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Featured Member - September 2007
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Name – Kevin
Merrill
Nickname –
Mongo
Location –
Centreville, VA
Hometown –
Half of my childhood in Placerville, CA. Then
spent my teen years in Berlin PA (talk about
culture shock coming from California !!)
Marital status – Quite
happily married to my beautiful wife, Christine
(AKA SpeedBraker)
Children – Two of them. Lauren
(21) is a Senior at the College of William &
Mary, and Alex (17) is a Senior at Westfields
High School
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Age – 40 something.
Occupation –
Sr. Systems Engineer with Science Applications
International Corporation (SAIC). Just finished
my 14th year with SAIC.
Current motorcycle(s)
– '03 BMW R1200CLC, '07 Suzuki M109R
How did you hear about the
SCRC and when did you join?
I found my way
to this club via my dear friend, FieryRedhead -
which is ironic given that she credits me (.or
maybe blames me.) for her becoming a
motorcyclist a few years back. I joined the
club in the summer of 2006 when she pointed me
in this direction.
How long have you been
riding?
20 years and
counting.
Have you ever taken a
motorcycle safety course?
I did, in
Pennsylvania a long, long time ago. I am a huge
supporter of the MSF program and believe that
everyone who wants to take up this lifestyle
should complete one of these courses.
What was your first bike?
A 1980 Suzuki
GS550L with a big 'ole Vetter fairing on the
front that I bought from my wife's boss in
1987. It wasn't the prettiest bike in the world
- but it's where I began.
How many bikes have you
owned?
Seven in the
following order: '80 Suzuki GS550L, '86 Yamaha
Fazer, '85 Yamaha FJ1100, '00 Honda CBR600F4,
'03 BMW R1200CLC, '01 Honda Shadow VLX (though
technically that is Chris's bike), and my newest
Monster, the '07 Suzuki M109R.
Why do you ride?
There are so
many reasons, but I guess primarily because
there is no better (legal) way to cleanse the
soul that to climb on a bike, kick it into gear
and get on down the road. The worries and
stresses of life are left behind you.
Have you ridden with an
organized group before?
Have been
riding in for 13 years, and for the last few
years a co-organizer of a 600+ motorcycle
charity ride every fall in the local area called
the Baltimore/Washington Ride for Kids, does
that count?
What modifications have you
done to your bike?
Not a lot
really, both of my current bikes came well
equipped for the kind of riding that I do with
them. I did add a ChatterBox radio for
rider-to-passenger and bike-to-bike
communication when I ride with Chris, Tank and
the Fiery one.
What accessories do you want
to add to your bike?
Will probably
end up putting some ISO grips on the Monster
(M019R).
What is your dream bike?
All I can say
is that when I ride the M109R, it ROCKS MY
WORLD, BABY !!!
What kind of riding do you
like to do – straight-aways or twisties?
Depends on the mood; when I
feel the need for speed nothing beats a nice
straight-away, but the sport biker in me LOVES
to carve up the twisties.
If you have a nickname, how
did you get it? Tell the truth!
Was dubbed
Mongo by a co-worker number of years back. Wish
there was a racy story behind it to share with
everyone, but it was simply a byproduct of the
number of computer boxes I was able to move in a
day.*shrug*
What is your favorite riding
route?
I'm a sucker
for sweeping, curvy mountain roads with little
to no traffic and lots of scenery. Would ride
roads like that every day if I could figure out
how to get paid to do it.
Do you ride your bike to
work?
Sometimes, but not often.
I work very close to where I live and it's such
a disappointment to pull into the parking lot
after just 5 minutes in the saddle.
What is the fastest you’ve
ridden?
120+mph (on a
Yamaha VMax I borrowed from a friend). I don't
advocate that kind of riding on public streets,
but DAMN was it a rush!!!
What is your favorite time of
year to ride?
Hands down,
Fall. I love the crispness of the air and the
colors of the foliage on the trees. There
simply is no better time to ride in my opinion.
Have you ever been down? If
so, how were you hurt and what did you learn from
the incident?
I have been
down twice. The first time (on my second bike)
I learned to be more careful of sand on the road
when making a left-hand turn across traffic.
The second time (on my FJ1100) I learned that no
matter how sure you are that you can keep pace
with an R6 and an RC51 through tight corners,
KNOW THE LIMITS of the bike that you are
attempting high-speed cornering on. I low-sided
in a tight left corner, and miraculously walked
away with only some mud and blades of grass
sticking out of my headlight housing - and a
bruised ego.
Have you ever done an “Iron
Butt” ride?
Nope. My arse
doesn't think it can take that sort of abuse.
If not, what is the furthest
you’ve ridden?
300-400 miles a day maybe?
What was the worst weather in
which you’ve ridden?
Torrential, monsoon-like
rain and wind coming home from Thunder in the
Valley in Johnstown PA in June of 2006. Wow, I
would have been better off in a ark that day.
Do you know how to work on
your bike?
I'm fine with
simple mechanical and electrical work, but would
never want to tear into an engine without a real
mechanic looking over my shoulder!
What is your favorite road
song?
Hmmmm, there
are so many. Lets go with 'Ride the Wind' by
Poison.
What was your most
adventurous ride?
Probably a trip
we made this year into the mountainous region of
western VA. Must say that area in and around
Highland County has some of the most beautiful,
and the most technical roads I have ever seen in
on place. Simply amazing riding.
What rallies or events do you
like to attend?
Have been to a few
(Delmarva Bike Week, Thunder in the Valley,
etc.). I've enjoy all of the rallies I have
been to, and look forward to some day going to
Daytona, and maybe even Sturgis. Also enjoy
motorcycle shows for the 'people watching' and
gadget shopping!
Is there someone who rides
“two-up” with you?
My beautiful wife, Chris.
Nothing beats a shoulder massage on the open
road from the hot mama sitting behind you!
Off the cuff from…Mongo
Riding a motorcycle from
point A to point B is not simply an alternative
form of transportation, it is an alternative
state of consciousness. It is this state that
brings us all together into one united group
that wave to one another, even when we don't
know the person on the other end. We ride
because of how it feels, because of what it does
for our sanity and for our souls. Male, female,
young, old, skinny or fat, we are all the same
out there when we ride, and will always be there
to support one another when and if we fall.
Enough said.
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