Bikers are a unique breed inasmuch as they often find a favorite ride they will stick with for decades ? even if they buy other bikes over the course of their lifetimes. That favorite ride is one that not only feels good going down the road, but also creates those special memories bikers are fond of recounting. Such is the case with a Michigan biker whose favorite ride is a 1971 Triumph Bonneville.
West Michigan's FOX 17 recently told the story of a man named Doug who, with the help of a friend, restored the Triumph after many hours of labor-intensive work. Unfortunately, Doug's friend died in a wreck after the restoration was completed. The triumph was stolen from Doug's yard just weeks later.
Check out the video of the Fox 17 story right here.
As you can imagine, the theft of the bike was much more personal to Doug because of its connection to his best friend. However, the fact that someone stole his beloved ride did not dampen his enthusiasm for the bike. When police finally recovered it, Doug was looking at his Triumph Bonneville as a collection of parts in boxes. He told FOX 17 that the engine was still intact and that the thieves hadn't touched any of the important mechanical parts.
Doug set out to rebuild and restore his Bonneville once again. Today he proudly rides his favorite bike as a testament to the passion he and his best friend once shared for riding. In his case, Doug's Triumph certainly lived up to its name.
Common among Bikers
Though Doug's story might be a little unusual in the details, the theme is very common among bikers in the US. They all share a common bond of brotherhood along with a love of the open road. They pour their hearts and souls into their bikes, their friendships, and their love of riding, to the point that it's difficult to dampen their enthusiasm even in the darkest of times. If you've never been a biker, it's probably hard to comprehend.
As far as their machines go, many bikers consider them an extension of who they are. That's why you see so many different kinds of machines on the road. There are as many different bikes as there are biker personalities, each one of them unique in its own way. In fact, bikers will tell you that you can learn a lot about a brother or sister by the machine they've chosen.
Nowhere is a biker's love for his or her machine more evident than at the various biker rallies held around the country every year. Whether it's Daytona, Sturgis, Hollister, Laconia or Red River, bikers come from all over to share their love of riding and everything attached to it. You can see some of the most unique machines in the world at these events.
Our hats are off to the many dedicated bikers, like Doug, around the country. Riding is something they believe in, and something they are willing to invest themselves in completely. They are not about to let a theft, or anything else for that matter, to deter them from a lifestyle they love.
You can check out our complete range of Biker Rally patches by clicking on the link.
