"Love at First Sight"

Usually there's a normal progression that people follow when learning to ride and buy motorcycles. You start on a smaller less expensive bike then as you gain experience and knowledge you move up in size and cost. For most people this is beyond a doubt the best way for them to enter the motorcycling world. Too many times inexperienced riders make the fatal mistake of buying and riding a bike that's too big or powerful or that they're not ready for or able to handle. There are plenty of exceptions to this rule and many people who don't use the step-up method do very well starting on a big bike. GREG BOYER is one of them.

Greg got his introduction to the motorcycling world by doing what kids do best, playing in his parent's front yard. Ten-year-old Greg was out front when his older brother Bernard's friend pulled up to the curb. Clayton Neal announced his approach to the Boyer house with a roar on his Ironhead Sportster. Needless to say both Clayton and his bike made quite an impression on young Greg. He still isn't quite sure which struck him more, the noise the bike was making or the sight of all that chrome. It was the first time in his life Greg had come within arm's reach of a motorcycle. Seeing bikes pass you while you're riding in the family car is one thing but, being able to actually touch and sit on one ins another. This first up close and personal experience was something Greg would never forget especially after Clayton too him for a ride . . .

When Greg was fifteen he and a few of his friends decided they were going to learn how to ride by using a neighbor's bike. This was one of those adventures that you look back on and wonder what you were thinking. Once in a while they would get a little advice and instruction from licensed riders. This definitely wasn't the best way to learn but it got them started. That was about it for Greg's riding for the next twenty-one years. Little things like marriage, children and a growing career as a musician eliminated all but an occasional though about riding. A professional musician since he was fifteen, Greg makes his living playing trombone and touring with famous acts like P-Funk, George Clinton, Maceo Parker and most recently Prince.

For several years while paying his dues and getting his music career going, Greg worked as a bicycle messenger to make ends meet. Things were tight when it came to money and time while trying to raise a family and pursue his music career. The one thing he could afford to do was indulge his athletic side riding bicycle and competing as an amateur in regional roadraces. The competition was stiff and just finishing a race was quite an accomplishment in itself. Greg raced for five years and still rides today but only for exercise and pleasure.

Three years ago the riding bug spotted Greg and proceeded to infect him with incurable riding fever again. After a divorce he took the cure and bought a brand new 2001 Harley-Davidson Low Rider with a 1450cc motor. Clayton certainly left his mark on Greg but after a year of research the Low Rider won out over the Sportster. The only problem was the fact that it was a standard bike with nothing to make it standout as his bike. Within a couple of months Greg began his version of personalizing the Low Rider. He took his time getting started because he wanted to give a lot of though to exactly how his bike should look. He wanted to make sure everything was just right because he plans to keep the Low Rider. How many times have you said yourself or heard your friends say they still wish they had their first bike?

Those two months of thinking and planning were put to good use. The paint scheme is his brainchild and was brought to life by Joe Cash of Dale City, Virginia. C&C Cycles of Crofton, Maryland did the bulk of the customizing work adding all the bolt-ons and after market parts Greg wanted, including the Vance and Hines 2 into 1 Pro Pipe exhaust system. The Vance and Hines guarantees this Low Rider won't be sneaking up on anyone. The custom wheels came from Custom Thunder in Chantilly, Virginia. Greg is happy and the finished product is exactly what he visualized.

Someday Greg wants to take two very special trips on a motorcycle. The first will be to tour the Rocky Mountains and the second is to ride the West Virginia Turnpike from end to end. The one concession Greg plans to make for these trips are to do them aboard a full dresser touring bike. Nothing beats comfort for making road trips more enjoyable for both him and his wife Dana. Will he customize the dresser? Of course he will, just not to the extent he's gone with the Low Rider.

Greg doesn't think his Low Rider looks good enough to compete in the big bike shows but he says he might enter it in some of the smaller ones that many of the motorcycle clubs put on each year. Besides he didn't customize it for other people he did it to satisfy himself. The only thing he really wants to do for now is just find enough free time to ride the darn thing.