Safety First: Investing in Quality Riding Gear

I've long been wanting to get me one of 'em most popular helmet brands, either AGV, Arai, Caberg or Shoei. Finally, after a couple of years of botched savings, I got one, for a STEAL!

 I got the older model Shoei QWEST, but the helmet is still in pristine condition.

Independence Day Ride (2015)

It was the eighth of June, 2015. A long weekend was looming (June 12, friday, was a holiday). What better way to spend the long weekend? Stay in the house, sleeping all day. Taking out your motorcycle and going places, of course. I decided to cool off in Tagaytay, the summer heat was still on. My riding buddies this time were Kriz and his pillion Venus. 

Pics before take-off:

Vehicle Registration: It's More Fun in the Philippines

I have always been into following the rules of the state regarding motoring, so as to avoid hassle when there are checkpoints. But, in recent events, an "Administrative Order" has been the ire of the riding community.

Also, I find it amusing that these people who try to enforce rules (mostly) on motorcycle users are those who probably have never ridden a moped their entire lives, or did so but not in the streets and certainly NOT as a means of their daily commute, or those being driven by chauffeurs to and from work on their fancy vehicles.

Let's take this example, a policy that the Land Transportation Office (LTO) is working on, coming from the head of the agency himself.

XRCP NCR-Laguna-Cavite Goes to Bicol

Some of our pals from our club chapters in Manila, Laguna and Cavite went for a ride to Legazpi City (my hometown in Bicol) last February 14, as part of their Valentine's Day Ride. Our guys from Bicol North and South Chapter met-up with them in Libmanan, Camarines Sur.

The group was about 15 strong, and leading them was Lex de los Reyes, Jon Jaldo and Mia Gabayan. We stopped along somewhere in Pamplona, Camarines Sur to let the hungry rides from Manila have their tummies filled.

Short Stroll: XRCP Uragon Sorsogon Loop

Sorsogon is a province next to Albay, down the southernmost part of Luzon. It's a beautiful, mostly laid-back place with lots of sights and experiences to offer. Our group decided to loop the province, passing by most its towns. It was our first chapter ride this year, done last January 25, 2015.

It was a clear Sunday morning, we thanked our lucky stars that the weather cooperated. Last Friday it was bad, to say the least. Our group gathered at the Peñaranda Park, in Old Albay District, waiting for our members from Camarines Sur to arrive. Of course, there is an obligatory photo session.

Welcome to the Wolves' Den

I've been waiting for this bike to be released, since 2011 when word of it first came out. Imagine the disappointment, of the thought that the bike you have been saving up for may never not be released in your country. Fortunately, it was released. And finally, after three long years, I have you in my hands.

Kawasaki Rouser 200NS. I can still remember how happy I was the first time I straddled it.

A (Side)Trip to the Queen City of the South [Island Hopping Part 3]

As stated in my last post, after touring Bohol, we went back to the port of Ubay to start our traverse back to Bicol. Unfortunately, due to typhoon Seniang, no ship was allowed to travel. Bongskie and I decided to settle in Ubay and wait for the storm to pass.

There was a hotel within the vicinity of the port area (I forgot the name). They had their own restaurant and had air-conditioned rooms with two beds for just 500 pesos a day(250 apiece for us). A good deal. It was still sunny that time, and we were still shaking our heads in disbelief.

Over the Hills and Far Away... [Island Hopping Part 2]

So, after reaching the MacArthur Landing Site in Palo, Leyte (a tad too early at that), we decided to loop the entire island of Leyte, since we were already here anyway, and we were ahead of schedule. It was a scenic ride while going through mountain passes. We stopped often just to take in the view.

Island-hopping in Visayas During the Rainy Season [Part 1]

As usual, this is another uber late post. 

December 2014. 'Twas a year when the holidays were placed just right, making it one of the longest Christmas vacations evarrr! (December 24 - January 4, 2015, with the exception of December 29 as the last working day of the year here in the country. It was a whopping two weeks' worth of free time.) 

A long holiday calls for lazy mornings just tossing and turning around the bed until lunch time going out on another adventure, of course. This time, it was with my former officemate, Bongskie, who is another certified "rabasero" many magnitudes higher than me. He told me he wanted to go south (Visayas), for which I happily agreed to be his riding buddy, as I myself got no further than the "You are now leaving the Island of Luzon" arc in Matnog, Sorsogon.

A Wild Ride from More than Half a Year Past...

Soooo... It's taken longer than I expected. I've had my hands full for the past half year that since January, this is the first time that I had time to post. Heck, I've my hands TOO full that even if I was a Hindu deity (the ones with 6 or more arms), I'd still have my hands full. LOL.

Kidding aside, this is my uber late ride report from December 2014.

It's been a while...

