BACK FROM THE FUTURE

Track

2012-02-12T00:11:00.000-08:00

Beginning to get that craving to hit the track again...

Going to install new brakepads and change my oil. I want to get fender braces too.

2012-02-03T18:12:00.001-08:00

I am the guy you want driving when you are being chased.

just sayin'

Trains

2012-01-31T20:00:00.000-08:00

It's been too long since I have traveled and I am constantly seeking something majestic and beautiful. I remember walking around Marseille in the early hours of the morning, before anybody had woken up yet, the sun just peeking over the rooftops. Stumbling about in Amsterdam, too tired to keep myself up and so I decided to rest next to a canal; almost falling in before my friends finally realized I was not a hobo. Spending New Years in Hong Kong eating sushi alone, riding a bicycle around smoking a cigarette. What is it about being alone that brings me so much comfort? Sometimes I want to share those experiences but at the same time, I love the peace and calm that being alone in my head can be. I don't feel the need to talk and just the sound of nothing is soothing.

I used to see people on Caltrain, riding alone with no book or ipod to distract them. You see them look outside, just a glance at first but then it's as if the weight of the world finally settles on their shoulders. They lay their head on the window, not looking at what is passing but trying to look at what is coming.

homesick. or sick of home?

Water

2012-01-21T13:34:00.001-08:00

So I've realized how often I lose my water bottles and have since stuck with buying the cheapest nalgene small neck bottles. They're about 2 dollars a piece and quite tough..

But the real reason I'm talking about these bottles and losing them is because they're so tough, do people keep using them? what if I were to place ten or so bottles and have written on them to reuse them, would they go on forever providing water to people? And if they lost them..

It could go on forever, maybe have an email address on it and to send a photo of the water bottle wherever it is? Host the photos on tumblr or instagram. Give it a hashtag #lolpoop and acquire a fanbase. Then sell out and profit.

I am on the bus. It smells like pee.

2012-01-20T16:19:00.001-08:00

Pretty tasty sandwich. Pickled carrots are delicious.

Watching these girls do a group interview for abercrombie. Tights and uggs are the two most common.

2012-01-17T23:02:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everybody who double parks in front of my house. Does this look like a drop off zone?

2012-01-16T20:00:00.001-08:00

Dat big boy~

Curry

2012-01-15T17:56:00.001-08:00

I wanna put this print all over the inside of everything. Everything fake wood. I'm about to eat some volcano curry. Unlocked level 5, feel like a tough guy.

Winter

2012-01-12T15:36:00.001-08:00

Christmas trees on the side of the road. Long underwear & thermals. Leaves are no longer the orange, red, and yellows that symbolize autumn; instead a brown damp mess on the side of the road. Long drives in the cold, crisp air. Windows down, heat on max, headed up the mountains.
Most if not all blogs will now be written on the go, hopefully more than once a day. A blurb here and there, in between classes or on the train. Reminder to take more photos with the nikon and post them up
Hall and Oates on the come up. New titanium shift knob and alcantara shift boot.

2012-01-02T21:44:00.000-08:00

Actually went snowboarding for the first time in a year. Really excited to keep going, felt like I was able to get back into the swing of things quite easily. Some complaints about the ice but nothing to ruin my day. Wish I could have bigger runs like those old skiing computer games with endless mountains.

Now it's about time to get a decent car to get up to Tahoe but hopefully I can just hitch a ride.
Reminder: Get snowboard pants.

2011-09-27T18:49:00.000-07:00

stand up

2011-09-06T21:30:00.000-07:00

teacher: "so today we will be learning about..."
boy: "why must i learn what you teach me?"
teacher: "because i am older than you and i have gone to school"
boy: "why does going to school or being older than me put you in a position to feed me information?"
teacher: "because that is the role of a teacher"
boy: "shouldn't a teacher, more than anyone, be able to see what you can learn from myself and what i can learn from you?"
teacher: "okay well, what do you know that i don't?"
boy: "i know how to pee while standing up."

The more I go to school, the less I feel like I get out of it. Why is there still busy work? Is it to prove that we're learning through completion versus actually understanding concepts? Can't you just make us write a paper? I thought I was done with homework in high school and now this grammar packet? How are you going to preach creativity and downplay memorization and notes when you expect us to REWRITE AN ENTIRE PARAGRAPH to show that we know that 2 sentences out of their were punctuated incorrectly..

I've always felt like I could be a teacher not because I know a lot or I can handle children but because I can talk to them. Being empathetic to their words, understanding where they come from. Was I not the BEST swim coach at DACA with parents specifically requesting me as their child's coach? Now, it wasn't because I swam for a long time and to be honest, I never followed my supervisor's instructions. Instead, I would only improve what the children already knew, introducing new techniques when I felt they were ready. I had no problem getting into the pool to demonstrate flip turns or to get a better idea of the kid's technique. I would spend more time talking to the kids and interacting with them to gain their respect.

I don't want to go on and on about how good I was at that job. It just shows that I am not a bad teacher.

The point is, a curriculum isn't how you should be teaching but what students should come out of the class understanding.

2011-09-01T17:19:00.000-07:00

I never thought I'd hit that point in my life where I was wary of commitment. In my previous relationships, I had no problem throwing my entire life into them and to go to the end of the world for love. However, I find it difficult to believe in love like I once did. I've had two "true loves" leave my life and since then, I have not spoken to either of them. If love can come and go so quickly, how can I trust it?

I'm so afraid to lose somebody that I can't feel truly in love for fear that my heart will be broken. Isn't that sad? pathetic even? For me, it's an all time low. To feel so miniscule and desensitized to the wonders of love. Is this what happens when you get old? Does life's beatings finally take their toll; so much that you can't even believe in love?

especially when it's right in front of me...

Trip

2011-08-31T23:53:00.000-07:00

4 photos I liked from my LA/SD/Riverside trip. Really want to get a new lense and get back into photography.

Back

2011-08-16T12:19:00.000-07:00

Man I suck at this whole writing thing now. I rarely have any time to myself to just think and write. All the moments I use to cherish by myself can be shared with somebody instead of writing it out so that somebody might relate. I guess that's what happens when you get into a relationship; you spend so much time getting to know your significant other that you can't look within yourself and get to know that special person too. I've been neglecting going to the gym, just the occasional run and calisthenics. I'm starting to walk a lot more since there's a bus stop right in front of my house and oh yeah, I don't live in the hood.

