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 Talya Adams It’s finally happened. I’ve finally bought a new pair of riding motorcycle boots. I’d been thinking about it for a while and thought it would be nice to try them out. I have to say after six months of use my pair of MIA motorcycle boots were a good investment; much
By Talya Adams This weekend I found myself out at Venice Beach, as I often do during the summer season. I headed to the coast at a later time than usual, and it did not disappoint as far as heavy traffic and temperamental drivers go; both were present. However, what did surprise me was
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 Talya Adams In the last installment of my interview with Vincent Perry we discuss LA traffic, splitting lanes, and the importance of looks. Let’s get into it! T: Comparatively, was there less traffic in your hometown? V: Significantly less traffic. Right now, I live sixteen miles away from my school. Back
By Talya Adams In part three of my interview with Vincent we talk a little about the Indian vs Harley rivalry, and the biggest lesson he’s learned on these LA streets. So, let’s jump in and find out what Vincent has to say about these things. T: Okay, let’s get back on track.
By Talya Adams Welcome back to the second part of my interview with Vincent. In this section we discuss the importance of his friends and security measures for his motorcycle. T: Knowing the dangers of riding, what makes you get in the seat? Especially living in Los Angeles? V: It’s my friends. About
By Talya Adams I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with a transplant motorcyclist with a beautiful bike, and a great sense of humor. Vincent Perry is an aspiring actor, and a die hard Indian motorcycle enthusiast. Throughout our interview we laughed, talked bikes, the LA riding experience, and the importance of motorcycle
By Talya Adams Last month, I reported I’d purchased a Wimius Action Camera to record my rides and other adventures I get up to while out on these rides. After a full month of use, I now have perspective on the device, and I’d like to share it with you all. First things first,
By Talya Adams Welcome back to my interview with Sabrina. In this section we’ll get into the hassles Sabrina faces as a motorcyclist in Los Angeles and her upcoming riding goals. T: What have you found most challenging about having a bike? S: Probably just getting on the road with big trucks –
By Talya Adams I love a quick and fun ride. They keep me going when I’m slammed with work. A top notch quick ride for me is usually anything under two hours, some nice views, and a few twists in the road if possible. Last weekend, I did a trip up to the San
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 don’t know if there’s anything that stresses me out more than money, maybe my mom, but that’s all. So, whenever I have to get work done on my bike, I get very tense and focused on getting the best bang for my buck. My upcoming bike work has been in
By Talya Adams A few weeks ago, I took a very rewarding ride up to Malibu. I’m sure I’ve gushed about Malibu in the past, but every year I discover a new beach, or a new state park to explore, and I feel compelled to share my findings. My ride out to Leo Carrillo
By Talya Adams I will be spending the majority of my weekends exploring new beaches this summer. I made this decision at the beginning of the month. It seemed to make sense given the beach was the only place I was finding relief from the heat. So, the weekend before last I drove down
By Talya Adams For years I’ve noticed bikers utilizing GoPros and other types of action cameras. They usually mount them to their helmets or bikes. As with most new technology to hit the market, the price for one of these cameras used to be quite expensive. I’m talking upwards of three hundred dollars, and
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 I get asked a lot of questions about motorcycle culture on a regular basis. I get it, I ride, and people assume I have answers for a lot. I don’t – case in point, I don’t understand half shell helmets. I just don’t. A friend of mine asked me why I
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 Talya Adams Thanks for coming back for part two of my review of Point Mugu State Park. Below I’ll share tips, advice, and the aftermath of my journey. To say it was a learning experience would be an understatement. Find out why. I like to be informed in most things I do. When
By Talya Adams Yesterday, I finally went out on a ride out to Point Mugu State Park. This location has been on my list of destination trips for a while. When I was researching the park, I discovered it offered amazing views of the Pacific Ocean and wonderful hiking trails. I figured this would
By Talya Adams No matter what you drive, car or motorcycle – no one enjoys taking his or her ride to the shop. I don’t think dread is an innate response to the process, instead I think it’s a learned reaction to negative experiences while visiting mechanics. Often when I think of trips to
By Talya Adams Thanks for joining me again for part three of my chat with Keison. We dive into the riding scene in Monterey, learn his riding motto, and hear what he as to say about self improvement as a motorcyclist. Let’s get started. T: You said you rode up in Monterrey. Did you
