8 - 2021 | Road Dirt

Riding A Rocket- The Beast Is A Beauty

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | Aug 31, 2021 | Bikes & Gear |

Triumph offered us a few weeks with a brand new 3R Black limited edition, and my response was, “Oh, absolutely! Phil will love this, being a much larger human than me,” as I just figured he’d be the primary “wrist” during our ride and review of the behemoth bike. I picked the bike up from Brian, Triumph’s go-to guy for prepping new machines for press reviews, to trailer it back across the insane maelstrom that is Atlanta traffic to my domicile in northeast Georgia. While strapping up the bike on my hauler, Brian quipped, “Rob, you really need to ride this bike yourself, not just Phil. Trust me, you won’t be intimidated by it.” He informed me that while the new Rockets have received a significant bump in displacement, from about 2300cc to 2500cc, they’ve lost over 100 lbs, from 797 lbs to about 668 lbs, full fluids. “They carry their weight low,” Brian observed, “are quite maneuverable and easy to handle at slow speeds. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much you’ll enjoy it too.”

Royal Enfield 2022 650 Twins Sneak Peek

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | Aug 27, 2021 | Bikes & Gear |

Royal Enfield North America just announced the launch of new color schemes and upgrades for its 2022 650 Twin motorcycles—the INT 650 and the Continental GT 650. Both models will also receive a host of aesthetic upgrades, including blacked-out rims and fenders and black fork gaiters, adding a stylish flare to Royal Enfield’s modern classics.

Rocking The Cardo PackTalk Bold

Posted by Ted Edwards | Aug 23, 2021 | Bikes & Gear |

I purchased the Cardo Pactalk Bold before my cousin Dave “White Girl” Wensveen and I left for our two-week trip to cover the MotoAmerica races at Laguna Seca and can summarize this review with two words: buy one. It paid for itself in the first minute I had it.

Against The Wind

Posted by Rob Brooks | Aug 20, 2021 | Nuts & Bolts |

Some years back on a cross-country excursion with my old riding pal Mike, while crossing Oklahoma and north Texas westbound on I-40, we found ourselves struggling against 30-40 mph winds blowing north, pushing on us from our left. At highway speed (doing about 75-80), passing or being passed by semis and the crazy turbulence they generate, Mike and I literally had our hands full keeping our luggage-laden touring bikes in our lane. The winds howled two days against us, determined to toss us into the ditch or under some truck’s tires. But we prevailed, albeit completely exhausted. Quite the nerve-wracking stint in the saddle, to say the least.

Back In The Saddle Again

Posted by Rob Brooks | Aug 16, 2021 | Industry & Racing |

Toni Elias just fired a shot across the bow of every racer and team in the MotoAmerica paddock at PittRace this past weekend.

Bridge Runner

Posted by J. Joshua Placa | Aug 13, 2021 | Ride Life, Rides & Roads |

Not far from the quasi-bohemian Arts District of downtown Los Angeles, the defeated remains of a beloved bridge are mourned. The Sixth Street Bridge’s mighty 30-foot reinforced concrete pylons stood as sentinels of the city gates. This area of Downtown LA remains a kind of urban frontier, the frayed edge of a city that seems neither alive nor dead, a shadowy place that draws motorcyclists and adventurers to its wild concrete canyons. Some long-abandoned brick warehouses and factories are now living spaces, bars and no one is quite sure what else; others house only past lives and bad dreams. If you like riding on the edge, this is home.

Slow Bike Fast

Posted by Ted Edwards | Aug 11, 2021 | Legendary Bikes, Nuts & Bolts, Ride Life |

Deposited like an ambulance delivering two terminally ill patients, a pair of ancient Honda Trial 90s were dropped off in front of my house silently; no fanfare, no excitement, no hurry or joy, unloaded quietly, then slowly rolled into my garage, their future operating room. Last licensed and running when President Clinton was entangled with Monica Lewinsky they languished outside for dozens of years worth of northwest sub-zero temps and triple digit heat. Decrepit and decaying, my job was to get them running. I promised their owner I could. I opened my mouth again.

Original and Ultimate

Posted by Ryan Nolan | Aug 9, 2021 | Bikes & Gear |

Cue the Triumph 765 Daytona Moto2 Edition which was produced as a commemoration to Triumph’s return to the world championship. 765 models were produced with a claimed 128 hp and branded as the Ultimate Daytona. I did not order one, partly because my focus is on racing and as my wife likes to point out to me, we are short on garage space. However, a good friend of mine and fellow contributor Gerard was lucky enough to acquire one. Once I found this out I pitched the idea to him of a comparison between our Daytonas and he was immediately on board. It was time to see how the Original and the Ultimate compared.

The Doctor Departs

Posted by Rob Brooks | Aug 6, 2021 | Industry & Racing |

We all knew it was impending, even though we secretly wished it would never end. After 26 seasons and nine world championships, seven of which in the Premier class, motorcycle racing legend Valentino Rossi has announced he will call it quits at the end of this 2021 MotoGP season. Nothing lasts forever in this life, and Rossi’s ride had to pit in eventually.