Story by TREVOR DENIS

MY BUDDY DAN AND I had an amusing encounter while riding in the Appalachians last spring , where we enjoyed the region ’ s cornucopia of curvy roads . For flatlanders like us , it ’ s worth the interstate ride from Canada to spend a week wearing down the chicken strips on our tires in motorcycle nirvana .

On Appalachian backroads , there are often many motorcyclists enjoying the curves . While we ate a snack at a gas station , a fellow on a Harley Electra Glide saw our Ontario license plates and remarked that we were a long way from home . I mentioned his Wisconsin plate , and he said he and his wife were from northern Wisconsin . With Wisconsin being at about the same latitude as Ottawa , I noted that he was a long way from home as well .

He agreed , and we talked about the boring 900 miles of interstate to get here but that the fantastic roads made it worthwhile . We talked about roads we had ridden and roads we planned to ride . Other than them renting a local cabin to use as home base and us changing locations every night , their trip sounded a lot like ours .

All was well until the man ’ s wife came out of the store . She noticed our plates and also remarked about how far we had come . When I said that they had come almost as far , she said , “ Yeah , but we trailered .”

The man ’ s demeanor suddenly changed as his white lie was revealed . He quickly said that they had ridden the distance before . Unsympathetic to her husband ’ s posturing , the woman said it was easier and less tiring to tow their bike down .

We didn ’ t pile on , but the man ’ s pride had clearly been bruised , and he needed to be gone . There were a few awkward moments as he quickly packed up and got ready to leave . His wife was in no rush .

Once they roared off , Dan and I shared a good laugh . We imagined him chastising his wife over their helmet communicators for emasculating him in front of his new friends and her telling him he was being ridiculous .

We also wondered why he had “ forgotten ” to mention that they had towed their bike down . Is the stigma around trailering your bike really that big of a deal ? Maybe he thought Dan and I were hardcore riders , and he wanted to fit in . For the record , we aren ’ t . At least not anymore .

Twenty years ago , I had a Honda ST1100 , which was very comfortable for long-distance riding . I ’ d get on that bike in the morning and ride all day , pausing only for gas and bladder stops every 250 miles . It was easy for the bike and easy for me . The ST and I would laugh at the challenge of long-distance riding as if it were no more difficult than sitting on the couch watching a movie .

Back then , I frowned upon the thought of trailering my bike . I even had an official-looking Aerostich sticker on it that said , “ Warning : If this bike is on a trailer , it is being stolen . If this bike is in a truck or van , it is being stolen .”

My current touring bike , a 2010 Gold Wing , has that same sticker . The Wing is almost as good for putting down the miles as the ST1100 was , but I ’ m not . My body is showing its age and paying me back for years of mistreatment . I get aches and pains that – 20 years ago – only old people talked about . Now I ’ m one of those old people , or at least I feel like it . Now I understand why someone would trailer their bike to avoid a 900-mile interstate slog to an area with great roads . After all , vacation time is usually limited . Why beat yourself up riding on the interstate when you could cut the time by driving a tow vehicle and sharing driving duties ?

I can see myself doing that one day . I don ’ t think I would tow the Gold Wing though . It would have to be a lighter , sportier bike that would be more fun and easier to throw around in the corners . Something that would be worse than the Wing on the interstate to justify the trailering .

So Mr . Wisconsin Rider , please don ’ t feel embarrassed for trailering your bike to the nice riding areas . You do you , and don ’ t worry about what others think . I may see you at an interstate gas stop one day , both of us towing our bikes down to that area . No shame . But please , once you are riding in the area , do everyone a favor and don ’ t pretend like you rode there from Wisconsin . Doing that just makes it awkward for all of us .

Trevor Denis has been addicted to motorcycling since he learned to ride and twisted the forks on a Honda XL80 with an accidental jump when he was 11 . His thoughts and garage are mostly full of motorcycles . He lives in Ottawa , Ontario , Canada , with his understanding wife , two great kids , a cat , and a lazy dog .

66 / APRIL 2025 / RIDERMAGAZINE . COM