By Bernie Zelazny

 

After reading Frances Lemen’s story (Frances Lemen Still Riding at 81, July 2018), I felt compelled to write about my motorcycle riding history, short as it may be.

In 2004, I learned to ride a motorcycle.

During the previous 34 years, my then-wife and I had traveled the contiguous United States in two Alfa Romeos, promoting our business. We racked up about a million miles in those Alfas.

During our divorce, I immediately enrolled in a motorcycle riding course, even though I’d only been a passenger on a motorbike once. And I really had no need for a motorcycle, since I live in a small town and was riding a bicycle about 10 miles a day to and from work.

Once I completed the course, I got my motorcycle license. But I didn’t buy a motorcycle right away.

In late 2011, I took a job at a nonprofit about 24 miles from my rural West Texas home. It soon became clear that commuting in the 1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6—with about 450,000 miles showing and drinking only super unleaded fuel—was too costly.

With the help of my local motorcycle guru, I decided on a 2006 Kawasaki Ninja 650R—not usually recommended for a first-time rider. But the regular occurrence of high winds crossing the 4,500’-foot-high plateau between work and home would require it.

On my 63rd birthday, I drove to San Antonio to pick up my first motorbike.

Once I started riding it to work, almost daily on the 52-plus-mile round trip, it wasn’t long before I had thousands of miles under my belt.

In 2014, I was so pleased with the Ninja I was compelled to buy a second almost-twin Ninja, so I would never have to miss a ride because one of the bikes needed service. And they would last longer as well, with me switching back and forth every three trips to work.

The first bike had “paid for itself” in fuel cost savings in about 18 months, compared to using the Alfa.

By May of 2018, I’d ridden more than 75,000 miles on the two bikes, averaging more than 51 mpg.

I decided I was making too many trips to the gas station. So I purchased a 100 percent electric 2017 Energica Ego, which I began riding June 4.

Based on the 600-pound-plus weight, this bike may not usually be recommended for a rider who is nearly 70 years old. But my Ego already had over 1,200 miles as of July 7.

Instead of the commute costing about the price of a gallon of gas a day, the Ego is making the trip on about 95 cents per day, based on early calculations.

And the bike is being charged with electricity that is generated from wind and/or solar, and with it no worries about E15 fuel in the future!

This year, I sold the first 2006 Ninja for a little less than it cost in 2011, but I kept the lower-mileage one to use when necessary, especially when temperatures drop below 20 degrees.

With my relatively short commute, I have ridden many times in temps down to 12 degrees, maybe even lower. At those temps, the electric loses 20 percent or more of its power and range.

I still have my Alfa. But I love riding the bikes so much that I only drive the car about 12 days a year. One year, I only drove the car to work four times.

Bernie Zelazny is an AMA member from Alpine, Texas.