Devoid of any experience
between the wheels of these big two-wheeled road monsters we refer to as “big bikes”, I still view the film Easy Rider with fascination and the
source of my desire to someday acquaint myself with these types of motorcycles. My previous conception
about the men who ride these powerful machines of motorbikes are synonymous
with the wild and colorful characters the late Hunter S. Thompson rode for a year with and wrote about in his
career-defining book Hell’s Angels: A
Strange and Terrible Saga.
“Outlaw motorcyclists wearing chains, shades and greasy Levis roll out
from damp garages, all-night diners and cast-off one-night pads in Frisco,
Hollywood, Berdoo and East Oakland, heading for the Monterey peninsula, north
of Big Sur…. The Menace is loose again,” Thompson wrote in the opening page
of his monumental book.
A few minutes before
meeting the riders of Travel Concierge’s
Ride Along Motorcycle Tours, I was
half expecting the same brawny, intimidating, gum-chewing, poker-faced complete
with dagger stares to drag us violently into their big bikes. That moment of
apprehension instantly disappeared, as the riders came barging with a smile at
our meeting place somewhere in the stretch of the North Luzon Expressway in
Bulacan. The outlaw motorcyclist stereotype quickly evaporated from my
imagination, and was replaced by good-humored individuals who just happen to
have a shared passion for riding motorcycles.
 |
| Pat Favoreal in front of TC's office |
Pat
Favoreal, the road captain of NOS Motorcycle Club and owner of
Travel Concierge’s Ride along Motorcycle Tours, quickly shook our hands, as he
beamed with a wide smile and excitedly told us the story behind this concept of
taking clients to travel aboard 400cc and up motorcycles.
A Hotel Management Co.
chief executive, Favoreal first fell in love with motorcycles way back in his
college days, but was preceded with a long separation as he jettisoned the
hobby to the more conventional use of cars.
“I
rekindled my love for motorcycle when my wife allowed me to ride again a few
years ago. Since then, I had collected a number of bikes, such as a Harley
Davidson Softail Heritage 1640cc, a Yamaha Dragstar XVS400cc and a Royal
Enfield Bullet Classic 500cc, just to name a few. I ride an average of 1,000
kilometers per month, and sometimes more if we set out on longer road trips,”
Favoreal shared to us over breakfast.
As his passion for
motorcycle riding grew, he encountered a light-bulb moment in his head. “I asked myself, why not turn it into a
business so others could also enjoy the kind of fulfillment I experience while
riding a bike along expressways,” with eyes beaming, he pointed to us the
four big bikes parked outside. “In a few
minutes, you will know what I am talking about,” he added.
Outside I met the
designated rider who I will ride shotgun with. His name is Borgs Campit, an affable guy who is almost the human version of his
Kawasaki Vaquero 1,700cc motorcycle.
Big-bodied but with a sparkling attitude that made me feel safe pronto—despite
the many kilometers of expressway and zig-zag road that lay ahead of us. He
pointed me the sections of his motorcycle, as I nod my head pretending to
understand what he was telling me about. At that moment, all I cared about was
where to hold and plant my butt and feet.
He patted me on the back
and assured me of a safe ride. After putting on our safety gears, like padded
gears, bike jackets and helmets, we hopped into the back of our respective
motorcycle riders.
A series of thunderous
thud and roar of the engine, which invited quite a series of stares from people
inside passing cars, signaled the start of our journey. Exhilaration and
concern for my safety clouded my mind. As soon as we gathered and maintained
speed, my elation grew while my fear lessened as I marveled to myself how
smooth our ride is going so far—as I sat at the back of Campit while blazing
the smooth asphalt road of Nlex with a speed of 140 kph. “Safety is also important for us! All rides are planned and pre-ride
briefings are mandatory. Ride along Motorcycle Tours’ designated spearheads
lead and supervise the routes, choose the stops carefully and retain a strict
riding formation and discipline all throughout the ride itinerary. Participants
are provided with helmets and riding-safety gears. A special backup sweeper
vehicle with a trailer is also available on long rides. All runs are
insured—the kind that covers adventure activities and hobbies that are usually
excluded in other PA coverage in the market,” Favoreal explained to us.
 |
| Fellow travel writer Kara Santos poses in front of her ride |
The onslaught of the
rushing wind penetrating my helmet’s visor and into my face certainly brought a
new sensation, as I curled my gaze left and right to appreciate the green
fields of Pampanga and Tarlac, while we transition to Subic-Clark-Tarlac
Expressway and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway. Unable to open my mouth
to speak because of the strong gust, I yelled inside my mind, “This is what freedom of the road is all
about, Yohooo!”
That freedom of the road
evolved into another level, as the picturesque sights of the surrounding
mountains greeted us at the snaking road leading to the City of Pines. The
visual banquet, as seen from the back of a motorcycle, definitely dishes a
unique experience as compared to eyeing Baguio’s nature splendor from the
inside of a car of a bus. “Ride Along is
not available for everyone. It is rare to get people ride on a bike on the
expressways, especially if the engine is with minimum of 400cc,” Favoreal
admitted. Seeing the amount of delight on our faces, he quickly recalled back
his statement. “But, it seems perfect for
people like you.” I said, “It was
more than perfect, I really dig that rush and that thrill going up here aboard
a big motorcycle.”
Ratsky
Ortiz, who drove a Kawasaki
Vulcan 800cc Classic and is one of Travel Concierge’s riders, told us, “These big bikes are the best choice for road
trips. Because you don’t have to go loose on the road as [you would on] the
super bikes. With big bikes, you just ride fast enough to enjoy the ride and
the scenery—which you experienced with this road trip of ours.”
Hands down the trip going
up to Baguio quickly notches itself as one of my most memorable travels. As
awesome as our motorcycle experience was, the best part was bonding with the
riders themselves. Over bottles of beers that night, they generously shared
their passion to us. It was like they opened up and introduced an ingredient to
a new dish that would make one’s life more exhilarating—to reign in the
sovereignty of the road as only a big bike motorcycle could bring.
As we capped the night and
prepare for the next day’s ride back to Manila, I already envisioned myself as
a younger Dennis Hopper, hoping to someday ride my own Easy Rider big bike.
Having a girlfriend riding shotgun on my back and making long road trips around
the Philippines appear as a wonderful idea. A dream for now, but thanks to
Travel Concierge’s Ride along Motorcycle Tours, I experienced a unique road
rush.
****
