DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Jose At River City Tattoos

Q: La Prieta…what does that mean?

A: It's "the dark one" [in Spanish].

Q: Why did you choose that name?

A: Because the color is all black. The paint and everything is all black, so that's why I call it that.

Q: How long have you had it?

A: About six months.

Q: Wow, so you just got it?

A: Yeah, just got it. I used to ride in Mexico, but this is my first motorcycle from here.

Q: How long have you lived in Sacramento?

A: Almost 12 years.

Q: How did you end up here?

A: My uncle invited me to come over and I was supposed to come just for one year and it's been 12 years already and I'm still living here. I like it, like to live here.

Q: What's your favorite part about living here?

A: There are nice people and the city's not too big, so everything is close. You've got two hours to snow, two hours to water. Everything is closer here.

Q: How did you get the bike?

A: It was the best opportunity. It was somebody in a divorce. His wife was selling the bike and I looked on the Internet and found it on Craigslist, so I got a good price. She was happy to sell it to me and I was happy to enjoy it.

Q: Nice. How much did you pay for it?

A: I got it for $4,500.

Q: That's a good deal!

A: Yeah, it is, it is.

Q: How many miles have you personally put on it?

A: Two-thousand.

Q: Why are you in Old Sacramento today?

A: Just having fun. Just came over for a walk and to meet people and just enjoy the weather. It's pretty nice right now.

Q: What neighborhood do you live in? What's the zip code?

A: I live in Oak Park, 95817.

Q: How old are you?

A: Thirty-two.

Q: What's your bike's main use? Do you use it to commute or is it just for fun?

A: Yeah, that's my hobby. I love riding my bike. And I use it for work, too. I drive it to work.

Q: Is it your main ride?

A: Yeah.

Q: Awesome. How much time do you spend on it in an average day?

A: About three to four hours.

Q: Is that from a long commute or riding around?

A: Just riding around, having fun.

Q:What's your favorite place to ride to?

A: Right here, Old Sac. Old Sac and right by the Sacramento River, right by the side. It's pretty nice.

Q: What's the worst part about your drive to work?

A: Sometimes the traffic is bad or the people are kind of rude and we understand that, but I have to be careful with everybody right in the front and back and on the sides.

Q: What's the furthest place you've driven on this bike?

A: Jackson, out at the casino.

Q: Did you win anything?

A: No, we lost $20, $40.

Q: What was your first car?

A: It was a Buick. White Buick, 1993.

Q: How long did you have it?

A: I had it for at least eight years until the police took it because I was parking on my street and I don't pay for the sticker, so they took it.

Q: That stinks!

A: Yeah.

Q: Any rules for riders on your bike?

A: Just be careful all the time. The girlfriend can't drive it. Nobody can drive my motorcycle!

Q: You're the only one?

A: Yeah, I'm the only one!

Q: If your bike had a theme song, what would it be?

A: I like Lenny Kravitz. I like all the songs by Lenny Kravitz. I enjoy them. So it might be one of those. "American Woman" is one of my favorites.

Q: If your car had a human emotion, what would it be?

A: It's wild. I like it. It's all the emotion. You can feel it, a lot of emotion.

Q: Why do you say that?

A: Because when you drive it, you can feel it. The whole body shakes, the whole motor. It's like riding a horse. You can feel everything.

Q: Do you prefer motorcycles over cars?

A: I like them better than cars, yeah.

Q: What are you most proud of about your bike?

A: Probably the motor. That's one the best bikes in the U.S.A. Harley Davidson is one of the best ones, especially the motor. And the noise! The best thing I like on these motorcycles is the noise, how they sound. It's pretty nice.

Q: What's your absolute dream car?

A: I like Ferraris. I don't like too many gas cars, but I like how it looks and especially the motor and everything.

Q: Would you ever trade in your motorcycle for a car?

A: Oh yeah, shhhh. Yeah, absolutely. <whispering>

Q: Is there anything else we should know about your bike?

A: I really like it. It's my first bike here and I enjoy it a lot. I've got my girlfriend and we enjoy it together, so that's most of it.

Are you ready to Defend Your Ride? If so, email localautos@cbs.com with "Defend Your Ride Sacramento" in the subject line for submission details.

Photos and interview by Lisa Palmer