Episode 48 - Ted Kettler
As adolescent introductions to motorcycling go, author and podcaster Ted Kettler’s first two-wheel experience probably isn’t unique. But, as he tells host Mark Long on this episode of the “Driven to Ride” podcast, that moment in time more than half a century ago left an indelible mark on his consciousness—in the shape of Harley-Davidson’s iconic bar-and-shield logo, no less.
“I can remember standing on the front seat of my mother’s car,” he laughs. “We were at a traffic light and a motorcycle pulled up in the lane next to us. I said, “Wow! What’s that?” And my mother said, “That’s a Harley-Davidson.” I remember it was turquoise and white. Then, the light turned green and he took off. From that moment on, I was all about Harley-Davidson.”
Kettler has hosted the “Motorcycle Men Podcast” for a decade, and in 2024, he published, “The Road Most Traveled: A Motorcycle Ride Along the East Coast of America.” Whereas most riders seek out the best back roads, Kettler set off on his trip with the polar-opposite intention: to follow the busiest highways, from the northeast to the Florida Keys. Beep, beep! Honk, honk!