The following is an interview with our very own Jeffery Boaz, conducted outside a quaint little cafe in Guerneville, CA, on the Russian River. It seemed like an incredibly appropriate place to chat Jeffery up about his life behind bars, as he fully admits one of his favorite things to do on a long motorcycle ride is to stop, have a cup of coffee and pick the brains of the locals about where he might be able to find some hidden twisties. 

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

My name is Jeffery Boz, I’m 50 years and I’m the Motorcycle Helmet Sales Manager at Kali Protectives.

I was born in Louisville, KY, but at five-years-old we moved to Clayton, just east of San Francisco, CA. I now live about two hours north of San Francisco in Timber Cove, Cazadero. Up on the coast. 

Do you remember the first time you realized a motorcycle was a motorcycle?

Not really. When I was kid I was always into speed. I had an Evil Knievel kids set. I was hooked on speed, going fast from the very beginning. I always thought motorcycles were cool.

I had bicycles before I had motorcycles. 

Do you remember your very first motorcycle?

I was twelve-years-old when I bought my first motorcycle. I had a paper route and I had saved up my money, so I bought a XT350 dirt bike. I hid it from my parents and I would go ride it whenever I could. I hid it at my buddies house, because they had a bunch of motorcyles and my family wasn’t really into motorcycles. My dad was into woodworking. They didn’t find out about the motorcycle until I was about fourteen.

Do you remember the first motorcycle you bought where you just lusted after it and you just had to have it?

Yeah. I had a Triumph Speed Four I bought in 2002. I just loved it. I was working at Triumph at the time and there had been a fire at the Triumph factory, the largest peacetime fire in England’s history. The bike had left the factory just before the fire and the last three digits of its VIN are 007. It’s birthday was in March and my birthday is in March...that’s my bike. 

I have 14,000 miles on the Speed Four and it’s currently sitting in my garage. I enjoy it immensely. 

What bike are you riding today?

Triumph Tiger 1200 Explorer. It’s my mule. And I'm wearing the Prana Carbon today. 

Do you have any other firsts related to the motorcycle you can share with us?

Oh there are lots of firsts on a motorcycle. I’ve been really fortunate, I’ve worked in the industry for a long time. I’ve ridden all across the United States. Riding the BearTooth Highway at 14,000 feet and getting hit by one inch hail in the middle of July. There was nowhere to hide from it, so you just had to keep going. I’ve visited Northern Italy, the Mediteranean Coast, Southern Europe, Upper Scotland and onto the Isle of Man. Motorcycles have been all about first. It’s like every time you get on a motorcycle something new happens. 

What is the one which got away?

I had a garage fire. So it didn’t so much “get away” as it was taken from me. It was ‘75 Ducati 900SS. I loved that bike. It did all the right things. It set off car alarms. Fireball Orange. Polished aluminum cases. Big bore kit. It was fast and loud for what it was. I would have never given that bike up.