Bad Karma. He’s just one of those riders that has always seemed to just be around. No beginning. No end. It seems fitting because Karma falls into the category of legend in the streets of Philadelphia and beyond. He is what you call a rider’s rider. A no-bullshit, no-nonsense, it-is-what-it-is a type of rider. He’s intelligent. He’s skilled. He’s fast. He’s dangerous. Dangerous for all the right reasons.
His love for motorcycles is deep-rooted. As a kid, Karma started off riding ATVs and dirt bikes in the street and inevitably had situations with law enforcement. Negative interactions with police had a shelf life, so when those who were older than Karma began to get into street bikes, it didn’t take long before the fever got a hold of him as well.
“To me, being fast isn’t about you going out and buying the latest and greatest sport bike that can do 200 plus miles per hour,” Karma explains. “I tell a lot of people that just because you have a faster bike doesn’t make you a faster rider. Most times I have to do more showing them this truth than telling them.”
The blur that a lot of car drivers often speak of that blazes by their doors in traffic, carving up asphalt at speed as it moves in between whatever vehicles are in its path, the blur that does not just split lanes; it disintegrates them, that is Bad Karma.
His uncanny street riding survival skills are self-taught, forged over 17-plus years as he studied his craft and refined his methods. He’s never done a track day, nor has he ever completed any formal motorcycle riding training course. To say that he is a natural is one thing. To say that he is gifted is another. Karma is a combination of those elements and, then, some, a perfect storm. “If you take the time to sharpen your skills and perfect your craft, you can beat someone on a faster bike by learning how to turn, braking, body position, understanding tire patch limits, shift points, etc. To me, when you ride like you are one with your bike, that is what makes someone fast.”
I might even suggest that Karma possesses trace amounts of clairvoyance. His moniker, “Bad Karma,” was chosen not because of its ominous tone. “Bad Karma is something I came up with a long time ago in boot camp. In our makeshift war games, I used to say what could possibly happen, and then it would happen. And after it happened a few times, people started to say that I gave them bad vibes, among other things. Ultimately, I became known as Bad Karma.”
Karma understands the dangers of riding at these speeds in traffic and does not take the perils lightly. He gears up each and every time that he mounts his bike. “Over the years, I learned to gear up a lot more as I became more aggressive.” His kit includes his helmet, chest and spine protector, leather jacket, knee and shin protection, leather jacket, gauntlet gloves, race boots, ninja mask, and, around his neck, a silver chain with a crucifix. He continues, “When selecting gear, it’s best not to go super cheap, but you don’t have to sign a mortgage either!”
Regardless of how you feel about street riders, lane splitters, highway slayers, turnpike assassins, etc, it is undeniable that there is a heightened level of talent and intuition involved with riding at this level.
Riding at Bad Karma’s level requires dedication and “practice, practice, practice… I can’t say it enough. Without repetition and constant practice, last-second lane changes and braking won’t become second nature. Learning to look three to five seconds through your turn, plotting out your next move, even anticipating what drivers might do takes a while to pick up on.”
Karma’s toolbox also includes the artful skill of knee dragging. It’s something that he can do at will whether he is riding the on or off-ramps of the highway, his favorite roundabout, or even if he is just switching lanes. That’s correct. Karma drags his knee as he moves from the right lane to the left lane. On the street. At will. Thanks to his modified spiked knee pucks, Karma literally makes sparks fly.
“I studied a lot of MotoGP action, motorcycle magazines, and YouTube videos on proper body positioning, suspension setup, tires, etc. Afterward, I went out and saw what other riders were using to knee drag. I started putting together different gear that was more about me and my riding style. I believe with the proper instructions and instructor just about anybody can do it.” This is where being one with your bike comes into play. Karma continues, “You just have to trust your tires and bike. The first time I touched down was amazing. I was coming in hot off the turnpike on an exit turn, and at that point, I was already committed. My braking was done, my ass was off the seat, entry line picked out and all I had to do was remember what I learned. I leaned my bike over, and the rest was history. Your first instinct is to pull your knee in, but once it touches and you’re not burning through your jeans to your knee, you kind of realize that you’re really doing it and the feeling is something you’ll just have to experience for yourself.”