By Talya Adams Welcome back to my interview with Keison. In part two of our conversation Keison opens up about his success as a rider in LA, and takes us through his first time going down on his bike. Let’s dive in. T: How have you found riding in LA? K: LA is definitely
By Talya Adams Welcome to part two of my review of the Progressive International Motorcycle Show. In part one, I went over the demo rides outside of the Long Beach Convention Center, so if you haven’t read it take a look. In part two, I’ll be taking a closer look of what Progressive had
By Talya Adams I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Keison Cunningham to talk bikes, social media, gear, and all things in between. He’s a relatively new transplant to the Los Angeles area, and he’s more than excited to take in the SoCal bike scene. Let’s hop into this interview, and get
By Talya Adams Over the past month I’ve been invited on quite a few group rides to various places. I must admit it’s nice to be considered for a group outing no matter what the activity, but I can’t say I’ve taken anyone up on the offer. Does that make me antisocial? Maybe, but
By Talya Adams Over the last few years I’ve been noticing some new sports bikes on the road. I’ve seen new bikes parked in my neighborhood and at my job. I started to take a closer look and I was surprised to see a lot of these new bikes were “entry level” motorcycles. These
By Talya Adams We’ve all heard the saying, ‘The early bird gets the worm’. I’ve found this to be true as motorcyclist as well. If you want to get the most enjoyment out of your ride, try waking up with the sun – get a head start on some of the worst traffic out
By Talya Adams This past weekend, I attended the Progressive International Motorcycle Show out in Long Beach. This is an annual event and normally runs Friday through Sunday in the month of November. My friends have been riding down for years, and this year I was lucky enough to be able to go along.
By Talya Adams Over the holiday break, I had a chance to go hang out with my old friend, Burak. A few years ago, I interviewed him for a blog. If I’m not mistaken, I’ve interviewed him twice. The interviews were quite contrasting as the first one he spoke about his passion for riding,
By Talya Adams Welcome back to my interview with Sabrina. In this section we’ll jump into how she feels about riding in LA and if she’s ready for more power. T: How long do you think you’re going to stay with your Boulevard? Do you feel like you need more speed yet? S: I
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 Hello, and welcome back to my interview with Mike. If you missed the first part, please be sure to check it out and learn about his positive experience buying a motorcycle on Craigslist. In part two of my chat with Mike we get into gear and motorcycle security. So, let’s jump
By Talya Adams Hey everyone, and welcome to my sit down chat with Michael (Mike) Johnson. He’s relatively new to the LA motorcycle riding scene, and eager to make up for lost time. In this first part of our discussion we’ll get into what he’s riding, how he learned to ride, and his style.
By Talya Adams There are a lot of people who don’t realize how much energy physically, mentally, and emotionally goes into operating a motorcycle. In order to remain safe at all times you have to be present on all accounts. One of the biggest things I’ve recently experienced taking away from my riding safety
By Talya Adams I recently had to replace my old Xena Ultra High Security Disc lock because it was damaged during an attempted theft. As these things go, I feel fortunate to still have my bike and to have only lost my old lock. However, this did leave me with a need for 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 Talya Adams It’s that time of year again. The time when resolutions are made and then quickly forgotten. The forgotten promises are exactly why I stopped making resolutions years ago, and also why setting goals has become so effective for me. This year my motorcycle goals will be simple, fun, and manageable. I’ve had
By Talya Adams This week has been extremely trying for me as my favorite thing in the world was almost stolen. That’s right, someone attempted to steal my motorcycle on Monday night in front of my job. In the past, I’ve written a lot about securing your motorcycle and taking precautions to dissuade thieves from
By Talya Adams, January 2019 Hello everyone, and Happy New Year! I figured I’d start us off with a lock review since securing my motorcycle has become a big part of my life over the last year. I purchased the Yohoolyo disc lock at the end of November. As you may or may not remember,
By Talya Adams As some of you may remember, my motorcycle was vandalized during an attempted theft about two months ago now. It was a very difficult time for me as I had to figure out my commuting situation without my bike. To say things were rarely boring or the same each day would be
Hello all, in part three of my interview with Sabrina we discuss her fears, and learn about what she’s riding. T: Were you ever afraid or nervous about riding in the city? S: You know, I investigated everything. In the beginning I just wanted the license to always be able to go and rent
By Tayla Adams Thanks much for tuning back into my interview with Sabrina. In this section we’ll get into her experience taking the safety course in California. T: What was the most important thing you learned from the riding class? S: That you’ve got to pay attention. You’ve really got to be alert, especially
