|
REGRET
is a word very seldom used in this writer’s vocabulary.
But in this instance, regret is how this writer would
describe his feelings for not running the whole course
of the Fourth Suzuki Nationwide Endurance Run.
The ride
kicked off on April 28 at the Hobbies of Asia along
Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City. It ran for
more than 40 days and culminated in
Davao City
on June 9.
Traversing what used to be called the “Pan-Philippine
Highway,” 20 motorbikes, consisting of eight models of
Suzuki, ran more than 7,000 km across Luzon, Visayas and
Mindanao.
Twenty
riders tested the eight four-stroke engine motorcycles,
the Raider R150 (150cc), Raider J (110cc), Shogun Pro
(125cc), Shogun R (125cc), Step 125cc, Smash Revo
(110cc), Mola 125cc and the Mola 150cc. These riders hit
the pavement for 40 days nonstop, only having brief
rests for demonstrations and provincial launchings.
Ready for the start.
Grim
determination can be seen on the faces of the riders
just before taking to the open road.
“Through
the Suzuki Nationwide Endurance Run, Suzuki aims to
dispel the negative notion that motorcycle riding is
unsafe and that motorcycle riders have lesser traffic
rights. It is about time that motorcycle riders be
accorded the same respect that are given four-wheeled
drivers on the streets,” said Benedict Martin Arreola,
senior marketing manager for motorcycles of Suzuki
Philippines Inc.
This
writer joined the caravan on its last leg in
Mindanao, where he caught up with the riders in Butuan, Davao
del Norte. Flying in from
Manila
to Cagayan de Oro, he had to hop on a Suzuki APV to
reach the convoy.
Christine Sarmiento, the lovely and endearing yaya for
the trip from Suzuki, geared all riders up with Spider
Helmets, Komine riding armor and World Balance riding
shoes to ensure safety during the ride.
This
started out from Butuan to Tagum onboard a Mola 125.
Now, this bike is your typical street motorcycle—what
big-bike riders would call “Pantra” (short for
pang-tricycle). But in the 300-plus-km ride from Butuan
City to Tagum City, the Mola proved its mettle as a road
warrior.
The
power of a 125cc motor on a light body of the Mola
ensured a fast and breezy ride. It’s balance, and
balance is a must for a motorbike, is exquisite,
enabling this writer to guide the two-wheeled vehicle
along the twisty road of that part of the Davao
peninsula.
Testing
its power, this writer would at times allow himself to
fall back from the pack only to pick up speed and catch
up with the convoy.
The feel
of freedom on a bike is incomparable on a country road
surrounded with trees, the ocean and the mountains. The
eerie silence inside a safety helmet adds to the
otherworldly feeling. The riders, as we were wont to
call ourselves, would have short breaks along the route,
if only to ease our aching butts, but the ride was
continuous and enjoyable.
After a
hearty dinner at a roadside restaurant in Tagum, we all
headed for our hotel, where we really felt the need to
ease our body into the softness of our beds after taking
that wonderful hot bath.
The next
day saw us gearing up and having breakfast early. We
then headed to the Otis Mall parking lot, where
exhibitions were performed by the riders on their
underbone bikes (scooters as they are more popularly
known). Wheelies and jumps were easily done on these
versatile bikes.
Amid the
roar of the gathered crowd for the performance, the
media contingent was introduced. Dino Directo of the
Manila Standard Today, Aris Ilagan and Anjo Perez of the
Manila Bulletin, Charles Buban of the Philippine Daily
Inquirer, Bam Olivares of the Daily Tribune and this
writer, who was truly surprised that people still
recognized him from his TV days, calling him by name.
But then
celebrity time was over and the group had to take that
300-plus-km ride to General Santos City across the
winding mountain road past Davao City. This was a
challenging part for nonveteran riders (this writer
included). The twists and turns of the highway at high
speed required everyone to use their skills at balancing
the bikes. This writer was riding one of the fastest
bikes on this run, the Raider R150.
Having
been on big bikes before, this writer soon learned that
the smaller bikes were trickier and not as easy to
handle. The big bikes are quite heavy and one felt
comfort in their weight, that it would drive you forward
easily. The smaller underbones were light and it was
easy to fall prey to the tendency of underestimating
their pull and the resulting understeer on the tight
curves.
Big
bikes were also easier on the body along rough spots on
the road. The smaller ones gave quite a jar when one hit
a deep hole.
But the
freedom felt on a small bike is different. It is as if
there is no machine underneath you—just nature, you and
speed.
We
reached Gensan at about 8 in the evening and were
greeted at the border by the local biker club.
What a
sight it was! About 30 scooters and their riders lined
up along the highway going into Gensan cheering and
greeting us. We all felt like Manny Pacquiao coming
home, if not for our weary bones.
But the
ride was over for us—two days and 600 km on scooters
which you would not imagine crossing town with much less
the whole Philippine archipelago. Now, anyone would call
that a big ride for some small bikes.
This
writer said that he regrets not joining the pack from
the start. That is simply because the two-day affair
with Suzuki scooters was not enough to whet his appetite
for another endurance ride. |
