?

Jay: It would be a very difficult thing to describe the bonding that people experience while traveling together to someone who has never traveled with a group. Just imagine touring a foreign country and forming friendships with the people in your tour group. Or going on vacation and striking up friendships with people that you feel like you have known your whole life.

• Cristian: You have a nice set of pictures from your trips. What would be the picture you like most?

Jay: I have a favorite picture that Diana took of our club members coming down out of the mountains on Skyline Drive. I use the picture often on my site. It’s really cool having all the Ultra Classics with their bat wing fairings spaced out evenly along the curving hill and each one is smaller than the one before it. To me it is art! I also love a similar picture we have of our dear friend Old School Bob. I cropped the picture for my website and you can’t see the trail of bikes following him. In this picture the expression on his face and his body language are priceless. The picture says it all!

• Cristian: What was the greatest experience you had about riding?

Jay: The one day my parents let me race my 1980 YZ80 in a real AMA motocross race in Middleboro, MA was one of the most exciting and memorable events of my life. I remember the excitement of being on the starting line. I remember flying all balls out down the hole shot in a big bowl of dust dodging bikes and riders going down right in front of me. It was awesome!

• Cristian: You know, most people say that there are Harleys and the other motorcycles. What’s special about a HOG?

Jay: Cristian I hate to sound cliché but if I have to explain it then you wouldn’t understand. Sorry, actually I wrote a whole post about it but there really is no way to answer that question and do it justice.

• Cristian: You wife, Diana, also has a Harley? Do you go together on trips or? (My girlfriend has a license as well, but she never actually use it)

Jay: Yes, Diana has a Harley Davidson Sportster 883 Hugger which is less than ideal for highway or distance riding. She loves her motorcycle. So far we have gone on one overnight trip together to the Catoctin Mountains in Maryland. I love our day trips, she is my favorite riding buddy. I think we will be doing a lot more riding together, both day trips and overnight trips. I just need to get some Zanex or something so I stop worrying about her getting hurt.

• Cristian: Any customizations you did to your Harley?

Jay: I was into the custom motorcycle scene when I first got the bike bug 3 or 4 years ago. I purchased a one of a kind customized Sportster that gave me nothing but mechanical and electrical problems. After walking that motorcycle 3 miles when it broke down in Ocean City, MD during Delmarva Bike Week I think I got over the custom thing. Since then I have decided that the factories make motorcycles as good as I need them to be. I would rather have a reliable stock fuel efficient quiet motorcycle than one that draws attention. I also think spending money on cosmetic accessories is a waste. I know this is biker heresy but this is my interview, right? I can’t afford all the functional accessories and all the riding gear I want, so why would I waste my money on bling? I do however have a great appreciation for the talented men and women who can create a motorcycle that looks like art. I just don’t want to ride it to Sturgis!

• Cristian: Ok, here it is a strange question. If you would be in the position to own the Harley company, what would be the first thing you would do?

Jay: This will be a long list! For starters I would do the following: I would slash prices on all this over priced stuff that has the bar and shield on it. I would only allow people to own dealerships that are in it for the customers and not the money. I would set standards for customer service and quality at all dealerships and at the factory too! I would start a whole new line of women’s motor clothes and gear that fit real women’s bodies. This line of clothes would include professional clothes that could be worn to work. The women’s riding gear would be less fashion and more function. I would make it mandatory for all customers to have a motorcycle endorsement before they can purchase a motorcycle. I would make sure that everyone who buys a motorcycle received the Riders Edge basic riding course for free.

• Cristian: What other motorcycle blog do you read?

Jay: My favorite bloggers are Joker, Dave, Ronman and Lady R. I wish I had more time to read everyone’s stuff. I love the format and name of HelmetHairBlog. I think Rippin Kitten is the coolest blog. Biker Swag has an awesome website. I have a lot of respect for Dan Bateman who blogs at Musings of An Intrepid Commuter. Steve Williamson’s Scooter In the Sticks deserves special mention. I find Steve Johnson’s Biker Philosophy thought provoking. Honorable mention to Mr. Motorcycle too!

• Cristian: What kind of people ride a Harley?

