Zee (Zee Traveler) didn’t just talk about hitting the open road; she strapped her life onto a motorcycle and rode away from everything familiar, learning the kind of lessons that can’t be taught. Her book, Motorcycle Vagabond Epiphanies, isn’t a travelogue. It’s a field manual for anyone who’s ever stared down the horizon and asked: What if I just kept going?
It’s not polished. It’s not safe in the “comfortable” sense. But it’s honest.
Financing Freedom
Everyone wants to ask the same thing: How do you afford it?
Zee’s answer? There’s no secret. It’s hustle, sacrifice, and adaptability. She pokes fun at the idea of a universal formula for “living the dream.” Every rider funds their miles differently; some pick up odd jobs, some freelance, some stretch savings until they pay for themselves on the open road.
The trick is to redefine your NEEDS… Gas, food, parts, emergency buffer.
Everything else is just luggage.
Zee pulls no punches: “Some day isn’t a day of the week,” she says. You either ride, or you don’t.
“I’ve only ever paid for like 5 hotels in all the time I’ve been on the road. I more often sleep at truck stops, in fact.” -That’s the math of real freedom: each unnecessary dollar spent is one less day on the road.
Then comes the question: Isn’t it dangerous? Living on the road on two wheels?
Zee has been asked this by worried parents, by strangers, by those who don’t understand why someone would trade comfort for uncertainty. Her answer: Danger’s everywhere on four wheels, three wheels or two. The difference is on a bike, you’re the one steering.
She writes about situational awareness as the real gear. Helmets, jackets, and boots are one thing; don't get us wrong, they matter. But situational awareness matters more. “Most people die wearing helmets,” she quips, “so don’t act invincible just because you’ve got one.”
And family?
Some will cheer you on; others won’t understand.
Zee’s advice: Be kind. But you don’t need their permission. Freedom doesn’t mean solitude; it means responsibility to your bike, to your own safety, to the people who still care when you don’t text back.
Why We Ride
Every rider has a reason. This is Zee’s…
“The road has been the best mentor in helping me to realize myself,” Zee writes. “No matter how many times I’ve neared death, it’s worth it.”
Zee isn’t selling you escapism. She’s showing you what it takes to show up. The road is unpredictable. It demands self-reliance. It rewards those who can adapt, stay humble, and keep moving.
And then there’s the ripple effect: through her journey, she built something bigger than herself…Bunk-a-Biker.
Bunk-a-Biker is a worldwide network of riders who open their homes, garages, yards, tools, and friendship to traveling motorcyclists. (Bunk-a-Biker) It isn’t just about saving money; it’s about community, trust, shared miles, and paying it forward.
Freedom isn’t remote. It’s connected.
The takeaway for every rider
For new riders:
Freedom isn’t the throttle; it’s self-reliance. Zee’s lessons remind us that the road will teach faster than any classroom ever could. Learn your bike, learn yourself, and don’t wait for the “perfect time” to go.
For experienced riders:
After countless miles, the challenge isn’t distance… it’s depth. Zee’s story shows that even seasoned riders can rediscover the road by stripping away comfort and expectation.
And for all of us:
Riding isn’t about escape; it’s about awareness. Every journey, long or short, holds the potential for clarity. Whether you’re crossing a state line or just your own comfort zone, the real destination is becoming at home with the silence in your helmet.
We are accepting submissions for the 2026 editorial calendar, if you have a high mileage bike, an interesting ride, or a story to tell, hit reply.
We’re always down to talk bikes. And if you know someone who lives for throttle therapy, send this newsletter their way; their readership helps keep the newsletter going.
Keep the shiny side up.
– The American Moto Co. Team