Lots of changes since the last real post. New house, no more CB750F, back on the CB550 from way way back. Christine no longer drives her EP3 either. Can you believe that we both lost our vehicles within 3 days of each other? Such terrible luck whenever I move. Maybe it's because I took down the turkish eye... Time to move onto a different bike although if I ever find a clean example, I'd love a Honda CB900F. Otherwise, it looks like it's VFR time again...

Either way, the new house is amazing. I lived in a terrible house for the past 1 and a half years so it's finally time that I put all my efforts into finding a great house. A great big room with shiny hardwood floors and nice big window. Christine doesn't exactly love how bright it is in the morning but it's perfect for me. The last 2 rooms I had were always dark and I would wake up in the afternoon with no idea what time it was. My landlord is super nice to me but maybe it's because he realizes I love the house and will take care of it. or maybe cause I'm cantonese.

More later...

2011-06-07T20:30:00.000-07:00

Riding

2011-05-21T17:34:00.000-07:00

Motorcycling, to me, is the perfect form of transportation and joy. It's my own version of horseback riding and my garage is my stable. I can sit on my bikes and without even starting them up, I am at home. My motorcycles are close to my heart and as much as I yell at them, they perform when I ask them nicely. I may be on the side of the road, helmet thrown down the road, my gloves resting on the handlebars and cussing at my bike but then there's that moment when you stare it down. My heart stops racing and I begin to admire all her curves, take in the faint smell of gas and oil, and for a second, I am happy with her. I have to coax her, getting the choke at the right point, the crankshaft in that special sweet spot, the kickstart lever at the right point... I am quite something to look at, balancing on my bike, turning the throttle just enough, and with one strong kick, she comes to life.

In my stable, my bikes are not all girls. They're whatever they are that day. Some days they're machines that I push to the limits, almost breaking them. but then there are days when they are my children and I spend my entire day in the garage cleaning them, changing their oil, polishing the gas tank, adjusting the chain. I don't think I've ever had that sort of connection to machinery before this. The Nismo will always be the Nismo; I will never change that car and it will always be a part of my life (knock on wood), but my bikes are so much more than that.

It's one thing to go warp speed in the Nismo, the roar of the engine and how everything else is silence, the gears making that snick-snick noise every time I shift. But, it feels artificial, the only thing that really registers my speed is being pushed into my seat.

When you ride a motorcycle, all you can hear is your own breath. The wind just becomes a part of the background noise and it's as if time stops. The exhaust burble has a character to it. It doesn't roar, it screams and gasps for breath every chance it gets. I am not being pushed into my seat, I am holding on for dear life, tucking my body as if to meld myself into the machine and become one. My helmet cuts through the wind but I don't hear the wind. It's silence around me as I downshift and my mirrors stop vibrating and all the cars disappear. The cars become the apex and my only goal is to go as fast as I can without hitting anything.

I guess, I really love riding. Motorcycles will never be domesticated or tamed. A bike will chew you out and throw you off in a highside if you don't take the time to become one with it. I am so lucky to have the ones I have, and even more, they all run so beautifully..

2011-05-10T22:36:00.000-07:00

I am trying to find a new house to live in and it's quite complicated trying to get everything together. It's not like I can't find a place to live but there are so many other factors to consider. Roommates, parking, garage space; it's a never ending search for the perfect... home. I feel like I've done all right so far with my last two houses and I've been able to really feel at home in them. However, I don't bring much furniture for fear of damage and I really want to start using whatever my parent's are giving to me.

I really really really want a garage though. If I ever had a perfect house, it'd have an entire floor with a service elevator just for my motorcycles and cars. Man, it's always overwhelming when I get to read a magazine called Garage Life that has all these amazing garages from around the world. They're mostly from Japan but man they get crazy with living rooms that have windows into their garage and all sorts of amazing architecture.

A warehouse would be a great place to live in my opinion. One in NYC or SF would be great..

motorcycle

2011-05-09T23:19:00.000-07:00

d

2011-04-21T22:02:00.000-07:00

I can't help but be angry sometimes and I'm sorry that I take it out on you. I don't know what's wrong with me and why I always expect so much. Maybe it's because I know you're so much more than me and I constantly expect more out of myself every day. I am so happy to be with you but seeing you unhappy makes me so frustrated. Not frustrated at you but at myself for letting you become anything less than content. When ever I see a tear or the side of your cheeks dip, I go over what I've done for the past hour and I ask myself what I did wrong. I should try to ask myself what I can do to make you happy. You deserve more than I can give you but I promise I'll keep on trying to make you smile even when you're angry at me.

tuneup

2011-04-16T11:58:00.000-07:00

So my garage is ever expanding and it seems like no matter what I manage to fix, something else comes up and I'm back to tinkering and looking up part numbers. I have finally revived my CB750F and it's running as of April 12th. The list of new parts include throttle cables, clutch cables, new tires, new brakepads and a rebuilt master cylinder on the front. I've also cleaned out the carburetors and replaced the float bowl gaskets. Just got the cable adjustments perfected and I'm cleaning out the gas tank this weekend.

Only thing left to do is to remove the dent on the side but it's not necessary. It just looks terrible with it but I don't know if I want to drop another $150 just yet. It started up beautifully and although there was a lot of steam coming from the exhausts, it looks to be in good running condition. I'll have to sync the carburetors this coming week and fix a leak coming from the tach drive. Besides that, it'll just be bleeding the brake lines again to really flush out the old DOT3 fluid. New sparkplugs are on order too.

Then there's the XL350. Not too much done to it lately but I really want new tires, cables, and brake shoes. It's just a pain in the ass and I'm considering selling it for something a little cleaner. I have ordered Maxxis Flat track tires but I'm afraid of how fast they'll wear so I'll have to balance riding both bikes to limit tire wear. This also reminds me, I need to do a valve adjustment on it but it should be pretty easy. All it requires is a few turns of a locknut and feeler gauges.

And then the Honda Spree. It's been really finicky lately and really inconsistent with starting and running. Sometimes I'll get it to start within the first 10 seconds and sometimes it won't start at all. I can usually use it to get back and forth to school but it's really not much more reliable than that. I've already replaced all the fuel lines and cleaned out the carburetor. Replaced the sparkplug as well and the CDI looks to be in okay condition. Nice blue spark and the plug looks fine.

