November 2024 - Denis Kerechuk

Fast Facts

• Riding since 1969
• Completed Trans America Trail (TAT) in 2023
• 1946 Indian Chief Rebuild

Hometown/State?
Alhambra, California

First motorcycle?
1963 Tohatsu CA-1 50cc

Current motorcycle(s)?
1946 Indian Chief, 1965 Triumph T-100SC, 1972 Ducati GT750 with 860 bevel drive motor, 1972 Triumph TR6 Tiger 650cc, 1976 Yamaha TY175, 1995 Honda XR650L, 2009 KTM 530 EXC, 2011 BMW R1200GS.

Why did you first start to ride?
I First started riding in 1969. My Uncle Ray, on a farm in the Imperial Valley, CA, took me on and showed me how to ride, I grew up in North East Los Angeles, there's a place called Elephant Hills, only about two blocks from my house- it was in the late 60s and early 70s - you were drawn to the area just by all the noise that the two strokes made with expansion chambers and no silencers.

My brother said that if we would have grown up by the ocean we would have been surfers, not Dirt Bike riders. Jim West rode there; he was a professional AMA Motocross racer and America’s first Motocross fatality. When he rode everybody would just stop riding to watch him and his friend Rick Chew, It was such a happening place. The Bruce Brown movie On Any Sunday, seemed to take it to the next level. At the Ed Kretz and Son Motorcycle Dealer in Monterey Park,CA on Saturdays you had to take a number and wait in line to buy parts and they had 4-5 people working the counter. Riding was like a magic carpet. I did not have to pedal like a bicycle.

Where are your favorite places to ride?
Tight and twisty roads for street, Lots of nice places to ride in California. Off road Oregon, Colorado, Utah.

Describe a memorable motorcycle adventure?
My most recent big adventure was the Trans America Trail (TAT). I did it with three other friends Bryan Butler 2014 KTM 500EXC, Brad Case 2009 530 KTM EXC, and Aaron Scott 2002 Honda XR650L, Denis 1995 Honda XR650L. 09/05/23 to 10/03/23. 

We trucked the bikes from California to North Carolina. Most of the time we stayed at Airbnb’s we rode through nine states NC,TN,AR, OK, NM, CO, NV, OR, CA. for a total of 6300 miles. We started our ride by putting wheels and feet in the Atlantic Ocean at Cedar Island NC. Day two of the ride I damaged my rear brake hose had to be replaced this happened 2 more times until my friend Aaron figured it out, when the bike would G out the aftermarket pannier racks were pinching the brake hose.

We rode through the Blue Ridge mountains it was really nice, We used GPS Kevin’s route to do the TAT, we also rode the Tail of the Dragon - that was nice for me because I am more of a street rider. It was Tuesday and we wanted to go to the Wheels of Time Museum but they were closed they would not reopen until Thursday. We ate at small Mom & Pop places they were great and most of the people were very proud of their food especially the pies.

One of our many stops was the Oark Cafe, Oark, AK, it has been open since 1890. One of the places that we stayed at was a Mom & Pop Motel the Longhorn in Boise City, OK - there was a small Mexican restaurant close by that had the best Posole soup that I have had. I later found out that Boise City had been bombed during the 2nd world war by B-17s- It was an accident, also Boise City was the site of a big land swindle that contributed to the Dust Bowl of the 1930s.

Soon we are riding in the Rocky Mountains of CO, and on are way to the halfway point Ouray, CO we order tires and oils and filter and had them mailed to the River's Edge Motel, they let us service the bikes in the parking lot, this was days eleven and twelve, and about 2500 miles into the ride. Next we rode to Chimney Peak reservoir in North NV, and camped we found it by luck it was a really nice place, North NV was really nice too, not the desert that I think of. Now we are in OR. We stopped for fuel and food at the Dry Creek store, Idleyld Park, OR it was raining and the lady in the store that does the cooking made us a little place to eat out just outside the store room it was really nice and she was very proud of her Cheesecake, said that she got 3rd place out of 100 people and hopes to win the $10000.00 prize next year.