Jay: All kinds of people! You would think that everyone who rides a Harley or belongs to the Harley Owners Group would be very similar in character. They are not! Being a HOG Officer and/or Road Captain is challenging because of the variety of likes and dislikes among our members. From Chapter to Chapter there are wide differences as well. There are Veterans, Firemen, Policemen, Doctors, Lawyers, Outlaws, Housewives, Executives, and Rock Stars who ride Harley Davidson Motorcycles. The list goes on forever. The scary thing is a lot of these people should have their motorcycles taken away. Not everyone was born to be on two wheels!

• Cristian: Any safety tips for new riders?

Jay: Another long list. If possible start on a dirt bike. Learn what a bike can do off road if you can. Then take the Basic MSF course. Practice in a parking lot until you are ready to hit the streets. Wear the best protective gear you can afford and make sure it fits comfortably. Pick a motorcycle that fits your body size and riding style. Watch training DVD’s and read books. Join a club and ask a lot of questions. Practice slow speed tight turns and emergency stops often. Dedicate yourself to learning as much as you can about motorcycling. Be truthful with yourself that this is a dangerous sport! Believe that you will eventually have an accident and be prepared for it! Do not mix drinking and riding. Avoid riding at night. Avoid rush hour if possible. Know yourself. I know I am not a morning person so I don’t ride to work in the morning. I get my bike at lunch time. Always think safety! Sometimes it’s OK to say “Screw It , Let’s Ride!”

• Cristian:Any interesting motorcycle movies I should be looking for? Which one did you enjoy most?

Jay: Terminator II is one of my favorite movies and has a lot of motorcycles and cool music in it. I wrote a post about Terminator II and I get hits from Google everyday from people looking for the Terminator Motorcycle. Most of these strangely enough are from Europe. I even had one dude ask me exactly what year, model and make was the Terminator’s Motorcycle so that he could buy the same one. For the record, it is a 1990 Harley Davidson Fat Boy. You can go to Mike Werner’s www.Motorbiker.org to find out more about motorcycles in the movies. I also love the scene in First Blood where Rambo car jacks an Enduro. XXX with Vin Diesel has some great freestyle stunts. I’m looking forward to the new Quentin Terantino biker movie called Hell Ride coming out in August.

• Cristian: Thanks for the interview, and looking forward for your next trip report!

Here is Jay’s blog again: RoadCaptainUSA.com

• Cristian: Hi Joker and thank you for accepting the interview.

Joker: Hi Cristian. I appreciate being asked. These interviews are a great idea; I really think they give people in the blogging community a chance to find out a lot about each other.

• Cristian: You are a member of Blackstone Valley HOG. How are these HOG communities? What kind of people join and what actually happens there?

Joker: HOG (Harley Owner’s Group) is probably the best thing the Motor Company’s come up with besides the bikes themselves. It gives H-D owners around the globe a place to connect with others who share their love for riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles. What actually happens is of course up to each individual Chapter and its membership. I can say that Blackstone is like an extended family. We ride, eat, drink, party, and just have a great time together. If I had to pick one word, I’d say FUN sums it up fairly well.

• Cristian: You named your ride “The Gray Lady”. How did you come up with the name?

Joker: There’s an old disaster movie from the late 70s about a US nuclear sub trapped on the ocean floor called “Gray Lady Down.” My bike is actually silver, but you could call her gray. For some reason, when I crashed and saw her lying in the street near me, it was the first thing that came to mind.

Cristian: Your blog is about “How I got my first Harley-Davidson, the “mystique” that surrounds them ”. So how did you get it and what’s special about being a Harley Rider?

Joker: I had a big Dodge pickup truck that I used to plow snow. After two winters in a row with barely any snow to plow, and hardly any money made, the motor in the truck went bad. With the rising price of gas, and the fact the truck only got 11 miles per gallon on a good day, I decided not to invest money in repairing it. Instead, I sold it and used the money I had left to get the bike. What’s so special? The only way you could know is to ride one, and it will either hit you or it won’t. There’s just something about them, it’s as if they have a soul to them. It’s hard to describe; perhaps that’s why the word “mystique” is so often connected with them.

• Cristian: Any customizations to your bike?

