When my daughter was little, maybe six or seven, I took her outside on a summer night and we climbed a ladder up to the roof of our house to look at the moon and stars. I’ll never forget it; she looked at me with wide eyes and said, “are we allowed to?” I said, […]

I’m not by nature a collector of things. I’m actually somewhat of a minimalist and don’t much care for clutter. Tonight, though, I find myself in the garage, on my sofa, looking around at the assortment of items and motorcycles that decorate and beautify the one place, off the bike, where I find the most […]

I had other ideas for this column, but today I find myself unable to write a single word about anything other than the loss of my dear friend Bob Walden, who died tragically in a motorcycle accident in August in Virginia. Bob and I met through RoadRUNNER after his complimentary letter about one of my […]

In this collection of essays, motorcycle journalist Bud Miller touchingly and eloquently shares introspections and lessons learned during his more than 200,000 miles traveled on a motorcycle. Although his writings originated from the metaphorical waypoints visited along his riding journeys, riders and nonriders alike will find plenty to enjoy in these meditations on life, loss, […]

I recently met a young man named Matthew at my garage who came to rent my Bonneville T100 for the day. He said he had grown up in my area and now lived out of state but wanted a bike to ride for the day with his old riding buddy. We got together through a […]

In this 48-page collection of essays, Waypoints, Volume I: Zen Motorcyclist, motojournalist Bud Miller touchingly and eloquently shares introspections and lessons learned during his more than 200,000 miles traveled on a motorcycle. Although his writings originated from the metaphorical waypoints visited along his riding journeys, riders and nonriders alike will find plenty to enjoy in these […]

It seems like every February, when I begin working on my article for the May/June issue, I start this chronicle by saying it’s always the hardest one to write, and this year was no different. I awoke to an ice storm, which kept me at home. If you’re anything like me, you can get a […]

A few columns ago I was happy to announce my marriage to Dawn. She was raised in southern South Carolina, where her parents still reside. I had spoken with Dawn’s mother and father, Beverly and Jim, prior to our marriage, though we had never met. Shortly after our elopement, Dawn and I planned a trip […]

Our photojournalist and dear friend Bud Miller recently tied the knot with the love of his life and we are all so very happy for him. What could be more beautiful than a story intertwined with love and motorcycles on Valentine’s Day? Check out Bud’s latest Zen Motorcyclist article, “It’s What We Do,” also featured […]

A few years ago I wrote a column titled Four Legs, Two Wheels and a Grateful Heart (July/Aug ’15), in which I spoke of a new motorcycle and a new housemate (my dog Spud) that both came to me during a time when I was broken, physically and emotionally. Each served to help get me […]

I’ve had the idea for this essay in the back of my mind for what seems like years now. It’s a natural part of the independence and self-reliance of motorcycling to want to do at least some of your own maintenance. It’s that way for me even given my less than stellar mechanical aptitude. Dad […]

This year marks two anniversaries for me, one joyous, one tragic. I’ll celebrate 20 years of motorcycle riding (and nearly 250,000 miles) and also commemorate the 20 years since the premature death of my father, Mr. Bud Miller. This is also the third year since the purchase of another home in my beloved Hellertown, PA, […]

“So, raise a glass to 
turnings of the season
 and watch it as it arcs 
towards the sun” —Don’t Carry It All, 
The Decemberists   It’s the beginning of February as I write this. February in eastern Pennsylvania is usually a bitter month for me and this is always the most difficult chronicle to write […]

    Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors and the people there see you differently too. Coming back where you started is not the same as never leaving. —Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of […]

My brother and I recently attended a cars and coffee event at SteelStacks, the old Bethlehem, PA, steel site. A gearhead from birth, he was driving a Dodge Challenger, his dream muscle car. I met him on my V-Strom. I had been toying with the idea of getting a new ride, and after hearing me […]