By Richard Vohnsing Saga Part One So, there I was, astride a new-to-me and freshly modified motorcycle, sailing around one of the most daunting tracks on the west coast. I had stepped down a group as to not upset the racers trying to set lap-times, and I was running a set of unwarmed street
By Talya Adams For a little over a month I’ve been trying out a navigation app called Waze. You may or may not have heard of this app, but I hadn’t, so I decided to give it a solid go. This app came highly recommended by a friend of mine who swears by it because
By Talya Adams The past two weeks have been incredibly stressful. It all started on a Thursday night when my license plate was stolen off my bike while parked in a garage that I pay way too much money for in the first place. A garage where I purposefully hide my bike behind a
By Talya Adams Two weekends ago, I found myself feeling a little burnt out from the Los Angeles hustle. The year is quickly winding down, and with the holidays fast approaching, I knew I needed to let off some steam. As usual, I didn’t have a full day to take a ride, so I
By Richard Vohsing It’s finally time. After seemingly endless minutes of waiting, my Amazon orders have finally arrived, my calendar is clear, and my boss thinks I’m sick. In other words, it’s time to get dirty. First up is a set of Vortex rearsets. I know, I know, this is supposed to be a commuter
By Richard Vohsing I have learned many harsh lessons over the years – getting a haircut from fantastic sams, confusing yellow snow for frozen lemonade, etc. The harshest lesson I have learned however has been an ongoing lesson – something that has been learned through years of experience rather than a one-time. This may
By AJ Jacobsen Life never quite decides to go along with our plans though, and early in December 2016, during a dirt bike class, another rider tried to force a bad pass and I ended up with my tib/fib pilon fracture. This happened the day after I bought my new race bike…go figure. At
By AJ Jacobsen I really debated even writing this post. Let’s face it, we all love the grit and glory stories, the highlights of the races, the amazing changes, and the final results of all the hard work. Reality is; however, we generally aren’t too interested in what led to that story. What was
By Sergio Laurente When I stayed home from school sick as a kid in the 1980s, I would watch and re-watch the same VHS tapes that my parents owned. All of which were much more enjoyable than watching whatever crap soap operas that were on in the middle of the day. Two of my
By AJ Jacobsen So now that I had these side projects partially completed, it was time to see if I could fit both fans. After a fair bit of wiggling and wrangling I determined that was not going to happen. That meant it was removing the stock fan and figuring out how best to mount
By Sergio Laurente I had the pleasure of commuting in a cage to work the other day. During a 35 mile one-way trip in Los Angeles, there are opportunities to judge plenty of interesting decisions made by riders and/or drivers along the way. Many of these minor errors should be forgiven and I know
By Talya Adams I recently had dinner with a friend and as we were parting ways she asked me why I rode my motorcycle at night. Her reasoning: it’s dangerous because it dark. This comment sounded silly to me as she drives a car at night. Both of our vehicles have headlights and it
By AJ Jacobsen Motorcycles. If you’re reading this, chances are, you ride, know a rider, or have an interest in riding. These two wheeled machines can evoke a wide range of emotions and create a culture all their own. Within that culture there are many sub-cultures, each with unique individuals that collectively make a
By Dennis Dumapias (There are ‘first-world problems,’ and then there are ‘Dennis-first-world problems’…) Part of the fun in dreaming is finally having that which you hope to attain. The ultimate goal. The thing you’ve desired the most. But what happens when you achieve something sooner than you could’ve expected? What happens when you finally
By Talya Adams Traveling is one of my all time favorite things to do. It tends to offer rejuvenating effects, perspective, and life long memories. I recently returned from a two week trip to Mexico, and while I was there I spent time in two different locations. I visited Oaxaca City for a week
By Talya Adams Life can feel unexpected at times and that’s especially true for motorcyclists. Unlike people in cars, there seems to be an added element of things going terribly wrong when you’re no where near your bike more often than not. For instance, when someone taps your ride while parked and it hits
