Skillfully gliding past the car in front of him, Rupen Dajee comes to a long bend in the road. He then leans into the turn until both his bike and his body are seemingly inches away from the asphalt.
Like the fourth-year political science student, many members of the Bruin Motorcycle Association joined not only to become part of an organization that facilitates perfecting various bike techniques, such as knee dragging, but also to act toward changing the organization to one that forges bonds and defies stereotypes about motorcyclists.
Dajee currently serves as the president of the club and said that although the group was founded nearly a decade ago, until the past year, little was done to build friendships beside the occasional group ride to Hooters and other restaurants.
However, the club now consists of more than 300 members and organizes weekly city-based bike nights, in which members explore various places around Los Angeles, as well as more advanced weekend rides through Malibu Canyon.
The new goal of the Bruin Motorcycle Association has become one of camaraderie between all the motorcyclists at UCLA. Whether the riders are alumni, students, faculty or staff, the Bruin Motorcycle Association makes a conscious effort to emphasize a degree of inclusivity that isn’t always associated with traditional motorcycle groups.
As the school year comes to a close, this may be one of the last times many of the graduating students, such as Dajee, ride the canyons as both an undergraduate of UCLA and a member of the Bruin Motorcycle Association.
However, Dajee said that he will continue to believe in the growth and longevity of the club as long as there continues to be Bruins interested in motorcycles.