Sonny Gartin, The Badger
Received my Moped when I was 6 years old living on my parent’s farm. Went through dirt bikes, 3-wheelers, 4 wheelers. Always loved riding anything I could get on.
Bought my first street bike at the age of 23? with my wife, Angie. I bought the first CBR 600 F4 in Black and Yellow that came into the local dealership, I kept it for about a year.
The wife and I had kids so bye bye toys. Until one spring day, I had the winter blues and went with my father-in-law, Gene, to the local Honda Dealership and bought a Honda Shadow Sabre 1100. Kept it for a couple of years, but life happened and had to sell it.
How “The Badger” got his name
In 2015 I bought my first Harley, a 2005 CVO Fatboy. I worked at Six Bends Harley Davidson in Fort Myers, Florida in sales at the time. My wife said “If you’re gonna sell em, then you might as well ride one.” Had an awesome sales manager but working on commission was a challenge. If you wanted a sale, then people had to know who you were so they would ask for you. That’s how I received the nick name “The Badger” and I have been the Badger ever since.
I never understood the connection and loyalty surrounding the biker community until I worked for Harley Davidson, even though I have ridden all types of motorcycles throughout my life I didn’t truly embrace the lifestyle until then.
Now it is my goal to meet and engage with as many Bikers and future Bikers as possible and share the biker lifestyle with as many people as possible, maybe even help some of the younger generation get to know and love it as much as I do.
Angie Gartin, Momma Badger
Who said Girls Can’t Ride?!? Not my husband!
I road on a motorcycle for the first time at 6 months, on the bike with mom and dad. My parents had Honda’s off and on my entire life growing up. It was on my bucket list to one day get my license. I always thought I would marry a race car driver one day. I met Sonny the day before his 21st birthday. He was working at the local Jiffy Lube. Thank goodness he liked motorcycles. I really enjoyed riding on the back of our motorcycles. The roads in Branson, MO area are amazing.
The year I was to turn 40 (2016), I put my name in a drawing to win a free riding course. To my surprise I was picked. Now read this timeline:
Thursday, May 19th started the written practice
Saturday, May 21st (Birthday) started the riding practice
Sunday, May 22nd passed the riding course
Monday, May 23rd passed the written test
Friday, May 27th bought a 2001 Honda Shadow Aero
Practiced riding my motorcycle from May 27th – June 12th
June 12th we put our two teenage daughters on a plane to fly to Missouri. We left the airport on our Motorcycles for a 2 week trip to Missouri and back.
June 21st I rode the “The Tail of the Dragon.”
Put 28,000 miles on my Honda Shadow in the first year having it. In 2017, I bought from my father his 2005 Custom Harley Davidson Fat Boy. Now when I lay on the throttle, I can actually keep up with “The Badger.”? I always thought he was just trying to loose me every time we took off. hee hee