April 2024 - Hank Waters

Hi, Hank Waters from Fairfax City, VA. I remember seeing Steve McQueen in the movie The Great Escape 1963; what a rider, and I wanted to do that too. Eleven years later, I turned 18, and my fine Irish Mom admitted I was an adult and stepped aside. Bought a Honda CB450 from my girlfriend’s uncle, and then the rest is history as they say. My primary ride today is a BMW R1250RT and several Hondas (dirt and touring). I am an active Motorcycle Safety Foundation Ridercoach, and Harley Davidson Riding Academy coach, so I get to ride a lot of other bikes.

Why do you ride?
So why do I ride? Harley Davidson. Riding academy sums it up well; riding is Freedom. I have made friends everywhere I go. Being a rider connects you with men and women who love the ride. I have ridden all over the US (47 states) and Canada (8 provinces), some of Europe and South America.

Tell us about your 25-day ride to Colombia and Peru.
My most recent trip was to spend a month riding in Peru and Colombia. Met great riders from all over Europe, Canada, and South America. What a blast. The tour group (Motodreamer) knows the culture, the communities, and selects great roads. The routes are all levels of skills to include off-road and on-road riding. Miles and miles of great twisties in the Andes mountains. I look forward to going back. I plan to make it to the southern tip of Ushuaia.

Favorite Aerostich gear?
My favorite gear is the Roadcrafter classic riding suit, followed by my Darien jacket, adv pants, and various sets of elkskin gloves . Bought my first Roadcrafter in 1992. My “seventh son” now wears that classic for his commute to work. My Roadcrafter gear allows me to wear a suit, a uniform, or relax in jeans and shirt and get anywhere I want to be. All my motorcycle travels begin with great safety gear and that means every travel begins with my Aerostich gear in some combination for the ride.

I greatly appreciate Aerostich and their commitment to quality. When I look at the website, I get honest reviews and communication with staff is great. The Aerostitch team clearly get it. Recently my Elkskin roper gloves wore out after only 11 years and probably 100k miles. It was right at the end of my Peru/Colombia ride and a good thing I carry my back up Elkskin gloves. My replacement set of roper gloves are on back order, and I have been kept informed on status and that my order is not forgotten.

What are your hobbies and interests outside of motorcycling?
So, what else do I do besides ride? I spent 40 years in the military/defense industry working all over the globe. Now in my third career as a motorcycle instructor training both civilian and military programs. I also serve as a Corporate Board member of our local American Legion, volunteer with Remote Area Medical (RAM-USA.ORG), and fix bicycles for the neighborhood kids. Committed to my family, I sit here this evening surrounded by my 5 grandsons as we spend this week on spring break with them, and give their parents a spring break.

Please enjoy your ride, wear great gear, ride within your limits, make memories of a lifetime. Hope we cross paths and meet on the road.

Sincerely, Hank