For This Motorcycle Rider, Finding The Thrill Means Living In The Moment

Are thrill-seekers born, or are they made? For motorsports content creator and biker babe Aya Dijkwel, it’s both.

Here are just a few scenes from the life of her online alter ego, @ayalolwut. She moves through the world like a modern-day action hero, kitted out in full black leather against the unforgiving expanse of the Bonneville Salt Flats. She revs her engine, a mischievous smile on her face. Her motorcycle bends through dusty red canyons in Moab, long hair fluttering beneath her helmet. For a shining moment, when she becomes one with the ride, immersed in the moment, that’s when the thrill takes over.

“To me, thrill is a physical sensation — you feel it in your hands, your breath. That’s what I’m always chasing,” the Amsterdam-born, U.S.-raised motorsports pro tells Bustle. When she jumps behind the wheel, she’s seeking “performance you can feel,” driven by a tight grip and response that acts almost as instinct, taking over right when you need it. In her words, that makes a drive feel alive.

And one car conjures that for her. “The Genesis GV70 never interrupts that feeling [of vitality],” she says. “It sharpens it.” With standard class-leading 300 horsepower, responsive performance, and a driver-focused design philosophy, that’s what the 2027 Genesis GV70 is built for. It delivers the kind of intuitive, locked-in connection to the road that Dijkwel has spent a decade pursuing.

So, what does a professional adventurer look for in a day-to-day car? We spent a day with this badass rider discussing the pursuit of that rush, how adrenaline sharpens your purpose, and how the right vehicle feels like your superhero-mobile.

Built To Give Your Boldest Self That Rush

These days, the real-life Aya lives in Utah and works as a software engineer by day. By night, she organizes group rides and keeps her audience of 137K followers up-to-date on her adventures.

Back in college, she started riding with the goal of winding up on the back of a cute boy’s moped, but it didn’t take long for her to start craving the adventure of the front seat.

“I’ve always been drawn to that moment where you become a different version of yourself,” she tells Bustle. The one that makes them feel “calmer, sharper, and more focused.” As Aya tells us, “the Genesis GV70 puts you in that space.”

Once you’re in the zone, you can go anywhere. With intuitive tech like Sport+ mode, the vehicle’s settings are optimized to be responsive and firm, perfectly suited for high-performance road or track driving. Terrain Mode reveals the GV70’s unexpectedly rugged and dynamic side, allowing you to adapt to snow, mud, and sand with the touch of a button.

The Ritual

For Dijkwel, every journey begins with a grounding ritual, long before the engine comes to life. It might be a meal with a group of other bikers, or a few deep breaths. Even with a little tickle of pre-ride adrenaline, this helps set her up for the best experience. Once she’s in that flow state, she tells us, “all of the other sounds, the distractions, the intrusive thoughts, those just go away.”

“I love when you feel like the car fits and you become one with it,” says Dijkwel. It helps to have a vehicle that prioritizes your physical comfort, so you can “think, perform, and execute” — as she puts it — at your peak level.

That kind of connection starts with comfort. Features like Smart Posture Care help tailor the driving experience to your body and posture, allowing you to stay focused on the road instead of adjusting to it.

The Rush Of Achievement

Ten years into her riding journey, Dijkwel finds herself conquering all types of terrain, each presenting an opportunity to adapt. Her adventures have taken her down red canyon roads, rocky deserts, endless salt flats, and even the Vegas Strip after dark. A sense of accomplishment becomes its own reward.

“When you have a goal and you achieve it — like, yes, it’s happening; things are right — I enjoy spaces where that feeling becomes possible.”

Feeling secure enough to take on new adventures helps to preserve the excitement of the drive — it’s like reliving the spark of first love again and again.

“When you’re doing something like riding, you need to be really locked in and safe and present.” says Dijkwel. The Genesis GV70's advanced driver-assist technologies help bring peace of mind to every adventure, allowing drivers to stay focused on what matters most: the experience itself.

For Aya Dijkwel, joy lies in the journey to the next achievement. Whether she’s driving in a new landscape, teaching other women to ride, inspiring her online followers, or customizing her bike, a sense of wonder and vulnerability shine through.

When asked to describe her adrenaline-junkie alter ego, she lays out the vision: “She has a mission,” she says. “She's going somewhere. Maybe we don't know where she's going, but she's moving with purpose. It’s like the coolest version of me.”

She doesn’t have a name for her yet. Maybe it’s just Aya.

Test drive the Genesis GV70 and find your alter ego.