Words of Wisdom from Men Who Rode Motorcycles

Bob Dylan was undoubtedly a free spirit, so of course he loved to ride. He rode a 1964 Triumph T100, although he allegedly was not a very skilled rider. In 1966, he was involved in a motorcycle accident that resulted in the cancellation of his scheduled shows. The seriousness of the accident is still debated: some say it was a near death exerience, others say he used the minor accident to step back from the limelight.

Either way, he stopped touring for nearly 10 years, but he still loved motorcycles. When asked about using motorcycles as imagery in his music, Dylan said "Oh we all like motorcycles... to some degree."

Hunter S. Thompson's book on the Hell's Angels was a defining moment in his career, and he continued to write about motorcycle culture throughout his career. He especially loved to ride, which is evident in his bike reviews.

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch- back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them - but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one," he said in his review of the Ducati Supersport 900.

Steve McQueen was known for being an actor, but he was first and foremost a racer. The "King of Cool" once said 'Racing is life, anything before or after is just waiting.' He would often go on motorcycle trips when his celebrity was weighing down on him.

We salute these men for being free spirits who loved to ride.