I'm another one whose first personal transportation was a motorcycle, starting with a Honda 90 and ending up with a Suzuki X6 Hustler 250 (1969?) that I sold when I got married/went in the Air Force in 1971.  Wouldn’t mind having the bike again!

Many years later I'm married to a wife who likes to ride with me!  Bought a Kawasaki Vulcan 750 in 2005 and put about 12,000 miles on it over two years, but it was too cramped for comfortable 2-up riding. 

I looked close at the all-new 2006 Vulcan 900 Classic but didn't like the spoke wheels and the running board foot rests.  Then one day I walked into my dream place - Bay Area Motor Sports - and saw a 2007 Vulcan 900 Custom (Kawasaki didn't even have the model on their website). I bought the second one they sold - a bright red one right out of their warehouse.

Three years and 30,000 miles later, I’m still loving it - especially with my mods!  It is my primary commute ride (except when it rains), but more importantly it does great on the back roads!  The steering is so neutral I just think about turning and it leans into the turn.  Its also a fine touring bike with plenty of power and designed to handle my wife and I loaded for a long weekend. Most important to me (since I ride by myself a lot), its light enough that I can pick it up by myself.  Less weight means it also stops faster, turns quicker on curvy back roads and it gets better gas milage - ave 45-48  mpg (actual) commuting and 50 on the freeway.

Favorite trip: the Bay Area to Santa Barbara.  From Gilroy to Paso Robles we took back roads: Hwy 25 to Peach Tree Road, then Indian Valley Road (there’s a great canyon hidden in those hills) to Hwy 101.   Our return trip was via Hwy 1, which we extended to two days, spending the night at the Ragged Pointe Inn, (just North of San Simeon).  The next morning we continued up Hwy 1 for a late lunch in Monterey, with a short break in Santa Cruz and then Hwy 9 to the Bay Area.  Weather was a bit warm headed south, but the leisurely ride - with lots of photo stops – back up the coast was just perfect (week days with very little traffic).  Or maybe its to Yosemite with an overnight at my favorite camping spot above Yosemite Falls.

My favorite day ridein the Bay Area:  Hwy 35 (Skyline) to Hwy 84  - with brunch at Alice's Restaurant. Then west on 84 through La Honda.  A mile or so past the town, turn southwest on Pescadero Road.  This is the most beautiful, fun road in the Bay Area! It takes you through the redwoods to the Coast, but even though this has much better curves than 84 or 92, it is one that is made for cruising on, with your head in the redwoods.   BTW - Pescadero has a market with homemade breads that are definitely worth a stop.   A few miles later, the cool ocean breeze (or a bracing wind) will tell you the ocean is just ahead.  Head south on Hwy 1 to Davenport, a one-horse town but good lunch stop if you resisted the bread. And a couple of miles further south, head east on Bonnie Doon Rd, up over the hills to Pine Flat Rd, then North down the Empire Grade (with tight, steep turns) to Big Basin Way.  This will take you through the Big Basin Redwood State Park and out the back on a single lane, twisted ride to Hwy 9, which heads NW until you reach Skyline.  Then you turn North (on Hwy 35) back to the intersection with Hwy 84 and Alice's.

If I have less time, I cut off from Pescadero Road on Alpine (at the switchback), a mostly one-lane, paved logging road the climbs through the redwood forests with some great views at the top, towards the ocean and south.  There it intersects with Skyline , which will bring you back North (with some a number of great views of the southern end of the San Francisco Bay) to Hwy 84.  This cuts a couple of hours off the ride.

Occupation:
Business Development

Company:
East Bay EDA

College:
Oregon State U.

Website URL:
www.c-landscapes.com

Interests and hobbies:
Photography, and riding (motorcycles now - horses while I had em) quartet music, reading

Favorite bands and musicians:
Covenant Four Quartet (I sing 2nd Tenor) www.covenant4.com

Favorite places:
Yosemite

My Pet:
horses

Status:
Married

Religion:
Christian