My friends told me later that they thought I had jumped off the bike, that’s how fast it happened. Thankfully, I did not jump off of the bike. I did slide my rear end off the seat and into the wind. My left thigh, close to the knee, replaced it. My right knee and most of my body weight (185 lbs) was being thrown into the wind. The entire time, my right hand was tapping the front break and my right foot was tapping the rear. All I needed was one taste of traction, and I got it.

I whipped back onto the Interstate and slid back into my seat. A few miles down the road I stopped to refuel my bike, and check my shorts. The shorts were clean thank you, but the bike was thirsty.

My friends were still pale when they got out of the truck and came to talk to me. If they are to be believed, and I do by the way, I was inches from the center barrier before I pulled out. They also stated that the wind hit them so hard in the truck, the Durango felt like it had been broad sided. They said that they couldn’t imagine what I had felt.

The whole event only took seconds from beginning to end, but it was a lifetime to me. One momentary hesitation would have kept me from being here now. I know this and I am humbled by it.

I was not, however, traumatized by it. I finished my ride to Miami, and I continue to ride on the streets and Interstates. While I ride, now more than ever, I keep an open mind. I wave to everybody on two wheels, not just other cruisers.

You see, while riding a Harley, a crotch-rocket technique saved my life. Go figure.

John Wolfe is the editor of 10th Power Media’s American motorcycle magazines. He can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it