And... one last vehicle.. Christine's Civic Si needs new brakepads and rotors. I've ordered a set of Hawk Ceramic brakepads and Brembo OE fitment rotors. The lines are already stainless and the stock calipers are more than enough. The previous owner asked if I wanted a set of Wilwood front big brake kit but to be honest, Wilwood can't really measure up to Stoptech, Endless, or Brembo to name a few. I've ordered the parts from Tire rack but the rotors seem to be on backorder. Hopefully I can get this fixed soon.

c

2011-04-14T22:02:00.000-07:00

My hands are my tools and through the millions of cuts and bruises, they have persevered. I can rarely learn by listening and I have trouble focusing unless the subject is of great interest to me. However, if I am involved in something to the point that all eyes are on me, I can pull perfection out of my ass. I can do whatever is required of me, perfectly. All it ever takes me is one try to fuck around and the second to really pull it together.

So, I'm wondering now what the next note should be in this song that I'm making for you. I've been working on it for the past 2 years for no reason but as a hobby. But I think you should know that ever since we've kissed, I keep wanting to add more and more, to take away what I don't feel any longer and to put in the love that I share with you. It's apparent now that this song will most likely never be perfect, but I hope one day it's as beautiful as our love.

p

2011-04-11T23:20:00.000-07:00

c

2011-04-11T23:09:00.000-07:00

All too often I run into people who annoy me. It's particularly unfortunate when they're a nice person as well. Yes, I have finally been able to find somebody who is both. Still, it's hard to keep my mouth shut sometimes when I disagree with something. Anyway, this person is actually really cool and I get along with them but I want to think that her upbringing has made her a bit naive?

Who the hell cares though right? Fuck, it's really irritating to hear girls tell me how they love a guy who can cook, clean, and take care of himself. In reality, girls are just the worst. I've met girls who can't cook and expect their mom to just pop out of nowhere to take care of them. It's just so sad knowing that one day that person will be by themselves with nobody to help them out, and that's when they'll finally realize how pathetic they are. Until then, they'll probably be waited on, have their drinks paid for, driven everywhere...

What about the rest of us?

b

2011-03-23T18:08:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it's hard to live around my family; it's pretty well known that my father's side has what's known as the "Yuen Family Rage". From my father to my uncles and aunt, nobody has any tolerance for bullshit. If anybody offends our family, things tend to get very dramatic. I remember one time in San Francisco when I was around 8 or 9; my family was in town and we had just finished eating dinner off Geary when a very drunk woman rapped on our window screaming all sorts of nonsense. Next thing I know, everybody is out of the car with the exception of my mother, my sister, and me.

Now, imagine 4 of the most intimidating people in the world, aka. my father and his brothers and sister taking on 6 people in the middle of the intersection. Oh man, it was awesome to watch as my aunt swung around her purse knocking two guys in the face. I remember there being a very heavy brass lock on that purse too which must have cut a guy as he started bleeding. My Uncle Fred does not care about cheating when it comes to fighting so he was punching people in the kidneys and kicking. The best part was my father and my Uncle Frank who were back to back, tossing haymakers and jabs left and right. Man what a night...

So whenever people asked me in high school why I could never stand up to my father in a fight. I don't think anybody else had met my father and realized that yes, he's that 50 year old man at the YMCA who swims for an hour in the morning and lifts for another hour at night. I have a large amount of respect for my father and I know I will probably never be more of a man than him. It hasn't taken me this long to realize it but it means a lot for me to actually write it down.

Hong Kong

2011-03-22T17:35:00.000-07:00

Making another trip out to Hong Kong to attend my grandmother's funeral. It's odd how I'm the only grandchild to really make room for something like this. It's tragic to see somebody pass but at the same time, you know they're in a better place. It's awful seeing my father weep tears, something that rarely ever happens. I guess it's hard to see my family at such a low point but I know they'll get back on their feet.

Now that I'm a bit older though, I'm finally being seen as an adult by my relatives and thus, being treated as such. It's a bit surprising to everybody that my personality is as good as it is but my uncles do seem to listen intently to what I have to say. My Uncle Frank even went so far as to remark on my wisdom; something that meant a lot to me. It's even more comforting having a drink with my father as we've never been very close. He is beginning to see me for the type of person I am and admires how much I've taken after him.

It's too bad I can't upload very many photos as I'm using my mobile wi-fi hotspot. It was pretty sunny on my first day in but it's getting steadily cloudier. I did try to get some photos but running around getting items from Uniqlo and Muji took up a bit of time.

a

2011-03-13T23:52:00.000-07:00

There are moments in life that both catch you by surprise yet hold a sense of familiarity within. Every moment I'm with you, I feel so comfortable, so at home that I just want to fall asleep by your side. I know there are times when we don't seem to get each other but every single day I find out something new about you that I absolutely love. You are truly one of a kind and there's nobody else that meshes so well with me. Maybe it's me but I feel like every time I'm with you, we're just dancing together, synchronized so well that it's just a sort of song.

Photos

2011-02-18T21:06:00.000-08:00

Time

2011-02-16T05:22:00.000-08:00

So I'm just awful at doing this whole blogging thing right now. Between having a girlfriend, classes, and just all around misfortune; it's hard to find time to write. Not to mention how much writing I have with school in session again. This term is looking up though, good teachers all around and the workload is bearable. I'm starting to use the library more and more ever since I've realized how many distractions are at my own house.

Anyway, I promise I'll write more but in the meantime, here's an awesome sized photo dump.

FUCK

2011-02-05T13:47:00.000-08:00

I'm tired of you being 'bored' whenever I have something to do. Nobody is forcing you stay and do nothing. I'm sorry I can't spend my entire day entertaining you. Oh wait, I already spend my entire day constantly doing things for you. If I'm driving all the way out to San Jose or Union City, it's not for myself; it's for YOU. I don't have any business in those places.

And whenever we're at my house, you feel the need to be constantly doing something. I'm sorry there's only one controller but even then, I let you play more than myself. Whenever I'm on my laptop, you just look to me for direction. YOUR LAPTOP IS RIGHT NEXT TO YOU, why aren't you using it now? You were just on it for 2 hours straight reading... blogs? Is their even actual text on the sites you go onto? I'm not saying it's wrong but how the fuck are you able to complain about being bored?

