One day, I Woke Up. I wanted a Sportbike.

Four years and three days ago marks the day I crashed in the Breezewood Lane roundabout on my Z125. It wasn't that bad, but I really didn't think I would ride again. At that time, I figured this wasn't for me. I'm too slow and stupid to figure out manual driving/riding, let alone being on two wheels. 

As you can see, that's not how it really went.

It's been almost a month since I brought home my new 2024 Kawasaki Z500, and oh boy I am in love!

A little recap on what happened...

When I moved to the US, I didn't drive at all. Not one bit. I tried to drive a friend's car that almost ended up with me almost hitting a stop sign, and that was pretty much the end of it. Bear taught me how to drive, and as of August 15, 2020, I was a newly taught driver who was getting familiar with American roads.

We took things too fast, and well we got me a 2019 Kawasaki Z125.

It was a cute, small bike. But it was also snappy. I mean, for me. I learned riding on a cruiser at a driving school and this bike, I just could never figure out the friction zone. But hey, you got to learn! So on this day, I didn't really feel like riding but what the crap, rip the band-aid...

Then I came to Breezewood Lane.

Long story short, I turned too wide, locked by brakes, slid from the roundabout to a curb, and got pinned between the bike and me. It wasn't too bad, a few scratches and bruises, I dislocated my thumb, and some road rash on my new tattoo (booo). What made it terrible was that I burned my back pretty bad when the muffler decided to hug me.

​If you've been following me for a while, you would probably already know that I rode a 2022 Honda ADV150. More powerful than your average 50cc scooter, I really loved that moped. I've had it since 2021 - we bought it to get me back to riding, but it really took a while before I could ride it for real. By this time, I consider myself a skilled driver and I've been driving our truck frequently on a regular basis on my own, and go to farther places a few hours away. I didn't really start riding my ADV150 regularly until last year.​

Then it happened, I wanted a sportsbike.

For a while, I've been really leaning toward getting a Honda Rebel 1100DCT. It's a cruiser, it's comfortable, and it's an automatic. I wouldn't have to worry about shifting and all that. Just ride like I did with my moped. But somehow, one day, I just had the urge to get a sportsbike. Doesn't have to be too big, doesn't have to be too fast. But I wanted a different bike.

So it happened.
​

Hello Ollie Zee

After a couple days practicing my clutch control again at a parking lot and at the Winnebago park, I was back! Better than ever! Four days later, we visited Fondy.

Am I glad? Oh absolutely. I still plan to eventually get that Rebel 1100 for longer trips, and this will be my commuter fun bike. I am just ecstatic that I am able to ride again, and ride manual with no issues anymore. I hope to better my skill and not die. That's the plaaaaaan!