February 2026 - Gary

“The beauty of riding is, if you are willing to get out of your bubble, adventure awaits.”

Fast Facts

• Is an octogenarian…still riding at 87!
• Owns five bikes.
• Rides solo for the adventure. 

Hometown/State?
Galesburg, Illinois

First motorcycle?
1963 Ducati 160 cc.

Current motorcycle(s)?
1978 Suzuki TS 185, 1984 Yamaha XV 920, 1980 Yamaha TS 650, 2007 BMW LT 1200, 2012 Yamaha Super Tenere 1200.

All-time favorite motorcycle?
It seems like it is whichever one that I'm riding, but my Bultaco Frontera 390, a Bultaco Pursang, and a couple RT Beemers get high marks.

How long have you been riding?
I started late, aged about 26, so, at 87, I've been riding for only about 61 years.

Why did you first start to ride?
The passion probably began in the late 40's or early 50's by watching a young man on a Triumph (500 or 650?) riding around on the sandy roads of the country village that was my home. I can still conjure up the image of him doing doughnuts, making roosters and going faster than I thought possible.

What makes you most excited about motorcycling?
We hear a lot about the "freedom" that goes with riding, and there's a lot of truth to that. I just know that there are moments on a bike when I say to myself, inside my helmet, "this is why I ride." It could be a slow cruise down a tree-lined lane or a high-speed maneuver in freeway traffic, in blue sky weather or a thunderstorm. Or sleet. Or hot. Day or night. The moments just happen.

Tell us what it’s like to ride at an older age. (Do you ride a different bike than the one before? Do you take extra precautions? Etc.)
I'm sure that I ride smarter than I did when starting. I have learned a great deal by surviving mistakes. I prefer to ride solo, or with a partner who thinks and rides like me, thus I have the freedom to choose my own pace and style. As an octogenarian rider, I pace myself. On trips, when I tire, I look for places to rest and often take a quick nap. I once met a rider on a trip who was too cold and tired to be safe. He had learned a lesson, and said, "Don't take a bike on a trip when you have a deadline." That's good advice. Regardless of your age, don't push it beyond your ability. Always try to give yourself a cushion. There are too many variables in riding to have a tight window.

How did you first learn about Aerostich?
That's easy. "A long time ago," I had ridden to a World SuperBike race in Brainerd, Minnesota (early 80's?). This is when "high-end" riding gear was either black leather jackets and chaps or waxed cotton Barbour jackets and lace-up boots. I had neither. I'm sure that I was wearing jeans and a tee shirt, which was pretty much du jour "low-end" gear in those days. I was having breakfast in a restaurant, when in came a rider who was wearing this good looking outfit with squared shoulders and stand up collar. While talking to his buddies, he unzipped from foot to neck and "walked out" of this never-seen-before riding suit. From that time, I began saving for my first Aerostich purchase: the Roadcrafter that I still wear.

What Aerostich gear do you wear and why did you choose it?
A lot of experience taught me that the absolute best piece of riding gear for any extended riding is the Roadcrafter. My trusted ancient Roadcrafter, reconditioned by Aerostich more than a decade ago, has gotten me through many "challenging" rides. I don't have to list those challenges. Experienced riders know them, be they hot or cold or wet or slippery or windy or combinations of such. It is my gear of choice whenever the climate is questionable. For more casual riding, especially in hot weather, I ride with Darien Light Jacket and pants.

Who or what was your biggest influence in motorcycling?
Probably the biggest influence is an innate desire for adventure.

Describe a memorable motorcycle adventure?
I haven't done the Himalayas, the Brooks Range or even the Dragon. The beauty of riding is, if you are willing to get out of your bubble, adventure awaits. This is especially true if you ride solo. By riding solo, life's adventures come to you, purely by chance. Conversations with strangers, (people are less inclined to strike up a conversation with a group of riders) or seeing something interesting to only you is there for you to investigate. If you want to ride all night, do it. If you have a problem, part of the adventure is solving that problem by yourself. To me, that's adventure.

Just one small example.
I was riding from Denver to home in Illinois late one Fall day. I hadn't gotten an early start, and, as I was crossing central Kansas, the straight road ahead, disappearing into the horizon, was going directly into the center of a large rising full moon. The sky was dark blue, the moon stark white, the air was cool, the bike's engine purring beneath me. I knew then that I was going to ride through the night until getting home in the morning. It was a nice adventure, despite the rain that began just beyond Omaha.

What is the best motorcycle advice or tip you’ve received?
"Why don't you get a motorcycle?"

What are your hobbies and interests outside of motorcycling?
Working on vintage bikes and trying to be a decent citizen.

Aerostich-related or Aerostich-specific stories?
There are so many. Once, when wearing my Roadcrafter while riding across Iowa near Cedar Rapids, I tried to out-run an old-fashioned Mid-Western thunderstorm. I failed. The rain was coming down in sheets so heavily that I stopped, parked the RT on its side stand and walked over to a field, hoping my bike wouldn't get hit. I was certain that I didn't want to be on it if it were hit. I couldn't even find a tree to be under. I just stood therein the open field. A driver saw me standing alone--in my Roadcrafter--rolled down his window and shouted "are you okay?" Thumb's up. I'm ok. The squall passed, I sloshed back to the RT, rode into town, removed my trusty Roadcrafter and walked into McDonalds...dry. Another Roadcrafter story has to do with hail in Missouri, but I'll spare you.

Any other thoughts?

Some advice for beginners.

Judgment is as important as skill. Too many highly skilled riders have been killed due to poor judgment.
Take riding courses, and, if you can, ride dirt bikes fast and hard before riding on the street.

At one time, I thought I would like to try sailing, and, in doing some research, I came across a book titled Great Landings.

I didn't read the book, but I took the title to mean that a big part of the adventure of sailing is coming ashore, probably meeting interesting people, seeing new sights, maybe having good food and lodging. It reminded me that that is what I have gotten from much of my riding. For me "great landings" is "great stops," like meeting friendly, interesting people, sharing conversation, sometimes food, and mutual interests.

I'm reminded of a blistering hot trip through Tennessee and stopping to rest in a very remote area.

I was on a BMW RT, wearing a has-mat-yellow Darien Light jacket with a full-face modular helmet. A bearded, bare-headed, bare handed guy, wearing a soiled cut-off tee shirt rode up on an ancient, loud, stripped-down Harley bagger.

"Trouble?"
"Nah, just taking a break."

"Cool. Want a cold pop?"
"Sounds great!"

"Follow me."

He led me on a winding back road to a little village and stopped at a two-pump gas station, located on a hillside. He introduced me to a couple buddies, but, more important to him, he wanted to "talk bikes." He bought me a pop, and I listened, especially about his one ride to Sturgis.

Afterward, I shook his hand, thanked him for one of the best "pops" ever, and continued on my trip.

"This is why I ride," I said inside my helmet.

Yay or Nay?

Backroads? Generally, the best.

Freeways? They're great for night riding. You can't see beyond your lights, anyway. I enjoy the late-night culture of the road at truck stops.

Gravel Roads? If you can get up on the pegs, go for 'em.

Roadside Motel? In a pinch like cruel weather or need for a shower after days of camping.

Camping? Absolutely! Camping is one of those "great stops" where adventure may be waiting.

Helmet Audio System? I do not want to be distracted by music, podcasts, nor, especially, newscasts! That's not why I ride. I want to experience the ride. However, I think that when riding in congested urban traffic, navigation apps are wonderful and much safer than trying to read a map on your tank bag. As for taking and making calls, I stop.