Joker: Chrome headlamp ring, chrome plate lay-down kit, chrome clutch and brake levers, chrome belt guard, chrome tail light cover, chrome front fork nut covers, chrome engine guard, quick-detach chrome sissy bar with luggage rack, Vance and Hines Straightshot exhaust, Screamin’ Eagle Stage 1 kit, Kuryakyn ISO hand grips, mini foot boards, passenger and highway pegs, Mustang one piece wide two-up touring seat and backpad, H-D quick-detach windshield, H-D color matched locking hard saddlebags, and a Cruise-Mate throttle lock.

• Cristian: What about road side attractions. I mean when you ride somewhere, what’s the purpose, getting there or seeing stuff?

Joker: Depending on where we ride to there can be some really beautiful sights to see, but the journey is always the purpose of the ride. Sometimes I wish I had a “helmet cam” to capture some of the things on rides when we are passing by them without stopping. When I ride with Blackstone, the most important road side attraction usually ends up being a place to get a good cup of coffee and use the bathroom.

• Cristian: You are married and have 3 kids. I know your wife wasn’t very happy that you bought a Harley. What’s the best way to deal with these things with the family?

Joker: Well, first I should say what works for me may not necessarily be the way for everyone to go! It’s one of those things where you have to do what you have to do. It may seem selfish, and perhaps it is just a bit. But you only get one life, and as much of it as you give to your family, it only seems fair that a little be reserved for yourself. People are always growing, changing. I think if your family and friends really care for you, they’ll accept these changes as part of who you are. My family may prefer that I didn’t take the risk of riding, but they’ve come to accept that it is now a part of who I am and what I’m about. I have made it clear I’d rather have less time on this earth doing what I love, than more time worrying about what might get me killed.

• Cristian: Where are you located and what rides are interesting in your area?

Joker: I live in the US, in the south-eastern part of the State of Massachusetts. We have a wide variety of beautiful country back roads that twist through not just MA, but all the surrounding New England states. Our rides often take us into and through many of our neighboring states. We also have the great fortune to live near the Atlantic ocean. Harbor towns always make for great ride destinations.

• Cristian: You used to have a pick-up before the Harley. You didn’t want to put more money in the pick-up, but what about the Harley if something goes wrong?

Joker: I’ll sell everything I own but my underwear to keep my Harley on the road, and the only reason I won’t sell that is because nobody in their right mind would want to buy it!

• Cristian: You used to have a Honda CB 650 then a KZ 550. Tell us how important the KZ 550 was in your life and what happened

Joker: The one great thing about my old KZ was that a girl at work was more impressed with it than I was. She thought it was cool that I’d show up in the office in all this riding gear, and then emerge from the Men’s Room in a suit and tie. When I heard a rumor she was interested in me and thought I was cool because I rode a motorcycle, I asked her for a date. Back then, she liked riding on the back of it when we went out. I eventually married that girl, and it’s ironic that now I have a far superior motorcycle, and she won’t get on it. She’s paranoid that we will both be killed in an accident, leaving our children without parents. All I can say is never underestimate the power of the maternal instinct. I know one day, when she’s ready, she’ll ride with me again.

• Cristian: Why did you start the The Harley-Davidson “Mystique” blog?

Joker: I actually stumbled upon Road Captain USA quite by accident, while surfing the net. It got me to look closer at blogs, and to find out just how easy it is to start one. I’ve always loved to write, and have been told by many people that I have a talent for it. When I saw what others were doing on their motorcycle blogs, my love for riding and writing inspired me to start my own.

• Cristian: You had a nasty accident last year. Any tips on ride safety?

Joker: YES! I have several. Never assume anything on the road, and NEVER be in a hurry on a motorcycle. Always wear as much protective clothing/gear as possible for the road conditions. Take advantage of any motorcycle riding/safety courses offered in your area. Look at every other vehicle near you as a potential threat. I have gotten into the habit of slowing/stopping and waving cars in front of me trying to make a left turn to go ahead when I can. I also cover my brakes and horn whenever I see a car ahead of me at the end of a side street, and when I approach intersections. Make sure to always look both ways when proceeding through an intersection – even if you have the green light. Never assume cars will all stop just because they have the red light. Don’t tailgate cars! Leave a minimum 3-second distance. Stay out of other vehicles blind spots. Avoid the complacency that comes with experience and assume danger lurks around every bend in the road.

