dre_2k2_f4i
01-28-2004, 10:26 AM
Here is my 2-wheeled history (http://www.labiker.com/members/?Andre):
Andre Aguto Alforque: September 28, 1978 - Present; 5'6"; 130-140 lbs.
November, 2001 - Take the MSF class at Cerritos Community College. I was so nervous about being on time for the first day of class that I arrive 2 hours early (hey, who knows what traffic will be like from Venice?). A couple weeks later, I ace the class. Not more than 2 month pass, and I have my M1 class license... barely passing the DMV written tests.
http://img.aguto.com/albums/2002f4i_misc/IMG_2731.thumb.jpg
July 3, 2002 (http://img.aguto.com/2002f4i_misc/IMG_2731) - After waiting 6 long months for a good deal on a motorcycle, I decide to just buy a new one. My heart was really set on a Yamaha R6, but the steep price is enough to move my heart to a yellow CBR 600 F4i. After signing all the necessary papers at Bert's, I take a quick spin around the block and return it to the garage. Fearful of the July 4th weekend traffic, I wait until July 6th to ride it home. Over the next few weeks, I would spend nearly 2 times the down payment for safety equipment (leathers, a helmet, gloves, boots…).
Around this time I take my first non-solo ride in the canyons. onogsxr (http://www.hypercycles.org/forums/member.php?s=&action=getinfo&userid=75) leads me up through Ojai at a perfect pace for my skill level.
http://img.aguto.com/albums/020831_arizona/IMG_2105.thumb.jpg
Labor Day weekend (http://img.aguto.com/020831_arizona) - feeling that I need to put more miles on the bike, I take off to Arizona, hitting Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and Phoenix.
http://img.aguto.com/albums/020907/IMG_2179_001.thumb.jpg
September 7, 2002 (http://img.aguto.com/020907) - I take a spirited ride in the Santa Monica Mountains. After a quick lunch at the Rock Store, I decide to take Latigo down towards the ocean. A few miles into the ride, I have my first crash. I would spend the next two months contemplating whether or not to ride ever again. I read a couple books about motorcycling and try to piece together what I did wrong, and what I did right, and the ways to which to reduce that risk.
October 25, 2002 (http://img.aguto.com/021025) - With sign-off from my orthopedist and the shop finished with repairs, and without much encouragement from friends or family or doctors, I throw my leg over... and feel right at home.
November 2, 2002 (http://img.aguto.com/021102) - Only my second ride in the canyons with a group. Probably my most squidly ride because I felt like I had to push myself to keep up with the group. Also, my first time up the tight side of Palomar Mountain... needless to say, I take it below the posted speed limit. I don't know how I stayed alive this day, but my idea of group riding was shattered.
http://img.aguto.com/albums/021113/0211132824_G.thumb.jpg
November 13, 2002 (http://img.aguto.com/021113) - First ride with an LA Biker, GixxerDale (http://www.labiker.com/members/?GixxerDale). Just a quick run up and down the Crest, but this restores my faith in riding in riding with others. November 17 (http://img.aguto.com/021117), first big group ride. Cindy (http://www.labiker.com/members/?Cindy) calls a ride to watch SquidBoy (http://www.labiker.com/members/?Moonitz) ride his SV at the Willow Springs International Raceway. About 7 riders in the group. I filter my way to the back and sweep the group as I am still learning to ride. I am impressed at how the group stresses the mantra: ride your own ride.
http://img.aguto.com/albums/021121/DSC02040.highlight.jpg
November 21 (http://img.aguto.com/021121) - First track day at the Streets of Willow. Pasta_fredo and Onogsxr convince me to hit the track even with my limited experience. I get passed by everyone... but I have a blast! It was great being able to explore my bike without worrying about debris or oncoming traffic. My day ended in the early afternoon as I rode to the track and still had to ride home.
http://img.aguto.com/albums/030227/IMG_4828.thumb.jpg
February 27, 2003 (http://img.aguto.com/030227) - After a late (11 PM), evening ride through the Santa Monica Mountains, I decide to take the "safe" freeways to get home. At around midnight, after transitioning off the 101 South onto the 405 South, while ascending the Sepulveda pass, the front end of the F4i begins to oscillate and never recovers. The F4i is declared a total loss. Odometer reads 12,432 miles. The cause of the crash is apparent: high speed tank slapper. But the root of the crash was my lack of concentration -- my mind was elsewhere, not concentrate on riding.
http://img.aguto.com/albums/030404/r6_dre.highlight.jpg
March 14, 2003 (http://img.aguto.com/03r6c/IMG_4998) - Only two days after getting clearance from my orthopedist, I ride Cindy's bike with her on the back to Bert's Mega Mall. A few hours later, I throw my leg over a 2003 Yamaha YZF-R6. Riding out of the parking lot, there is nothing but joy running through my veins, and calm over my mind. The new bike feels at home in my heart.
More milestones:
April 4, 2003 (http://img.aguto.com/030404) - Attend Reg Pridmore's CLASS school at the Streets of Willow with SCS, Sportbikers.net, and one other LA Biker (Monique (http://www.labiker.com/members/?cc63d31418553)).
May, 2003 (http://img.aguto.com/030523_all) - Porterville Motorcycle Rally.
September 27, 2003 (http://img.aguto.com/030927) - First ride with HyperCycles.
November 3, 2003 (http://img.aguto.com/031103) - Work corners and ride at Laguna Seca.
November 16, 2003 (http://img.aguto.com/031116) - Ride the RC-51 around for an entire weekend while the R6 gets its ignition coils looked at.
