Our interview begins on a leather couch located in the lobby of an art museum that features "The History Of The Motorcycle " as an exhibit . Motoko , a tall & fair skinned Amerasian woman ,has coffee brown eyes,aquiline characteristics & ample decolletage.She is very feminine , yet speaks authoritatively & directly,dressed in black,high heeled,leather moto- boots festooned with buckles , & a tight fitting , green & yellow leather dress decorated with writing & performance livery identical to the motorcycle she represents . She is seated , legs crossed at the knees , filing her nails ( a green lacquer polish )occasionally sipping something resembling wine that is actually 91 octane fuel .
( Interviewer) Good morning . Who , and what are you ? Motoko:My name is Motoko Kusanagi . I am what my culture refers to as a " ghost "; a once human conciousness who chooses to inhabit inatimate objects or cybernetic bodies resembling human physiology , infusing them with a " soul " and personality . Currently , I am "ghosting" a Kawasaki '07 Ninja ZX10 R .Traditionally , I would be a "kunoichi " which means " female ninja . " ( Interviewer ) I always wondered that . Why wouldn't a guy be a " ninjo " ? Motoko: Ha ha .. I never thought of that . ( continues nail filing , nonchalant. ) ( Interviewer) Who is your owner ? who rides you ? Motoko : ... His name is Calvin.He rides me often, which I enjoy . We Kawas need to be ridden. A lot .
( Interviewer ) Is he a good rider / owner ? Motoko:( Pauses , looks up squinting , insightfully .) He...is a novice .He has improved tremendously . When we first saw each other , it was love . Then , when I was delivered to him by the Harley Davidson dealership ( where I was sold to by my previous owner ) love transformed into fear . I terrified him , which I did NOT wish to do.Motorcycles of my caliber have a bad reputation for being the leading cause of critical injuries for beginners who don't know any better .I was very afraid & concerned for his safety.You see,1000cc sportbikes aren't conducive towards the reckless,hamfisted or novice rider.I chose to be a Ninja ZX10 because of its bloodline,descending from the Z1,the first modern interpretation with ultimate performance as its imperative. I wanted to be the apex predator so that only the seasoned rider in the top five percent would dare to release my clutch & experience one hundred percent of my true potential .Calvin has proven that a beginner with enthusiasm & fortitude can reach that level.He approached me with finesse,sensitivity & a lot of heart ,rising to the occasion when circumstance demands . Now we are a team .. I wouldn't have it any other way . He respects me & makes certain my scheduled maintenances are met .
Calvin is nothing like my first owner .. he was frivolously affluent . I was a mere amusement , & after 2000 miles I was dumped for a Lotus Exige sportscar . And I was faster ! ( Motoko pouts &continues) ...He only rode me when it suited his ego & left me out in the rain.Calvin covers me & talks to me frequently. He also had my clutch reversed for "gp" shifting. THAT is commitment.Through him I have learned that in some instances talent & natural ability aren't enough . You have to have love ,dedication & resolve to achieve your goals & the ultimate satisfaction of owning "the brass ring",whatever it is to you .
( Interviewer) ..Probably couldn't stand being out in the elements . Motoko: He knew nothing of the risks , honor & courage it takes to ride us ( motorcycles ).The men & women who choose us as transportation are a breed apart & aren't slaves to conventiality; they are " warrior souls " & will endure any hardship to mount a mechanical steed & ride into battle or to work everyday . it is a mantle of knighthood & maturity .
( Interviewer) So , as a " mare " how would you describe or rate your " knight " ? Motoko:( giggles ) ...Sir Fallsalot ? ( Motoko snorts , uncharacteristically , then reassumes her serious tone ) I'm kidding . He fell a few times at first , like stopping too abrupt at a red light with too much front brake ( which causes me to lurch forward and stand upright quickly , catching an inexperienced rider off guard ) then there was the time we were slowly turning around in a cul- de - sac . His hand brushed my throttle & he let my clutch out .. I took off like a shot & rammed a curb , throwing him fifteen feet into the air . I cracked my cowling and scraped my battery casing . He had a chunk of flesh torn from his calf by my footpeg and there was blood on my kickstand . Calvin picked me up & rode me home , shifting my clutch firmly . Most would have taken an ad out on craigslists & sold me that day ... instead he made an appointment for my repair after going to the hospital to get stitched . He rode me later that day . God bless him , I love that man . ( Interviewer) So has he improved ? Motoko:Oh yes ,like I said earlier...for one thing,we(sportbikes)do NOT like inclement weather,specifically high winds & rain separately , or combined.Snow & ice are out of the question entirely ,unless I'm wearing spiked tires.Calvin has no other vehicle except me & it has rained heavily three days out of seven the last two weeks .He has demonstrated remarkable maturity & skill riding me in low gear without torqueing my rear tire,
to resist skidding or hydroplaning.On a good day,I'm the bike everyone wants to ride on trackday.On a bad day..I'm a hockey player on figureskates.(Motoko smirks momentarily)Did I just make a humorous metaphor?Anyway...when we started he wouldn't lean me into a decreasing radius curve , or even a gentle one . Now , he anticipates & downshifts on approach for more torque , getting off my seat with his knee extended & accelerates on the exit . Sometimes he gets us in trouble & has to break throttle , hugging my tank hard with his legs so I can turn tightly . ( Motoko grins ) I love that . (Interviewer) He bites off more than he can chew , eh ? Motoko:That's an understatement . Have you seen his girlfriend ? She's amazonian.Big , gorgeous & blonde . I don't know how long that's going to last , he falls behind on her scheduled maintenance . Also he rides me more often than her .. poor thing . I would add though , If she gave him something to howl about once in a while , she'd get ridden more . That's just my opinion .. what do I know ? I'm just the ghost in the shell .
No comments:
Post a Comment