Ride Like the Wind

Words Pocholo Concepcion
April 15, 2024

Ely Buendia riding the limited-edition Harley-Davidson Softail Slim S. *Photo courtesy of Ely Buendia.*

Riding a motorcycle is fun. It’s said to bring back one’s sense of wonder. It’s the closest thing to flying, relieves stress, but keeps the mind alert. We’re talking of big bikes, whose owners are responsible travelers, always conscious of road safety.

Art+ asked a musician, a broadcast journalist, a DJ/record label executive, a theater artist, and a motorcycle racing champ to recall why they got into motorbikes, and what the experience has taught them.

ELY BUENDIA
The Feeling of Wonderment

I was looking for a new hobby when I reached my 40s and I’ve always loved riding on two wheels. A friend advised me to take motorcycle driving lessons, and that was it.

I have a Harley-Davidson Softail Slim S, a limited edition of the classic profile of the Harley Cruiser with modern features.

I bought it secondhand from a guy in Cebu because it was already sold out in Manila. I think it’s the quintessential Harley, plus, it’s all black.

The experience of riding a motorbike is a rush. You know the feeling of wonderment when you were a kid? You get that feeling back when riding a motorcycle.

JAY TARUC
Dream Bike

My first bike was a scooter, a late-’90s Vespa PX 150, bought brand-new in Pasay City. After watching the movie Quadrophenia, I knew I had to own a Vespa or any classic scooter for that matter. And then I saw another movie, Easy Rider (which had Peter Fonda riding a Harley-Davidson).

I’ve been wanting to have a Harley Fat Boy. In 2021, while preparing to shoot in Palawan for my TV show Ride PH, we needed to borrow a bike from a friend who is based in Puerto Princesa. He offered me two Harley-Davidsons. One was a 2019 HD De Luxe, and a 2000 model Fat Boy, which had all the bells and whistle, carbureted, tons of chrome accessories, fresh-looking, with original paint. I went for the Fat Boy.

While riding it during our shoot, I was thinking, “This is my dream bike.” When I was about to return the bike to the owner, I told him how good it felt to ride it. And then he said it’s for sale. Boom! I quickly checked my savings, called my wife, and the following day I decided to buy the bike.

To my surprise, it used to be previously owned by a very close friend, Filipino motocross legend Butch Chase! This is my second Harley, after buying a 2002 HD Sportster XLR in 2004. They’re special, both are keeper bikes.

For daily transportation in the city, riding a motorbike cuts my travel time by half. It saves me money since it consumes only a little amount of gas. On weekends or as a hobby, riding motorcycles is the closest thing to flying—the sensation of gliding through the air, the vibration, the exposure to the elements, and the possibility of figuring in a fatal accident if you’re irresponsible. Riding has taught me how to appreciate safety and to value respect—that there are other road users other than myself.

ANDREW DE CASTRO
Beautiful Machines

I started riding motorcycles in the mid- '80s when a DJ colleague at 99.5 RT bought and lent me his Yamaha XZ400, which was the base model for police bikes in Japan. From there, I graduated to several sportbikes—from a Kawasaki Ninja 400 to a badass Suzuki GSXR-1100, which I took to work every day, rain or shine. It honed my bike-handling skills.

If you can ride in Manila traffic, you can ride anywhere. I really got into it because I thought riding big bikes was cool and that I would meet many girls. But I only ended up meeting guys who were into motorcycles like me.

I currently have three motorcycles and would have more if I had the garage space. My main bike is the 2021 BMW R1250 GS Rally—the gold standard by which all adventure bikes are measured. It is big, brawny, and imperious. It is also called the “end game” bike because all serious riders eventually want and end up on a GS. I resisted buying it at first because of the “tito-ness” of the bike, but I have since embraced my advancing age and have gone full-tito. The GS is a pow- erful La-Z-Boy on wheels and is the bike I’ve taken on long, multi-day rides across the country.

But my love is my 2019 BMW R-Nine-T Roadster. It is the top-spec Option 719 model with a limited-edition paint scheme, and which matches my personality. It shakes and vibrates and has a ballsy, baritone rumble that really connects with me on an emotional level. If the refined GS is yacht rock, the R-Nine-T is rock and roll. I don’t get to ride it as much, but each time I do, it’s an event.

I also have an old Vespa GTV300 Vie Della Moda scooter, one of the last made in Italy before Vespa started assembling bikes in Vietnam.

It’s a cliché, but nothing matches the feeling of freedom when out on the open road. It’s the closest thing to flying. When you and your machine are operating in unison, it’s like a dance. Riding is almost Zen-like; nothing clears my mind at the end of a stressful week like hopping on a bike and taking it out of the city for a ride. Whether on a modern, gleaming highway, or a lonely backroad in a small provincial town, or a gravel path in the middle of nowhere, motorcycling has given me the chance to see how truly beautiful our country really is. But it’s not cheap to maintain and constantly upgrade these beautiful machines. I work hard so that my bikes will have a good life.

TROY ALBERTO
It Feels Like Art

I started riding motorcycles at age 4. My earliest memories were going with my dad to airplane fields. He would fly RC planes and I’d ride my mini 50cc dirt bike on the grass fields. I can’t even remember the learning, but I loved it!

