Last spring, the pandemic had pretty much shut down New York City. Normal things like riding the subway instantly became a daunting task. Since I didn’t have a car and still needed to get around the city I did what any reasonable person would do and bought a motorcycle (sorry Mom). I had never been on a motorcycle before, not to mention the DMV was closed at the time due to Corona, so I couldn’t exactly get a license either.
I decided on a Royal Enfield Classic 500. It’s not a throwback or retro bike, the design just hasn’t changed much through time. Enfield claims to the oldest motorcycle brand that has been in continuous production. The company started in 1901 in the UK and the bikes are now made in India. It’s not a speed bike, and has no frills, but it’s exactly what I needed.
When the bike first arrived I went to the garage in Brooklyn at night when the roads were even more empty. At first it was riding to the stop sign and back, until eventually I felt more comfortable going around the block. I stuck to mostly riding around Brooklyn at night for a while until I felt I was ready to put it into regular use.
Riding across the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan is nothing short of spiritual. Riding my bike through the city became the perfect refuge during lockdown. Exploring the village, riding through Times Square, up to Central Park, through Harlem - I was grateful to have an outlet when things were looking pretty grim. Below are some photographs from my adventures in the city - I hope you enjoy them.
