When I first learned I’d have an opportunity to discuss motorcycles with others, questions flooded my mind. Who was the audience? What would I write about? How would my ramblings be received? Public speaking schools say it is important to know your audience. If you’re reading this you are someone who shares common ground with me. You like motorcycles. Your level of interest isn’t measured by the bike you ride, the year it was manufactured or even if you own one. There are plenty of motorcycle aficionados "between rides". I’ve been associated with that crowd a time or two myself.

As to what I’ll write about, I have some ideas cruising around the gray matter. Beyond that I look forward to hearing from you. Personal experience has taught me if you don’t give people what they want, they move on to more interesting terrain. With adults or my grandkids the more I listen the more I learn. Perhaps some background about me will help get the discussion in gear.

My motorcycle riding started with my big brother’s 70cc Yamaha. He purchased it brand new with money earned working at a small grocery store. The machine was red and white with a top end of 63 mph, on a steep downhill. He road it all over the dirt roads near our rural Missouri home. He was three years older, so I was relegated to watching from the driveway as he took off on adventures. That changed one day in 1972. The bike was parked outside and no one was in sight. The details have faded, but I recall riding about a half mile down a dirt road before returning to the house. What greeted me at home was Dad. His choice of words and my first motorcycle safety lesson are material for another newsletter.

I bought that bike from my brother for $150. His focus, like mine a few years later, had turned to cars. I sold it to a friend in 1976, after Dad reinforced the stamped metal swing arms with ¼" steel plates. Apparently our Evel Knievel impersonations were more strenuous than the engineers had designed the machine to withstand.

For several years work, family, and a limited budget resulted in a long dry spell in my two-wheeled adventures. Some years ago I purchased a small street bike as my reentry vehicle. A few upgrades later, I now log about 12,000 miles a year on my 2008 Gold Wing. Any day the weather permits, and some that it doesn’t, you’ll find me on the bike. I may be commuting to work, enjoying the scenery on a Saturday or touring for nine days with friends.

For more than 25 years my paychecks have centered on teaching. In the US Air Force I taught people how to repair jet engines. Currently, I coordinate training at an aviation manufacturing & repair facility. My interest in education has manifested itself as an adjunct college professor, CPR/first aid instructor, youth sports coach, and Motorcycle Safety Foundation RiderCoach. The saying goes, "Find a job that’s your passion and you won’t have to work another day." Combining motorcycles and teaching gets me pretty close to that adage.

So now you know about me. I look forward to hearing from you. I appreciate any ideas for newsletters, stories from the road, and your personal insights on this common ground we share.

I’ll see you through the curves,

Mark Bennett
Maine District Educator
mbennett86023@roadrunner.com

Click Here for the National Newsletter pdf file pertaining to "Rider Education."