• Cristian: The Blackstone members showed up to see how you were doing while you were in the hospital following your accident. How did you feel about it?

Joker: I felt very grateful for that visit. That was a tough day because I knew they were on a ride that I had actually suggested and planned. Looking out through the hospital room window at the beautiful weather that day, knowing they were riding without me, had me feeling pretty sad. When they burst through the door of my room and surrounded my bed, the feeling was indescribable. At the time, I’d only been a member of the Chapter for a little more than two months. Most of them barely knew me, but they showed up anyway. That will tell you a little more about the character of the people I ride with.

• Cristian: Everybody says there is something special about being a biker. How would you describe the feeling?

Joker: For me it is a sense of freedom combined with belonging. Some riders I know prefer to ride alone most of the time. Once in a while, I like to do that also, but I much prefer riding with my Chapter. We share a special type of camaraderie and closeness; we have a trust in one another that people who don’t ride could never appreciate. It’s special in many other ways too, but these are most important to me.

• Cristian: Oh, by the way, why “Joker”?

Joker: I wanted to use a pseudonym to write under, like many authors do. Part of it had to do with not wanting to have my real name on the internet, and that “John” seemed sort of boring. I’m a big fan of Jack Nicholson’s “Joker” character from the 1989 Batman movie. I also am known among my friends (and my fellow bloggers too I think) as a guy with a bizarre sense of humor, so it seemed to fit.

• Cristian: Harley now displays an impressive number of bikes on sales. What would be your favorite, regardless of cost?

Joker: I keep thinking about that, since I plan on buying a brand new bike next year. I have been considering many models including the new Softail Cross Bones and the Road King. Harley has also really gotten into factory customs lately, and the new FLSTN Softail Deluxe with ape hangers and “Intervention” exotic custom paint has recently caught my eye. If I were going to buy today, I think I just might go for that Deluxe.

• Cristian: Any pictures from your trips?

Joker: None from last year unfortunately. I finally got a digital camera last Christmas and have really started getting into picture taking this season. When I do a posting about a ride, I try and include a nice variety of photos with it to give the reader more of a sense of being there. By this fall, my blog will be quite the photo album I think!

Cristian, thank you again for the honor of being featured on your blog. Keep up the excellent work, and always, ride safe.

• Cristian: thanks for the interview and ride safe!

If you want to stay in touch with Joker stories, here is “The Harley-Davidson Mystique“.

• Cristian: So Bill, you are only 26 and already have an impressive list of ride reports that make me jealous. What’s the catch?

Bill: Well not having many too many responsibilities sure helps. I work your average 9-5 job as a software developer during the week. I am constantly day dreaming about places to ride. Whenever I can steal away for a long weekend I jump on the opportunity, and once I have enough vacation time I head out for a week long trip that I’ve been planning in my mind months before. I’m still in the process of organizing my ride reports and there are three that I haven’t added yet (Week in the Appalachians, Deals Gap and my 2 week Cross Country trip).

• Cristian: What bike do you ride, and how does it work? What customizations you did?

Bill: I ride a 2006 Kawasaki Ninja 650r. I have been incredibly pleased with it’s performance over the past two years. It is a great bike for commuting, zipping around town and is very capable for touring. I have added R&G frame sliders, fender eliminator kit, Powerlet electrical outlet, IPod Nano mount, swapped stock bars for lower drag bars, Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx mount, and a Throttlemiester throttle lock.

• Cristian: You say on your blog that you bought your first bike in 2006. But where did you catch the motorcycle bug?

Bill: In the summer of 2005 a friend of mine taught me how to ride back in Chicago. After taking a couple rides around town I was hooked. I loved the feeling of freedom on the road. After that I spent the winter researching bikes and after the snow melted, bought myself the Ninja 650r.

• Cristian: All your ride reports are really impressive and nice. But what would be the ride you remember the most?

