What is a Motorcycle Blog About Anyway?

With twenty-plus years at the helm of a motorcycle blog, you’d think at this point that I would have full confidence in what actually makes up a good personal motorcycle blog. But the truth is, I don’t.

Or, maybe I do.

I don’t know.

motorcycle blog - yamaha fz07 oink light up R in riverhead new york

Because even as I write this, I think that writing a motorcycle blog all comes down to the author’s personal motorcycle experience. And then I quickly find counterpoints to that thought.

A rider’s motorcycle experience – boy, talk about something that is variable, huh? Not only is my experience different than anyone else’s, it can differ greatly from my own prior experiences year to year.

A motorcycle blog, at least in the way that I write one, seems to be something akin to time-marking. It is the story of a life written in small fragments and captured in snapshots. A life that is explored by way of the motorcycle.

In so many ways, throughout my ongoing story the motorcycle itself is it just a supporting actor for the protagonist. At times, the motorcycle is a visual metaphor or a stand-in. What else could it be when the story is the journey of the self?

When you stop for a moment to consider how much your life can change from one year to the next, you can see why it may be hard to define what a motorcycle blog is, or how to write a good one.

Maybe other bloggers don’t go through these types of internal conversations about their own blogs? Some authors write impersonally about motorcycle events or product reviews and that’s it. The vibe or concept never changes and they are satisfied and confident in their direction. The expectation from their readers is that they will get “x” and that’s what the author delivers every time.

The thought has occurred to me that when there is a commercial element or the exchange of goods or money, that might help to limit the focus of what a motorcycle blog delivers.

But when you are just writing about yourself, in all of your different iterations over the years – who knows what might pop up next? You may gain and lose readers as their interest in your interests waxes and wanes.

And in the end, what do the answers to any of these questions I have for myself about writing a motorcycle blog matter? Would the answers prompt me to change direction, shift my focus, write a whole separate blog? After all this time the answer is likely, “no.”

With twenty-plus years in, I am an old dog. Though there have been dalliances with social media, video, meet-ups, and hangouts over the years – I don’t have any new tricks. Year over year I come back to the same old formula: riding around, snapping photos of the world as I see it, and posting it on my blog. I guess it’s what I do.

Fuzzygalore

Rachael is the whimsical writer behind the 20+ year old Girlie Motorcycle Blog. As a freelance blogger, she is on a mission to inspire laughter, self-examination, curiosity, and human connection. Girlie Motorcycle Blog can be found on several Best Motorcycle Blog lists.

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5 Responses

  1. Frank says:

    Been following you since aol-chats. Remember you stuffing me on Bear Mountain. Your writing is always engaging and interesting, hope all is well!

  2. Steel says:

    Thank goodness you do write about LIFE, and not just about motorcycling. I have followed your blog for many years and hope to for many more.

  3. At first, I thought of you as a moto-blogger. But then, I came to think of you as person who also rides a motorcycle, has similar interests, writes really well, and usually has cool stuff to post about. It’s not just that you write well, you share introspective and thought-provoking stuff. I haven’t been ready many blogs at all lately. It’s been a difficult few years for me. I’m glad you’re still in the game.

    In today’s post, I think this paragraph was spot-on: “A motorcycle blog, at least in the way that I write one, seems to be something akin to time-marking. It is the story of a life written in small fragments and captured in snapshots. A life that is explored by way of the motorcycle.”

    I’ve tossed around the idea of killing my blog altogether. Part of the reason being that I think I’m done with motorcycles. But the blog really does serve as a visual, historical marker. So I’ll keep it going, for now.

    Thanks for sharing your life with us over the years.

  4. Chris says:

    Not sure how to define a motorcycle blog, but you and not an old dog, you’re just experienced

  5. I know what you mean and also how a “Motorcycle Blog” can wander..been there done that! My feeling is that if it evolves in a way that you are happy with and if your writing continues to satisfy you, that all is good. Keep at it, I’ll keep reading!
    Dookes

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