How often does it need to be said that I'm a morning person and that I enjoy my mornings? I like accomplishing things while you... sleep. You're a goddamn bother sometimes, not letting me shower, not letting me make breakfast. What the hell is wrong with you? Not only can I not do anything for myself but you won't even let me do something for both of us.

I honestly don't feel bad when you leave without a word now. I've come to expect it. You say you're intimidated and that it's hard to talk around me. I give you plenty of chances and I try to be understanding but talking to you is akin to talking to a wall. It makes me feel like a fucking idiot.

Japan

2011-02-01T10:28:00.001-08:00

<br><br>ls

Japan

Yes

2011-01-27T16:37:00.001-08:00

Content

2011-01-21T21:22:00.000-08:00

Save Room - John Legend

There's one line in this song that I really love. 'Love hurts sometimes when you do it right.' Sometimes I do remember certain lines but they have to really stick inside my heart and my head. I still remember certain song lyrics from 7 years ago but I can never quite place the song.

It's been a while since I've had to write for school and I'm kind of dreading it. I have a tendency to daydream and there never seems to be a quiet moment in my house. Maybe I should invest in new headphones? Fuck, I need to stop wanting. I should be perfectly content with what I have.

Big Jet Planes - Angus and Julia Stone

These were the 2 tracks I listened to while writing this post. I think only certain songs can put me in the mood to write. Maybe I'll keep posting songs...

Wangan

2011-01-19T21:23:00.000-08:00

Wangan Wednesdays?

REBOOT

2011-01-15T19:30:00.000-08:00

Here's another shot at getting back into writing. It seems like so many things get left unsaid and all the while, the feelings and emotion behind them just sit inside my head, slowly filling up until finally it's just a thunderous roar. Nothing to write down and no way to get it all out. Do you just cut off those awful feelings, severing every reason for why you felt anything at all?

I guess, I just want to write again. Maybe if I can make sense of everything, I can be a better person. Is that what they call self-actualization? Hell, I guess I just miss learning. I really can't wait for school to start, to have something to occupy my hands and mind. I'm taking a motorcycle course at CCSF which I'm stoked for but I can't help but feel like I'll end up destroying my bike in pursuit of speed...

Christine's bike isn't fairing well either and for no apparent reason, the timing or something has gone out of whack. I guess I shouldn't have let it sit but I didn't... did I? I rode it every other day but it's been raining for some time now. In the meantime, I'll keep working on the XL350. Finally got around to cleaning the skid plate. It was covered in dirt and oil which creates a substance akin to diarrhea. It's horrid but after a soak in carb cleaner, I used some steel wool to really get the thing looking pretty.

Sleep

2011-01-03T10:00:00.000-08:00

I haven't had a moment of good honest sleep in the past month. This is not a good way to start off 2011 but what can I do. I'm constantly sore when I wake up; my neck is stiff and my arms are sore. I don't know whether I'm falling asleep in a weird position or if the bed is too small. There's been too many nights where I wake up at 5AM and I am halfway off the bed.

I cherish those moments when I sleep by myself now. When I have a bed all to myself and I don't have to worry about nudging somebody or being made fun of for how I sleep. Seriously, who the fuck cares how I sleep?

Late

2011-01-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

Anybody who's watched me work before knows that I'm efficient. There are no wasted movements or unnecessary waits. Maybe it's because I cook but time is so important; there's such a big difference between on-time and late. Now, being late is not something I'm fond of. I really enjoy being on time and it's getting to be a problem.

I used to tell my friends exact time frames for meeting up(ie. 'I'll be there in 6 minutes") and I would abide by them. Now, it seems like I have to give myself an extra hour only to find myself still late. I wish I could rely on myself, and only myself, again. I feel so embarrassed showing up an hour late for deliveries, with a girl in tow. Do you know how unprofessional that makes me look? Hell, I understand it's fun to tag along and to be honest, if I were early or on-time, I wouldn't feel this way but the fact that I say 12PM and show up at 3PM is really killing me. I feel like a jackass when 3 of my closest friends have been waiting at 2 separate train stations in San Francisco and I'm just at home.

Another thing that irritates me, taking your time. If you're late, ACT LATE. Don't walk at the same pace expecting everybody to slow down for you. The world does not stop moving because you decide that you can go at your own pace.

Rant

2011-01-01T10:14:00.000-08:00

I feel so frustrated lately not being able to say how I feel. I fear that I will lose you because I wasn't accepting enough or because I've had a bad week. I can't even write on this blog anymore because I know you read this.

You say, "When am I ever serious? When are either of us serious?" yet you somehow take offense to half the things I say. Goddammit, If I can't at least express myself honestly in this relationship, then what's the point?

So does it make sense that I have been short with you lately and writing all this now? If I continue to hold everything in, I'm just going to snap and really lose you.

Tired

2010-12-31T04:10:00.000-08:00

I'm so frustrated.

No matter what I say, you turn it against me. Even if I'm talking to myself, you take offense. I fucking hate arguing with you. It's on par with arguing with my roommate. Not because you're stupid or lack common sense. It's just so senseless that even from the very beginning, I set myself up to quit just to get out of talking.

I get irritated, I think everybody does, but too often, I just want to kick a hole in the wall. You make me feel like shit and I just ignore it because otherwise you'll get mad. I try to see three steps ahead and if I fuck up, you get mad. If I get it right, you call me a 'cool guy' and I still feel like shit. It's even worse when I already take fault for whatever it is I am at fault for. There is nowhere to go but forward so why do you get so hung up on such small details. Look at the big picture and try to see people's intention.

Now, you'll probably look and say "Oh, it's just a joke...." or "I didn't mean it..." Does this suddenly fix things? I don't feel any better. In fact, I feel like shit. again.

Fuck it, 2010 is over.

Nothing

2010-12-28T19:33:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of posts. It's not like I've been super busy but it's hard to find time to sit down and write. Not too much has changed as far as motorcycles and cars. I've sold the BMW and want to save up as much money as possible. I'm flipping cars and motorcycles, mostly assorted parts, for some money. I wish I'd taken more photos of the last month but it's been raining pretty regularly. Been spending my break doing a lot of driving but it's not horrible.

I have a small vacation planned for the beginning of January though so I'm pretty stoked. I'll keep you guys posted..

