In “Motorcycle Life,” Jason Momoa, Keanu Reeves, And More Tell Us Why They Ride

Pavement, gravel, sand, dirt — once you get to talking to a motorcyclist about their passion, beyond the surface level “Hey man, nice bike,” one thing becomes clear. It’s not about the machine they straddle, nor the surface they travel across; there’s something bigger that draws people to life on two wheels, and Toronto-based author Eric Hendrikx set out to tell those stories with his new book, Motorcycle Life, which hits bookstore shelves on Sept. 29.

Rather than telling his own stories or delving into psychological analysis, Hendrikx opted to interview riders from around the globe and from all walks of life. From Jason Momoa and Norman Reedus of film and TV fame, to Dakar Rally winner Daniel Sanders, to Harley-Davidson Creative Director Karen Davidson, these interviews span a diverse cross-section of humanity and tap into the life lessons that motorcycling has brought to each of them.

This approach felt natural for Hendrikx, given his background in anthropology. “I earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees studying human behaviour and culture, and I have always been interested in how we connect with each other, how we find our people, and also how we disconnect. Motorcycling is a conduit for so many of those things,” Hendrikx tells us. “I wanted to know what someone’s earliest motorcycle memory was, how they first started riding, where the road had taken them, what riding had taught them, and how it had shaped the person they became. The bikes are an essential part of every story, but they also open the door to larger conversations about friendship, identity, freedom, resilience, loss, adventure and belonging.”

With each interview, there is a natural ebb and flow to questioning based on the interviewee’s background. However, there’s one striking final question in each that captures the humanity of motorcycle culture: “What’s the greatest life lesson motorcycles have taught you?” Over the hundreds of pages, this question paints a picture of what life as a motorcyclist really is.

For Jason Momoa, it’s about being present. “I love how aware riding a motorcycle makes me feel. It puts me completely in the moment. I’m not thinking about anything else. I’ve always had a very active brain, and when I’m on a bike, everything just lines up: my mind, my body, and my soul. I’m just there, fully in it.”

For Keanu Reeves, it’s about risk assessment and decision-making. “It’s helped me really examine what I call the cost-benefit program. You take into account the danger, the projected consequences, and then you ask yourself: What do you want to do? How do you want to live? How do you enjoy your life? Deciding to ride a motorcycle, and loving it so much, translated into other parts of my life. It’s like: Let’s go for it. Let’s try it. But with awareness. You look at the cost, you look at the benefit, and then you choose the benefit.”

For Karen Davidson, it’s about empowerment. “That joy and confidence come from within. Mastering a motorcycle reminds you that you don’t need permission to be strong, to take up space, to be free. Especially for women, riding is proof that you can trust yourself and when you do, the bike gives back more than you expect. It becomes part of who you are.”

In a world where motorcyclists are still painted with the broad brush of being hooligans and adrenaline junkies with a death wish, Motorcycle Life gives our culture context. It’s a book that motorcyclists will love and a welcome read for the moto-curious as well.

Motorcycle Life by Eric Hendrikx is available for preorder now; on shelves September 29, 2026. 100% of preorder royalties go to support prostate cancer research and men’s mental health initiatives.