On December 26th, 2023 I drove to Orange County Harley Davidson, determined to leave with a 2023 Nightster Special, in Billiard Blue of course. In the months leading up, I had taken my motorcycle safety course, gotten my license, and did a lot of research to figure out what kind of bike I wanted to buy. I was very gung-ho that I just needed to buy a motorcycle, and then I could figure out the riding part better after. But a good friend of mine, was my biggest supporter and most trusted adviser during this whole process, and his first piece of advice was:
“Just go test-ride them.”
He was looking out for me - and didn’t want me to commit to buying a motorcycle I would quickly grow out of or wasn’t comfortable on. But at the time, the thought terrified me, and I was way too embarrassed to admit it. I’m sure for him, it was like pulling teeth every time I sent him the link to a bike I thought was cool and he gave me the same reaction, “just go test ride it.” Or worse, “Did you test-ride it yet?” I hadn’t been on a motorcycle since I took my course in June. It was November. Test ride?? Like on the streets? Where people could see me? But he kept pushing me, and pushing me, and one day out of sheer frustration I just snapped and went to the dealership right after work. I actually ended up visiting the dealer for a couple weeks before I committed to buying.
The first stop was just to talk to someone. That’s when I met Ray, (we love Ray, he’s the best,) who reassured me that since I was a newbie I could test-ride the bike I wanted in the parking lot. So the next time I visited, I was prepared to test ride a motorcycle. And my friend was right, it was a step I NEEDED to do before buying one. That fucker. The day I went to test ride, Ray took the bike out of the shop for me so we could practice waddling with it and straight stretches in the back of the lot. Since muscle memory kicked in quickly and I impressed him, he had an even better idea. He took another of the same bike out so he could ride around the parking lot and I could follow him. By the end of it, I had the most fun and it did teach me a couple things.
A) Sometimes, you just need to go for it. I was so scared of not being enough, scared of making a fool of myself, that I was stopping myself from even taking the first step of something I really wanted to do.
B) Sometimes, you’re actually a lot better at something than you thought you would be. I still remember that day test riding with Ray and how he was genuinely surprised at how comfortable and confident I seemed. That’s not to say I was perfect, but in situations where I could have freaked out, dumped the bike, or given up, I stayed calm and collected.
C) I can’t do U-turns. We tried so many times and I just could not do it. So sometimes your fear can’t conquer everything in a day.
The next piece of advice my wise friend told me was equally as dumbfounding.
“You’ll just know when it’s your bike.”
What the fuck was that supposed to mean? How could I just know? I had already looked at a couple Harley’s at that point but neither of them had felt like they were mine, or meant to be mine. Even the Nightster Special I had test rode didn’t feel like, “the one,” but it felt good enough. Right? (It’s funny how much buying a motorcycle sounds like dating right about now.) While my friend’s advice sounded important, Christmas Day 2023, I was determined to go out and buy my motorcycle the next day when the dealer would be open again. My plan was simple, text Ray and make sure both he and the Nightster I had ridden were there, and head out. Should only take a couple hours, tops. But things did not end up going the way I anticipated. “You’ll just know when it’s your bike.” That fucker was right about that one too. In case you’ve never been to the Orange County Harley Davidson, first and foremost all the people there are amazing so you should check it out, but they also display their used inventory out front as you walk up to the entrance. And as I walked up to the dealership hell bent on buying a different motorcycle, I saw MY motorcycle.
A 2021 Iron 1200, with 2292 miles on it. The previous owner had added a windscreen, speakers, and a mini saddlebag. It was perfect. I sat my little butt on it and knew without a shadow of a doubt that I would not be leaving that dealership without that bike. Ray was more than happy to let me test ride it first, which only made me love MY motorcycle more. The sound when I started her up, the shake of the WHOLE damn bike while I was idling, and the handling of course. Granted, even though I immediately knew I wanted the motorcycle, I still somehow spent my whole day at the dealership.
One year later, with what felt like my first “big girl” purchase, I can honestly say buying a motorcycle was one of the best decisions I could have ever made for myself. And I recognize how that is a bold claim, but it’s true. It was a personal passion I pursued and gave it my all, and to have grown so much on my own is something that has given me so much more confidence in myself. I did that. Yes I had people who helped support me and give me a nudge in the right direction, but I put in the work. And sometimes even now when I’m feeling down in the dumps I remind myself, “I have a motorcycle!?!” and treat myself with a little ride up Pacific Coast Highway :)
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