By Talya Adams Today I met a former rider who moved to Los Angeles seven years ago from the east coast. Of course, we started chatting about my bike and how my riding experience has gone living in LA. However, I found it interesting that he had ridden for years in Illinois and just
By AJ Jacobsen Recently MV Agusta came out with their new Superveloce 800, a beautiful bike that is designed to meld modern performance with a retro look and aesthetic. I must say, the first information video I watched about this bike had me drooling – it really is a piece of motorcycle art with
By Sergio Laurente Sometime in the early 2000’s, I had a bad get-off on South Mountain in Phoenix, AZ. I was doing a few solo trips up and down the mountain in the middle of a weekday, and had one of those “I’ll do one more run up and down” moments before calling it
By Sergio Laurente While walking through Center City, Philadelphia for work, I took notice of special parking areas on mains streets filled with Vespas, Triumphs, and Ducatis. I was told that a rush hour drive home of a few miles down Broad Street may take close to an hour in a car, and it
By Dennis Dumapias For the longest time I really wanted to put my 2002 R1 inside my house as a personal trophy bike to commemorate all the smiles in the miles I’ve racked up with it. It really does embody a rich part of my riding history, encasing it between its two wheels. Like
By Dennis Dumapias In the past year alone, I’ve pulled off the following two-wheeled good deeds: Stopped to help a stalled car in the middle lane of a busy commuter freeway. The driver said the car just died, and not only was he not able to restart it, he couldn’t get it out of
By Dennis Dumapias It’s been over a week now since I checked out that RSV Mille. Over seven days, I’ve now had to decide whether to move my F4 out of my garage, and have another go at my dream bike – eleven years after I last owned one – or to keep my
By Talya Adams About two weeks ago, I made a stupid mistake while riding. It could have been much worse than it was, but because I remained calm I was able to get out of the situation without getting into an accident. A clear mind and a cool demeanor are two traits all riders
By Talya Adams I recently took a trip back to my home town of Clearwater, Florida. While I was home, I noticed a lot of bikers on the road and the differences in styles shocked me. For some reason, I felt like riding would be the same everywhere. It’s not, and I had a
By Talya Adams Is it hot, or is it just me? As we move further into summer, the temperatures will continue to rise. At the moment, the hot days have not been too consistent. However, this is beginning to change as I’ve recently finished up a long ride in hot conditions. Not to worry,
By Dennis Dumapias Patience. This is very much moto-related. I promise. 🙂 I got the chance to spend a few weeks driving an all-electric car this past winter. A co-worker of mine – who also happens to be a neighbor – had leased a Volkswagen e-Golf to use as a commuter during the week.
By Dennis Dumapias 2018 had a rough start to the year. By the time the month of March rolled around I was mentally, emotionally, and physically reeling from the most trying time of my life that I can remember to date. I remember sleepless nights. And when I did finally fall asleep, cold sweats would
By Talya Adams If you’re a motorcyclist and commute every day on your bike, the miles can take a toll on you. I’m not just talking physically either, I’m including mentally as well. This is especially true if you’re riding during rush hour traffic. It can be a lot to keep your cool, and
By Talya Adams I’ve recently been doing a lot of daily riding on my motorcycle as I’ve taken on more work. After long rides, I tend to have aches and pains well into the following day. Whether it’s my hands or my lower back, usually something is sore once I get done with a
By Talya Adams Given it’s a new year, and I’d like to buy new things that I don’t necessarily need, but want, and I’ve started working as a courier on the side. I know what you’re thinking, big deal, almost everyone works in delivery now days. True, but does everyone do it on a
By Talya Adams If I had to assess myself after all was said and done with the drama of my near motorcycle theft, I’d say I was simmering somewhere around anger and guilt. Guilt because I still feel like I should’ve done more to prevent this from happening, and angered because someone had the
By Talya Adams This week has been a bit of an anomaly in Los Angeles. It’s no secret Southern California has suffered a severe drought over the past couple years, but that’s all changed early in 2019. It is currently the third day of almost nonstop rain, and there’s still another one forecasted for tomorrow.
