Motorcycles

Don't currently ride after my last bike got stolen, but my dream bike is a Bimota Tesi 3D.

1993 Suzuki GS 500e $850

My first motorcycle and my commute to school once I was able to return. Really awesome starter bike, and I fell in love with riding. Very grateful to Duy who taught me about motorcycles (and lane splitting), found this one on Craigslist, drove it back for me, and helped with future repairs and advice. I dropped this bike plenty of times 😭.

Inevitably, someone didn't see me and pulled out into me from a gas station. Totaled the bike. I was actually hit once before that too but was able to steer away just in time and take superficial damage. Insurance check and onto the next bike!

1995 Yamaha YZF 600 | $2,200 at 25k miles

Duy found this bike on Craigslist as well and forwarded to me. 😍😍😍 Love at first sight with that color scheme. This bike was a big upgrade and very fast. Super fun until I was rear-ended at a red light in Westwood (right in front of the fire station!). Was taken to the ER, and it hurt real bad but no permanent damage. After this, I became super aware and, I wouldn't say paranoid, but cautious and always checking behind me. You'll hear other motorcyclists use these type of accidents to advocate for lane-splitting, which can often protect from this. Legal in California but not in most states.

2003 Suzuki SV1000s $4,900 at 5K miles

Ok Duy, what's next? He sent me this post, and the copper coloring I really liked. He knows how to pick 'em for me. Powerful at 1000cc but not as sporty as the YZF. Rode this for many years (mostly to grad school) and not having a car or truck for a good portion of that. Added a Givi rack for groceries and school supplies and (not pictured) side bags. Two pictures show some damage, but it was my fault. When I took it too Willow Springs (pictured below), I started getting more and more comfortable on the track and pushing it. Eventually, I took turn 3 too fast and went into the dirt. I may have been able to save the crash, but I fucked up and hit my front brakes hard whereas I shoulda used my back brakes and maybe pumped the front some (afaik). Scuffed it up and broke the radiator but otherwise bike held up well! Thank you Michael and Song for helping me repair it, and thanks to Peter for helping me with a rewiring fix!

PR speed of 139 mph on the 10.

Track and Canyon

Some pics from a Willow Springs track day and ride in Topanga. The Willow Springs folks were making fun of me b/c it was the only bike they'd seen come with a luggage rack installed. Improved over time at getting low and leaning into it (versus away). Thank you Peter for lending (and then giving) me your track suit.

Summerboard (fka Leiftech)

Summerboards are advertised as 'snowboarding' on the road. They're a type of eskateboard but are powered by a pair of axially-centered caster wheels, which lets you carve and 'ride the edges'. Spent so many days trying to get good at this. Summerboards can go really fast, and even low speeds are scary and dangerous. Got a couple scars out of it. I wanted to use these to commute to a coworking space I used to go to (shut down due to Covid 😭) but didn't get good enough that I was confident on Santa Monica streets with cars. Experts are wild though if you want to search for any vids. Still have 'em and may pick it back up. Incredibly fun. Summerboard support is terrible!

Powerizers and Freelines

Think I came across the Powerizers on Youtube, but they looked awesome, and I told my mom I wanted them for xmas. Got the "You'll kill yourself" hard no, but then she actually got them for me!! The way they fastened to your knees was very unstable and not confidence inpsiring. Never did any cool flips or anything and ended up giving it to one of the CCNWTC guys.

I like learning new skills and coordinations, and after trying wave/snake boards (e.g. Ripstick), I found about Freeline skates. First I tried making some. They were terrible and didn't work, so I caved and bought some. Quite difficult to learn compared to wave boards because of having to coordinate each foot/leg separate and took a few days. I was hoping to use these to get around campus. While fun to use, they were very inefficient. No-go on any incline whatsoever, and even level ground was arduous (downhill was great though). Gifted them to some kid who thought they were cool.