November 2022 - Rex Thompson

Fast Facts About Rex:

• First motorcycle was a 1980 Honda CM400T
• Travels with his wife, Carrie, seven months a year doing face painting at fairs, festivals, and special events

How long have you been riding?
14 years. I started in 2008.

Who or what was your biggest influence in motorcycling?
My dad bought a 45-inch Harley Davidson when he returned from WWII. He followed the wheat harvest from Kansas to California and the east through Canada. His stories inspired me to get my own motorcycle when I was able.

First motorcycle?
1980 Honda CM400T.

Current motorcycle?
2006 Honda ST1300.

Favorite Aerostich gear?
My Hi-Viz R-3.

Aerostich-related or Aerostich-specific stories?
I pulled up next to a guy on a chopper in Phoenix on a very hot day, like 104 degrees hot. We both looked at each other at a stop light. He was dressed in shorts, flip-flops, and a tank top. Both of us said, at the same time, "How can you stand to ride like that?" Much laughter!

Tell us about traveling around the country and doing face painting.
We are on the road for about seven months a year doing fairs, festivals and special events, mostly in the Pacific Northwest but we start our season here in Arizona.

I love to see new places and it’s great to see customers return. We have some customers that bring their children to have their faces painted that we painted when they were children.

When you travel do you find places you want to go back to via motorcycle?
ALL the TIME!! A couple of years ago we were in southern Washington and a friend told us about the Mt. St. Helens visitor center. The following year we were able to ride up the mountain and visit. Wow what a great ride! Beautiful road, beautiful views and a great little restaurant on the way back down.

Does your wife ride?
Yes, Carrie took the MSF class as a surprise to me while I was away on a trip. She rides a Honda CTX700 with the DCT transmission. Normally that is the bike that goes with us on tour because it fits nicely in the face painting trailer. She was fitted for her Roadcrafter two piece at the same pop-up I was up in Oregon.

What is the best motorcycle advice or tip you’ve received?
Ride until something hurts... figure out how to fix that. Then ride until something else hurts, fix it. Pretty soon you're comfortable for a 22-hour ride! Also...The bike goes where the eyes go.