By AJ Jacobsen In December of 2016 I picked up my brand new, fresh from the factory 2017 ZX10R. I was so excited to get my hands on the bike, and could hardly wait to turn it into a race bike and get out on the track with it. I had big plans, and
By Dennis Dumpias For all intents and purposes, Jonathan Ko and I were just strangers to each other. But for just a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon spent getting to know one another proved enough to realize we were more kindred in spirits than merely being motorcyclists. Jon and I both chose to
By Tayla Adams So, recently my speakers broke and I was too lazy to go out and buy another pair. I also figured it wouldn’t be that big of a deal riding without music for a while. What could it hurt right? I thought I’d get some thinking done, be more present with the environment
By Tayla Adams A few weeks ago I was in the shop getting my bike serviced, and I noticed my mechanic wiping my bike down with a spray after the work was done. I asked about the product, and he pretty much told me that he highly recommended the item for basic cleaning. I bought
By Tayla Adams A few blogs ago, I wrote about getting caught in the rain storm. I mentioned it was a mistake, and soon after I paid the price for it. I’ve been battling a chest cold ever since. It had gotten so bad, I had to stop riding my motorcycle in order to
By Tayla Adams The past two days have been crazy. I’d read the weather report stating rain was sure to fall in the beginning of the week, but I didn’t expect heavy rain because this is, after all, California. Not to mention the last serious rain we had here was like two years ago.
By AJ Jacobsen When it comes to racing motorcycles at the top end of the sport, I doubt that anyone would argue that fitness is a very important factor. Top racers are honed athletes, and they train like it. For them, it may mean the difference between 1st and 4th place after a 20+ lap
By Tayla Adams The New Year has finally come and as usual I’m in the mood to set some goals for myself. When I thought about things I wanted to do in regards to my riding it took me a moment to think of a solid plan. I feel like in the past I’ve said
By AJ Jacobsen So what does the off season look like for a road racing “enthusiast” who is determined to do a little better than they did the previous year? Follow along for a breakdown of what a typical winter/off-season day looks like for me. Let me begin by pointing out that I work three
By Bill Harr I have been blessed to reach retirement and still be riding my motorcycle. My current ride is a 2016 Ducati Multistrada S Touring. Typically, I ride with a core group of 8 old friends, and we go on several long rides and many short rides every year. Four of the riders I
By Tayla Adams This winter has started off very differently than the last five winters I’ve experienced here in Los Angeles. I’m used to rainy weather and cold temperatures, that’s expected. However, this year it’s been hot and cold, and the Santa Ana winds have hit very hard this season. The inconsistency has made
By John Knowles With Christmas now approaching, you may find yourself at a loss when trying to come up with gift ideas for that hard-to-buy-for motorcyclist in your life. Most gear-heads research to find exactly what they want and then they buy it. So what’s left to give to someone who has it all? My
By Tayla Adams For the past five years I’ve driven all over Los Angeles with my motorcycle. During this time, I’ve always stated that residential neighborhoods are my least favorite place to commute, mostly because of intersections. However, I think I’ve discovered a place I may dislike almost as much. Downtown LA has risen on
Over the weekend, I went to the downtown Los Angeles area to a neighborhood called the Arts District. It was supposed to be a fun couple hours spent shooting with some local photographers in the area. For the most part, that experience was what I expected it to be. However, what I wasn’t expecting was
By Tayla Adams It may have taken a while, but the season is finally turning and it’s turning fast. One week the temperature’s in the hundreds, and the next it’s in the mid to low sixties in Los Angeles. This kind of shift in the weather can greatly impact the health and riding comfort
By AJ Jacobsen When it comes to getting to work, most of us have to deal with the best way to make that happen. Of course, there are always options, even if they don’t seem reasonable, but they do exist. Over the past few months I’ve had to evaluate my personal choices around commuting.