Bill: The particular ride I remember most is the road to the summit of Mt Evans in Colorado. It is the highest paved road in US at 14,258 feet. It was summer time and in the valleys it was a comfortable 80 degrees. The road climbed and climbed and the temperature must have dropped 40 degrees and all of a sudden I found myself riding along side the clouds. It was an amazing experience.

• Cristian: I get from your blog that you are a lonely rider. So I guess you have a lot of time to think and feel while you are riding alone, could you describe the feelings?

Bill: I like riding with others, but it’s hard to find those willing to go the distances I like traveling. I find there is more of a sense of adventure when I’m going it alone. Whatever happens, I don’t have anyone else to count on. It’s nice to have someone there to help when things get rough, I think there is something more is accomplished when riding alone. When riding with someone else there is this invisible bubble that surrounds the both of you. When you have someone else to talk to you tend not to look for the company of strangers as often. Conversations strike up pretty easily and I’ve met some very interesting people along the way that I don’t think I could have had I not been going solo.

• Cristian: You have some interesting touring tips so I have to ask, what was the nastiest thing that ever happen to you while riding?

Bill: I was riding through some farm land in Minnesota when all of a sudden I felt this intense burning sensation on my chest. It was unbearable. I quickly pulled off to the side of the road, fumbled to rip my gloves off and unzip my jacket to see what was causing it. From the time it started it took 30 seconds, which felt like forever, to find out that the cherry from a cigarette had managed to swoop over my collar and into my jacket. I always ride with gear that keeps my skin covered. The odds of that happening were incredible, but to this day I’m still very wary of smokers in cars up ahead.

• Cristian: Any tips on saving gas while taking the longer roads?

Bill: Stay consistent on the throttle (throttle locks help) and try and find your MPG sweet spot. Go 60 for a tank of gas and see how many miles you get out of it, then 65, then 70, ect. My sweet spot is 75-80.

• Cristian: I know from my experience that an important part of any trip is getting to places with excellent food. What would you say is the best place to eat from your trips?

Bill: There is no one place that sticks out in my mind as being the best, but when I’m looking for places I try and find greasy spoons or Mom n Pop restaurants. Fast food is easier to find, but a Whopper tastes the same everywhere so I try and stay away from the franchise places.

• Cristian: You seem to have visited a lot of places. What’s next when you run out of places?

Bill: I don’t think there is any shortage of places to ride. If I do run out of places, I’ll just start over and ride the roads I had forgotten about. I’m trying to expand my range internationally, and since I live in Arizona then Mexico is the next logical step for me hence my week long Mexico trip next I’m leaving for on Saturday!. I’m already day dreaming about a a trip along the Pan American highway from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina, but that is years away for me unless I win the lotto next week. One of my goals for AtlasRider.com is to try and bring my riding experiences to the web. Integration of YouTube videos and Google Maps, what I call “AtlasVideos“, is a step in that direction. If people enjoy my content enough I’m hoping I can extend my journeys longer (indefinitely?) and blog while riding around the world.

• Cristian: That’s a tricky question. What do you think you will tell your children about these trips?

Bill: I imagine I will be boring them with my ride reports and videos, or if they happen to bring up something that even remotely relates to my previous trips I’ll start off on a big rant. “You’re writing a report on the Grand Tetons? Why I rode through there in the summer of 2007. Elevation was about 5,000 so it was fairly cool and at the time there was a lot of road construction, <continues on long crazy story>, ect.

• Cristian: Do you still remember your first trip?

Bill: My first “big trip” was to a concert in Detroit 300 miles away from Chicago. The forecast predicted intermediate rain the whole way, but I hated the idea of sitting in my car for 4-5 hours so I decided to ride. I parked my bike around the corner and left in front of my Mom in my car. I met up with my bike and saddled up out of view of my Mom so she didn’t have to worry about me riding in the rain. By now Mom has gotten used to my riding. Now I hear her say, “Oh well, 1000 miles isn’t that long.”

• Cristian: What’s the best trip in your area?

Bill: My favorite road in Arizona is US60 in between Globe and Show Lo. Lots of fast sweepers and some switchbacks as well. I have heard a lot about US191. Now, there is more to a “trip” than a road, however I tend to favor the road part more than anything. I would have to say that the best “trip” in my area would be to Sedona. Beautiful sights and roads to match.