He’s had his share of close calls, though. “I’ve taken off a side mirror with my shoulder because someone tried to do a last-second lane change, Tank slappers, tire slippage while knee dragging, riders going down around me or taking turns wide, etc… I’ve seen a lot over my 17 years. I’ve went down a few times. That’s why I can’t stress enough for people to wear their gear. Let’s be honest: falling comes with the sport, and even the best MotoGP riders are guaranteed to go down once or twice a season. Four years ago, I went down at 150mph while in a turn due to cold tires. Thank god I was able to get up on my own and walk away, but that made me switch back to good ol’ Super Corsa tires. It also pushed me towards hitting the track even more.”
Over the years, Karma has owned more than half a dozen of bikes but has ridden just about all that there is to ride, in terms of sportbikes. In his current stable, along with the 2002 Yamaha R1, the 2008 Kawasaki ZX10R, and the 2007 Honda CBR 1000RR, is a 2007 Yamaha V Star 1100. “That V Star has a lot of sentimental value. It was my older brother’s first bike that I helped him get. He loved that hell out of that bike. He was a member of the Twisters Motorcycle Club, the North Philly Chapter. He recently passed away from cancer in 2014, and my parents said that he wanted me to have it. I ride it from time to time, but some days are harder than others because of the memories we share. Memories of us riding together.”
Bad Karma is hard-pressed to put a measurement of time on how long it took him to develop his skill set. “I’m constantly picking up a new skill here and there that I add to my particular riding style. It’s a constant learning curve, not with just riding but knowing the differences between tire compounds and how they perform, tire pressure, how different road surfaces affect your ride handling, throttle control, lean angles, tire limits in the wet compared to dry, body positioning, etc. I’m constantly striving to get better in all areas. I won’t say that I’m done with street riding because that’s where I started, and my heart is still in the street, but right now, for 2015, I’m leaning more towards the track and taking things to the next level.”
A rider as talented, skilled, and dedicated as Karma understands that in order for him to ascend to the next level, he needs to set his eyes on the next goal, the next challenge. The track. Karma has dominated the streets, highways, and back roads. He is still hungry. He’s still striving to improve himself as a rider.
His thoughts on defining what composes a real rider are very simple. “A real rider is someone that can adjust to all riding conditions. Someone that can move between different motorcycles classes and still be a lethal contender. Someone that has been down before and learned from their mistakes and continues to get back on and ride even harder. Someone that treats this as a lifestyle and not a hobby. Someone who constantly strives to perfect their craft and get better.”
Street riding on this level is not for anyone, and by no means does Bad Karma represent himself as a role model. However, he understands that there will always be someone else on the come-up looking to capture their moments of speed. He reminds any and all, “Wear your fucking gear as if you plan on falling. Ride your own ride, meaning if the group you’re with wants to go faster than you are capable of or comfortable with, then you need to fall back and meet them at the destination. Don’t allow other riders to take you out of your comfort zone before you’re physically or mentally ready. Last but not least, just because the guy in front of you is taking a turn fast doesn’t mean you can too. So slow your fast ass down, Rossi. No one wants to tell your mom why your ass went sliding off the highway following someone on a turnpike exit.”
Images: Michael Spain Smith
*Editor’s note: Jeff “Bad Karma” Ford passed away on September 14, 2024. True to this article, I don’t remember when or how we met, other than it was through motorcycles. He was an intrical part of my foundation in the motorcycle world. He is my Brother. My Friend. And in many ways, a Mentor. He opened a lot of doors for me and walked me through them. He is, and will forever be, every real rider’s favorite rider. He sure as hell is mine. Nothing will ever be the same. He will be missed, eternally. – Allan Lane.*
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