Daily Inspiration: Meet Richard Rodriguez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Rodriguez.

Hi Richard, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My love for bikes started at an early stage in my life. No one around me liked them, and I grew up thinking if I touched them, they would kill me, so naturally, I stayed away from them. In 2003, I bought my first dirt bike, a 2-stroke, of course. I kicked that thing 78 times to get it started, but once it ran, it was fun until it was stolen. 7 years later, I relocated to the United States and needed a way to commute to work, but with no money to buy a car, somehow I stumbled upon a Craigslist ad selling a 1983 Honda CX 650 Custom with 52k miles on the clock. Without ever riding a street bike, I went for it and purchased it for $500. I rode the bike, and I felt a freedom that I had never felt before. The bike was beat up, so with a little bit of elbow grease, I made her a beauty, and I was officially hooked. I have owned 52 motorcycles in 13 years, and I am not planning on stopping. Bikes are waiting to be saved and to be ridden. From not knowing how to ride, I feel comfortable working on them. I don’t know everything, nor am I pretending to be a master mechanic, but I am not scared of trying things and going for the ride. I love helping others and learning from other people. I am building a community that is difficult to get in motorcycle forums today. Together, we are stronger.

What is Tomodornottomod?
Tomodornottomod is a primarily YouTube channel based on the insatiable urge to modify motorcycles. It is a movement to make bikes your style. The channel was created for people like me with no mechanical background but enough passion and desire to make things work. The channel also looks to provide practical guidance on step-by-step products, unlike “posts” in a motorcycle forum, which are plagued with people with no good intentions. I answer 100% of questions and emails and love the interaction with people.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Sigh! No, never; although I am not a big YouTuber, I am driven, and I committed myself that I was going to put out 1 video per week. It is hard because I balance family, my career as a Director of Project Management, and my fitness. Once everything is taken care of, I plan a video, buy parts, record myself, and then sit down to edit. Some videos would be created from idea to posting to YouTube on the same day, and these were more complex vlogs. I have slowed down the videos because I was in a transition (I was laid off), but I am editing my next video and cooking the idea for the next one as we speak.

I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am proud to continue pushing the YouTube channel even when it doesn’t pay the bills. I have been able to secure a few sponsors. The deals I get are not for monthly payments, but it is gratifying to know that I built something where companies saw my ethical approach to work, providing me with a small token of trust and opportunities to help each other. I am also proud to be able to continue the channel even when life is complex, busy, and complicated. We, the creators who are not making crazy money on YouTube, have to continue working the 9-5. We have to squeeze time to continue putting videos out, and that deserves a pat on the back for not giving up on our hobbies/passions. Finally, I couldn’t afford a crew, so little by little, I had to become an expert on cameras, microphones, lights, and editing software, among others, and that was not easy.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @to_mod_or_not_to_mod
• Youtube: @ToModorNottoMod