Back in the saddle

Check....check.... Is this thing still on? Man it has been a long time since I have posted anything. And its not because I was out traveling the world and too busy to post. It has been quite the opposite. I have not been diving since August. And my bike was out of commission since December. So I literally had nothing to post about. Until now. I finally got my bike together and went for a ride this Saturday morning.

I wont go until what happened to my bike, its a long story. But in short. One part broke that caused several parts to break, a lost license plate and destroyed rear tire. So finally after replacing everything and putting it back together on this Friday. I couldn't wait to go out and get in a quick ride.

So on Saturday morning at the butt crack of dawn, the alarm went off. I slid out of bed, threw on my clothes, boots and jacket and headed over to meet up with Bruce. It was still dark enough outside that with my tint visor is was difficult to see. But by 645am we were already on our way up the 2 - Angeles Crest Highway. I didn't have my winter jacket with me, only my summer jacket. So I had on several layers on underneath and it was not nearly enough. It was fa-fa-fa-freeezing. But it was the best cold experience there is to have.

The best part of getting up that early is, we had the road to ourselves. Only had to pass 3 cars on the way up and all of them used the turn offs when they saw us coming. That was first. We rode all the way up the 2 to Newcomb Ranch Cafe, to warm up and have several cups of coffee and an egg sandwich.

Bruce was riding his Yamaha RZ350. That is a sweet bike. He takes great care of it and it looks and runs perfect. And its awesome to see a street bike with a kick start!

After hanging out for awhile and warming up, we started to head back down the hill. And on the way down, the traffic coming up had dramatically increased. Lines of cars and bikes behind them were seen the whole way down.

We pulled off at one look out, to enjoy the view. And we can still see snow on the sides of the road and off the distance across the valley.

It was a quick short ride. But one that I needed sooooo bad and felt so good to get back in the saddle and scrub in my new rear tire - Pirelli Rosso. Since it was new and this was my scrub in ride, I really didn't push it. But the grip I felt in the corners was really good and cant wait to put on my full leathers and really put the test to them and get some knees down.

Next weekend is diving - So another post is in the near future, and hopefully I will be posting consistently and with lots more pics.

My New Truck

(I wish)

Ducati teams up with Toyota and creates the almost perfect track day truck. I say almost because the perfect tract day truck should hold 2 bikes. But overlooking the one minor flaw, its pretty flippin sweet. Even comes with solar panels for all your onsite power needs. Now only if it came with the bike and an umbrella girl.

Happy Birthday Ethan

When the Empire tried to issue Ethan a Speeder Bike for his 5th Birthday, which was on Halloween. He flatly refused and being his father's son, he demanded an Imperial Ducati! Happy Birthday to the coolest 5 year old in the Galaxy!

The rest of the evening was spent collecting loot in the form of candy with his younger brother, who Ethan dubbed "Darth Baby"

Palomar Mountain

A few weekends ago Randy and I decided to do a day ride. Something neither one of us has done in a long time. Too long, if you ask me. Without giving it too much thought we decided to ride to Palomar Mountain and back.

It was a perfect day for riding. Not too hot in full leathers, and not too crowded despite being a Sunday. I brought along my camera with the intentions of really practicing my Motorcycle shots. Didnt happen. We had such a good pace going the whole day, that we never stopped to take pics.

However on East Grade road there are always photographers staked out on certain corners taking pictures and posting them for purchase. Here are some shots that they got of me and my trusty Multistrada

It was a great day and made both of us want to do another track day soon.

I am a Mountain

As I am putting on my helmet and securing the chinstrap, there are 2 thoughts that are running thru my head, enjoy the ride and don’t die. As I am pulling on the right glove, stay focused. Left glove comes on, stay sharp. My leg swings over the bike, I am a mountain.

I am not a morbid person by any means. But I am not oblivious to the fact that there are inherent dangers that come with riding a motorcycle. And those dangers can by multiplied when riding canyons and twisties. My worst fear is not that I will do something stupid and crash. If that happens it’s my own fault, I accept that. But it’s going around a blind left hander and having someone going wide, veering into my lane, hitting me head on. Nonetheless, fears will not deter me from living. The snake like asphalt awaits, begs and taunts my Italian mistress and me.

I am not Buddhist but I do practice and follow some of their teachings and ways of living. Especially the methods meditation and single mindedness. When I am riding, I enter a state of single mindedness that is in its purest form for me. I am most focused when I am on two wheels or underwater. Thoughts of work, bills, relationships, what’s for lunch, anything other than what I am doing exactly now is potentially dangerous when riding a motorcycle. But no matter how focused you are, irrelevant and distracting thoughts will enter your mind. If you pay attention to these and concentrate on stopping these distractions you only propagate them even more. Instead become a mountain and all thoughts are clouds that pass by. Pay no attention to them, let it pass, stay focused, enjoy the ride and don’t die.

Randy aka Mega, was stricken deathly ill with a case a wussy-itis. His girlfriend had threatened him with a four post massacre if he dared leave the house to go riding. Having severe vaginal cramps, Mega sends me a text message that he “cant” make it. Pecker. Luckily a few days before, I had posted a message on Multistrada.net asking if anyone else would like to go on a ride on President’s Day. A very cool guy named Kevin, with one of the best looking Multistradas I have ever seen, responded and said he could make it.


It was a heavy, dark overcast morning when we met at the Coffee shop at 7am. After a quick get to know each other, shoot the shit about bikes and talk about our route, we were off. Our destination is Palm Desert, 150 miles each way of mainly back roads and small two lane highways.



