Making Noise

Tonight's mini gathering at the NOS hot spot in Coffee Experience, Macapagal nearly didn't push through as the skies threatened us with small showers as I was pushing through Sto. Nino. Nonetheless everything cleared as the hours crept on and we were rewarded by Edwin and wifey with a (very) hearty (and heavy) dinner. Some local sports riders came in and there was even this 7 year old girl - tough as nails - doing the public stretch on her pocket bike as her dad rode alongside her for a bout half a mile and back. Wow. Kamen really wanted to have a baby after that.

Before riding out we cranked up the ante around MOA and did a small tour around the free road. Geez, every time on the bike its always like the first time. Had a great night guys.

Helping Out

Early Morning Late Return

I've managed to break in Brutus along with the gang with a small short ride to Tagaytay via SLEX on the way there and Daang Hari going back. This was the first time I've seen Taal volcano in all its splendor. She looks so deceivingly peaceful, and surprisingly since it was summer but the air was cool.

Met up with Ed and rode out to see new buddy Gil and son already waiting at Puregold along Sucat. (Gil owns a shop near here and tomorrow is gonna be visiting the Brute for a fixer-up thingy.) After a few short introductions since it was my first time to meet Gil, we rode out south to Shell and met with Mandy and Boogie. It was the second time for me to see my ex-Dragstar and she was all dirty and messed up. I felt like she was looking at me with begging eyes, almost as if the bike and I still had a connection. I fixed some minor issues with a missing nut for the pipes in time for Cicero to join us and on we went to the next gas station - to meet up with the last two guys from Ed and Cicero's former group V-Twin - Dom and Chito, who by the way had awesome bikes.

So on we went southward - broom broom - road was a disaster really. Virtually under repair more than half of the way we were in it, littered with barricades, holes, uneven asphalt, gravel and sand - really not the ideal skin for our rubber. We missed an exit and overshot to the next, which gave us ample time for some snaps.

We circled back and exited out to Tagaytay and up we went till we reached a familiar place from my last ride with the Boulevard Boyz. Breakfast was grrrreeeaaaat. Had corned beef with eggs and I finished it in a jiffy. Twas really good. Spent an hour exchanging stories and met a mom who was very enthusiastic about our bikes. Turns out her young son who was talking with the other guys was a fanatic. It's refreshing to see and meet people like that guy's mom who're very supportive of their children's activities. It was nice really.

It was my first time too to ride Daang Hari and it was a way much better route than going through SLEX, but longer, a fact which I didn't mind since the roads were smooth and wide with lots of long stretches in between which makes for some fun throttle twisting. Cynthia, Ed's wifey, kept document of the whole thing:

The Long Wait Ends - Brutus Is Born

The first bike to roll out of the WillieStreet garage. She rides like a charm. The first pic is how she looked when I got her. But the following three are presently how she's patched up. Pretty much a violation from every angle, dripping with attitude that screams, "Write me a friggin' ticket already!" - tiny left side mirror, no tail light (yet, anyway), no fender (yet, again), no horn (who needs one?) , no turn signals (sissy add ons), no speedo (if the wind is lifting my helmet already, then that tells me I'm at cruising speed), lame plate holders (stock ubone thingies, temporary), pant ripper seats (temporary), asswipe side covers (another temporary excuse), sky high apes (again, temporary but the only fine excuse), but slick and sick from every angle - ultra slick matte black against black flames, German white side inserts - way better than Classic brands, black mirror rims, black ceramic pipes. Spent mostly two weeks chopping off and adding on to the stock steed I got from Jay's friend. Here are the first pictures of it. Now go tell the neighbors.

The Second

When it seemed impossible yesterday that I should get the bike that I had primed my mind with, now it sits quietly where Mandelbrot used to park. I don't have the snaps since I haven't got a camera anywhere in the house - which sucks since I'm maintaining an online diary. But what I do have is about 50 miles of fast joy and neck jerking experience as the honed Steed has way more torque than Mandelbrot had. I thought that I was twisting the throttle the way I did before but now I got more speed in return.

The bike is a blank canvas. Ready to be transformed. It has been to far places and yet it still packs the punch it probably had when it was fresh out of the factory line. Its deep husky growl is music to my ears. The apes are way up there, as in scandalous. I like the idea that I didn't lose how people stop and stare when I pass by.

I thought I got bored of riding and it became a chore already with Mandelbrot, but now I'm stoked again. Even as I type I have the itch to ride out, if it weren't for my morning deadline - which I haven't started on yet.

Haven't told Dodge yet. Hope to get the papers tomorrow.

Mandelbrot Rides Away

Last night, I took a long look at Mandelbrot resting peacefully in my garage unmindful of the moment around it. I thought that tomorrow night it will be parked in someone else's garage quietly. I thought of floating beside it and looking at it through all the times I've enjoyed riding it in the late hours and early mornings from Quezon city to south and back. After a brief blast through EDSA I would tap on the tank and say "good boy.." like the obedient puppy that it is.

It has never failed to turn heads wherever it cruised. My first bike. I remember having it delivered to my place of work and staring at it excitedly with a dumbfounded look and an impending question: "How the heck am I going to take this home?" - I have never in my entire life ridden a motorcycle, much less sit on one.. and here I am looking at this big brute that was suddenly thrust under my care. How am I going to tame it? It died on me six times on the way home. Ahh, sweet tragedy.

Fast forward two and a half years, I stared blankly as the new owner - a very young kid - rides away on it. It looks good from this view. I've always wondered how we looked together or sounded from a distance. It was a loud monster - who even now fades silently into the afternoon as I see it round the corner for the very last time.

Who knows, I might see it zipping through some highway any time in the future. But I'd be an audience for a change. And if I do manage to catch it blow by me like the wind, I'd smile inside - thinking "good boy.."

Turning Over A New Leaf

I've been pretty much unable to post somewhat the past month. I don't know why or what laziness came over me, wait, it wasn't laziness. Ok now I remember. Ever since I got a hold of a copy of Solidworks (three weeks ago) I've been burning the midnight oil cranking out designs for certain tools I'll be needing around the shop. Namely a tube bender, a frame jig, and a tube notcher. The lathe would have to come later, as it will entail coughing up P35,000 just to get one. But the tools I opted to have machined with a local shop would cost me around $2,500 or more just to order, not to mention the long wait for it to get here. Saving up some dough to finance my investment. I can't wait to start bending and fusing some metal.

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As I have received news a few months back that there were interested parties in purchasing Mandelbrot - it looks like this is her last week with me. Saturday to be precise. I'm not counting my eggs, but the day is set - and already there's a steed waiting in line for my care. This bike and I have been through a lot, and I'm not comparing myself to those mile hungry tourers who've already circled the archipelago thrice in a row, but in my everyday use, I've grown and matured in riding her, and she has been blessed to take me to and fro my daily route safely while enjoying myself catch the wind with my knees.

But this new beast has 19" apes with 3" risers all make up for a sweet 22" arm stretch to the heavens. Black as sulfur, straight open pipes.. other than that I don't know yet. I'll be getting the first pics of her tomorrow or later maybe. Got her for a very low price too courtesy of Jay who found a buyer and also found a prospect replacement for me.

Can't wait to dress her up and ride her for the very first time. Saturday, Saturday, quite a long time away.