The author’s trusty ?81 Suzuki GS250 with route map taped to gas tank.

?What"! You?re crazy, son. I can?t believe it,? said my dad after he heard my story.

He should know. He?s owned and customized 1,000cc Kawasaki speed machines forever. I?ve seen them in the garage on stands, rear wheels floating in repose like Achilles? wings waiting to hit redline after redline as they run up through the gears.

But, I didn?t ride one of his bikes from Santa Barbara to Mammoth Lakes, California, for a friend?s weekend wedding in 2015. I didn?t have the experience. Instead, I took the only motorcycle I had ? a recently acquired 1981 Suzuki GS250 with low miles and all original parts.

A bike-savvy friend saw an ad for it and said, ?Buy it. For $500 it?s a deal.? And, it was!
A local shop gave it a once-over and I told them, ?I?m going to Mammoth, please make sure it?s safe.? With an oil change and fuel system flush they gave their blessing. They didn?t seem concerned about the old tires, chain and brakes.

With a duffel bag and a backpack I left Santa Barbara Friday at noon in late August. Door to door this trip is 370 miles, around seven hours with stops. My route started south on Highway 1/U.S. 101 along the Pacific coast until I turned inland at Ventura. Riding through the dense orange groves in the Santa Clara River valley on Highway 126 filled me with ecstasy. Fruity smells wafted through my vented helmet. My eyes kept drifting to large eucalyptus, creeksid...