I have to admit something that I really don't want to. Even though I'm the boss at RideApart, I currently don't own a motorcycle. I know, I know, sacrilege. Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor were giving me shit for it just the other week, though I sort of relished that razzing.
But I'm currently in between motorcycles, with the top contenders for whatever I pick up next being Royal Enfield's new Himalayan 450, some sort of electric dirt bike, or a Ducati Hypermotard. That's a wide swatch of genres, but even if I had one in my garage, none of them would've worked for a trip I'd been planning for the better part of six months.
I speak of course about my all American trek to build my Christensen Arms rifle.
I needed American iron for that story. I needed something that was built right here in the good ole US of A. And for that, I had two choices: Indian or Harley. Luckily for me, EagleRider presented the solution to that equation by dropping into my inbox and asking if I'd like to snag a motorcycle for a couple days. I happily obliged, as it'd allow me to see how the company is doing since its rebrand, see how the rental process works, and get out onto the open road utilizing one of the brand's Harley-Davidson Street Glides to head down south.
And it was nice, easy, and fun, apart from the person who opened a car door and partially damaged the Street Glide's panniers. But even that was pretty simple to work through, as I'd purchased Eagle Rider's insurance policy. But let's talk about the process and the ride before we get to that.
Cooridinating with EagleRider in terms of bike selection is a simple process, as the brand has a menu of available motorcycles at any given location through its website. You just pick your location, pick you dates, and see what's available to you. I originally requested a Road Glide, but my dates changed, and that wasn't available at the time. The EagleRider team then reached out and said a Street Glide was available, which I took.
Pickup was pretty much exactly how most rentals go, as you fork over your license, insurance, sign your life away, walk around the vehicle to inspect for any defects, and get a quick tutorial on the vehicle's operation. And while I normally wouldn't get any additional insurance for anything, usually letting my own insurance handle it, riding someone else's bike in an area where things get kicked up on a fairly routine basis—I've replaced three windshields in the last two years—I got the extra protection for a total of $207 for my three days on the road.
And I'm glad I did...
My trek southward wasn't until the day after I picked up the Harley, but on the day, the winds picked up, the weather got cold, and I was chased by looming rain storms all day. However, my stint in the saddle was one of clear skies in the morning as I snaked through Utah's mountains toward Christensen Arms in Gunnison. The rolling foothills and lush farm fields, blooming from a great winter's snowfall and early warm Spring, made the trip all the more beautiful as the Harley rumbled beneath me.
It's cockpit is one of sublime comfort, as the seat is soft, the bars are perfectly sized for my meaty hands, and the fairing provided an excellent wall against the oncoming winds that would later push me side to side, and make the rifle feel like a boat's sail. And it was awesome to be able to just start and stop when I wanted, with no real set schedule, where I could stop, fuel up with some gas, take a few pictures, and eat some Sour Patch Kids.
That said, it was during one of my stops where some neanderthal decided to not look where they'd parked or how close they parked to me, opened up their vehicle's door, and smashed into the side of the right side pannier, breaking the lock clasp shroud. It was a minor incident and didn't affect my ride nor the ability for the pannier to stay closed. But it was annoying and covered by the EagleRide insurance I purchased. And the folks behind the counter when I returned the bike weren't too concerned with it given me getting the insurance.
The rest of the trip, however, was one where I could use the Harley to fulfill this insane dream of riding with a rifle strapped to my back through the canyons, foothills, and mountains of Utah. It was surreal, stupid, and most of all, just a joy to be able to do. And I recall a moment while getting closer to my home that I'll never forget.
There are only two ways in and out of my little hamlet, and both are through snaking canyons. The route I'd chosen back, however, is one that resembles the Grand Canyon, as it's this deep, jagged rut cut through the mountains by millions of years of water and tectonic activity. Glistening waterfalls litter the canyon's sides, and even in May and June, snow is still present in many of the steep chutes that funnel snowmelt into the Provo River at its base.
Rain had just begun to fall in little speckles, dotting my helmet. And I could feel the steam coming off those droplets as they hit the bike's hot exhaust.
Normally, a rider and rainfall don't get along. But in the moment, in this staggeringly beautiful place, with a rifle I'd built myself, riding along on this rumbly, rowdy Harley-Davidson, streaking across the West, everything just sorta clicked and the normal annoyance of rain faded into the background of a truly wild day. How many people will ever experience this? How many people would even attempt this? How many people get to enjoy the views I'm seeing right now in this moment?
It was so good, I wish I could go back.
Obviously, you don't have to use EagleRider to enact crazy ideas like mine, but you can if you want to, and I love that it's an option for those who, like me, are between motorcycles, or want to explore a new place on the back of a bike instead of some boring rental car. And you can either book a motorcycle in advance or just turn up on the day of at any of the brand's countless locations and rent one without issue. And if Harley's ain't your thing, the brand's expansion into Yamaha, Ducati and others should be cause for you to check them out since the rebrand. They even have UTV rentals now, too.
I do need a new motorcycle, yes, but EagleRider made it pretty easy to continue riding while one wasn't in my garage at present. Would I do it again? Most freakin' definitely. And it wouldn't even have to be to build another rifle. I'd just do it for that moment in the canyon again.