December 12, 2003 (http://img.aguto.com/031212) - Ride Streets of Willow with HyperCycles and SocalSVRiders.
Andre Aguto Alforque: September 28, 1978 - Present; 5'6"; 130-140 lbs.
November, 2001 - Take the MSF class at Cerritos Community College. I was so nervous about being on time for the first day of class that I arrive 2 hours early (hey, who knows what traffic will be like from Venice?). A couple weeks later, I ace the class. Not more than 2 month pass, and I have my M1 class license... barely passing the DMV written tests.
http://img.aguto.com/albums/2002f4i_misc/IMG_2731.thumb.jpg
July 3, 2002 (http://img.aguto.com/2002f4i_misc/IMG_2731) - After waiting 6 long months for a good deal on a motorcycle, I decide to just buy a new one. My heart was really set on a Yamaha R6, but the steep price is enough to move my heart to a yellow CBR 600 F4i. After signing all the necessary papers at Bert's, I take a quick spin around the block and return it to the garage. Fearful of the July 4th weekend traffic, I wait until July 6th to ride it home. Over the next few weeks, I would spend nearly 2 times the down payment for safety equipment (leathers, a helmet, gloves, boots…).
Around this time I take my first non-solo ride in the canyons. onogsxr (http://www.hypercycles.org/forums/member.php?s=&action=getinfo&userid=75) leads me up through Ojai at a perfect pace for my skill level.
http://img.aguto.com/albums/020831_arizona/IMG_2105.thumb.jpg
Labor Day weekend (http://img.aguto.com/020831_arizona) - feeling that I need to put more miles on the bike, I take off to Arizona, hitting Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and Phoenix.
http://img.aguto.com/albums/020907/IMG_2179_001.thumb.jpg
September 7, 2002 (http://img.aguto.com/020907) - I take a spirited ride in the Santa Monica Mountains. After a quick lunch at the Rock Store, I decide to take Latigo down towards the ocean. A few miles into the ride, I have my first crash. I would spend the next two months contemplating whether or not to ride ever again. I read a couple books about motorcycling and try to piece together what I did wrong, and what I did right, and the ways to which to reduce that risk.
October 25, 2002 (http://img.aguto.com/021025) - With sign-off from my orthopedist and the shop finished with repairs, and without much encouragement from friends or family or doctors, I throw my leg over... and feel right at home.
November 2, 2002 (http://img.aguto.com/021102) - Only my second ride in the canyons with a group. Probably my most squidly ride because I felt like I had to push myself to keep up with the group. Also, my first time up the tight side of Palomar Mountain... needless to say, I take it below the posted speed limit. I don't know how I stayed alive this day, but my idea of group riding was shattered.
http://img.aguto.com/albums/021113/0211132824_G.thumb.jpg
November 13, 2002 (http://img.aguto.com/021113) - First ride with an LA Biker, GixxerDale (http://www.labiker.com/members/?GixxerDale). Just a quick run up and down the Crest, but this restores my faith in riding in riding with others. November 17 (http://img.aguto.com/021117), first big group ride. Cindy (http://www.labiker.com/members/?Cindy) calls a ride to watch SquidBoy (http://www.labiker.com/members/?Moonitz) ride his SV at the Willow Springs International Raceway. About 7 riders in the group. I filter my way to the back and sweep the group as I am still learning to ride. I am impressed at how the group stresses the mantra: ride your own ride.
http://img.aguto.com/albums/021121/DSC02040.highlight.jpg
November 21 (http://img.aguto.com/021121) - First track day at the Streets of Willow. Pasta_fredo and Onogsxr convince me to hit the track even with my limited experience. I get passed by everyone... but I have a blast! It was great being able to explore my bike without worrying about debris or oncoming traffic. My day ended in the early afternoon as I rode to the track and still had to ride home.
http://img.aguto.com/albums/030227/IMG_4828.thumb.jpg
February 27, 2003 (http://img.aguto.com/030227) - After a late (11 PM), evening ride through the Santa Monica Mountains, I decide to take the "safe" freeways to get home. At around midnight, after transitioning off the 101 South onto the 405 South, while ascending the Sepulveda pass, the front end of the F4i begins to oscillate and never recovers. The F4i is declared a total loss. Odometer reads 12,432 miles. The cause of the crash is apparent: high speed tank slapper. But the root of the crash was my lack of concentration -- my mind was elsewhere, not concentrate on riding.
http://img.aguto.com/albums/030404/r6_dre.highlight.jpg
March 14, 2003 (http://img.aguto.com/03r6c/IMG_4998) - Only two days after getting clearance from my orthopedist, I ride Cindy's bike with her on the back to Bert's Mega Mall. A few hours later, I throw my leg over a 2003 Yamaha YZF-R6. Riding out of the parking lot, there is nothing but joy running through my veins, and calm over my mind. The new bike feels at home in my heart.
More milestones:
April 4, 2003 (http://img.aguto.com/030404) - Attend Reg Pridmore's CLASS school at the Streets of Willow with SCS, Sportbikers.net, and one other LA Biker (Monique (http://www.labiker.com/members/?cc63d31418553)).
May, 2003 (http://img.aguto.com/030523_all) - Porterville Motorcycle Rally.
September 27, 2003 (http://img.aguto.com/030927) - First ride with HyperCycles.
November 3, 2003 (http://img.aguto.com/031103) - Work corners and ride at Laguna Seca.
November 16, 2003 (http://img.aguto.com/031116) - Ride the RC-51 around for an entire weekend while the R6 gets its ignition coils looked at.
December 12, 2003 (http://img.aguto.com/031212) - Ride Streets of Willow with HyperCycles and SocalSVRiders.