Riding Roland’s Sportster 800+ miles & Laguna MotoGP!

The Journey to Laguna Seca

It should have been a brilliant day that many would envy, instead it turned into disaster that most wouldn’t.

OK, yes I am very lucky to be given the chance to ride one of Roland Sand’s unique motorcycles over 360 miles to Laguna Seca, esp when it’s actually Roland’s own Cafe Racer, a bike he enjoys and loves to rip around on.

When I arrived at PM, realized I’d have a tough job getting all my gear on board, let alone be able to ride it once I had, but thanks so a big ratchet strap, a bunch of bungies and a big magnetic tank-bag, I was just able to get on board with my heavy and fully loaded backpack.

At first I loved Roland’s Cafe Racer, it sounds mean, popped and spluttered as I rolled off the throttle, was skinny enough to be glide effortlessly through traffic and for a short time, (first 75miles) it was somewhat comfortable.

After 2hours in slow traffic in which I’d slowly lost feeling in my hips and legs – mainly brought on because of heavy back pack – I wasn’t as enthused over the Cafe Racer.

It’s a long ride to Laguna and it’s a well trodden road by many bikers to get there, cops are always waiting for motorcyclists and we are ea$y pray.

The first 2 hours in the trip felt slow as there was lots of LA Friday traffic, lots of brake lights and some traffic jams, then just as the road cleared and traffic started to get going, I got busted by a cop for speeding!…… oh no Jamie…..

The cop was 100% targeting bikers as all the cars around me were traveling at the same speed but regardless it was the blues and twos coming after me… Roland’s Cafe Racer of course came with no turn signals, no mirrors etc etc… so one big ticket later I was back on the road with my tail between my legs….again.

To be honest by the time I got to Highway 1, I was so paranoid about getting pulled over again I didn’t really enjoy the road or the bike like I should have but my slower pace at least allowed me to enjoy the incredible scenery of the West coastline of California.

Due to my long and slow ride north, by the time I arrived in Monterey the Will Call (Box Office) was closed so I couldn’t get my passes but with a bit of explaining they allowed me onto the campsite and thanks to Jim at MotoMorphic I had a reserved spot waiting for me just above turn 10.

The space turned out to be next to bunch of motorcycling buddies (2 x American’s and a Brit) who just loved MotoGP, Trackdays and telling each other how fast they are. A great bunch of lads who thankfully also fed me Friday evening (BBQ Chicken legs) and then I was greeted the next morning with a full English….MMMMmmmmm MMmmmmm.

After I jumped on the Sportster and rode back into Monterey to pick up my media passes, when I came out of the office a gaggle of bikers were looking at the RSD Cafe Racer, one said “Looks awesome” when I started it he shouted “Now that’s what bikes should sound like!”.

I have to agree, the noise it makes is brilliant, it reminds me of my Dad’s classic bikes, similar to his BSA Gold Star, it gets you noticed that’s for sure.

At the track I rolled into the bike park and again, people walked over to check it out, it’s an attention grabbing Harley that makes most Harley riders look the other way and the non-Harley bikers walk towards it, many don’t know what the machine is, it looks so different and unique.

For me I don’t want any more attention, especially from the cops but unfortunately they are out in multiple force and hiding out everywhere, just pulling motorcyclists over left, right and center and handing out tickets, I’ve seen so many motorcyclist this morning getting ‘busted’ – looking and feeling exactly like I did yesterday… Totally Gutted.

So instead of the state of California embracing the love of MotoGP, motorcycles and motorcyclist it seems as they see us as ea$y ca$h. Instead of easily making a motorcycle lane on the way up to the track (There is a 2½ ft lane to the right) so we can avoid the miles of car jams or being a little lenient with us all on 2 wheels that have traveled far and wide to be here, it seems as though they intend to spoil our enjoyment and intend to write as many ticket$ a$ po$$ible

The Ride Back to RSD

As usual the Laguna Seca MotoGP was a great event, just awesome racing on one of the world’s best motorcycling race tracks and in usual Californian style, it was red hot.

The roads were rammed soon after the event and stayed that way for many hours as thousands of bikes, cars, RV’s and Transporters left the track hillside track.

On Sunday evening I had the opportunity to swap my lopsided tent for a motel room floor so I took my mate Adam’s (Motorcycle-USA) offer of some creature comforts and rode back on Monday morning. There was no way the RSD Cafe Racer could stay outside so that also came with me and had a night in doors, good job it was a ground floor room and I just couldn’t resist firing it up inside to wake Adam and his mate Brian as they slept in their beds as I left early the next morning.

Thinking I had the last laugh, it seems as though they did was as I found a photo of Adam and Brian showing their bare asses on my camera while I stood outside non the wiser, yeah cheers lads.

The ride south out of Monterey, down to Big Sur, then following the coastline to Cambria and then finally Morro Bay is just incredible, a brilliant 100+ miles of beauty and corners. There are all types of corners, some down hill, some up hill, blind crests, tree line sections and corners that look as though they go off the cliff edge and into the sea. Every year there are some road works somewhere along the way as well as some really rough sections and a few parts with loose chippings so as well as the non stop corners, Highway 1 has a way of keeping you on your toes.

It’s also a place where people come to relax, go on holiday and drive slow as well as pull over, make U-turns or pull out without looking as they stare at the scenery and not at the bikes around them, so be careful around the Vista Points as drivers are in holiday mode.

Stopping for my compulsorily Fish & Chips in Morro Bay I was soon in San Luis Obispo and joining the 101 which would in 200 or so miles later take me to Los Angeles and where this painful ride home would thankfully end.

You see what Roland has done in turning this once sluggish and boring cruiser into a Cafe Racer is also take all the long distance riding comfort out of it, instead of sat here after 300 miles feeling refreshed, relaxed and in a dreamy state like you’d of expected from a Harley, I’m gritting my teeth, I feel like my spine has compressed an inch and I’ve poo and blood marks on the inside of my pants, unfortunately this is not a dream, it’s a long distance riding nightmare.

Calling passed Donald Trump’s Golf Course Palos Verdes Peninsula on the way back to get a final look at the gorgeous coastline I commandeered my UK friend Martin from Warrs to help take a few photos and then cruised back to RSD HQ where I finally handed back the keys to Roland.

We shared some laughs about the journey as it had been a memorable one that’s for sure, I also asked Roland to put the final touches to my well traveled Arai Corsair 5 crash helmet that I’ve been ridden around the world wearing as I thought the Laguna trip deserved to take the last spot of free space on the top air-vent with another Sharpie moment.

So to end I must thank RSD for building and loaning me a motorcycle that has taken me on another motorcycle adventure, a motorcycle which also reminds me that I’ve ridden it days later as I struggle to get up out of my office chair with a stiff back and stinging butt hole, my wallet and license will take the pain later….