The man of many miles.
Posers. Brian doesn't have much time for those kinds of bikers. "Too much affectation if you ask me", says the 60-year-old retiree from southern California. He doesn't show off his riding skills, and he doesn't need to boast about his abilities. Brian doesn't talk about riding at all. He just does it. "The ride is all that matters", he says. Preferably a fast ride.
A non-conformist.
A non-conformist.
Brian racks up miles on his four different bikes like it was nothing. At first glance, he seems unassuming, more of the uncle type. But at second glance you realise Brian's a non-conformist. An individualist. A special guy – just as independent and free as his cool rides across California. Never follow the crowd. That's always been his motto.
Brian experienced his first motorised two-wheeler at the age of 12. He was visiting his cousin on a farm in Oregon. From the day he rode on a Vespa scooter, he was always looking at cool motorcycles. Years later, he dreamed of owning a BMW R 90 S, the bike that star customiser Roland Sands reinvented as the Concept Ninety. Brian ended up buying an R 100 S, but his dream was still fulfilled. He also rides his other three motorcycles depending on the mood he's in. A lover of variety, the retiree switches between his sport touring bike, his dual-sport model and a classic naked bike.
Motorcycles need love and affection. That's a given for Tink, as his buddies call him. So what exactly does love and attention mean in his case? Sometimes he uses an old tooth brush to scrub hard-to-reach areas on his bikes and shine up dusty parts. He knows it's a little uncool, but his bikes mean everything to him. However, he doesn't give his bikes nicknames. "That's silly. Isn't that what girls do?", he says with a dismissive gesture.
Wearing a helmet is just as important to Tink as cleaning his bikes with a toothbrush. Safety comes first: "I value my life and want to protect myself". A man with clear priorities. Brian has a lot more trips planned and wants to rack up even more miles. "Sometimes I ride with a few other people, but I also like to ride alone". That way he can relax more and just enjoy the freedom of being on the road. While listening to some hard-rocking Led Zeppelin or Jimmy Hendrix. The words "breathe", "think" and "survive" flash through his mind when he rides. It might sound a bit existentialist, but it's what Tink would airbrush on his tank. After all, Brian is an individualist.