By Tayla Adams Hello everyone and welcome to my sit down interview with Sabrina Hartmann. I cannot express how excited I am to finally be presenting an interview with a female rider. I can’t even remember how many times I’ve said in the past how I wish I knew other female riders, and now
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 Let’s jump back into my interview with Dominic. We’ll get into his wish list for future bikes and his future rides plans. T: Do you have an idea of what bike you want to buy next? D: I do, but I’m not positive. My top is the Ninja ZX 6R. I
By Tayla Adams Welcome back all, below we’ll get into where Dominic and his friends hang out when he goes on rides, and he’ll also share some of his riding fails as well. T: Do you ever get intimidated when you’re up at the snake with the amount of riders who are out there? D:
By Tayla Adams A few days ago I was at work, and a younger guy noticed my helmet on the desk. Naturally, he struck up a conversation about wanting to get a motorcycle. He asked the usual questions about learning to ride and what type of bike to start with. Everything we discussed was pretty
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 It’s time to dive back into my one on one chat with Dom, and find out how he learned to ride and how he feels about night rides. T: What made you want to start driving a motorcycle? D: As a kid I was always into it. I had a little pocket
By Tayla Adams Hey everyone, thanks so much for tuning back in for the next part of my sit down with Dominic. In this section you’ll find out more about his lifestyle and riding with friends. T: You’re a college student and you drive all around LA. So, you’re a commuter rider? D: Yeah, I’m
By Tayla Adams Hello everyone, and thanks for checking out this interview. I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with a relatively new rider, and discussing his experience as a rider in the greater Los Angeles area. So join me, and get to know Dominic Henderson. T: How long have you been riding? D:
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 Welcome back, in this final part of my sit down with Travis we talk gear and his new found image on the road. T: Let’s talk about some of this gear you have. What’s up with this boot protector you wear? TF: Yeah, I don’t know what it’s called. Maybe it’s
By Tayla Adams Thanks for tuning back in everyone. In this section of the interview we get into how Travis feels about speed, and what future rides he’s anticipating. T: How’d it feel going at freeway speeds? TF: It felt cold, but it was good. It was also weird because I didn’t really feel
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 Tayla Adams In this part of my interview with Travis we find out what he’s riding, his dream bike, and how he’s feeling about the bigger bike’s speed. T: What kind of bike are you driving? TF: So, I’m riding a 2012 Suzuki Boulevard. It’s a 650, and it’s a good bike. I really
By Tayla Adams Thanks for coming back for the next installment of my interview with Travis Frazee. Let’s jump back in here and find out Travis’s riding experiences as a new motorcycle rider. T: Whenever I see people on a scooter, I’m afraid for them. They don’t have the same speed, or the agility, as
By Tayla Adams Welcome back everyone, and thanks for checking back in on my interview with Travis Frazee. In this part of my sit down with Travis you’ll find out how he approaches offensive and defensive riding. T: Do you find that you’re a more offensive driver now that you ride a motorcycle? TF: Definitely.
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 Tayla Adams Welcome back to part three of my discussion with Travis. In this section we’re going to get into how this new rider is finding being on the roads in traffic with cars in Los Angles. T: Any close calls yet on the road? TF: Yeah, when I was on the scooter
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 Tayla Adams T: When did you first learn to ride, given you had a fear? TF: Riding the scooter kind of got me prepared, and I could always ride. I even did the California Motorcycle Safety Program. When I was there some of the stuff they were teaching– some people pick up quick, some
By Tayla Adams What’s up everyone. This month, I sat down and had an in depth conversation with new motorcyclist Travis Frazee. Please read below to find out what’s it’s like to be a new rider in the greater Los Angeles area. T: When did you first get your motorcycle? TF: So, I got
By Tayla Adams The wait is finally over! My winter leather motorcycle jacket has arrived. I’m excited, and extremely grateful to have received it in time for the high winds and low temperatures in Los Angeles. Below I’ll give my initial assessment of the jacket as it’s the first time I’ve bought a motorcycle
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 In this final installment of my interview with Chris Cass we’ll get into shop talk and how he really feels about riding in Los Angeles. T: Can you talk about the difference between riding in Los Angeles versus upstate New York? C: I’ve never ridden in New York City, but I can
By Tayla Adams In part four of my interview with Chris Cass, we get into conscious riding. Find out how this guy’s made a habit of riding safe. T: Just from listening to you, I think it’s great you’re such a conscious rider. C: I call it consciousness. I don’t have a radio. I don’t
