Meet Paula Casella, CAL's featured customer for May 2006

Customer: Paula Casella
Age: 35
Riding Years: 0.1

What do you ride?
2006 BMW F650GS

Modifications to motorcycle
Rear Top Case, thinking about the taller windscreen.

Motorcycles currently owned
Black F650GS with an orange seat.

My favorite bike is (and why)
My 650 GS! Since day one of having a driver’s license, I also had a motorcycle license, but never owned one myself. This year, after major transitions in my life, I decided to stop postponing my passion and went for what I really wanted: a motorcycle :-)

I enjoy the city, and love exploring the outdoors. The dual purpose GS suits my lifestyle perfectly! Can’t wait to get some dirt on it!

Dream bike
The 1200 GS… when I am more experienced, and when I have longer legs! (BMW – I do not want to wait until next life time for my dream to come true, please start thinking about us “shorter” riders :-)

The best ride I ever took was
As a passenger: many… I have the fondest memories of my uncle taking me around in the coast of Sicily on his Suzuki in the early 80’s; with a boyfriend in the mountains in the southeast of Brazil.

As a (crazy) rider: I am still astonished that I spent a full day going around Crete on a dual purpose bike, with a passenger on the back, simply relying on what I remembered from class taken 4 years earlier! Fun crazy days! (I guess the rider spirit has always been in me :-)

As a (responsible) rider: the best ride is the one I am still to take to Alaska!

Advice for new riders
"Take private instruction! It has helped me sooo much. It helped me build confidence in myself, and on the bike. I’m still at the beginning, and glad to be going according to my ability and limits. It is a lot more joyful this way!"

Advice for experienced riders
"If you are patient, invite a beginner rider for a ride. It feels good to know you are there with us :-)"

To see a photo journal of Paula’s beginning rider experiences, see: http://homepage.mac.com/pcjoud/PhotoAlbum10.html