SCRC Loudoun VA Featured Member - November, 2013

Name:   Rob Capozzi

Nickname:   Throttle

Marital Status:  Happily Married (Michele's looking over my shoulder as I write this)

Location:  Leesburg

Hometown:  Leesburg

Children:  Zero (just the way we like it)

Age:  43

Occupation:  Consultant (how's that for vagueness)

Current motorcycle(s):  Currently garaged at home: '09 Honda Goldwing, '10 Honda NT700V (my wife's), '89 Honda CB-1 (retired).

How did you hear about the SCRC and when did you join?
I think I stumbled across them on the Internet. I joined back in 2005.

How long have you been riding?
I've been riding motorcycles for over 20 years. In that time span I've probably racked up around ~175k miles. 140k of those miles have come in the last 8 years.

Have you ever taken a motorcycle safety course?
I took the Advanced MSF course way back in 1992. I never took the basic MSF course when I first started riding. When I first rode, I didn't even know how to steer a motorcycle at speed. I figured it out somewhere along the way.

What was your first bike?
A 1987 Honda CBR600F Hurricane. Exactly the wrong bike for a 19-year old, let alone a teenager's first bike.

How many bikes have you owned?
I've owned 6 bikes total. Three of which I still have.

Why do you ride?
It's fun. I also feel that it is one of the the best ways to travel if you want to really experience the area you are traveling to/through. The exposure to the elements allows you to experience the sights, sounds, smells, and temperatures in a way you don't get when traveling by car or plane.

Have you ridden with an organized group before?
Like a gang? Naah. I've ridden with disorganized hoodlums before but nothing organized.

What modifications have you done to your bike?
I've done a little bit of everything to our bikes. Mostly things that enhance comfort, visibility, or convenience though I've added a few performance mods also, like the upgraded suspension on the Wing.

What accessories do you want to add to your bike?
I don't think I can fit any more accessories on my bike. Although I may be able to find some room for an ice cream maker or an air conditioner.

What is your dream bike?
I don't dream of bikes....but I do have a soft spot for fast Ducatis (are there slow Ducatis?).

What kind of riding do you like to do — straight-aways or twisties?
I like the kind of riding that takes you to a different place every day. I prefer routes with twists and turns as those tend to be the most scenic, but I've ridden on plenty of scenic straight roads too.

If you have a nickname, how did you get it? Tell the truth!
Throttle is the nickname. It describes my propensity towards speed that I had in my youth and my still (although significantly reduced) hot-headedness at times. I quickly learned in SCRC that if you don't choose a nickname for yourself, you'll end up with something embarrassing forever.

What is your favorite riding route?
Any route that takes me towards the western mountain ranges of the US.

Do you ride your bike to work?
I ride probably 75% of the time to work.

What is the fastest you’ve ridden?
I never exceed the posted speed limit. That just wouldn't be safe.

What is your favorite time of year to ride?
I wouldn't say I have a favorite time of year but I do prefer the non-winter months more for riding. Snowy roads are a bit of a downer.

Have you ever been down? If so, how were you hurt and what did you learn from the incident?
I've crashed twice. The first time was on a race track. I was probably going 60 or so out of the last corner at Summit Point. I drifted off the track on my exit and the front end went away. I tumbled and slid for a bit while my bike stood back up and continued down the front straight away before hitting the inside track wall near the start/finish line. I learned that wearing full leathers is a good thing in that crash. That was the last time I rode my '87 Hurricane (it was totaled). My second crash was when I made a left hand turn onto a side street. The road was a bit wet from a recent rain shower. Ignoring this fact I ran in hard on the brakes and when I tipped it in to make the turn the front end gave way. My lesson for that one was to not be an idiot when the roads are wet. Slow down....duh! That was on my CB-1. Little to no damage was sustained to the bike and I just ripped up my rain suit a bit. Lucky.

Have you ever done an "Iron Butt" ride?
Never done an Iron Butt ride. I've thought about it but that's as far as I've gone with the idea. I don't really think that kind of riding while fatigued is my cup of tea.

If not, what is the furthest you’ve ridden?
In one day? I think 660 miles is the furthest in one day. Michele and I did a desperate Va Grand Tour stamp run down to Rixey's Market near Independence, VA and back in one day. It was cold and rainy the entire time.

What was the worst weather in which you’ve ridden?
High winds in this last trip we did out to Colorado. We probably had 30mph crosswinds with random and changing gusts near 50mph for nearly 500 miles on two lane highways across southern Nebraska and northern Kansas. It was rough on both rider and passenger.

Do you know how to work on your bike?
Yes I do. I do most of the work on my bike. I have helped others do work on their bikes.

What is your favorite road song?
I can't think of a favorite. When I was riding my Hurricane back in college, I use to love listening to "Rock you like a Hurricane" from the Scorpions. We always think fondly of that bike when we hear that song.

What was your most adventurous ride?
The most adventurous rides for me would be our three trips out west (Yellowstone, Utah, and Colorado)

What rallies or events do you like to attend?
I like our club events. It is also nice to hang out with our crew. I'm not that big into the various large-scale rallies though.

Is there someone who rides "two-up" with you?
Michele rides with me quite a bit although that has been significantly reduced since she switched bikes to the NT. She still rides with me on our long cross-country trips.

Off the cuff from...Throttle
I love riding motorcycles! I especially love riding on long trips that take me to different places of this country. I'm quite lucky that my wife loves doing it too. Part of the joy of riding is also the fellowship of others which I have found in the SCRC Loudoun chapter (as well as other SCRC chapters). Having a great group of folks to share that love of riding with just makes it that much sweeter.