Many of you may have seen his motorcycle parked right outside the south six senior entrance. You may have even seen him zoom past while leaving the campus after school. For Sion’s Catholic Social Teachings professor Paul Kramschuster, his BMW RT motorbike is more than just a mode of transportation, it is his way of reconnecting with himself, his family and his freedom.
“Riding a motorcycle is like looking at what Ireland is on a video. In a car you’re trapped in a box, so you’re not a part of the experience of being outside,” Kram said. “When you’re driving a motorcycle there are sounds that you can hear and smells that you can smell, plus you feel free. Really it’s the closest thing to flying besides actually flying. There is a sense of adventure as well as freedom.”
A beloved educator and personality in the Sion community, Kramschuster has roughly 35 plus years of biking experience. Having ridden dirt bikes as a kid, Kramschuster bought his first motorcycle after his senior year of highschool. Since then he has owned four motorcycles in his biking career
“It’s second nature for me now,” Kram said. “When I first got my motorcycle my father said that as long as I lived under his roof I couldn’t own one. But suddenly after I purchased my first bike I could live at home again.”
Though he is a pro, Kram explains that motorbike riding comes with dangerous risks no matter how much experience one may have. To help prevent injury during crashes Kram recommends that all motorcyclists wear the proper gear, he also urges the new generation of motorcycle riders to have caution while driving on busy roads.
“Just driving to work on my motorcycle, not in a morbid way, I would think ‘oh this could be my last day. I could die.’ It’s just that dangerous. Although that’s true in a car accident as well, It gives you an awareness of how close death is to everyone, but it also gives you an appreciation of life and family,” Kram said. “it’s important to have good boots, good helmets, good jackets with special armor in them, good gloves, and there are even motorcycle pants.”
Motorcycle riding isn’t for everyone, but here are a few tips and tricks for beginner motorcyclists from the veteran himself.
“The best way to learn how to ride a motorcycle is from experience. Although I would encourage anyone who is genuinely interested to enroll in a motorbike riding class,” Kram said. “Also, you should never get on a motorcycle with anyone who doesn’t have 20+ years of experience, and don’t get on a motorcycle with someone who does have 20+ years of experience unless your mom and dad know them because that’s just inappropriate.”
Everyone knows the stereotypical motorcycle rider and experience, but it can be so much more than that.
“There’s this mystique about motorcycles. The blue highways and the sense of being free, and I do believe you can get that on almost any motorcycle,” Kram said. “Plus I know every single beautiful side road. From north of the river past 210 to all the way down south in a 50 mile area. On top of that it’s always a fun way to spend time with my wife. Sometimes even on the way to work I don’t want to stop at school, I just want to keep driving.”