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 Tayla Adams In part three of my sit down with Chris Cass we get into his experiences as a motorcyclists in Los Angeles, the ups, the downs, and everything in between. Check it out below. T: Can you talk about your experience as a commuter motorcyclist living in Los Angeles? C: Yeah.Yeah.My philosophy, I
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 Tayla Adams I recently had the opportunity to sit down and talk with a fellow motorcyclist I’ve known for quite a few years. His name is Christopher Cass, and he’s been singing the praises of BMW motorcycles since I met him. It was a blast finding out how he got started riding, and sharing
By Tayla Adams With fall upon us and winter quickly approaching, the time has come for me to begin my search for a new riding jacket. Since I’m a little intense with my consumer research before I invest in an item, I decided to share some tips I’ve learned along the way for purchasing
By Tayla Adams For the past month I’ve been getting more and more into thrifting. If I’m free on a Sunday morning, I like to head to a flea market and browse. Over the weekend I went to the Rose Bowl flea market and it did not disappoint. I spent more than four hours there
Last week, I had a very close encounter with a traffic officer. I’d only been at work for about thirty minutes when I received a call from my building’s parking attendant. He informed me there was a traffic officer giving tickets to all the motorcycles parked on the sidewalk in front of the building. I
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
Let’s face it, motorcycle gear is expensive. A protective riding jacket can cost upwards of four hundred dollars easily. A top of the line helmet can go for much more than that given the brand. With the cost of living constantly on the rise in Los Angeles, it pays to be a bit frugal. With
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
I don’t know what it is, but for the last two months it seems like US 101 has been blocked off at some point in the late hours of the night. Recently, I’ve been seeing a lot of state troopers slowing down traffic by weaving in between the lanes, or construction taking place with up
Recently, a good friend of mine had his tricked out Yamaha R6 stolen from his apartment. Immediately, I wanted to know how this happened. My friend’s apartment building comes with secured, underground, gated garage. In order to enter, someone needs to have a remote to trigger the gate to open in the first place. Plus,
Ride season is in full swing ladies and gentlemen. If you’re anything like me you’re indulging as much as possible. Good weather is all it generally takes to get me outside for an adventure, and finding new places to explore is an added bonus. Over the weekend, I went out to Franklin Canyon and explored
This summer has been wonderful for riding. I’ve been on my bike every day, and soaking in the good weather while it’s here. Even going to work isn’t so bad when the sun is shining and there’s a nice breeze. No matter how nice the conditions, I always make a point to remain alert and
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.
We’ve all been told at some point in our lives looks aren’t the most important thing. Mostly this pertains to people’s appearances, however today I’m going to apply this saying to motorcycles. I’m even going to go a step further and suggest looks do matter, especially when it comes to your bike. About a month
This weekend I set out to take an epic landscape photo of Los Angeles at sunrise. I have wanted to frame a city shot for months now, and I thought I’d finally found the perfect location to take a good vantage point shot. However, things don’t always go as planned. My location was supposed to
I love going into motorcycle specialty stores as much as the next rider I’m sure. I also enjoy supporting local motorcycle businesses. However, sometimes as a buyer I’m doing myself a disservice by spending more money in a store, than simply researching and buying online. For example, a friend of mine purchased some really expensive
I’m a rider that learned how to ride a motorcycle at traffic school. My father used to ride motorcycles when he was younger, but got into a very bad accident at one point. Once this happened he never rode again, and I’m fairly certain he never thought I’d pick up riding. However, I was still
It’s that time of year again, buying season. We’re on the cusp of summer yet again, and used motorcycles are slowly beginning to flood the market. One of the most popular sites to buy reasonably priced motor bikes is Craigslist. I personally have had good experiences both buying and selling on the website. Below, I’m
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
This past weekend I set out on a ride with a group of friends to Malibu. Our destination was the Grotto Trails in the Santa Monica Mountains. It’s not an over populated hike, but it’s probably my favorite one now. The ride up there also offered plenty of adventure and variety for the views. I
Distractions are inevitable in all aspects of your life. The best you can ever attempt to do is manage them. One of the main reasons I enjoying riding my motorcycle is because it forces me to focus on just one thing; operating my machine. However, over the past year I’ve noticed more and more gadgets
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,