The Allure of Motorcycling

What is the allure of the Motorcycle?

You can’t quite put your finger on it. All you know is that you feel it as soon as you lay your eyes on a motorcycle. That all-encompassing lure pulls you closer, tempting you to straddle the saddle and let the throttle go for all it’s worth. Your mind is awash with visions of the open road promising miles of riding ahead.

What is it about motorcycles that give them such an irresistible allure?

Why do you feel drawn toward every bike you see?

We may not have all of the answers. But a new exhibit named the Lure of Motorcycling may go a long way to explaining why bikers are so passionate about their vehicles of choice.

What is the "Lure of Motorcycling"?

The Lure of Motorcycling is an exhibition hosted at Ohio’s Crawford Auto Aviation Museum that gives you a chance to get up close and personal with some fantastic bikes. Opened on April 16, the exhibit will sit in the museum until the end of September.

According to the museum’s marketing and program manager, John Lutsch, the exhibit is intended to both honor and tell the story of Ohio’s extensive motorcycling community.

The exhibit features some of the most important motorcycles that have ties to the state. If you have a chance to visit, you’ll get to see adventure, racing, and touring bikes, each of which has a story to tell.

Come for the Stories

Stories are powerful. They engage and excite us. Stories make us feel, which is why they’re the primary medium through which we communicate.

Every single bike showcased in the Lure of Motorcycling exhibition has a story to tell.

Take the special racing bike built by Tyler Malinky.

An Ohio native, Tyler loved the sensation of speed that riding provides him that he poured his heart and soul into designing a bike that would make him faster than any other.

And that’s exactly what happened.

Tyler broke two world speed records on his bike while riding it at Bonneville Speed Week. And thanks to the Lure of Motorcycling exhibit, you’ll get a chance to explore every tweak and design choice he made.

Or what about the 1929 Indian 101 Scout that sits high on a pedestal in the exhibit’s center?

This wonderful bike was raced by a Worcester resident in Ohio for over 20 years. But eventually, the AMA wouldn’t allow the bike to be raced anymore, leading to the owner selling it.

About 50 years later, the man’s wife bought the pieces of the bike as an anniversary present. The family re-assembled the bike, restoring it to its original beauty in the process.

Come For the Exhibits and Stay for the Story

Those are just a couple of examples of the many stunning bikes you will see if you pay a visit to the Lure of Motorcycling exhibit. If you’re a gear head, the chance to see some classic bikes on display is more than enough to tempt you through the doors. But it’s the stories behind these fantastic machines that offer the most insight into the true allure the motorcycles hold.

What's your story?

Every motorcycle rider has their own unique story to tell. For Eagle Leather's Founder and President, Mike Toursal, it began when he saw and rode his first motorcycle a CMG. That experience turned into a lifelong passion for motorcycles and the community. 

Read the rest of Mike's story or, tell us your story by commenting below.