My years of attending a wide variety of motorcycle events has been a first-rate education in the amazing range of subcultures within motorcycling. I’ve talked motorcycles over lunch with a Gold Wing rider who wouldn’t think of riding anywhere without taking his matching trailer along, even if it’s empty, and I’ve hung out with motocross racers who can’t imagine riding a motorcycle that has the useless extra weight of a headlight on it to slow them down.
The two things we all have in common is that we’re passionate about motorcycles (of one kind or another or several) and we tend to be pretty darn friendly. I spent some time with one of those friendly groups the last few days at the Motorcycle Sport Touring Association‘s annual national rally, STAR 2013, in Lexington, Kentucky.
MSTA members are serious and passionate riders, and I think it’s also fair to say they’re not afraid to spend a little money on the things they enjoy. I doubt I’ve ever been to a rally that had a more impressive array of bikes in the parking lot.
It was fun hanging out in the parking lot in the evenings, going on rides during the day, and I appreciate the opportunity to read a few excerpts from my book. Thanks especially to Dianne Park for arranging my participation and being a gracious hostess, Jim Park for sharing all his secret photo-shooting spots with me, and MSTA President Dennis Villarose for making it all happen.
Here are a few of my images from STAR 2013.
The parking lot at the Crowne Plaza Hotel emptied every day as everyone went out riding.
Jim Park shoots approximately one million photos at STAR 2013.
Horses know they’re the stars in Lexington. They’re not overly impressed with motorcycles.
A young horse heads for the barn after a hot session on the training track at Keeneland. Think it’s expensive to send your kid to college? Boarding and training your horse at Keeneland costs at least $25,000 a year.
Denise “fz1grl” attempts to finally complete the break-in mileage on her FZ-1. Another 50,000 miles or so and the rings should be bedded in.
Can someone let this man take a motorcycle ride without calling him with a problem? MSTA President Dennis Villarose.
The ride is its own reward, but lunch at the end is an added bonus.
Several years ago, some obscure motorcycle writer called the V-Strom the “most versatile motorcycle on the market today,” but it’s probably someone you’ve never heard of.
Is that another one?
Gotta love Kentucky backroads.
This rider is: A) waving hello in unorthodox fashion; B) ensuring that he earns his Alpinestars endorsement money; or C) falling off his motorcycle.
Parking lot socializing.
“So then I grabbed a big handful of throttle and stuffed it up the inside and that’s how I beat Valentino Rossi’s old man Graziano at Imola back in the day.”
Thanks, Dianne.
