THE MOTO LIFE

By PETER JONES

February has a bleak meaning for me , having lived too much of my life in the winter wonderland of Central New York … or rather the frozen wasteland of Central New York . It ’ s cold , it ’ s windy , it ’ s snowy , and there is no sky , just a low , gray , heavy ceiling . Elsewhere , others might have a view of the heavens and a warming sun . A sun ripe with vitamin D . A sun that illuminates hope .

Yeah , we don ’ t have that here in February . There are colder places in America – and wetter places – but Central New York ’ s special blend of cold , snow , rain , and grayness takes the prize . Do a search for “ snowiest city in America ” and see what nine out of 10 websites say . I dare you . It ’ s not Fairbanks , Alaska . It ain ’ t Buffalo either .

In Syracuse , we don ’ t have earthquakes or tornados or hurricanes . We have blizzards . Heavy snow is so common here that snow days – when schools close to help keep children from dying in storms – are included in schoolyear scheduling to ensure that there are enough days of attendance to meet state requirements . The bonus for kids is that when the snow days aren ’ t all used up , the school year ends early . The bummer for kids is that it must snow at least 18 inches in six hours for there to be any noticeable effect on travel or commerce . Hate winter or love it , Syracusans all know how to drive in snow .

February is when Central New York motorcyclists try to remember when they last rode a motorcycle . Or even heard a motorcycle . It ’ s when people who live here start to wonder if spring and the sun and green grass and robins will ever return . People begin to suspect that sunny days have gone forever to that mysterious place where lost socks and the children who followed the Pied Piper end up . In February , the concept of spring and summer become unbelievable faint memories , as ungraspable as childhood dreams .

Up until 2021 , we used to have a mid-February motorcycle event at the Center of Progress building at the New York State Fairgrounds . The Cycle Expo Super Swap gave us a reason to live , a reason to believe , a renewed hope that one day our hearts and our feet would thaw . Being at the New York State Fairgrounds also gave the event an air of motorcycling excitement because , up until late last century , the horse track at the fairgrounds – known as the Syracuse Mile – was where the longest-running

dirt-track races took place . They ’ ll never happen there again because the track is long gone .

The Cycle Expo Super Swap was an all-brand event that clubs ( gangs ), roadracers , off-road riders , and every other type of rider would attend in tranquil harmony . A few hours of peace , love , and motorcycles . Together , we were winter refugees , huddled in our heated temple of two wheels , our reprieve from the buffeting , blistering cold of endless winter days .

I recently looked on the Expo ’ s website to find this year ’ s event schedule and learned the site has been dormant since late 2020 . I called the promoter , whom I ’ ve known casually for a couple centuries , to ask him when the event will take place in 2024 . He burned my ear with a colorful three-minute rant without knowing or caring who might be on the other end of the line . In short , it ’ s not happening . Ever again .

Without the comfort of a heated garage , I have finally found a winter sanctuary of my own : my house . I had mostly figured it out by the time a new friend stopped by , exclaiming as he stepped through my back door , “ I now know you ’ re not married .” I asked how he knew that . “ There ’ s a motorcycle engine on your kitchen floor .”

Well , he was right , but he was also wrong . For the record , I was once married and at the time had a Moto Morini 500 Sport in grand condition in our living room . Having a motorcycle in the house is not why I became unmarried , and she loved that bike .

I hadn ’ t fully woken up to the usefulness of my house as a motorcycle workshop until another friend kept telling me I needed to heat my garage , a cost I cannot currently afford . So , a complete motorcycle might soon be in my living room again , but for servicing , not to pretty up the place .

I put the sonic cleaner in my basement , which has a heated floor , something I didn ’ t know I needed until living with it for two winters now . So that ’ s where I ’ m cleaning the carburetors for my Bimota Mantra . The carburetor rebuild will happen on my dining room table . With God as my witness , that bike will be ridden this year . Soon , the Honda CB400F ’ s wheels will be in the house . Fitting the new tubes and tires I have for it are the final touches necessary for that bike to also be on the highway .

I don ’ t know why it took me so long to realize I actually have two garages and just happen to sleep , shower , and eat in one of them . It ’ s now a happier winter for me .

12 / FEBRUARY 2024 / RIDERMAGAZINE . COM