The open road beckons. Wind rushes by, scenery blurs and miles of asphalt lead to adventure ahead.

And increasingly, the thrill of power on wheels rumbling beneath has become a gripping attraction.

Longtime motorcycle rider Jim Watson describes his Harley-Davidson as a cross between driving a race car and piloting a jet airplane.

"It's something you got to keep on top of," the 56-year-old Myrtle Creek resident said. "... You're much more vulnerable, a lot more vulnerable than you would be in an automobile."

Dean Ewell says it's not hard to describe the appeal. For the Roseburg resident, riding, especially long-distance, offers freedom, a chance to see rivers and plant life in a new light.

"You can smell everything," he said.

More and more, those nearing retirement age, like Ewell, and those who've already put their working lives behind them, are hearing the call of the road. More women are racing to buy their own bikes, too.

Over the past seven years, the number of licensed drivers with motorcycle endorsements among the baby boomer generations has risen more than any other age group statewide, according to statistics from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

But with the increased popularity, comes questions of safety. As the weather began to turn warmer this spring, the number of motorcycle crashes raised with the temperatures.

Local motorcycle enthusiasts say safety is no joke. Whether riders are new to the hobby or picking it up again after a decades-long hiatus, learning how to properly ride is a must.

"Regardless of who you are, you are much better at what you do if you have some training," said Dusti Weinberg, a Roseburg resident who teaches motorcycle classes for TEAM OREGON, a rider safety and skills training program developed in 1984 with the Oregon Department of Transportation and Oregon State University.

Driving a motorcycle is a different experience today than it was in the days of less traffic, no helmet laws and the rebellious attitude often associated with the sport.

"The bikes have changed, the roads have changed ... everything has changed from what it used to be," said Victoria Doyle, manager of Doyle's Harley-Davidson Shop in Roseburg.

Not only are the roads more traveled, but the bikes are more powerful. A Harley in the 1970s would have had a 1200 cc motor; today's Harley is up to 1584 cc. Passenger car drivers are talking on cell phones, while even some bike models include BlueTooth technology for a rider's wireless services.

"The bikes continue to get more powerful, the drivers are more distracted," Doyle said.

She encourages all riders to take training classes through TEAM OREGON.

Instructors there teach skill levels from beginning to expert, with the beginning class qualifying as a substitute endorsement test with the DMV.

Everyone who rides or is thinking of riding should take classes, but for older students, whose reflexes might be winding down, training is especially important, Weinberg said.

"Things start slowing down," she said.

Ewell, who owns Hair Styles for Men in Roseburg, realized he probably needed a refresher since the last time he rode in the '70s.

Without certain techniques, a crash last summer could have resulted in more damage than the "road rash" that now dapples his arm.

When a car pulled out in front of him, he had only seconds to decide to lay his bike down instead of hitting the other vehicle.

"Number one thing is to put your brakes on," he said, referring to a slow-speed emergency. "If you can't, that's your next option."

Riders learn different techniques for avoiding high-speed collisions in TEAM OREGON's advanced courses, like swerving and turning maneuvers.

"I really think that it should be mandatory," Ewell said of the classes.

In his 12 years of covering motorcycle wrecks, Oregon State Police Sgt. Lynn Withers estimates 85 percent of those he's seen were single-vehicle.

"I think probably the most common cause of accidents are driver error or speed-related," he said. Driver inattention can also include passenger vehicle drivers who don't watch for riders, Withers added.

At least 10 people have been sent to the hospital after wrecking their bikes this year locally. Most recently, on Tuesday, a crash left a Roseburg man -- who was not wearing a helmet -- in critical condition.

Though statewide numbers show the amount of crashes have risen over the past several years, Withers said he hasn't noticed a sharp increase locally. He attributes the latest rash of crashes to the warm weather.

Some riders fault other vehicles for many accidents, though. They say a lot of crashes happen when cars or trucks pull in front of them.

When on a vehicle that requires twice as many tasks as driving a passenger car and nearly the amount it takes to pilot a plane, Weinberg said gear like helmets and body coverage such as leathers is key to staying safe. And so is paying attention to what's in front of you.

"With a motorcycle the only protection you have is you planning ahead and the proper protective gear," she said.

Long-term riders say the hobby is one of constant learning.

"It's an ongoing process, you learn every time you ride," said Watson, a member of the Highway 101 east Coos Bay HOG chapter.

With motorcycle mentality appealing to more and more walks of life, from mill workers to doctors, safety concerns appear to be easily overcome.

On a recent weekday evening, some 20 fellow Harley riders gathered at the Big 5 parking lot on Stewart Parkway.

Not to be mistaken with some unruly, surly gang of bikers, this group was on what many call a dinner run. Whether casual evening rides or long-distance road trips, riders say they enjoy the freedom riding allows.

"Whether it's a club or just other people, you have something in common," said Mark Dwight of Winchester, who was on his way to dinner with friends and his wife, Linda, who bought her own bike about a year ago. Mark Dwight also stewards a local motorcycle ministry group.

Increasingly, women are choosing to vacate their designated back seats for upfront views of the road.

Karen Schaan of Canyonville dreamed of riding her own bike back in her teenage days of holding on to a man's waist.

She got her bike in 2002 and encouraged her sister, Bonnie, to buy one just last week.

"When you're out on your motorcycle, nobody can call you, you're thinking your own thoughts," Karen Schaan said. "Nobody can interrupt that."


<b>TEAM OREGON Info</b>

TEAM OREGON classes are held around the state, including in Roseburg:

• The next basic rider training class will be held locally Friday, Saturday and Aug. 27.
• For more information, call (800) 545-9944 or visit, teamoregon.orst.edu

* You can reach reporter Chelsea Duncan at 957-4246 or by e-mail at cduncan@newsreview.info.