Men, Machines, and Friendship

^{March 11, 2012 Lifestyle}

Back in 2008, after having lived in the Philippines for about a year, it came time to buy some personal transportation. During the year, what I noticed was that there were many people here who used motorcycles as their main mode of transportation, and I thought: “why not?”

Having no real experience with anything two wheels before (other than renting a scooter in Maui for a week), I decided to do some research. Many of the motorcycles used here are smaller than what you might find in the states, most under 200 cc’s. This was a good thing for a beginner like me. So, now it was just a matter of what type and brand.

Kawasaki, Honda, Suzuki, and Yamaha (“The Big 4”), really can’t go too wrong if you go with one of the major brands. Parts, service, and accessories can be found throughout the Philippines. I decided to go with the Kawasaki Fury 125. It had just been released, and was a hot topic in the online forums. This decision, not only would affect my future riding style, but also has had a great effect on my personal life as well.

After getting my local license, I went down to the store and purchased my “Fury” and had it delivered to my place while I went to buy a helmet and safety gear. Before I went for my first ride, I read as much as I could about the theories and techniques of two wheel vehicles to make sure I understood the basics. That first week, I basically rode just around a two block radius in my neighborhood to make sure I got a feel for the bike and how it reacted.

After a month, I had the basics down and was ready to venture out further and further, expanding my comfort zone. I also noticed that because of the buzz the “Fury” was making in the forums, the Kawasaki Riders Club of the Philippines was starting to grow as the number of Fury owners grew. I found their meeting place at the McDonald’s at the Fort, and went on a Tuesday night (*Note: KRCP meets every Tuesday night). With KRCP, I’ve been able to ride to different parts of the Philippines as well as develop my riding skills. We also share many interests outside of just riding, which we try to incorporate into our outings.

It’s been almost 4 years since that day, and though I don’t ride as much as I used too, I still meet and talk to my club mates on a regular basis. They have become members of my extended family. Birthdays, family events, or even just goofing off, we make sure to keep each other informed so that we can bond whenever possible.

Who would have thought that a two wheeled machine could change my life so much…