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"Motorcycling represents freedom in all its forms." Your Stories Interview with Amanda Quick Indie Moto Journalist and Creative Powerhouse!
I've been sharing the Raven Rova story a lot lately. Time to turn the tide!
You are the fuel in the tank. It's women like Amanda Quick who REALLY bring Raven Rova to life! Follow her on Instagram @QuickShift1190
These gorgeous blue Falcon photos are from my buddy Amanda Quick. An indie moto journalist and creative pro from Canada. She tested the Falcon gear and shot the photos herself! What an all around bad ass! Look at her Shark bike!
If you’ve been following Raven Rova, you may recognize her name because she’s interviewed me and done hands-on falcon pant and jacket gear reviews for us! I connected with her through WebBikeWorld. Aren’t motorcycles a beautiful thing ? Please read on...
1. What’s your favorite thing about motorcycling?
Motorcycling represents freedom in all its forms. Doesn't get better than that.
Also, You know how, when you were a kid, you'd roll down the window on the highway and stick your hand out and let the wind batter your arm?
For me, motorcycling is like sticking your whole body out the window. It's a huge rush, it's a vibe you can't really get anywhere else, and it's so incredibly accessible.
2. What got you into it?
The first anime that caught my eye was a dystopian Japanese masterpiece called Akira; in it, a gang member had a souped-up, super-unrealistic chonker of a bike.
I grew up wanting that bike so bad, haha.
When the lockdowns hit here in Canada, my friends got puppies... and I got a two-day, sixteen-hour motorcycle course done. At the end of it, I was whizzing around on an R3, and I still have that thing today. Nothing better for city traffic.
Today, I try a slew of bikes through my contracted work with WebBikeWorld, A07, bike events, and my contracted work with Buell Motorcycles as their PR / Content Specialist.
They're all dream jobs, and I'm so lucky to have the opportunity to operate in each space with excitement for our projects and what's coming down the pipeline. :)
3. Biggest lesson that motorcycling has taught you?
It doesn’t matter how well you prepare for the accidents or collisions; situations will still happen that we won't be able to control. You can only do so much before the winds of chance take over.
If you can prepare - and gear up - for those situations as best you can, then there's nothing that anybody else can possibly ask of you.
4. What’s your riding style? Has it changed in the last couple of years, and why?
My riding style started from an equestrian background, so I used to protect my lower back and stick my ass out on a super sport... but leaning away from the airflow doesn't work, haha!
Since then, I'd say I've readjusted to lean closer to the bike, cutting out inefficient positions and figuring out what works for my 5'9" frame. I also am enjoying off-roading on my poor R3 a little much, so we'll have to switch that up sometime.
As for technical updates, I'm currently working on creating muscle memory for slow turns (@ big leans), and I'm less focused on speed these days. The devil's in the details and twisties have a TON of technical headache (Reason vs. Reflex) to offer.
5. Current bikes?
I’m just a lil’ city girlie with big Canadian insurance rates, so I try a lot of bikes, but my constant is my shark, the R3.
Thanks to my work with Buell, I'm excited to get my hands on a Hammerhead in the next year or two. (smile and thumbs up emoji!)
6. Do you have a dream bike?
Not yet - there are still so many coming out that I need to try, and so many different genres I need to spend more time on - but my heart will always be with supersports, specifically inline-fours with consistent rev curves.
In other words, I have a listen of bikes I want to have long-term reviews with, but I've yet to have them long enough to say I like them.
When I was fourteen, we were obsessed with the ZX-14 (big boy); before uni, it was the Hayabusa (real big boy)... and now, I've got a little Japanese bike and couldn't be happier.
It's true what they say, you know: it's more fun to go fast on a smaller bike. You should've seen the shenanigans my mates got up to on their Groms… lordy, lol.
7. Can you share a photo of you with your bike ?
For sure, haha!
8. Anything else you’d like to share?
To anybody who is thinking about riding: Do it, but do it right. Gear up. Get yourself a good comm unit (Cardo rocks).
Above all else, remember to enjoy the experience while taking responsibility for your actions.
Maybe take someone along for the ride…. and for Pete's sake, signal wheels down to everyone. Yes, even the grouches. It's what we do.
Thank you Amanda! Please let us know what Buell cooks up for you to test! (As you all know, I'm a Wisconsin girl, he's a legend where I come from!)
Keep The Rubber Side Down!
-Karleen
P.S. want to share your moto story ? I'd love to hear from you!
Email Karleen@RavenRova.com
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