Two years, to be precise. I have been busy, and much has changed - new work, new address, new bike, but still the same passion for riding. I have turned away from the "Big 4" of motorcycle brands and got myself an "option bike." But, as they say, it's not the ride, it's the rider. I'll be back to posting my ride blogs soon, including our latest last December. But for now, here's a teaser.

The Return to Paguriran Island

January 6, 2013

Yes, so this is it! During my last visit here, I was unable to set foot on the island itself. But now I am back, with some of my rider friends. This was a spur-of-the-moment ride, due to another cancelled ride.

It was unfortunate na hindi natuloy yung EB Ride ng MCP Bicol. Pero dahil naisip ko, bibihira lang ako makapag-off ng linggo, eh magri-ride pa rin ako. Plano ko talaga kasing bumalik ng Paguriran Island kasi the last time I went there, hindi ko napuntahan yung island mismo. This time I made sure na mapupuntahan ko siya.

Da Adbentyurs op a Lone Rider Part 6

This is an UBER late post. Been busy during the last holidays, and didn't have that much time to post until now. Just a couple of days after I got my (not so) new ride (check the previous post), I tested the machine, and tested my own endurance. It was also my own "hands-on training" to get used to a manual bike.

A (not so) New Ride, A New Riding Chapter

Finally, after thinking about it for a long time, I decided to let go of my Wave 100R. It was not an easy decision, but it was time to move on. I got myself a new ride. Pero bago ako nagpalit ng motor, nagtanong tanong muna ako sa forum na tinatambayan ko lagi kung ano sa tingin nila ang magandang motor para sa qualifications na nasaad ko.

And, base sa mga comment na nakuha ko, the winner of the poll was actually a no-brainer. Here is my (not so) new ride, it was taken during one of my test rides (the details of which I will post later).

Da Adbentyurs op a Lone Rider Part 5: Wave 100R Send-off

Matagal tagal ko na rin itong pinagisipan. I love my Wavey, pero bitin talaga ako sa power nya. Medyo marami na rin akong naigastos para sa upgrades, pero wala pa rin. I decided on getting a new MC, pero habang hindi pa ako kumukuha, I decided to do a "send-off ride" for my Wavey - this time will be my longest ride on this motorcycle. 

Matnog Ride with Sir Emil and friends

October 16, 2012 - Sir Emil came to my workplace to personally invite me to his planned ride. Hindi ko alam na matagal na palang niluluto itong ride, hindi ko lang nasubaybayan kasi sa kabilang forum (MCP) sila naglahad ng plano. But I was planning to ride the next day anyway, so I gladly joined the fray.

The next day, I woke up early to a great sunny day. Maganda ang panahon para mag ride. Konting linis lang ng motor, and before 9am alis na ako to meet up with sir Emil and company. Our hook up place was the Daraga Shell station, the only one in Daraga. There, they were already waiting for me (I was late, LOL).

Da Adbentyurs op a Lone Rider Part 4.1

October 17, 2012. Another Wednesday, oras na naman para gumala. May nakita lang akong post ng idol kong solo rider. So nagpasya akong bisitahin rin ang pinuntahan nyang natatagong paraiso na malapit lang sa aming bayan. Konting linis muna kay Fenrir, dala ng extra set ng damit at gamit, larga na. Destination: Paguriran Island.

Medyo late ko nang napagisipang ituloy ang ride ko, kasi nung umaga eh medyo makulimlim ang panahon. Hindi naman tumuloy ang ulan, kaya diretso ang aking lakad. Mga 1:30pm nung nagsimula akong bumyahe papunta ng Sorsogon. Masarap talaga ang twisties ng papuntang Sorsogon, hindi gaanong sharp ang mga curves kaya kahit sa pipitsuging riding skills ko eh kaya kong lumiko dito at full throttle. Hindi naglaon at nakarating ako sa arko ng Sorsogon. Wala ng picture picture kasi nakailang picture na rin ako dito. LOL.

Short post: New Helmet, New ICC Sticker

Kamakailan ay bumili ako ng bagong helmet, my first full face, para sa aking mga ride. Napansin ko lang na bago na ang ICC sticker. Sabi ng saleslady, yan na daw ang bagong ICC sticker ngayong 2012. 

Quick Ride with Sir Emil

Isang Martes ng hapon, nagkayayaan kami ni Sir Emil of UBP/MCP na mag quick ride (actually, ako ang nag-aya, LOL). With a quick plan, napag-usapan namin na magkita sa Tiwi around 1pm the next day. Itinerary: Tiwi-Joroan-Sagnay and Mayon Rest House.

Matnog Ride with UBPeans

September 14, 2012. A handful of co-UBPeans led by sir Warren (buzaizai_88) started their Bicol ride, as part of a quest to be called a "South Looper". By the afternoon, they were already in Naga. Gusto ko rin noon makaexperience ng ride na may kasama, kaya I was pretty enthusiastic about going with them on their ride to Matnog.