Cool

2010-12-14T01:57:00.000-08:00

Night

2010-12-13T01:57:00.000-08:00

It seems like my days are getting shorter and my nights are getting longer. It's no longer a problem staying up until 3AM, especially if I have somebody to share it with. It's nice being up at night and asleep in the mornings but it's taking it's toll on my body. I feel so groggy for the rest of the day and my mind so unclear. The rain is keeping me inside and I'm spending more time cleaning my bikes than riding them.

Maybe time is slowing down with winter. Hopefully not..

Touge

2010-12-12T19:09:00.000-08:00

Late night touge.

Cage

2010-12-11T20:23:00.000-08:00

One of his best performances. As much as Nicholas Cage fucks up sometimes, I really like some parts in his movies.

Finals

2010-12-10T00:55:00.000-08:00

School is coming to an end this semester. Pretty glad to be finished and I'm definitely looking forward to the next term. My hopes are pretty high for my grades and I'm really excited to see what my marks were. I really am not looking forward to more writing though. It's one thing to write about personal experiences but citing information is such a pain since most of my writing comes straight from my head.

Winter recess looks pretty open and relaxing. Should I go to a hot locale or somewhere a bit frostier? or maybe just staying in the Bay will be fun enough.

Lock

2010-12-09T02:40:00.000-08:00

Quite possibly the coolest bike lock ever. But what would happen if it ran out of battery?

Rain

2010-12-08T18:57:00.000-08:00

I love the rain. I love being able to wear boots and jackets. I like sliding around on the bike but I wish there weren't so train tracks to cross.

Dunderdon, Uniqlo, Alpinestar, Imperial, Danner.

Hole

2010-12-07T01:13:00.000-08:00

The number of holes in my pants keeps increasing as each day goes by. I don't know how they keep getting bigger but I'm afraid they'll start to become pretty noticeable. One tear goes from the bottom of my crotch to an inch underneath my back left pocket. Both of my backpockets have large holes in them and my right front pocket has a hole in it too. I've decided on making repairs using flannel but now I have to find a pattern. I don't know if I want a plaid or check pattern though. Maybe something solid? and what colour?

Friendship

2010-12-06T19:38:00.001-08:00

I won't ever forget what comes first.

Holiday

2010-12-05T18:49:00.000-08:00

I need more of this.. right. now. Moving my speakers to my bed has been the best idea ever.

RD400

2010-12-04T20:39:00.000-08:00

Ever since I started riding 2-strokes, I've been in love. The exhaust note and the scent it leaves behind. It's glorious just like this Yamaha RD400 Daytona Special. Check out that amazing exhaust.

Honda

2010-12-03T02:32:00.000-08:00

A Honda inside a Honda. ^_^

Quiet

2010-12-02T19:46:00.000-08:00

Words can't even come close to describing how I feel about you. In the past, it was quite a bit easier to explain how I felt but now, nothing ever comes to my lips. Now, it's not that I don't feel anything, I just feel at ease and calm around you. I never thought I'd find myself falling asleep with you in my arms and waking up looking into your eyes. It's a little bit unreal at times but there's not a day I don't find myself liking you more.

Cockpit

2010-12-01T20:06:00.000-08:00

Gran Turismo 5 is half of my dreams come true. I still wish it was as in-depth as GT4 but the graphics more than make up for it. Christine is getting really good and has great throttle control on corner exit. I'm almost done tuning the R32 and am progressing to the NSX Type R.

Grind

2010-11-30T02:25:00.000-08:00

For some time now, I've been grinding my teeth. If you look at my teeth, they're almost completely flat and I have one that is even curved to fit the corresponding bottom tooth. Now, I'm a pretty happy guy and I consider my stress pretty low. I usually have no problem saying "Fuck You!" to anything that causes me stress. Lately though, I feel like it's harder for me to relax. I wake up and my jaw is sore from grinding away the entire night. I furrow my brows so much that I'm already getting wrinkles. Maybe it's an iron deficiency like some other sources say but fuck, it's probably anxiety and stress.

I find it so hard to relax now. Whenever I close my eyes and try to slow my heart down, I feel tears that want to stream down my face for no reason. I can't help but clench my teeth shut and just swallow back that lump in my throat. Am I finally breaking? I guess I was right about not living past 30.

GT5

2010-11-28T12:22:00.000-08:00

I've been waiting for this game since Gran Turismo 3 came out. Please excuse me while I lock myself inside for the next week.

Helmet

2010-11-27T19:24:00.000-08:00

TRON x Les Ateliers Ruby Helmets.

Thanksgiving

2010-11-26T22:50:00.000-08:00

Compared to most Thanksgivings I've had with my family, this year's was on the quieter end of the spectrum. Not too much food but it was all delicious. It's weird seeing my sister again as she reminds me of just another random nerdy asian girl. I'm sure she has something similar to say about me though. I went to go eat hot pot with my family a couple nights before and as per usual, my family was dressed impeccably. Overcoats, scarves, hats, cardigans, trenches, etc. I see families sometimes with those matching sweaters and I'm so glad my parents never forced me to wear those.

Black friday shopping wasn't really on my mind at all this year. It seems like anything I've wanted is never marked down at the time. I'm usually on the lookout for deals anyway. This year, I did manage to get some nice stuff for myself. I did manage to pick up Gran Turismo 5 which took forever to come out. I also bought myself a pair of motorcycle gloves and new boots. Yes, finally new boots. I'll post up photos in a different post.

Garage

2010-11-25T12:29:00.000-08:00

Finally my XL350 is out of the shop and we can call my garage home again. Too bad I still have two other bikes to fit in here...

Tour

2010-11-24T22:50:00.000-08:00

Lately, I've been thinking about motorcycle touring. I'm pretty sure I'll be snowboarding a lot this winter and I'm sure I'll end up someplace exotic in spring. Summer looks pretty open and although some friends of mine are going to Europe, I'm looking for something a tiny bit different. There are 3 places I want to go motorcycling through; South East Asia, Central & South America, and across America. I really want to finish 1 of these places before I turn 22 and hopefully all 3 before I'm 30.

I think I have enough mechanical know how to keep my bike running and I'll probably end up picking up a more formidable and more bulletproof motorcycle although my CB750F would be quite a joy to ride. If I do end up going to Vietnam, I'd really like to ride the trails even though Ho Chi Minh City scares the piss out of me. Bikes there are cheaper and the exchange rate is in my favor... why not?