By Tayla Adams Thanks for checking in for the second half of my interview with Chris Cass. Learn more about this motorcycle enthusiast below. T: Do you think you’ll ever try out a different bike? C: Absolutely yeah, I’m thinking about it in the very near future. I want to sell my ’94 BMW. I
By AJ Jacobsen If you’ve been following my blogs, you are aware that back on December 3, 2016 I broke my leg in a dirt bike accident when another rider hit me, and both of us ended up rotating over my leg. Unfortunately for me, this was not “just” a broken leg – it
Sometimes I think about all of the money I spend racing. And I don’t get upset about it, I just kind of marvel at it. Once my mom told me I should write out a will, you know, just in case. My mom thinks about things like that. It surprised me. Not in a morbid
Besides racing motorcycles professionally, I work part time and I’m a student. This semester I’m taking a public speaking course for transfer credits and recently we were given kind of an odd prompt: Deliver a speech about your best moment ending with the line “…and that’s when I knew I was at my best”. Weird.
Last week, I woke up a few days in a row experiencing various aches and pains. The intensity of each ailment was slightly different, but still unwelcome. Most of my pain was centered around my neck and upper back. The interesting thing to me was my back had more of an aching pain where as
We’ve been having a heat wave in SoCal lately, along with muggy weather and thunderstorms. It’s a lot like Alabama, only not quite as hot. It’s hot enough to bring out the snakes in San Diego County. They come seeking water or prey in the neighborhood, and Animal Control has already removed a couple of
It’s no secret the month of September tends to be hottest month of the year in Los Angeles. When I first moved here from the east, I thought this was ridiculous as the early months of summer are the hottest in Florida. Interestingly enough, the last week of August this year was a scorcher with
This year I was presented with a unique opportunity to tell a visual short story in under a minute. A friend of mine had come across a film competition and she presented it to me like it could be a fun side project for us to team up on. Initially, as with most things, I
Can you think of how cool it might be to have bionic body parts? As a fan of racing, do you think it’s fair for athletes to surgically modify their bodies to better suit their sport? What advancements might be reasonable in the near future? Let’s let our imaginations run wild for a minute. How
If you know me there’s a good chance I’ve encouraged you to purchase a motorcycle at some point. This is especially true if you live in Los Angeles county, even more so if you live in the city of Los Angeles. Below are my selling points for having a motorcycle in the city. 1.) TRAFFIC.
Since I’ve become a motorcyclist, parking has been one of my favorite perks, yet also one of my biggest frustrations. Although it may be easier to park my bike, it’s also easy for strangers to tamper with my motorcycle. There’s honestly only so much you can do to protect your bike, and it’s made me
Ever had one of those rides where you realize afterwards that nearly all of your decisions were the wrong ones, but you got lucky this time? Well, this was one of those rides. Learn from my mistake and don’t follow my example on this one – I got lucky, but it could have gone very,
Yes, I’m asking the question: is there is such as thing as parking in a disrespectful manner? Of course, I should probably give this question some context. Last week, I had a rather lively exchange with a co-worker about whether or not she had violated my motorcycle’s personal space. It may sound silly, but I
At the beginning of the year I set a goal for myself to meditate more. I’d read about the benefits of mindfulness and I definitely wanted to implement the practice into my every day routine. When I got started it was tough, but I kept reading and discovered walking meditation. I was pleasantly surprised to
One day in 1906, a movie camera was mounted on a trolley in downtown San Francisco. It was a nice day, people out in their Sunday best. The movie shows the chaotic traffic on Market Street, no traffic signals, people running out of the way of Tin Lizzies and trolley cars. Private cars dodge this
