10/02/2026
“I’m Taylor. I’m 32 & a working mom of three from Omaha, Nebraska. My 2000 Sportster 883 is the machine that introduced me to the two-wheeled world back in 2023. I initially began as a passenger princess, but I knew that in time, I’d be the one cranking the throttle... though a surprise love child postponed that for a bit.
I eventually took the new riders course at a local dealership in April 2025. I was still breastfeeding at the time and had to make the class wait while I pumped. I didn’t get out much that first summer since the babe was still little, but in Spring and Summer 2026, I rode everywhere I could. With the busyness of motherhood, my rides were often limited to a coffee shop run or my rec volleyball league, plus the occasional day trip with my husband when we could make it happen.
Following the call for both some solitude and a getaway, I recently embarked on my first major roadtrip. I took 7 days to travel from from Omaha to Jacumba, CA to attend Jacumba Breakdown and bang my head to Weedeater. I was not qualified to ride a motorcycle 1500 miles, let alone a hardtail; but I think that’s my middle finger to imposter syndrome.
Waiting for perfection will leave you waiting your whole life. At some point, you gotta just start doing things scared, unprepared, & under-qualified. Just bite off more than you can chew and chew like f**k. Motherhood, corporate world, existing in this Anthropocene, it’s all so mental. This journey required full embodiment. Riding a hardtail gets me in my body and feels like such a raw, unfiltered path to being human in a world that tries to make everything more palatable.
We never know when our day will come, or the world will blow up - so do scary things with a smile on your face, and don’t let motherhood make you a martyr. Our kids deserve to see us fully alive. For me, riding will now always be fuel for a rich, corporeal experience.” - Taylor Leigh