A quick jog down the 5 to Ortega and the ride has officially begun. Kevin was leading and we had a good pace going. Until flashing signs warning of construction ahead, literally brought our momentum to a sudden halt. Coming around a blind right hander, sat a parked truck at the end of a long line of cars waiting to be signaled to pass thru the one lane section of the road. Kevin and I hit the brakes hard and shook our heads.

After about 40 minutes of crawling along thru the destruction zone, we were moving again. We stopped briefly at the Look Out to stretch our legs and warm our hands. My leather riding gloves are great for canyons and track days, but shit for any possibility of warmth. Surprisingly we were the only 2 people there. It was a first time I have ever seen that. Overlooking Lake Elsinore, the dense fog and haze covered up, hid and robbed us of the stunning, breath taking beauty of the 909 (that’s sarcasm incase you don’t know the area).


By the time we hit Tenaja rd, I was back in the zone. Sliding off the seat, knee out, leaning into every corner. The bike is breathing for me. The right wrist twists down and I breathe in. Two fingers reach out and quickly grab the front brake, I exhale. The toes of my boots are on the pegs, and keeping me in contact with my mortality. My Multistrada will do anything that I want it to. The only question is, what can I make it do and still get to the next corner with the rubber side down. I come out of the corner and hammer it. The Arrow pipes have the baffles out and they resonate my soul. There is nothing else like this in the world.

One of my favorite roads is Wilson Valley Road. It is a desolate tight twistie road that winds and weaves thru a rock and boulder covered land that could be a scene from a post apocalyptic movie. It doesn’t look like much on the map. But its beauty is reveals itself to you as flick your bike from side to side with the roar of a Ducati twin screaming passionate songs that match the pulse of your heart at 7000 rpms.



As we were riding on the 371 we passed one of the best bbq places known in my motorcycle heaven, Cahuilla Mtn Market. Unfortunately it is only 10:15am and the owner hasn’t even fired up the grill yet, so we ride on. When we hit the 74, instead of turning left and head to Idyllwild, which I have done many times. We turn right and brave the Pines to Palms highway for the first time. This is the reason for today’s route.

I have seen pictures of this part of the road and studied it on the map, and I wanted to ride it for myself.



The first part of the 74 sucked. The road was bumpier beyond any other tarmac I have ever rolled over. Black tar snakes vibrated the handlebars and stripped me of any overconfidence I might have had going into the slightest corners. Thankfully it smoothed out for the most part right around the lookout area that overlooks this 5.6 mile playground. After briefly stopping at the lookout and admiring the view, Kevin and I hit it perfectly. Not one car was ahead of us, the downhill spiral bliss was all ours. Fast sweepers, 270 degree corners and few chicanes. Absolutely exhilarating.


We hit the bottom, quickly turned around and hit it uphill. We were not as lucky going up, with the hindrance of 4 wheeled cages blocking and slowing our pace. Distractions assaulted me and wanted to repeat themselves over and over, move over Grandma and use the turnout you pecker.

But I am a mountain, let it pass, stay focused, enjoy the ride and don’t die.

Demo Day

Today was the official US release date of the Ducati 848 and Spectrum Ducati had demo rides on the 848 along with most other bikes. Former Pramac Ducati MotoGP rider Alex Hofmann was also there signing autographs.

I got there about 10am and there was already 20 people hanging around waiting for their turn on one of the bikes. I immediately signed up for a ride on the 848. 30 minutes later I was throwing my leg over the sweetest bike I have ever laid eyes on. Just sitting on the bike in neutral I felt like I was going fast. Put her in gear, ease out the clutch and it was a dream come true, I was riding my 1st Superbike. Everything else I have rode up to this point in my life was either a dirt bike, enduro or my Multistrada. And right away I was in love with it. Goin down the street it begged me to twist the wrist. Going into the 1st corner she showed me what I had been missing all my life,... her. Accelerating out of the turn I almost cried. It was a thing of beauty. A few quick shifts and I looked down at the display and its reading 105mph. And it felt like she was only showing me half of her teeth. It was amazing. But before I knew it I was back at Spectrum and had to hand her over to the next anxious rider waiting for his turn with my future Italian Mistress. Without a doubt, the 848 will be my next bike.


While I was there, I also jumped at the chance to ride the Hypermotard 1100. All I can say is WOW. What a freakin fun bike. Coming right off the low profile rocket of the 848, I felt like I was on stilts sitting on the Hyper. But it was so light and so powerful, 30 seconds into it, she was seducing me. Quickly acclimating to her riding style I couldn't stop smiling. Although being used to my Multi, then having just rode pure bliss in corners. I was a bit slow getting used to how the Hyper cornered. But I could tell, take this bike to the track or twisties and you will have a blast. 5 minutes on either of these bikes was just simply not enough.

For much better reviews of these awesome bikes check out the 848 here and the Hypermotard here.

Italian Bike Night

Another night, another season comes to an end. The Orange County Ducati Club hosted its last IBN of 2007 on Wednesday in its usual spot of the parking lot of Paradiso Gelato in Newport


It was a great turn out. By far there was the most bikes and people I have seen at an IBN. With free pizza and drinks, they came in droves.


The Red Bull Girls were there handing out free Red Bull


Even SuperBikes host Jason Britton was there hanging out.

He rode in on a Aprilia instead of his usual GXR. What a freakin cool guy, you could just walk up to him and start shooting the shit about bikes or whatever.

Also on display was a custom bike built by Roland Sands.


And now we enter the winter hiatus. But with track days and other riding days ahead, I plan to keep the tires warm and kickstand up.

For more pics of the night go here