The Ducati Monster 937 is the bike I ride to go to work or hang out with friends. It’s a naked bike that’s packed with a lot of torque, as Ducatis are known for. My favorite thing about it is how light it feels, almost scooter-like, while weaving through traffic; but Superbike-like on twisty roads with how much power it’s got.

On the track, I use a Ducati Panigale V4R. This is a 240-horsepower weapon, pure performance. I like it because it’s just the fastest thing ever.

I love riding bikes for two reasons. First, it feels like art. When racing around the track, I am trying to make the perfect lines, use the throttle and brake in the perfect way, and dance with the bike to go as fast as possible. When everything feels right, the resulting speed and sensation is something I can’t get anywhere else. Being one with the motorcycle is also something I find beautiful.

Second, it’s an escape for me. I can ride for hours and hours on the streets without listening to music. It’s just fun!

JAMIE WILSON
‘SHEBA’

I’ve always loved motorcycles and the cultural mythology behind bikers. Epic motorcycle films and their soundtracks are core memories of mine, from classics like The Wild One with Marlon Brando, Easy Rider with Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper, the scene with Steve McQueen in The Great Escape, to The Sons of Anarchy series. I find the motorcycle culture mysterious, enigmatic, rebellious, and sexy.

But I never really wanted to drive one until late 2023 when, during the last run of Ang Huling El Bimbo: The Musical, my friend Weng Doctolero was giving me rides to and from my shows. One night, as we were zipping home through BGC from Newport World Resorts, I figured this would be much more fun if I were the one driving.

My fiancée Gold drives her own car, and from the very beginning of our relationship 16 years ago, I rode with her on the wheel.

Now I wanted to be the one to pick her up and take her out on dates. I felt it was high time I would be the one driving us around. So I formulated a plan. I enrolled for the beginner’s course at the Honda Safety Driving Center. I spent three wonderful rainy days learning to ride from the best instructors, and the experience cemented my love and commitment to riding. I knew I would be a daily rider; my motorcycle would be my primary mode of transport.

I had to choose my first bike wisely, what can I afford to buy and maintain, what would be best for city riding in traffic, but would also be comfortable for long rides outside the city.

After much research and comparison, visiting bike dealerships and sitting on numerous motorcycles, I found myself gravitating towards cruisers.

One day, out of the blue, Myke Salomon, my dear friend (and musical director of Ang Huling El Bimbo: The Musical, and a motorcycle rider himself) called up and told me he was getting a new bike, and would I be interested in his Royal Enfield Classic.

I was then planning to get a simple 150cc, something affordable and small, until I have saved enough money and gained enough experience to handle a big bike. But Myke said, “Jamie, you need to be in love with your first motorcycle. If you’re not in love with it, you might give up riding altogether.”

It made sense, and so I said, “Let’s do it!” I haven’t looked back since.

I fell in love with “Sheba” (the name I gave to my RE Classic) as soon as I started her up. I go to my parking slot to see her every day, even when I’m not heading out. I say hello, have a little chat with her, check my instruments, gears, and tires, wipe her down so she’s not dusty.

I apologize to her when we hit an unanticipated pothole on the road, or if I make a rough turn. And I thank her every time I reach my destination, and every time I get back home safely. It’s a full-blown relationship, so much so that I feel like I’m cheating on her when I check out other bikes!

I spent our first three months not only getting used to riding on Manila streets, but also getting to know her intimately. Thankfully, Myke loved her just as much as I do now and took really good care of her.

I love that Sheba’s a tough gal; she's heavy and steady on the road, but nimble enough to navigate through traffic. She’s not finicky at all, no fancy computers or electronics, not picky, and very efficient with fuel. The service and support I get from the Kustom Kulture Royal Enfield Center in Quezon City is just awesome.

She can handle city streets like a dream but can cowboy through the potholes and dirt patches of the rough roads that we encounter. Whether on the highway or going through everyday Edsa traffic, Sheba handles it with power and agility, with elegance and style. On top of it all, she’s gorgeous! Sexy curves, a great color scheme, and a low and beautiful rumble.

We get envious looks and compli- ments all the time. It’s like walking into a room or showing up at a party with the prettiest, most kickass girl on your arm. Sheba is my kind of rock and roll, truly a perfect fit for me.

Riding a motorcycle has got to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! When I’m out with Sheba, it’s the one part of my day that I must be fully present and actively participating in the moment. But it also allows me to relax enough to let my mind peel off whatever stress I’m going through. It’s a perfect combination of mindfulness, thoughtfulness, and gut instincts, with all the physical skill it demands.

Rain or shine, hot days or cool nights, in traffic or on clear, wide-open roads, I’m always happy riding my bike.

My soul soars, and my heart feels so alive. The wind in my face, the rumble between my legs, the feeling of freedom, everything that I’ve heard and read about riding—it’s all true.

Riding a motorcycle has also helped me discover new things about myself: how I can be considerate to others, how I remain calm and understanding even when I get cut off by another vehicle on the road, and how there’s a whole community of riders out there that knows exactly what I’m feeling.

I also love being the exception to the trope that says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Imagine, from being someone who never wanted to drive, to finally learning to ride and getting my driver’s license at the “tander” age of 50!

I’ve still got much more to learn, and so much more to experience as a rider. My motorcycle journey has just begun, and not only am I enjoying every minute of it, but I’m thrilled and excited for what’s to come!

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