J.T. Pedersen
Howell, Michigan

Current bike(s):
2005 Kawasaki ZRX 1200r
1993 Honda ST1100a

Years riding:
21

Joined HSTA:
2000

How did you first hear about the HSTA:
By 1999, I had been riding for about 14 years and had seen all of my past riding buddies withdraw from the activity as family issues gained the upper hand.  Though never seriously considering withdrawing from motorcycling myself, as my riding became more ‘commute’ oriented and less social, it began to lack the earlier excitement it had held.  About the same time it was important to me to find some new things my wife Kim and I could do together.  So, starting fall ’99 I started looking for different motorcycle clubs to join.  I had interacted with some other organizations and found them to lack something.  Some groups were way too organizationally intensive with status seemingly being all-important.  Others lacked cohesion and any sense of belonging.  Still others, like the AMA, are so massive as to make you feel lost within its mass.  I found the HSTA through periodical searches.  We attended a meeting just to see what it was like.  We were concerned about the nature of the members, whether they be too biased, or too nuts.  Pleasantly, we found the group to be a good mix of personalities, ages, and motorcycle types.  We’ve been members, including our daughter now, ever since.

First Bike:
1972 Honda CB185 Twinstar.  The closest I ever came to high siding a bike… The foot pegs were rigid and didn’t fold.  On one quick turn the foot peg dug into the asphalt and whipped me instantly upright.  Fortunately the outcome matched with my intended direction perfectly.

Favorite Bike:
I have two.  Yes, the question was singular but I’ll give a single pair in response.  My Honda ST1100 might win out as the ultimate favorite if only that, if I had only one I could keep, it’d be the ST.  Like a comfortable glove, once you find one that works with you perfectly, harmoniously, you want it to last forever.  Virtually tied for ‘favorite’ is my Kawasaki ZRX 1200r.  I had bought one new in 2001 and for various reasons sold it a couple years later.  I so lamented having sold the bike I bought a new one in 2005 (my wife’s Father’s Day present to me).  The ZRX is about as ergonomically comfortable as the ST, yet is an absolute hoot to ride: power, torque, and handling.  I don’t see this one going anywhere.

Who (or what) was your biggest influence in motorcycling?
Most likely the Who is my father.  Shortly after I left for the U.S. Navy, my father bought the CB 185 at an auction.  Never having ridden a motorcycle before, he rode it the few miles home without so much as a helmet.  On my first leave home, here was a motorcycle available for me to experiment with. 

I would have gotten into motorcycling sooner or later, I’m sure, but he made it all-but certain, and certainly sooner, when he bought the bike.  Dad’s also never spoken a disparaging word about my involvement in the sport.  Dad, you’re the Man!

Favorite place to ride:
Western North Carolina and surrounding areas.  The roads are gorgeous and generally well maintained.  Living in Michigan, it takes a modest amount of effort to get to them making the rides there that much more satisfying.  Up until recently, I’ve had family in the area which supported my basically ‘growing up’ on a lot of the roads.

Most memorable motorcycle adventure:
This one’s really tough.  For the most part there’s no one adventure, one big trip per se, that qualifies.  It’s the little events that happen along the way that are memorable.  Here’re a few:

Riding Lake Superior’s Canadian shoreline we saw numerous signs, of all types and sizes, promoting caution due to moose.  We never saw a single moose, didn’t even ‘think’ we had.

Riding from Detroit, through Canada, reentering the U.S. at Wellesley Island, NY. The U.S. Customs officer did the obligatory questioning.  Of course, he asked us where we came from, what time we’d left Detroit, and then looked at his watch.  Watching his face go blank as he calculated how ‘efficiently’ we’d made the trip (triple-digits at times) was priceless.

Walking through a motel parking lot, seeing a couple rough looking motorcycles a few doors down from your own, one of your group says, “that motorcycle looks like sh*t,” then realizing the door was open as two Paul Bunyan size owners walk out.

Without question though, the most memorable motorcycle adventures are the ones where you have a couple good friends there with you, sharing the experience.  Sharing the experience with someone adds a whole new dimension.  I’ve had the best of times, and the worst of times, on a motorcycle.  Both are improved with a friend.

Best motorcycle advice or tip learned over the years:
Keep your machine, your gear, your mind and body well-maintained.  In 20 years of riding I have yet to be stranded by one of my bikes.  I attribute this mostly to good maintenance.  My gear is also well-kept, gloves replaced when necessary, rain gear at the ready, boots recently polished.  Maintain your mind through ongoing training; it’s amazing how often you get an opportunity to apply something just learned.  And, your body, you should exercise it.  You might not look any better, but it will make those 12-hour days more bearable.

No one can plan for a catastrophic event but almost everything else can be prevented through good maintenance.                           

What turns you on the most about motorcycling or why do you like to ride?
There are two fundamental things I enjoy most about motorcycling.  The social aspect is one:  Motorcycling is unique in that it’s highly personal yet you can easily share the experience, either with a partner or while socializing.  The man/machine bond is the other:  There are those times where for a few fleeting moments you are one with the machine, tackling challenges non-riders cannot even imagine, and for which you wouldn’t trade a second in time.

What do you get out of the HSTA?
Through events like our monthly meetings or the activities fellow members organize, the HSTA provides strong positive reinforcement for my motorcycling experience.  It provides friends to listen to stories; it provides a source of entertainment (their stories<g>); and, it provides friends with which to share the experience.  Motorcycling would be a lonelier place if it weren’t for the HSTA.

Best question that wasn’t asked:
Question:  Who are you, beyond being a motorcyclist?
Answer:  I am a U.S Navy veteran.  If you know who the character ‘Jonesy’ is in the movie Hunt for Red October, you know what I did in the Navy.  These days I am an IT-oriented business professional and consultant.  In parallel, my wife and I own a small but successful real estate investment firm.  I’ve deluded myself into thinking that I’m personable, entrepreneurial, and disciplined.