• Cristian:What other motorcycle blogs do you read?

Bill: Figure I would save you some time and created a list of links.

• The Oasis of my Soul

• Bluepoof

• Keep The Rubber Side Down

• St. Louis on Two Wheels

• Mod Vespa Motorcycle Blog

• Forty Years on Two Wheels

• WorldRider: Journey of Adventure & Discovery (I found this site a month after I created AtlasRider.com, I’m not a copycat…really!)

• Kakimoto

• KillBoy

• Mordeth13

and of course Honda Motorcycle Blog

Cristian: Thanks for the interview, and I can’t wait for your trip report when you come back!

Nice, “clean” fun!

* irritability
* the sweats
* pacing
* continually looking out the window
* wearing my helmet all day
* rolling the air throttle while making engine noises.
* dapping a drop fuel behind my ears”

Rick accepted to give a small interview, so here we are:

• Cristian: Rick, thank you for accepting the interview. What do you think about the Top 100 Motorcycle blogs?

Rick: It is a fantastic collection of insightful writers and riders.

• Cristian: You just bought another bike a while ago (got the proper timing when your wife was away What’s the new bike and what other bikes do you own?

Rick: While my wife was a way on business, I bought a BMW R1100 RT, I also have a Shadow Aero 1100, 1985 Nighthawk. She loves the BMW by the way!

• Cristian: You are 47. Did you ever regret riding a bike?

Rick: No, I regret I didn’t start sooner. My riding career didn’t begin until my early 20′s, but I was hooked from my first ride. In fact, the more I ride, the more I want to ride.

• Cristian: You run a series of educational posts on your blog regarding riding safety. Do you think we should have more involvement in the safety education from motorcycle bloggers?

Rick: Personally, I have seen too many riders do stupid things, a majority of MC accidents are caused by riders not being properly equipped. Personally, I choose to use a portion of my forum to promote riding safety whenever possible. That’s not my exculsive focus, but an important one.

• Cristian: What’s your dream bike, or the bike you regret most having sold?

Rick: The current BMW is my dream bike for now! As I have grown as a rider this bike fits my purpose perfectly. We will see what happens in the future, but for now I am totally satisfied.

• Cristian: Any rides you would recommend for the scenery or anything else in your area?

Rick: I am constantly riding new routes in our area. In fact, KTRSD sponsors a local ride the first Sunday of each month in order to explore the many beautiful roads of Ohio. One I would highly reccommend is riding through the Hocking Hills on St. Rt 664.

• Cristian: You were very happy when your son took the MC license. Most of the parents would not allow their kids to ride, but you were already hoping to have a good time riding with your son. What would be an ideal ride with your son?

Rick: You are right I was very happy when my youngest son got his endorsement. My oldest son and I, are leaving on Saturday, May 10, for an 11 state tour. The trip will entail almost 4,000 miles. We will be traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway, including “The Snake”, “Tail of the Dragon” etc. We will then head to Myrtle Beach Bike Week, then into Florida, Louisianna, Texas, and beyond.

• Cristian:I bet that you have a lot of interesting stories to tell from your rides. What do you remember most?

Rick: I remember the amazing feeling of discovering new places, people, sites, and sounds. There is nothing quite like seeing what’s around the next curve!

• Cristian: How did you get into riding?

Rick: I was given an old Kawasaki by a neighbor. I practiced in an abandoned parking lot for a few weeks, I was hooked!

• Cristian: Any customizations you did to your bikes?

Rick: No, for some reason I have always kept my stuff stock. Except for a few accessories.

• Cristian: What’s the best piece of advice you would give to young riders?

Rick: Ride with in your limits! Don’t be suckered in by pride or peer pressure!

• Cristian: What’s your favorite motorcycle movie?

Rick: I tried to love “Easy Rider” but I simply didn’t get it. My family enjoyed “Wild Hogs”
purely for the entertainment factor.

• Cristian: What’s your favorite motorcycle blog?

Rick: Dude! Yours of course! I actually like a great number of them, but if I had to mention one probably “Clutch and Chrome”

• Cristian: Thanks for the interview Rick!

Read more on the Keep The Rubber Side Down blog