Be a mentor—for riding and bike work

I am a pretty lucky guy, I grew up with a dad and a neighbor that loved bikes. Everything I needed to know as a kid came from them. I learned how to work on bikes, the best things to do when riding on the street—my dad didn’t teach me much in the dirt, that is a whole other story—and how to be prepared for short and long trips. It allowed me to be a better rider earlier in my experiences, especially since I started riding when I was eight.

I always tried to teach about bikes, from helping someone pick the right bike because they knew I was a bike nut to teaching the CMSP (California Motorcycle Safety Program) for four years. When I started out at the magazines I ran, I always hired guys that needed a little help and direction to be more knowledgeable about what we did and why we did it. I really tried to give back to the sport I love.

Well, about four and a half years ago I packed up and left California for Wisconsin. All new people to meet, not so many that needed help--until I met my neighbor’s son Jon. He was just pushing 18 when I moved into my second home in Wisconsin and seemed a nice kid. Polite, friendly and always asking me about bikes. One day he lets me know he and his dad are going to take the MSF class. I thought it was great and gave him a few suggestions on making the most of that experience. He passed the class and his dad offered to loan him the money for a new bike. Nice dad, lucky kid. Jon picked up a Ninja 250, small, easy to learn on and not so expensive that it would kill him to pay dad back. I walked out of my garage and saw him heading down the street for his first ride—jeans, tennis shoes, sweatshirt, work gloves and a bitching new helmet. I walked back into my garage and grabbed a TourMaster textile motorcycle jacket I had and went to his house to hand out with his dad, Dave. He showed back up in the driveway about 30 minutes later and I gave him the jacket. I told him if I saw him riding without it I would kick his butt. Then I looked at his gloves and went back to my garage and grabbed an extra set of riding gloves and gave him them too. He tried to give me money for the stuff, offered to do stuff on my house, I just told him it is what one rider does for another when he can.

Jon rode all summer and did great, but before the summer was over he was itching for a new bike. Understandable, he is a pretty big kid and the 250 is sort of small. Through the winter we hung out in my garage talking about what he could get while I did some work on my bikes. I showed him all I could and had fun teaching.

Spring rolls around and Jon is crawling all over my Honda XR650L sort-of-a-super-moto bike. He keeps asking me about the Suzuki DRZ400SM. I explain that even though it is a 400, his 250 is going to feel better on the highway and teach him about single cylinders versus multiple. He takes it all in and goes back to his house where he shows what a smart kid he is. He convinces his dad to buy the Kawasaki from him and loan him the extra cash to get the Suzuki anyway. I couldn’t help but smile when he asked me to come over and check out his new bike—it really was cool. So, now a tradition with a new bike, I gave him an S&S mesh textile riding jacket, a perfect gift for the summer. We talk about suspension set up, chain adjustment and oil changes.

A few weeks go by and I see Jon riding all over the town. One afternoon I get a call on my cell…”Howard, its Jon. I just want to thank you for pushing me to wear safety gear when I ride because I just low sided my bike on the Mindoro Cut”. After I found out he was OK, he said his dad was on the way up with the trailer to bring him back. My heart sank for the kid. When I had a chance to check the bike out, he got lucky—bars, lever, mirror, turn signal and a tweaked exhaust. He ordered up some parts and we put it all back together with him doing the work. A few days later, there is Jon buzzing all around town. He comes over a few weeks later to tell me about the Buell he test rode. We have a long talk about the torque of v-twins in relation to everything he has ridden. Now he wants to do some long distance rides and he knows the DRZ is not the right machine.

Just before winter sets in Jon calls me again. He lost the front end again and low-sided once more. The gear is a little more beat up this time, but he is fine. Winter rolls around and we have the same talks again. When spring hits this year I am in a push to sell my Dyna—its 8 going on 9 and I want a new bike. Jon and I have many talks about what I will buy and why. He starts looking at bikes and showing me pics of what he is into that week.

I ended up buying a 2009 Kawasaki Councours—a bike I highly recommend for those inclined to sport tour or just want some saddlebags strapped to a 135hp machine. Jon is loving the bike and asking many questions. Two weeks later I have the bike in for its one dealer visit for the 600-mile service. I don’t know why, but I always let the dealer do that service. While I am at the shop I notice a Suzuki 1200 bandit S on the used bike floor. Clean, low miles and a great bike, I call Jon to come check it out. He shows up and instantly starts loving it. The salesman rolls it out for him to test ride and I start coaching him on the extra power and weight. He tries to hide the smile when the bike starts, but he can’t. I lean into his helmet and remind him anyway.

He comes back and I know he wants to buy it. We sit down and negotiate a price to trade the DRZ (no way dad will want it) and get the bandit--$700 bucks! Score. Jon goes home to clear it with dad and gets a green light. That afternoon I hear him pull up and go over with more tradition—new gloves. And a laundry list of things I want him to do to the bike—tighten everything, check tire pressures, wash and wax every inch possible and learn where everything is on the bike. He grumbles about riding it, but gets the tools out.

The next weekend I pop in on him as he is out in the driveway washing his new ride. He looks devastated so I ask what is wrong. He tried to put it up on the center stand and slipped in the water—he couldn’t hold onto it and it fell to the ground breaking a turn signal and the front brake lever. A couple scuffs that could be buffed out were not a big deal. He knew what to do and got busy chasing down some parts. When they came in he installed them and was a happy kid.

So all of this stuff and Jon and I had never gone riding—it just never worked out. This past weekend my wife was away in Fiji so I had a ton of time on my hands. We started by putting a clutch in the 250 so his dad could start riding it again—a great Friday night for the three of us. Saturday Jon and I head out with no direction in mind. I took him on every backroad I could think of with corners because I hate going straight. We rode for about an hour before we ever said anything to each other. Jon then told me it was the fastest he had ever gone—I felt bad, but I also knew I was going no where near as fast as I would have liked, so I didn’t feel that bad. We logged about 175 miles that afternoon. Got rained on—he got wet, the Kawasaki kept me dry (I love that bike), saw an eagle scavenging some food in the road, passed a bunch of bikes on a poker run, passed a few Amish in their horse and buggy rigs, avoided horseshit in the road and had a great time. So much so we head out again on Sunday and did a different ride but had just as much fun.

Jon is hooked on long rides now. He has plans to run out to Pennsylvania and visit his sister at her college and take a few days touring the upper lake area of Wisconsin. Mentor a new rider, the reward is greater than anything you have ever received

Submitted and wrote by Howard Kelly....Thanks HK!