Meet The Krew – Episode 1 – Lucas
Everyone at Kommune has got a moto story worth reading, and we want to tell them all!
So we’re kicking off a new feature on our blog that’ll focus on the people in our community, their bikes, and their journeys.
First up we’ve got Lucas, the chap responsible for getting our Monday night workshop classes off the ground again.
Lucas has been a Kustom Kommune member for several years and is now a volunteer and trainer at the workshop. We spoke to him about how he got started on his moto-journey, his highs and lows, and share his nuggets of wisdom.
What was your first bike and associated memories?
The Kawasaki VN250. For a 250 it just looked tough. And it was! Tough to start if I hadn’t ridden it for a fortnight. Tough to get more than 75kms a tank at first because the air filter was that dirty. Tough to change to fuel reserve because the tap had deteriorated over time.
My general memories associated with this bike are a series of tests where I was forced to choose which character in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance I wanted to become. The romantic that enjoys the blissful moments when things just work but is flustered and overwhelmed when anything goes awry, or the rational one that can diagnose faults, repair them and enjoys a stable emotional centre. Ultimately, choosing to be the latter is how I came to find and be involved with Kustom Kommune.
What are your current bike/s & moto-projects?
My current bike is a Yamaha XVS650, I’m looking to buy a BMW somewhere between the R75 and K100 series and turn it into a cafe racer. But need it to already be at least a little customized so it doesn’t come with the guilt of defiling a pristine stock model.
Personal mentors past or present?
Everyone at KK who has helped me with any procedure I’ve needed guidance on or will help me in the future.
Which bike would you sell your grandma for (dream bike), and why?
My Nan is the only living grandparent I have left and she means a great deal to me. Emphasis on the words “great deal”. So an Indian Four would be the ball park we’re in. It’d be cool to have such a significant piece of history from the time motorcycles moved away from bicycles with a 1 cylinder engine strapped to them, to more fleshed out powerful machines in their own right. Nan would be wrapped for me.
Dream moto adventure/s and why.
My dream moto adventure would be touring the Faroe Islands. Twisting roads that connect sparsely populated towns. To a backdrop of tiered basalt sea stacks, all sloping to one side. It would be an otherworldly experience.
Recommended protective gear?
Cannot recommend a good pair of gloves with knuckle protection enough. The time I misjudged a corner and came off, I broke my scaphoid (the small bone that enables mobility in the wrist) but shudder to think what would have happened to my hand if I did not have a good pair of gloves on.
Share your rookie DIY mistakes/wisdom.
Not taking photos of something before disassembling it so you have a visual reference for reassembly. Not necessarily a “mistake” but skipping this step is a great way to add hours to the end of a project just as mental fatigue is kicking in.
What are your favourite moto-movies/books?
Movie: Easy Rider.
Book: Why we ride.
What skills would you like to learn at KK?
Would love to get across welding and fabrication. But there are a lot of ancillary skills in the community that help the space run I would like to pick up and be able to help out with as well.
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