| Welcome to California and the Great Northwet... |  |
| Alexis Sears ~ San Francisco CA. One of my first motorcycle memories was at age 13, when I accompanied a friend and his dad into a Honda shop. While we were waiting in the showroom for his dad to deal with the parts counter guys, I suddenly saw them: a v65 and a v45 Magna, on the floor right next to each other. I distinctly remember sitting on them both, twisting the throttles, and thinking "I want them". I did have to wait a little while before I actually got them, though ... I took my first ride on the back of a dirtbike at age 14, and was given a quick opportunity to try it out: I stalled it several times and then finally got it going for a quick spin. Fortunately I didn't crash, as I don't think I even knew what helmets and armor were at the time. Took joyrides on friends' Kawi 550LTD and Honda 550-4 Super Sport in high school, but didn't have a bike of my "own" to ride until another friend loaned/gave me his old Hawk 400 "Hondamatic" for a couple years in college. As ugly a rat-bastard-POS as that bike was, I still have fond memories of it: taking it down to Stocker's junkyard and replacing the stator in the back of a pickup truck while junkies shot each other a block away; running a wire directly from the battery to the headlight, through a toggle switch that I duct-taped to the forks; getting pulled over for no taillight and feeling relieved that the officer never looked closely enough at my license to spot the lack of a motorcycle endorsement; and operating the throttle with a pair of Vise-Grips for two months after the cable broke. It was with a tear in my eye that I finally helped its real owner load it into the back of his truck to take to its last resting place at Stocker's. Fast forward a couple of bikeless years to 1995, when I picked up my first Magna (and first bike that had my own name on the title), an '82 v45. I took it from 40,000 to 58,000 miles in two years, and sold it (for more than I paid for it) a couple months after acquiring my current baby, an '83 V65 Magna .> Other info: I live in San Francisco, which is a biker's paradise, with fantastic climate and fine roads in every direction (except West). Other attractions of the area include fantastic food and wine, plenty of entertaining freaks, the region's status as the birthplace of mountain biking , and close proximity to both Sears Point and Laguna Seca raceways. In fact, I hereby declare World Superbike at Laguna Seca to be an annual Sabmag West gathering, and I will gladly serve as tour guide for any out-of-town SMers who want to come out in 1998. |  Alexis Sears |
| Ken Thompson ~ CA. Bought my first bike in 1969 a Kawasaki 500 triple H1 and have never been bikeless since. My wife Barbara also rides a 95 750 Nitehawk and we are commonly known as Ken & Barbie. Born and raised in Dwight Illinois. Moved to the Los Angeles area in 1967 and been here since. It does not snow at my house. SabMaggots welcome at any time. Occupation: Chevron Supervisor of Training, El Segundo Refinery DOB: 11-18-49 Height: 6' 0" Weight:248 lbs. Bikes: 84 V65 Sabre-2nd one, 60,000+mi. (Kong) 95 Triumph Trident 900 96 Virago 1100 |  Ken Thompson |
| Randal Williams ~ Escondido, CA. You could say I got into motorcycling as a reward to myself. I just completed my enlistment term in the Navy, surviving Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm/Restore Hope, and the giant fruit bats of the Philippines. Even though this is the first two-wheeled bike for me to own, I grew up learning on three and four-wheel ATV's in the backwoods of Alabama and Texas. When I was looking for a bike, I did not want to be sucked into the squidly-Johnny-Crotch-Rocket personality. I looked for a bike with comfortable seating, good power delivery, and not outrageously priced. After seeing a review in a magazine, the Magna fit the bill perfectly. I went to check one out at a local dealer. All it took was the feel in the saddle and hearing that engine for the first time. Two weeks later, it was mine. This bike fits me; unassuming but with power in reserve, loud without be obnoxious, looks slow but looks are deceiving. I will not willingly part with this bike. My riding gets better and more enjoyable with every turn of the key. I have learned quite a bit since joining a local San Diego riding club, The Red Hot Riders. Before then, my bike's main mode (and still is) is a more cost effective to get to and from work than any of the cars that I have. But, due to the lessons learned at Willow Springs and at Buttowwillow Raceway, I began to really enjoy and understand the bike more and more. If you are ever in town, give me a ring. I'm always looking for a reason to go for a ride, instead of riding to work. Occupation: Network Adminstrator/Firefighter, GTE Internetworking Date of Hatching: Christmas Eve '68 Bike: '94 Magna, Cruising Missile |  Randal Williams |
| Milt Oberman (Uncle Milt) ~ LA, CA. Occupation: Struggling Actor Bike: Depends on mood, and cash flow. ST1100 V65 Sabre 199? Magna |  Uncle Milt Oberman |
| Murphy ~ LA, CA. Occupation: Uncle Milt's confidant and basic caretaker. |  Murphy |
| Kali Kate ~ CA. I'm Kate in Kalifornia, and I currently ride a '96 VF750C - BY FAR THE BEST BIKE I've ever ridden. I started riding motorcycles in 1977 at age 19. In the 1980's, I co-owned/operated a motorcycle shop in Hollister CA. with my husband. In May '98, divorce hit and I found myself emmancipated with the freedom and resources to travel during my summers off from teaching. My first act as a free woman was to buy a 1996 XV750C (late model cruiser style) Red Magna with only 1,100 mileage on the odometer, which I named "Sanity". I also join SABMAG.ORG's listserver. I currently average 15,000 mileages per year on my Magna which is outfitted with a 3 gal. fuel cell installed by Jason Grennell.
Bikes owned: |  Kate in Kalifornia |
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