Seriene walked up to me at a Royal Enfield demo at Sabatino Moto in St. John’s this past May. We’ve been riding together since.
<aside> 📢
Producer’s Note: This would be considered an “extended interview,” an early attempt at the full question set.
</aside>
CZ: So, where are we?
SM: I think we are on Division… At Stumptown Coffee, right?
CZ: Yeah.
SM: Hey, I got that right!
CZ: Excellent, very Portland. Stumptown’s Division location, off 45th.
What are you riding and why do you like it?
SM: Oh, good question. I ride a Royal Enfield Continental GT650. It’s a cafe racer, retro style. I ride it, honestly, because it’s a Royal Enfield. I’ve been fascinated with Royal Enfields all my life.
All- yeah, ever since I was a kid. They have a really long history back from where I’m from and it’s really cool to own a Royal Enfield - which I got around to having around in 2011.
So that was my first motorcycle. I still have it. So yeah, when I came to the US, it felt like I should go for a RE because I’m familiar with the company and I like how they style their vehicles. And, honestly, it was one of the most value-for-money motorcycles that I could get, and that’s it— it’s a really cool ride.
CZ: It is so cool, having had a chance to ride one.
<aside> 🏍️
[Sabatino Moto in St. Johns is generous with their test ride policy.]
</aside>
SM: It looks good and it sounds good. Not too harsh. Not too much of an inconvenience for others. But still it lets you have that feeling of riding a motorcycle.
CZ: None of your neighbors are complaining about how loud your engine it?
SM: Exactly, right? Hah, about warming up in the morning- no problems.
Yeah, that’s the whole reason. I have always had this fascination with RE, to be honest with you. I don’t know any other motorcycles. Like, I know my way around the old Bullet. But that’s it. That’s all I know about vehicles in general. About cars, about bikes, that’s it.
CZ: Have you given your bike a name?
SM: Yeah. She’s called Storm. S-T-O-R-M. I call her the Storm.
CZ: Storm, like the X-Men?
SM: Noo… I mean, that’s not where I got the name from. Have you read The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson?
CZ: I know it exists?
A ‘22 Royal Enfield Continental GT named Storm.
SM: Mhm. So, one of the important characters – if I remember right, because I read this a long time ago – was named Kaladin Fieldrunner. That’s what I think I got the idea from. I call myself SM even though my name is Seriene, so I wanted something cool to go with that. So now I have SM Stormrider, which is my Insta handle. So that’s how I got the name, honestly, because I ride the storm.
CZ: If your motorcycle were a sandwich, what kind of a sandwich would it be?
SM: Hey, interesting question. Obviously, I’m not going to eat my motorcycle, but… [breaks out in laughter.] Let’s see… I would say it’s definitely got beef in it. And it’s smooth, so probably a lot of cheese in it.
CZ: Is it a Philly Cheesesteak?
SM: Yeah, any sandwich that has… it definitely has egg in it. I don’t know the names of sandwiches, but it’ll have beef in it, cheese, and probably egg. You’ll have to name it, I guess. No veggies.