Mid-Life Rider

Mark Lawrence is my hero. Maybe not my all-time hero, but definitely in the pantheon of stars. He gets there for being first and foremost and entrepreneur. As someone who has gone to be nearly every night for the last thirty years signing the front of the paycheck, I have deep respect for anyone who walks out someone else’s door and through their own.

To the subject of this blog, Mark is the owner of CalSci, makers of high-quality motorcycle windscreens (I have one on my FJR). My interview with him starts with his story . . .

My father got laid off in Nixon’s recession in ‘72. At the same time several other guys on my block were laid off from Rockwell and Huge Aircrash - the first ever layoffs in the aerospace industry. I decided that I would never trust my future to a large company.

I went to college from ‘74 to ‘79, graduated, and got a job. I worked at large companies until 1/2/85, paying off my student loans. In ‘81 I inherited a ‘68 Camaro. In ‘84 I sold the Camaro and used the money to buy my first computer. I started writing software. At the time I was living in Mission Viejo.

In ‘85 I quit my last job and started my company. I haven’t had a paycheck since. I wrote and sold software from ‘85 to about ‘05. In ‘87 I released BrainMaker, which has since become the world’s best selling neural network artificial intelligence program. I was in Pasadena.

In ‘90 I moved to Nevada City. In ‘04 I started my motorcycle web page, and built my laser and oven. In about November of  ‘04 I started selling windshields, first for the ST1300, then in ‘05 the VStrom, then the FJR next. I’ve been adding a few bikes a year. I like this better - no one has ever asked me “What is a motorcycle windshield, and why would I want one?”

My current Road King looks much like this, but blue and black instead of green and black. You’ll note the complete lack of “riding gear.” Sorry, I just don’t like the stuff. And yes, I’ve fallen off. Several hundred times. You’ll recall I used to race District 37 desert. I used to be pretty fast on a GSXR, but those days are behind me now. Sliding in corners at 110 mph on mountain roads no longer has the appeal it once did.

I’m 52, riding continuously since January ‘69. I have 3 teenage sons; two live with me, those two ride.

When did you first ride a motorcycle?

I got a paper route when I was 12. I saved my money for a year. About two weeks before my thirteenth birthday, I gave my mom $100 (an enormous sum for a 12 y/o to have in ‘69) and said, “I’m having that mini-bike at the Yamaha shop for my birthday, or I’m burning the house down. But whatever you decide is ok with me, Mom.”

At this point, the stories diverge. My mother claims “I always said if he could work that hard and save money like that, he could have whatever he wanted.” My story is that for the next two weeks there was stony silence at dinner every night, then my parents would go upstairs to their room and have a big fight. You’ll have to decide on your own which story to believe.
 
What kind of bike was it?
 
Briggs & Stratton 3hp, sprung front forks with 2″ travel, 10″ wheels. Guaranteed to never go faster than 19 mph. I clocked it at 42 once, after certain engine mods.

Second bike was a toilet-seat 90. Humiliating. Piece of crap. But it was *my* piece of crap, and I loved it dearly.

How many bikes have you owned?

I’ve owned 28 motorcycles to date - 12 Suzukis, eight Hondas, three Yamahas, and four Harleys. I’ve been about 545,000 miles on motorcycles. I’ve been in every one of the 48 lower states, on a motorcycle, wearing shorts, t-shirt and sandals. For some strange reason, a lot of people seem to like to tell me I’m stupid for riding in shorts, t-shirt and sandals. I find this very confusing: this is not at all how I’m stupid. If you want to know in detail how I’m stupid, my ex will be happy to fill you in. I used to race dirt bikes in the Mojave desert, but under those conditions I wore somewhat more clothing.

What do you own now?

‘82 Katana, Superhawk, ST1300, DL650, Road King Classic. Or maybe the DL belongs to my 17 y/o, and his DR200 is now mine. It’s hard to say. Ownership is a rather loose concept when you’re a father. And the Superhawk is nominally claimed by my 16 y/o, but he’s afraid to ride it.
 
How many miles do you expect to ride this year?

20,000. I used to take a month off each summer to ride, but since I started this windshield business I find I’m working all summer so that you all can ride. Unforeseen and unwelcome side effect. I need to do something about this.
 
Helmet of choice?

KBC full face on motorcycles; cheap half helmet on Harleys.
 
Riding gear (street) of choice?

Shorts, sandals, t-shirt. I’m the poster boy for bad riding habits.
 
Riding gear (track) of choice?

Never really ridden on the track. What I really want to do is take one of these XR100 on wet dirt classes, learn to slide the front end properly. I can slide a front end, but I’m not very smooth about it. I’m too old to go 160 on the straights. That’s for the young guys who haven’t yet had the experience of not only seeing Jesus appear in every corner, but using Him as a braking marker. Gear? I dunno, I guess they would make me buy leathers. And wear gloves. Ugh. I hate gloves.
 
Riding gear (dirt) of choice?

When I raced in the desert, before there was much gear, I wore a Premier full-face helmet, knee/shin guards made for soccer, motorcycle pants, 18″ dirt bike boots, army jacket. These days I have more money and I have O’Neils instead of the cheap boots, and a proper Bell off-road helmet. I still fit in the riding pants from when I was 16 (go me).

What attracted you to motorcycling?

I dunno. Too long ago. Sailing was too slow. Computers didn’t exist. Girls had cooties. (actually, now they have divorce lawyers, which is far worse. . .)
 
What one piece of advice would you give to someone coming to motorcycles for the first time?

A great place to start is to take a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) course, an intensive two or three day classroom and riding course supervised by expert riders. After taking the course, buy a bike. I recommend you get a 125cc to 400cc dual sport, or a 250cc to 500cc standard or cruiser street bike.

If you have at least the sense of self-preservation that God granted to sea cucumbers, you will not get any race replica of 600ccs or more or any bike with 800ccs or more until you have at least 5,000 miles of experience. These bikes have the highest profit margins, so of course the salesman will be happy to tell you that I’m wrong and you can handle it. His shop manager will be happy a few days later to give you your $1800 repair estimate - if you live. To put this into perspective, I had 50,000 miles of experience before I got a bike with more than 450ccs.

My sons started by taking this course and practicing in my parking lot; then taking the MSF course and practicing in their parking lot. Then I allowed them to ride on the street. Since the two courses are roughly equivalent in practice hours, I effectively required them to do double the legal requirements. I also routinely ride with them and if I think they’re taking unnecessary or blind chances, I’m not at all shy about pulling them over and having a discussion.

Why do we practice? Because two-thirds of all motorcycle accidents happen to beginners, people riding for their first year. Anything that improves your odds of getting through your first year without an accident is a good thing. This course is about trying to improve your chances of survival.

What bike would you recommend (and why)?

Anything 500 ccs or under. No 4-cylinder anythings, nothing over 800 ccs.
 
What’s the coolest thing you’ve done on/with a motorcycle?

Every one of the 48 states and every province save New Foundland on a single Harley. In three summers. 56,000 miles total.
 
If you could pick one place you’d recommend as a riding destination / experience, what/where would that be?

Highway 12 in Idaho, or Sea to Sky in Vancouver.
 
If someone handed you a blank check and said “go buy a motorcycle you’d enjoy riding (not just collecting), what would you pick?

Road King Classic, but I already have one. I think this summer after I sell the ST and one of my kid’s DR200s, I might buy a Versys. They look like a lot of fun.

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Tags: MarkLawrence, CalSci, Brainmaker, Motorcycle Safety Foundation, MSF, Road King