Cool

2010-11-23T13:03:00.000-08:00

Little

2010-11-22T12:04:00.000-08:00

I really need to get my Honda Spree running again. I've replaced so many parts that I'm beginning to wonder if I destroyed a piston. Only thing left to replace is the sparkplug and I've been putting it off day after day. I just don't want to replace the sparkplug and not have it work. If it doesn't run then, I'll probably do a top-end rebuild and just replace everything.

Rain

2010-11-21T03:35:00.000-08:00

The storm this past weekend sure threw San Francisco headfirst into winter. Riding in the rain might not mean much to anybody who drives a car but until you're completely soaked from the neck down, you have no idea... Ever experience windchill? Imagine being completely soaked going 60mph. There's nothing worse. Riding two up is even more dangerous but I guess it's one more thing to add to the "Suck it up" list.

The weather really is making me rethink my motorcycle gear though as I'm used to hot track days and summertime commuting. Now that I am forced to be in crappy weather, I'm looking up gore-tex gear and textile jackets and gloves. Leather just stays wet and takes forever to dry. Hopefully there's good weather soon though.

Leather

2010-11-20T00:38:00.000-08:00

Vanson leather motorcycle jacket. I'm in love with it.

Japan

2010-11-19T03:20:00.000-08:00

It's very sad to see Honda keeping all their great products for the homeland. In Japan, Honda is one of those brands that does it all. No matter the appliance, especially if it has an engine, Honda makes it.

For example, these two bikes look very similar but they're different and both offered by Honda Japan. The top is the CB223 and is very much a modern-day version of the 70s Honda CB200s. The motorcycle in the lower photo is something a little more my style. It's the exact same engine from the CB223 and Honda has made it's own version of a flat track machine.

I wish I could just import a bunch of these bikes but I'll never be happy unless I move to Japan. They offer so many more bikes than in the USA. I guess I'll just have to wait and custom-fab everything in the meantime.

Buy

2010-11-18T15:08:00.000-08:00

Should I buy back my old 1976 Honda CB550?

for $1500? Yeah, it's purple.

Garage

2010-11-17T12:43:00.001-08:00

With more and more bikes filling up my garage, I've decided to start getting more tools and really put some effort into making the place nice. I need to get some more shelf space and lighting as well which means Home Depot is on the list. I am unsure of whether I want to keep using my Garrett's desk down there or if I want to get something a bit smaller and then a cart to put oil and other supplies on to move around the garage.

What are some thoughts on having a small couch in the garage? Right now, I only have the one chair to use and a small container to sit on. Then again, there's not too much space to begin with so I'll have to see. I could put the couch right in front of the car but it'll probably make turning around bikes that much harder but if I didn't keep a bike directly behind the car, it might work. Too many bikes and too small of a garage...

Drift

2010-11-16T15:30:00.000-08:00

God I miss this...

Problem

2010-11-15T10:21:00.000-08:00

Roommate problems are starting to come up again and it's not looking good. I never thought I'd have a roommate who was so stubborn and passive-aggressive. maybe I'm spoiled because my last roommate was never around but this is a whole different level. Theories are thrown back and forth on how he feels about me but I can't bring myself to really take it seriously. I really wish he was able to just step back and really listen to what he says. He goes on and on about being so spectacular at arguing and that he always wins. The truth is, he doesn't listen to anybody else and removes himself from the debate at the first sign of opposition.

Did I ever mention how hypocritical he is either? For somebody studying international relations, he sure is ignorant. Saying you're not racist because all your high school friends were middle eastern.... isn't an excuse at all, it's not even close to being a reason. Use actions, not words.'

Scrambler

2010-11-14T20:43:00.000-08:00

1973 Honda CL125 Scrambler. Belongs to Christine.

Delay

2010-11-13T03:25:00.000-08:00

I know these posts have been out of order and I've been sporadic about posting. Trust me though, I'm still writing down my thoughts but I don't have as much free time to finish those posts. Life has been getting busier and busier and it's hard not to feel overwhelmed at times. School is... what can I say except my classmates never fail to surprise me, good and bad. The house is pretty quiet these days and I'm not drinking as much. I definitely made more friends this semester, or maybe I'm just meeting the right ones. Life is only looking up.

Surf

2010-11-12T19:58:00.000-08:00

With my Hawaii plans on the backburner, I am really missing surfing. I don't have an entire week of nonstop surfing to look forward to. Anybody in San Francisco have a spare wetsuit?

Girl

2010-11-11T13:58:00.000-08:00

I've written about what type of girl interests me and I have been told by many that I'm picky. Experience has told me it's better to wait for the right girl to come along than to get with every girl that walks past. I've written so many times that there's no specific traits I look for and that the culmination of a girl's features and personality will either be perfect for me or not. Wouldn't I like a girl based on her interests? Wouldn't that make her like me too? I figured a girl just needed the same interests as me but it's not always that easy. What I am isn't what girls always want and now that I've finally found a girl that captures my heart and emotions, I've realized that I am so much less than what I should and can be..

Whenever I am with her, I am always trying to learn because there are so many things about her that I admire.

Hopefully she thinks the same way about me.

Desert

2010-11-10T17:20:00.000-08:00

Just cleaned them up. They're getting really dirty ever since I started playing pick up soccer games. I have also ordered Danner Mountain Light IIs since water comes in through the seams of these desert boots.

Snow

2010-11-09T19:51:00.000-08:00

My plans for Hawaii are on hold right now and I'm considering just getting a season pass for Heavenly/Northstar. It seems like every Christmas, I'm somewhere hot and sunny. I'm missing the snow and going to Riverside to snowboard before summer was awesome. It's been a long time since I've been able to go and my snowboard hasn't seen any use since high school.

My board on the left and Jack's on the right. My hopes are high as I know people with SUVs and cabins in Tahoe as well as more snowboarders than I've ever known previously.

Attitude

2010-11-08T19:39:00.000-08:00

Think

2010-11-07T17:25:00.000-08:00

"You listen to the words, not the phrases"

It's hard for me to remember specific phrases unless they have a proper context. Meaningful words in songs don't have the same impact. It's not that I can't relate or that the lyrics don't have an impact on me. Remembering something so specific is really hard for me without personal context that directly ties to it. Whenever I close my eyes and listen to music, I see a black ocean before me. The water isn't really water but words all tumbling around without any real form. The rhythm of the music creates waves and ripples on the ocean and the colour of the water changes with how the music makes me feel. When the vocals come on, I can see the waves peak and right before they start to crash, words flow out like kinetic typography. And at that moment, when the lyrics are just hanging in the air, they do represent something but unless I connect those words to something close to me, they just fall back into that inky blackness.

