Summer 2023 Update

MotoChic™ Diaries

Dear Friends,

Summer is finally beginning to bloom around us, which means it’s time to do some adventuring, squeeze in some house and yard projects, hangout at the beach with friends and family—the list goes on! But with all those sweet summer plans, remember to stop and smell the bougainvillea!

The ocean is one of my happy places to relax and unwind. On a recent trip to Baja with friends, I enjoyed sunsets in the surfing mecca of Cerritos Beach and sipped margaritas on Medano Beach. Favorite dining spots include: Flora’s Field Kitchen (an organic farm to table restaurant for the most amazing Sunday brunch), La Lupita for tacos and mezcal, and Baja Brewing Company for happy hour and the best view of the arches in Cabo..

In this edition we find out what our adventurous friend Lina has in her Lauren Bag, we celebrate all the fathers out there with a special gift from us, we share our summertime must-haves, and we satisfy your road-trip dreams (and perhaps inspire you to take take your own) with MotoChic Book Pick:Two Wheels South: A Motorcycle Adventure from Brooklyn to Ushuaia by Matias Corea.

What’s In Your Bag?

Meet Lina – an international educator for various non-profit organizations and educational institutes. Lina’s lifestyle evolved from being a daily commuter to a motocamper and adventure rider. The Lauren Sport bag was there every step of the way as she transitioned from riding for practicality to recreational pursuits.

I currently work in higher education and also lived abroad for several years in different countries working as an international educator for various non-profit organizations and educational institutes. My first experience riding my own motorized two-wheel vehicle took place while living in South Korea when I was given a scooter to get around, albeit with little training beyond a basic lesson on how to operate it. That experience motivated me to get some actual training and obtain a motorcycle license once I returned to the US. Even with a license though, I looked at motorcycling as a mostly practical (though fun!) endeavor as heavy traffic combined with the generally excellent weather southern California offers encourages me to ride instead of drive as much as possible.  

I first encountered the MotoChic bag at a point in my life where I was fed up with switching my stuff back and forth between my purse and my backpack whenever I went on a ride. I had experimented with ditching my purse and using a backpack exclusively but found the style to be inconvenient as sometimes I wanted my things like my phone, keys, or wallet available by my side for me to access quickly, especially if I was running errands. In addition, I try to always carry a water bottle and a light jacket with me, so I was also pushing my purse to its limits when I wasn’t using a backpack, especially if I tried to throw my laptop in there, a necessary requirement when commuting to work. I really was looking for a bag that could do it all and was surprised to stumble upon the MotoChic brand at an event geared towards women riders here in SoCal.

When I purchased the bag, I had been working remotely thanks to the pandemic, so I had visions of myself hopping on my bike and riding to a café or park nearby to do some work. That didn’t pan out (not the fault of the bag), but the continuation of remote work meant that I found myself veering into motocamping and adventure riding, and ultimately changing my view of motorcycling from a more of a practical to recreational pursuit.  It was during this time that I discovered my Lauren bag really shone in a way I hadn’t planned for when I first purchased it. As a commuter, I initially appreciated the convertible aspect of the bag from backpack to tote, the reflective accents for visibility, and laptop storage, but through motocamping I discovered the additional benefits of its other features.  

During a typical trip, I will stow the bag away in my top box or saddlebags, where thanks to the ability to tuck all the straps completely away, it doesn’t get caught on the other gear in there. Once I set up camp, I will unpack it and use it as a day pack on exploratory rides away from base camp. The double chest and waist straps made the bag ideal for hiking and the interior “laptop” pocket can also be used to hold a water bladder, effectively converting the bag to a hydration pack, which has provided great relief when riding in 100+ degree heat waves. The light that illuminates the main compartment comes in handy back at camp when I need to search for something on a moonless, pitch black night. Finally, in terms of durability, as a novice adventure motorcyclist, AKA new dirt rider, I’ve had many a spill off-road on my bike, with barely a scruff to the bag (if only my bike could be so lucky!). The only part that eventually gave out (but not due to a fall) was the chest buckle, which was repaired by MotoChic.   

This bag is not cheap, but that is also an attestment to its quality. In a year of riding with it and using it in many different scenarios, from urban commuting, weekend canyon rides to local biker stops, and long multi-night road trips, I’ve already gotten my money’s worth out of this bag, with of course additional years to come. I have yet to encounter another bag on the market that has all the features that this one offers and I strongly recommend it to other riders for its unparalleled durability and versatility.     

Through two weeks of traveling, Lina’s Lauren Sport bag was able to hold everything she needed to work while away:

• Laptop, case, charger
• Tablet, case, charger
• Phone, charger
• Assorted notebooks, pens
• File folder
• Headphones
• Mouse
• Extra charging outlet, battery pack
• Extra assorted USB cables
• Toiletry kit (lotion, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, lens wipes, tissues, etc..)

HAPPY FREE SHIPPING FOR FATHER’S DAY!

It’s that time of year again where we celebrate the MotoChic men in our lives! Let us help you find that perfect gift that will let him know he’s appreciated today and every day!
 

Enjoy free U.S. shipping on purchases of any men’s items placed by June 30, 2023 with
PROMO CODE: Dad2023 

• Brake Free Helmet Light – an ultra-bright smart LED brake light for your motorcycle helmet that instantly improves the rider’s visibility on the road.
• The Maverick Men’s Riding Jacket – a traditional scooter style jacket with striped detailing made from high-quality leather, features a mandarin collar and center zip that’s perfect for when you feel the need for speed. Available in sizes S to 8XL.
• Cooling Base Layer Top’s ingenious construction cools your body and reduces muscle fatigue while riding, biking, hiking, or doing any high performance sport or exercise.
• Performance Socks – made from high quality fabric that provides 25 mmHg compression, these knee-high socks are designed to make you look and feel outstanding.

MOTOCHIC MUST-HAVE!

MotoChic’s Special Edition Cooling Base Layer Top for women is amazingly unique, high quality, and made to order. 

• Its seamless, slimming design creates a flattering hourglass fit for women.
•  Ingenious construction cools your body and reduces muscle fatigue while riding, biking, hiking, or doing any high performance sport or exercise. 
• Choose your favorite accent color: Red, Blue, Green, Orange or request a custom color. Please allow approximately 4 – 8 weeks for production.

MotoChic® Book Picks

Two Wheels South: A Motorcycle Adventure from Brooklyn to Ushuaia 

“This book is not a how-to, and it is not a thorough guide to South America. 

This book is about our love for motorcycle travel, about fulfilling dreams and taking risks, feeling alive and making mistakes, breakdowns and breakthroughs, falling down and getting up, interruptions and improvisation. It’s about the need for a radical change, and about leaving behind everything we know, to force our way into the unknown. This is a book about what happened to us when we decided to take a different path in life and ride our bikes from Brooklyn all the way to the end of South America.”

Follow Matias Corea and Joel Estopà along an epic 7 month, 13 country, 20,000 mile journey from Brooklyn to the southernmost city in the continent, Ushuaia.

Available to order here

Here’s to a great summer,
xo,