Happy Holidays 2011

Top 10: Reasons To Ride A Motorcycle by Marisa Miller Posted

Top 10: Reasons To Ride A Motorcycle by Marisa Miller

Victoria’s Secret supermodel, Marisa Miller has been busy walking the catwalk, posing for fashion editorials and recently finished a 2010 Harley Davidson campaign!
Clad in black leather and thigh high boots, Marisa posed on one of the big bad beasts and afterward sat down with AskMen.com to tell the men’s site her Top 10 Reasons To Ride A Motorcycle.

Marisa Miller

No.1 – Biking keeps you real

I think doing sports and riding motorcycles has made me more approachable and more real and down to earth.

No.2 – You’ll get closer to nature

Marisa Miller

In Northern California, I have so many great roads to ride on that are along the coast. A lot of Northern California is undeveloped coastline, so it’s really raw. Where I am — in Santa Cruz — you can drive and hour and a half south to Big Sur, and it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world. There are great hotels to stay at, great restaurants and the scenery is crazy. There are a ton of huge red woods, along with being on the cliff of the coast of California.

No.3 – You’ll actually know what a burnout is (the cool kind)

Some people do burnouts against the wall, which they say is the weak way to do it because you’re not holding the bike yourself. You basically have your front brake in so that the bike can’t go anywhere, and then you put your bike in gear and make the back tire spin out like it’s going 60 miles an hour. It starts smoking and it’s really loud and it looks really cool. I had this really badass stunt guy [for Harley-Davidson] teach me how to do it.

No.4 – The adrenaline rush alone is worth it

Even the sound, to me, of a bike is sexy. There’s a lot of energy, and it gets my heart pumping anytime I start up my bike.

No.5 – Biking keeps you young

My dad rode motorcycles when he was younger, and I got him back into it. He’s completely addicted, and he’s a different person now. My mom and I were laughing because he’s so much more social, he has this new group of friends, he’s losing weight, and he looks better. It’s funny because as you get older you often get in a rut of what you’re hobbies are and what you like to do.

No.6 – Cars are like cages; motorcycles are liberating

It’s a really cool feeling of freedom to get on your bike and go. I call cars cages. I’ve ridden on back-country roads that I’ve been on a thousand times in a car growing up. When you go on a bike, you see everything differently — you’re outside and you feel like you’re in the environment more.

No.7 – It’s a great way to meet new people

I think there’s a stereotype of what a biker is, and I think that’s one of the reasons people are shocked when they find out that I ride. I’ve been trying to break down the stereotypes and inspire new riders. I’ve actually met some great people who ride. You get this whole new group of friends and family when you start riding. I think it’s people who are looking for fun and adventure and to get out of a rut.

No.8 – Roadtrips are sexier on a bike

The romantic part about biking [with your partner] is that feeling of being a teenager again: Pack a few shirts, bring a toothbrush and just go. You don’t need a whole bunch of crap. It’s freeing to simply be low-maintenance and just go.

Marisa Miller

No.9 – Motorcycling gives you instant style
Leather is always sexy, and you have to wear leather when you ride a bike. It’s more for protection, but it also gets you some style points, I think. I’ve always been into motorcycle fashion, but now I know the function behind all the zippers on the jacket; they’re all really for something. You want your gear to be protective, and that’s why leather is good because you can move and it’s windproof. You dress in layers so you can peel it off.

Marisa Miller

No.10 – Women like tough guys

All girls like guys who are tough. Obviously, riding a motorcycle — I don’t want to say that there’s a bad boy quality — but there’s definitely a tough and macho thing about a guy who rides a motorcycles and that element of danger. That’s really sexy.
Riding a motorcycle will make you a Better Man because you get that adventurous side back in you. I think a lot of people struggle within their marriage or relationships or getting older because you end up stuck in a rut. This is something that will bring a whole new adventurous side to your life that you never thought you could do. It’s challenging, and I really like the challenge of it. That always builds self-esteem and confidence