Skills

2010-11-06T12:31:00.000-07:00

Holy..... I have no words for the amount of skill this man has.

Denim

2010-11-05T23:18:00.000-07:00

Running my hand along your leg, my fingertips catching slightly on your honeycombs, my lips brush across your neck and slowly let out a breath, my other hand is tracing the contours of your back, feeling out each and every curve. I push myself up and off you, gazing into your eyes as your lips turn into a smile. Looking down at your jeans, I notice the stacks are flopping around your ankle.

I lower myself to your side and my left hand starts tracing the whiskers of your jeans while my right hand pulls up the hem of your jeans. My right hand is at your waist now, my left pressed against your back, almost grabbing against your back. I tug your hair gently and your back arches while you let out a small giggle. My nails skim across your neck while you throw the covers over us. Right before you pull it over our heads, I hold you closer and close my eyes.

Danner

2010-11-04T01:53:00.000-07:00

I really want these boots

with these laces. and the sole too.

Group

2010-11-03T11:07:00.000-07:00

So many great boots in one place...

not to mention the jeans...

Block

2010-11-02T11:30:00.000-07:00

I'm a nice guy right? I do my share and I stay out of everybody's way. I know I share my room and sure, there are some mix ups once in a while but I have just as much right to use my room as my roommate does. He tries to avoid confrontation but you can tell by his actions that he wants to. You can only walk in front of me so many times before I understand you want to talk but whenever I try to, you start doing something else. What sort of passive-aggressive bullshit is this?

But here's something I want to point out. I never make you sleep on the couch and at night, I sleep. I don't keep my music on at night and I try my best to be quiet. Now think about how often I've slept on the couch or given up the room. I'm not saying it's unfair but at least try and be realistic... I let you win a lot of the battles we end up in, not because I'm giving up but because I don't want to hurt your feelings.

You would rather me be wrong more than being right yourself, does that make any sense? No matter if I'm right or wrong or even if I'm not arguing the same subject, I can't be right. If somebody else says the exact same statement as me though, you are more understanding and even agree. So try to be open-minded, it's part of life.

2011

2010-11-01T15:16:00.001-07:00

Tons of new bikes are coming out for the new year. I'm especially excited for Honda's lineup because ever since 2007, there hasn't been a motorcycle in their lineup that straddles the fence between comfort and speed. I've always been envious of the UK and their plethora of motorcycles. Everything from race scooters to special edition 250cc 2-stroke race machines are available. It's fun to see the new revision every couple years...

Finally good to see Honda stepping into the standard market again. The FZ1 and Bandit 1200 have gone for too long without a worthy competitor. I really want to see the how the single-sided swingarm works for the CB1000R

UJM stands for Universal Japanese Motorcycle. A term coined in the 70s for Honda's CB series. These were bikes that could handle themselves on the track, go through the twisties, and then take you back home. I've always been a fan of the CBR600RR but without an F model after the F4i was discontinued, I was left with the VFR800 or a sports tourer. This CBR600F offers more comfort and driveability on a day to day basis.

Especially excited for the CBR250R. The Ninja 250R has had zero competition for years and hopefully this machine will bring prices down and help the sub-600cc race division evolve and progress.

Slow

2010-10-31T01:29:00.000-07:00

It's getting harder and harder to keep up with posting. So much going on right now that it's hard to find a free moment to just write. School is still going well and my professors seem to like me. Swimming is... well it's definitely not as boring and I do enjoy being in water more often but it's so inconveniently placed in my schedule. Sometimes I wish I had taken my swim course earlier in the morning...

Really enjoying San Francisco right now with the great weather. However, my bike got a flat tire so I'm just working on getting it back to tip-top shape right now. Which also reminds me that I need to get the Honda Spree back to running condition. I can't figure out what could possibly be wrong with it. See how many things I need to take care of? So much left to do...

Build

2010-10-30T22:09:00.001-07:00

I'm still going over motorcycle frame designs and trying to figure out exactly what I want on the build I'm doing. I may be going with an inline-4 engine from Honda just because they're so reliable and smooth. Definitely digging the seat on this 70s Laveria. Trying to figure out trail and rake and studying frame design is putting all those years of geometry to good use though.

Friday

2010-10-29T00:13:00.000-07:00

Another night to remind me exactly why I moved to San Francisco. Finished my last exam today and went out to Oakland for dinner with Isabelle, Christine, Justin, and Ken. We ate at Vientian cafe which is inside of a random house in east oakland and surprisingly, I ate a good amount of food. Laotian, Vietnamese, and Thai food all under one roof! Afterward, the other guys jet off to the rest of the east bay while Isabelle, Christine, and I drove back to San Francisco. We ended up being invited to a party over in SOMA with some Academy of Art people so we took the shuttle over from Downtown.

So imagine 20-30 people in a bus and we're all following each other to the same party. And of course, it's Halloween and being art students, everybody has kickass out-of-the-box costumes. And we're walking around in the rain while nobody listens to my directions and we finally arrive at an apartment building. Well, there's a lock on the door and nobody has any idea who the guy we're meeting is. However, before long, somebody leaves the building and we all file into the lobby and hear somebody call out "Room 632!" It takes 3 elevators to move the entire group to the 6th floor and we end up finding the room 632. So we finally knock and a lady opens the door. The guys at the front pile in, shouting "We're here for the orgy!" while people start grabbing chips from the kitchen. Memorable quote of the night - "Hey a computer! Let's put on music!" and "Craps is set up! Awesome!"

After everybody has gotten into what seemed to be a very small apartment, the lady closes the door and then looks around at what she just let into her apartment. She slowly asks "Are you guys at the right party...?" while everybody tries to remember how any of us got invited. In the end, we all leave and start kicking it on the 6th floor, 30 art students taking the entire northeast corner. So being the three asian people, and might I add the only people not dressed up, we thought it would be smart to wait in the lobby before anybody complained. Well, long story short, we ditched the party and went back Downtown to a kickback but soon left when we ended up in a 10 sq ft. apartment watching 5 idiots having a sword fight.

