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My 2005 midlife crisis took the form of falling in love with a vintage motorcycle (it was a basket case, 1976 Triumph Bonneville). Since then I have restored a couple of vintage bikes and become an avid two wheeled traveler. The bike I will be taking on my trip is the triple black 2012 BMW 1200GS pictured in the header above. Note, the bike is pictured in the CCSF Science building motorcycle parking lot which is where it lives while I am at the college, which is most of the time.
For this long trip it has been outfitted with a few conveniences including a massively oversized top case to hold camping gear, and a GPS and added electronics to charge heated clothing and a laptop. I have rigged it so the laptop will charge while in transit, and have included space for a Kermit folding chair in the gear. So the intent is to ride, write, ride, write ....repeat.
Riding clears my mind, something needed after a few immensely difficult years at the college. I aspire to become a better communicator through the combination of two wheeled movement and contemplation.
Motorcycles not Taken
I have noted that my general well being in life correlates with the percentage of working motorcycles. While I will be taking the most modern adapted motorcycle for the trip I would like to introduce you to the runners up:
This is a 2004 BMW 1150R. It has a low center of gravity and is an absolute blast to ride it hugs the curves well and has lots of torque. It is however, at a disadvantage on long trips due to the small windshield. When I acquired the 2012 bike there was thought of getting rid of this bike. Many colleagues have argued you can only ride one bike at a time.... But with the smile I get from getting back on this bike is worth the workshop space. (counter argument to come from my spouse...). It has also become the reliable backup bike. One week prior to departing I found the GS had taken a screw in the back tire, rendering the brand new tire purchased for this trip useless... It was not hard, however to remove the tire, strap it to the back of the 1150 and proceed to the repair shop. At least two bikes must be running at any given time. They help each other!The Old German (1964 BMW R60/2)
This fully restored bike was completed by myself with the help of Joe Groger and the fine colleagues who gather at his shop on Saturdays and embark on mid week rides (https://www.snafu.org/saturday/) . Look for it on the road this summer once I return. Why am I not taking it on the trip?... its older than I am
1973 Moto Guzzi Eldorado
My first love: This 1976 Triumph Bonneville was my first restoration. It looks great but being a Triumph still needs some work on the electronics.... It is currently in storage and might be looking for a new home. The laws of physics still dictate that I can not have more motors than I have space. If interested please contact me.
This bike is not mine. It belongs to my brother and is currently being restored with the restored parts awaiting reassembly in the workshop. It has been a longer than expected project due to recession and the CCSF accreditation crisis which hijacked my life in 2012. Plan is not to not spend the entire summer traveling so I can get this project finished up. Not only do I feel guilty for having delayed its return to by sibling, but I am also getting worried I will continue to be a running joke among motorcycle colleges for keeping this project in stasis for so long.....The future (1967 Triumph Trophy)
Once the Moto Guzzi is finished this bike is the next one waiting to be restored. You might recognize the good looking fellow sitting on top of it. The sabbatical trip would not be possible without the support of my dearest colleague and friend Joe Reyes. Not only has he taken over as Biology Department Chair at CCSF (allowing me to take the sabbatical), it is his late father's bike that I have next in line to restore. In the mean time I contemplated taking Joe and the bike on the trip anyways.. as long as he is content enough to continue to ride on the bike in the back of a pickup truck as pictured.
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