By Devon In this new era of scary news and fake news, let us talk about something real. Gas prices. Right now they are at about $2.70 for regular gas where I’m at. They always seem to get higher when we use it more, and less when we don’t. For years the news stations would
I cannot total up the number of times I’ve been asked if I’m crazy. It’s not like I’ve actually done anything questionable enough to bring my sanity into question. No, I’m an upstanding citizen, and I lead a rather uninteresting life for the most part. However, the fact that I prefer to drive a motorcycle
Why do strangers insist on touching my motorcycle? It’s been a constant problem since I’ve owned motorcycles. There just seems to be a real lack of respect for motorcycles in general around Los Angeles. Recently, I discovered the tag on my motorcycle was stolen. The way I found out my tag was taken was not
There I was, rolling down the street after work on a Friday afternoon. I was almost home and could finish the ride blindfolded. I had a lot planned for the weekend and work kept me later than I wanted so I was in a bit of a rush. Just as I passed a large truck
Let it go – You have heard this before. “Just let it go. It’s not that big of a deal, all things considered. Don’t let it ruin your day.” Of course it’s easy for them to say. They don’t know how frustrating it is when some knob pulls a no-look lane change almost taking you
I’ve been commuting a lot recently for jobs around Los Angeles. During my travels I’ve discovered there are freeways that I hate more than others. Surprisingly, much of my disdain is for varying reasons depending upon the freeway. The freeway I drive the most often is the 101. I have a love/hate relationship with this
It’s that time of year again. The time when I find myself walking out into the night air and watching my breath as it crystallizes in the air. As I’ve stated many times before, I dislike cold weather. However, living in California forces you to accept the inevitable, which is when night falls, so does
As a born and raised Floridian, I’m extremely sensitive to cold temperatures. The past few years I like to think I’ve gotten better at withstanding the colder climate during winter season. I’ve come to realize that in order for me to remain comfortable in the seat during long rides I have to be prepared. My
One of my favorite times of year is fast approaching. I can almost feel it in the air, that’s how excited I am. Shopping season is only a few short weeks away, and I’ve got a plan to help you maximize this glorious opportunity. Around early November, I like to start making my two lists.
If you’re anything like me, you appreciate a long ride. Perhaps, in the mountains for a twisty ride, or along the coast for a leisurely ride. No matter your scenic preference, these types of rides tend to take a lot of energy out of your body. In my case, my hips are the first thing
I think it’s fair to say the majority of the motorcycle community is male. I’m not sure about percentages, but I can think of only two female riders I know within my own circle. Without much hesitation, I can rattle off at least eight to ten male riders I know. A recurring topic amongst my
For the past year I’ve been looking into buying a new motorcycle jacket. To be honest, it’s probably been more than a year. You might be thinking, I’m too picky, or not very good at shopping. I assure you neither is the case in this situation. The truth is, shopping for motorcycle apparel is tough,
Now, you might be thinking this is a silly topic, or not even a real topic of discussion. Well, you’d be wrong on both counts considering I’m often asked this question by a number women. It’s kind of funny because there tends to be a genuine concern for the potential hindrance of my motorcycle lifestyle
Over the weekend, I watched “Captain America: Civil War”. I love a great action movie, and this one didn’t disappoint. However, within the first fifteen minutes of the movie, there was the staple motorcycle casualty. I cringed a little as agent Natasha sped her bike towards two parked cars, then hopped off. She of course
When I bought my first motorcycle a little over a decade ago, I dove in and got started. I took a safety class as well as classes to get my license, then I bought a motorcycle and some basic safety equipment. While I learned through trial-and-error, I wish I knew then what I know now.