Well, it was 1AM at this point and so we decided to cut out and grab a bite. 10 minutes later, we're in a booth at Mel's diner off Geary. Probably the best dessert in a long time with pumpkin pie and apple pie a la mode. Even some horrible mac and cheese. Christine and I also found out that we're really good at spinning quarters and flicking them back and forth to each other. We finished eating and drove over to the Palace of Fine Arts to relax after an eventful night. Smoked a bit and then made it home by 3AM.

Simple

2010-10-28T16:48:00.000-07:00

First fit picture with the XL350. Just cleaning up the house today so I just threw this on. Really wish I had time to find a different setting to take this photo. Another day perhaps (Looking at you Christine).

Thom Browne shirt, Gap thermal, Iron heart jeans, Cat boots.

I found these boots, with the exact same laces, abandoned on Haight with a small bottle of vodka in them. They need new insoles but otherwise, they fit pretty well.

Surf

2010-10-27T12:32:00.000-07:00

I miss surfing so much... Too busy lately and I'm saving up for Hawaii. Even if I go by myself, I'm going to surf from the break of dawn until the moon is out.

Holding

2010-10-26T09:15:00.000-07:00

Conversations in every day life shouldn't have to be self-censored. I've started to watch my words much more carefully, albeit not when I'm fucked up, and now everything seems so... fake. I feel like everybody is just being sincere instead of honest. It doesn't help that I am second-guessing everything now either. I don't think I like being this way, holding everything back. I want to shout at the top of my lungs. I want you to hear how much I like you. I want to tell you how I feel. Whenever I am making way down Haight and I see all those people sitting on the sidewalk asking for change, I feel for them because they do say what's on their mind and they don't let the small things get them down.

I'm not happy. I constantly feel my heart swell up with each breath and then fall straight into my stomach every time I sigh. Things have always had an odd way of working out for me and most of the time, I see the good. However, I'm confused now, what do I want? what is right in front of me? and what am I leaving behind... Most people follow their head, some follow their heart, and then there are people like me who are stuck in limbo.

Swap

2010-10-25T00:43:00.000-07:00

Came home to a care package from Scott M. Thanks for the cool stuff, the shirt smells like a tarp but everything fits. That football had me going nuts because I thought it was a soccer ball. Still, great package and I'm currently eating all the chocolates candy. Pocky. all day. everyday.

Photos

2010-10-24T14:17:00.000-07:00

Just another boring day spent inside. 20mph winds and torrential downpour means I'm spending the day cleaning my bikes and going over each one with a toothbrush. I'll post a photo of the garage soon enough as I'm still working on making it my own. In the meantime, here's a huge photo dump.

These last two photos are of Sara Eileen and her Triumph bobber. Nothing hotter than a girl kickstarting a bike.

These last 4 images are exactly what I'm all about when it comes to motorcycling. It's not always about how fast you get somewhere but how you look on your way there. Have a little panache..

Tank

2010-10-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

I really like Deus Ex Machina's custom bikes. They're not quite cafe racers and don't really fit in as street trackers. They make such practical and beautiful bikes. None of that extra fluff and the styling is always very clean.

My favorite part about this bike is the design on the tank. I'll probably end up pulling out some old sandcast CB750 tanks for Justine to take a shot at.

Rain

2010-10-22T13:17:00.000-07:00

Summer is pretty much over in San Francisco. Getting ready to put on overcoats and trenches...

Nvidia Beanie, American Apparel Coat, Neiman Marcus Pullover, Iron Heart Jeans, Clark Desert Boots.

Cool Stuff #6

2010-10-21T23:36:00.000-07:00

Wake

2010-10-20T11:27:00.000-07:00

My eyes are closed but I'm wide awake. The light is pouring in through the window and I'm still in bed. Judging by the amount of sunlight, I've probably missed my first class. I must have slept through my alarm, or maybe I turned it off, who knows? I keep my eyes shut so that maybe I'll be able to go back to sleep. My throat feels dry and I try to clear my throat a bit but to no avail. Fuck it, it's already late so I might as well get up. I try to sit up but my arm is stuck underneath my pillow..

I finally open my eyes and I see you staring right back at me. Your light brown eyes, almost a hazel but not quite. Your lips are closed with neither a smile or a frown from them. I find your arms wrapped around me and my legs are all caught up in yours. I whisper 'Good morning', you blink and say the same while your lips smile just the tiniest bit. Your head rests on top of my arm while you put my arm around your waist. I push your hair out of the way and lift my chin up to quit from exhaling on you. You manage to kiss my chin and I give you a quick peck on the cheek before you can turn away.

Leather and Music

2010-10-19T18:40:00.000-07:00

Really digging this leather jacket I found at Wastelands off of Haight. Only $58 for an authentic leather piece and it fits so well. Here's a bit of music as well just to make up for the lack of content. So what if it's in french..

Download Sexion D'assaut - Wati By Night

Weekend

2010-10-18T23:52:00.000-07:00

It's been quite the few days. A weekend in Southern California to see all my Jack, Yash, and Vivian? Fuck yes. It's been a while since I really see my friends from back home. I didn't even think I'd be going to a concert but at the last minute, I decided to get the Nismo and just pound down. I hated driving so late but thank god I didn't get any tickets the entire weekend. Didn't know if I'd enjoy the concert on such little sleep but I managed to power through. My body needs to recharge now, 2 weeks of less than 4 hour periods of sleep. I can feel my appetite go away and I'm body is pretty wracked. I need a week to recharge and refuel.

Trench

2010-10-17T19:56:00.000-07:00

I've been visiting Kinokuniya lately to get the latest copies of Young Machine and Goggles. Those two magazines are probably my favorite when it comes to motorcycle culture. The japanese motorcycle scene has always been oriented towards a lifestyle vs chasing speed. I've noticed the gear they sell in Japan is also much more fashionable while still being very much functional.

Details such as stitching and material really mean a lot to the discerning eye and many of the jackets and accessories coming out of Japan have a wealth of intricacies.

Ventilation like this would probably never be found in a piece from Alpinestar..

The leather detailing and usage of "real" buttons is what really puts this jacket a cut above the rest. The best part though? It's only $500 and it even comes in black.

Cafe

2010-10-16T19:56:00.000-07:00

Really wish I could wear something like this on the daily..

Video

2010-10-15T19:40:00.000-07:00

Asian music videos always have the coolest car scenes.