Now we are riding through the very lush OR forest. Our TAT part of the ride is almost over. We ride into Port Orford the end of the TAT, put are feet and wheels in the Pacific Ocean. Then it’s off to the Salty Dawg Bar also in Port Orford to meet Aaron’s birth father and his extend family, some of the people drive eight hours to meet him, it was pretty emotional, it was the perfect Hallmark Movie ending. Definitely one of the big highlights of the ride.

Next we are headed home to SoCal, riding down the coast we stop at a small town Trinidad in NoCal for some food and fuel. When I go to make a U turn I misjudge, an island in the middle of the street at about 8 MPH, I hyper extend my right leg and tear my meniscus. This is after technical riding and river crossings, like the guy that gets back from the war and steps off the curb and gets hit by the bus. In pain, but I want to finish the ride. We ride through the Ave of Giants (Big Redwoods) then over Golden Gate Bridge and through San Francisco - stop in Santa Barbara food and fuel then it’s home. It took about 31 days total and 20 riding days. Thanks for reading.

What is the best motorcycle advice or tip you’ve received?
Cover your clutch and brakes. When the light turns green, don’t just go. Make sure to look both ways, and always be really careful going through intersections.

How did you first learn about Aerostich?
Through my friend Jody Nicholas, a 1960s early 70s Roadracer and Dirt Track-Racer he is also in the AMA Hall of Fame. He was working for Motorcycle Consumer News at the time. In 1997 He had Andy Goldfine give me a call and tell me about Darin Jacket and Pants. That's what I wore for my first trip to Baja to celebrate my first open heart surgery.

Favorite Aerostich gear?
For dirt, Darien Light pants and jacket. For street summer/hot, R-3 Light, cold weather RC 120.

What are your hobbies/interests outside of motorcycling?
Seeing live music, little bit of cooking.

My biggest hobby is Motorcycles, I work on lots of vintage bikes, also different types of motorcycle riding. Once a year I try to take the Live to Ride Classes put on by Hawthorne, CA PD. you get to do a lot of cone patterns and slow speed stuff. I also like to practice low speed figure eights all you need is a parking lot. One other thing I try to do is not put my feet down at stops to keep my balance as long as possible.

Aerostich-related or Aerostich-specific stories?
Low speed crash in the rain on my vintage Ducati, I was really enjoying the lean angle until the front end was lost. Very lucky for me just a broken shift lever, and clutch perch and lever. The rare gel coat tank was spared with the custom pipes and rare primary clutch case. And for myself just my pride was hurt, thanks to my RC-120. This was a get out jail free ticket.

In Sept. this year I got to ride the (High Alps of Europe) at Stelvio Pass. It was 35 degrees F, cold for a weather spoiled kid from SoCal. I watched Andy’s video on YouTube on cold weather riding, I had a good base layer and a Puffy jacket like Andy suggested with my R-3 Light no problem.

Last day of the Euro ride on the way back to Munich on my rented Yamaha 700 Fazer doing the Edelweiss Tour, it started and lasted the whole day. It was really nice to pull over and watch everybody put on their rain gear. I was happy that I did not have to go through to stay dry.

Any other thoughts?
It’s really strange that when you are on the perfect ride with good friends and great weather you are really digging it when you are in the moment. But when you look back, for me anyway I remember the extreme heat, bitter cold, rain, mud, snow. This is what I remember most and this is what brings a smile to my face, knowing that I survived. I can’t always remember that perfect ride when everything was just right.

Yay or Nay?

• Backroads? Yay
• Freeways? Yay- it’s what you have to do to get around in LA - It would be really hard if I could not lane split. I don’t know why more people in the LA area don’t ride, I see their motorcycle stickers on the back windows as I pass.
• Gravel Roads? Yay (TAT) really made me like them much better than sand.
• Roadside Motel? Yay - Love the Mom and Pop with all the unique character.
• Camping? Yay
• Helmet Audio System? Yay - Cardo Edge with Mesh, great for music and group rides.