I’m an IT professional in my 40s and I came to motorcycling in my mid-30s. I bought my first bike in March 2002, a brand new Triumph Bonneville America. Since then I’ve designed and fabricated a few parts, tried out lots of gear and accessories, put on a custom paintjob and racked up about 45,000 miles (as of 03/2010). I’ve been to British Columbia several times, I made the obligatory Sturgis trip in year one, toured all over western Montana and Idaho, and taken longer trips to southern California, Prescott, AZ and Seattle, WA.

All of the content prior to 2009 was originally posted on my personal blog at JohnBedard.com, and migrated over here where I will posting all future motorcycling related content. I will constantly be evolving this site over time. I don’t believe in “the big launch.”

My nickname was given to me by a friend and fellow motorcyclist the first day I had my bike home. Basically, the formula goes something like this: fat guy + British motorcycle = “Friar.” He said if I bought a Japanese bike it would’ve been “Buddha.” Somehow the nickname stuck. As nicknames go, it ain’t bad.