2025 Triumph Tiger 900

If you’ve been listening to theMangoTimes Podcast, you know my word for 2025 is Adventure. (Honestly, it’s probably been my word for life, but now it’s official, which basically means I bought gear). And in the spirit of said adventure, it was time to upgrade the motorcycle lineup in my garage.

I had two choices: (1) I could add a fourth bike, rent a separate garage for the motorcycles and Andy’s 30, then break that news to Kendra, or (2) trade in “Stella”—the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650—and consolidate my dream. I chose the smart route and traded in the bike.

“Hobbes” - In Front of El Capitan, Yosemite Valley, CA

Now don’t get me wrong—I love riding “The Last Mango” (my Honda 125 trail bike) through the trails of my local foothills. And “Ernie” (my Royal Enfield Classic 350) is my go-to for cruising around downtown to my favorite coffee shops and taco trucks. But I needed something with legs—something that could go the distance and disappear up a fire trail all on one bike.

So on a recent trip to the Bay Area, I made a pit stop at Spirit Motorcycles in San Jose. I told myself I was just browsing. Just a little window shopping and a flirt with adventure. One hour later, I had test-sat, test-dreamed, and test-justified my way onto a Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro.

This bike? It has both the guts for long hauls and the power for off-grid exploration. Dirt roads? Check. Creek beds? Bring ‘em. Old fire trails in the Sierra Nevada? Say less.

And here’s the kicker: when I got home, I plugged everything I wanted from a new bike into ChatGPT (because my go-to source of help in my midlife crisis has become my favorite AI resource), and lo and behold—it recommended the exact same bike. Validation by algorithm. That’s all the divine confirmation I needed.

So allow me to introduce Hobbes, my 2025 Triumph Tiger GT Pro. Why Hobbes? Because this is a machine built for philosophical pondering, wild imagination, and getting into just the right amount of trouble. Just like my favorite comic tiger.

Now before you ask—yes, my wife Kendra is amazing. She understands my strange obsession with two-wheeled therapy. No, she still won’t get on the bike with me. And yes, I completely support her decision to stay on her feet while I navigate a new piece of unridden blacktop.

The Road Ahead

Later this year, Hobbes and I are heading north for a long ride up to Missoula, Montana to visit my son. From there, we’ll cut across to the Pacific Northwest, wind down from Washington through Oregon, and then roar down the California shoreline. Classic country music in the Big Sky country, Podcasts through the PNW, and frequent stops for good coffee and pipe tobacco—it’s the holy trinity of a dream ride for me.

Perched on top of Sonora Pass looking over the Stanislaus Forest

I recently read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, and there’s a quote that I saved for just this blog post:

“The only Zen you find on tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there.”

There’s something about that quote I like. I realize I can spend all my time chasing adventure across states or my whole lifetime—but what really matters is who you are on the journey. At the same time, this ride is also intended to be a reset. A way to remember who I am and get clear on who I want to be as I step into the second half of life.

So to my fellow wanderers, saunterers and seekers of the scenic route—here’s to open roads, unexpected turns, and becoming more ourselves with every mile. May your soul become just a little freer with every mile.

Quietly making noise,
Fletch