I am a bit of a dork when it comes to riding as I am not a 22-year old anymore, sadly. For this reason, safety equipment, a good maintenance schedule and a defensive riding style are things I follow to a T. In over a decade of riding, I have only had a few minor
Beach days are the best days. At least that’s a strong belief I have. I’ve spent my entire life around water, so when I started riding a motorcycle I wanted to make sure I’d still be able to spend time at the shore. I’ve had a few years to perfect my technique, and I’m pretty
The title pretty much says it all for this story. Over the weekend, I had a co-worker ask me to show her how to get to Koreatown in Los Angeles. She complained that it always took her forever to get there from Burbank, and thought my route might be faster. It was well past
Anyone who rides knows that insurance can make the whole experience very expensive. I am not a spring chicken anymore, so I don’t get screwed over as much as I used to. But, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be vigilant when shopping for insurance for our bikes. At the same time, a rider should also
There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about motorcycles and the people who ride them. Anyone who rides, either just on weekends or on a daily basis, knows that we all get a bad reputation. With that in mind, here are some common top five myths and misconceptions that motorcycle riders face, and these myths
Yesterday while driving down Barham Blvd in Los Angeles, I witnessed a car slowly turn in front of a motorcyclist heading down the hill. With such bad timing, the motorcyclist was put in immediate danger. Fortunately, the rider was skilled enough to avoid collision, but unfortunately this scenario befalls riders all too often with commonly fatal results. Though
Our own Dennis Dumapias swears by his Bay Area mechanic If you are not a mechanical genius, chances are you’ll leave many jobs to a professional motorcycle mechanic. While I don’t mind changing the oil and diagnosing basic problems, I would rather leave the big jobs to a pros. Sadly, it’s not always easy to
Well, the bad news is that was the longest 500 miles of my life I’ve ridden. The good news is that it’s over! I can’t emphasize enough just how painful of a ride it made to baby my R1 the way I had to, in order to bed in the new piston rings in the
This year I embarked on a personal journey back home that has been twenty years in the making. Though a long-time US citizen, I wasn’t actually born in the US, having spent the first thirteen years of my life in the Philippines. I always wanted to return to my birth country since I left, but
A few days ago while riding my motorcycle, I had a near death experience with a Mini Cooper. It all started after a long day, having worked a double all I wanted to do was be home. I could here my bed was screaming out my name from over the hill. There wasn’t much traffic on my ride
Whether your buying a brand new motorcycle from the dealer or you throw down 800 dollars for a 25-year-old bike, you should know how to work on it and perform both routine and not-so-routine maintenance on your ride. By knowing the basics and a little more, you can save money, and you can avoid getting stranded
It can be expensive to own a motorcycle. This is especially true if it’s a weekend hobby and you have a nice SUV or car that you take to work. With insurance, payments, accessories and upkeep, it’s no wonder that a lot of people try to save money where they can. While I like to be
“You know you’re going to have to break it in, right?” My friend/mechanic Rob asked me. I actually gave him a perplexed look for a bit – break it in? What does that mean? Then I realized he was talking about the R1 after the latest engine refresh. I haven’t had to break-in a bike
Lately, it seems like more people than usual are compelled to complain to me about motorcycle riders. To me specifically, because I have a motorcycle (as if I am some type of motorcycle delegate). They want to share their negative stories about close call experiences with bikers. For the past month, it seems like at
Even for an experienced rider, buying a used motorcycle can be a stressful experience. For the uninitiated, it can be a shot in the dark at best. Here are four guidelines that will help you verify the bike you’re looking at isn’t going to be a glorified paperweight. Bring a friend: One of the best
Terror! Fright! Scared! Torment! A demon! Stress! Trouble! Dread! Panic! There is the peak of fear where “I’m gonna die” is in our mind. Just below is what I felt on my motorcycle one day. The night was dark before 6:00 AM. The wind was blowing hard, around 35 MPH with gusts much stronger and
If you are a retiree and want to get into motorcycle riding, you are not alone. It’s a fun activity that is not too expensive, and it’s relatively safe if you buy the right equipment and ride wisely. That said, it can also be a money pit, potentially leading to dissatisfaction and distaste if not
Fear. It’s a word that invokes a variety of responses from various people. What we are fearful of can vary greatly from one person to the next, especially when it comes to riding motorcycles. To some people, even getting on a bike is way more risk than they’d be willing to take and will go
I don’t have a lot of complaints about bike life. For the most part, it’s a real lifesaver when it comes to my everyday lifestyle. It tends to take me about 15-30 minutes to get everywhere I need to go in LA. Motorcycle parking is also a huge bonus, which only makes me happier. So,
I bought Hootie 1.0 in 1987, from Sign of the Twins in Mountainview. I took the BART train down from San Francisco (aka ‘the City’) and there was a guy waiting to pick me up in a beautiful R100 with a sidecar. I brought my helmet because I expected to ride something home. After riding
Earlier this April Facebook reminded me that it had been one year to date since I posted the following photo: Man. Has it really been a year? It totally escaped me! It crept up on me that I’ve owned this for a year now, much like it’s crept up on me how many thousands of