9 - 2021 | Road Dirt

Road and Dirt with a Harley-Davidson Pan America

Posted by Ted Edwards | Sep 27, 2021 | Bikes & Gear |

September in the Pacific Northwest is Gods gift to motorcyclists. Cool air descends from Cascade Mountain crests chilling the warm valley floor like God’s own air conditioning, as select leaves turn colors, giving a preview of the fall to come. Crisp water from the appropriately named Icicle River dribbled to our left, foaming over smooth boulders as we rode.
So I celebrated the priceless moment by goosing the throttle, letting the rear step out in a slow, steady dirt drift while ahead of me Donni Reddington did the same, only in a much better way since she coaches dirt riders for a living at Skool Of Moto. If you asked either of us we would tell you, life will never get better than this, or more strange. I never thought I would be doing this on a Harley. But is it really that surprising?

Legendary Bikes: 1923 Ace Four Cylinder Sporting Solo

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | Sep 24, 2021 | Legendary Bikes |

The spectacular 1923 Ace Four Sporting Solo was the ultimate American 4-cylinder motorcycle. Its reputation was second to none, and for a time was the fastest production motorcycle in the world when it was introduced. The Ace was the final legacy of William Henderson, who had already established his machines’ reputations as the toughest and fastest motorcycles on earth. William and Thomas Henderson founded the Henderson Motorcycle Company in Detroit in 1912, and the brothers immediately established an amazing reputation for their machines as durable, fast and beautifully built—the “Duesenberg of Motorcycles” they were often referred to as.

Swinging a Slingshot

Posted by Rob Brooks | Sep 22, 2021 | Bikes & Gear |

For the past couple of years, several of the Road Dirt crew have periodically nudged me, saying, “We should review a Polaris Slingshot.” I’ve resisted, declaring, “We are Road Dirt MOTORCYCLE Media. The Slingshot is not a motorcycle.” I was bound to eat my words eventually.
A couple of months back, Polaris reached out to us via Kelly with The Brand Amp (their marketing partners), asking if we’d be interested in sampling a 2021 Slingshot SL for a couple of weeks. To the guffaws and “I told you so” ribbings of my compatriots, I of course agreed, and subsequently dined on my words.
As we would say down here in the Deep South, “That thing is a hoot to drive.”

A Soaking Weekend At The Barber

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | Sep 20, 2021 | Industry & Racing |

Despite a weekend at Barber Motorsports Park that featured horrendous weather and difficult racing conditions, the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Series ended as it should have with Jake Gagne winning a record 17th race to put an exclamation point on a season like no other.

Gagne Clinches 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Title

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | Sep 13, 2021 | Industry & Racing |

Jake Gagne wrapped up the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship across a record-setting weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park, the Californian winning his 16th race of the season to match the record held jointly by Josh Hayes and Cameron Beaubier for Superbike wins in a single season, while also tying three-time 500cc World Champion Wayne Rainey’s mark for career AMA Superbike victories.

Americans Podium at the 2021 ISDE

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | Sep 10, 2021 | Industry & Racing |

Two of the U.S. ISDE teams visited the podium in their respective classes as the FIM International Six Days Enduro came to an end in Italy. The Women’s World Trophy team not only won gold for the U.S. but did so in spectacular fashion, beating second-place finishers Great Britain by just over 15 minutes. The Men’s U.S. World Trophy team, after running third throughout the event, maintained its third-place podium position.

Fall Rain

Posted by Ted Edwards | Sep 6, 2021 | Ride Life |

Fall came today like always does in the Northwest, like a light switch flicked by the finger of God.
Yesterday, smoke from forest fires hung in the air perverting the sky sour and sunsets blood red, lingering in the air with depressing tenacity, draining spirits and permeating pores until residents could scarcely remember a day without the smoky blanket of depression draped over them. Then today, the unofficial first day of fall up here in the PNW, God cried “Hold. Enough.”

To The Man I Never Met

Posted by Ted Edwards | Sep 4, 2021 | Ride Life |

This one goes out to the man I never met, to the man who read my stories, loved my work and now is gone forever. Your name was Robert Terrance Brooks Sr. and you were my editor Rob Brooks’ father.

Geoff Nickless- A Life Behind The Lens

Posted by Ted Edwards | Sep 2, 2021 | Industry & Racing, Ride Life |

No two forms of art blend so wonderfully as photography and the beauty of the sideways motorcycle. Difficulty in properly capturing the elusive bike in the passing drama makes motorcycle photography equal parts technical challenge and craft developed over time.