Road Dirt

Bagger Pit Crew Life

Posted by Rob Brooks | Apr 21, 2026 | Industry & Racing |

You hear them before you see them.
I am down by the wall on the front straight at Road Atlanta, as the King of the Baggers riders approach the hill and bridge after turn 10B. The bikes haven’t come into view yet, but their growl is already wafting through the paddock and down pit lane. Suddenly they are visible, one by one diving under the bridge then plunging down the hill and throttling hard right onto the front straight. I set the pit board over the fence, displaying Harley-Davidson Factory Racing team rider Bradley Smith’s position, gap to the rider behind him, and laps left. He’s holding off Indian’s Troy Herfoss for 3rd, as the whole field of bikes roar past at over 160 mph, then lean right up the hill at turn 1.
I feel them in my chest, as they blast past me at speeds these bikes shouldn’t be capable of.

First Impressions: 2026 Royal Enfield Classic 650

Posted by Rob Brooks | Apr 14, 2026 | Bikes & Gear |

Pulling into our church parking lot Sunday morning, no sooner had I found a space and pulled off my helmet, when an elder gentleman (pony tail, braided beard- clearly a fellow biker) and his wife chatted me up. “That’s a beautiful old Triumph you’ve got there… oh wait, that’s not a Triumph!” he exclaimed. “A Royal Enfield! I haven’t seen one of those in years! What year is that?” I replied, “A 2026, if you can believe it.” It led to a pleasant conversation into the church building, about the beauty and nostalgia of so many motorcycles in Royal Enfield’s lineup, and particularly this gorgeous new Classic 650.
We’ve only had this motorbike for a week now, and it has elicited this kind of response everywhere we’ve ridden and parked it.

Cycle Gear Ride Day Experience

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | Apr 9, 2026 | Ride Life |

Cycle Gear, as part of the Comoto network, has come up with a simple avenue and an easy on-ramp for many to check out what motorcycle riding is all about. Begun last year, several CG stores across America are devoting a weekend to giving non-riders a chance to throw a leg over and get a feel for motorcycling, in a controlled environment and with certified riding coaches. Called the “Ride With Us Ride Day Experience”, selected Cycle Gear stores will be providing small displacement motorcycles for a free opportunity to check out the ride we love so much, with instruction and encouragement, this coming Saturday and Sunday, April 11-12, 10am to 6pm both days.

Freshen Up Your Riding Gear

Posted by Drew Perlmutter | Apr 7, 2026 | Bikes & Gear |

Spring is definitely here. You know how I know? My morning rides are cold enough for a jacket and by the afternoon I’m cracking my visor at every stoplight just to breathe. It’s that awkward in-between where my winter gear suddenly feels like overkill, and my summer stuff still feels a little too optimistic. So how about some spring cleaning?

Beautiful Bikes: Aprilia X 250th

Posted by Rob Brooks | Apr 2, 2026 | Bikes & Gear |

Aprilia is actually producing a limited run of commemorative motorbikes, mostly for the American market, but a few to be offered worldwide. The Aprilia X 250th is a drop-dead gorgeous facsimile of the GP machines the Trackhouse Racing team are rolling, and for a cool $150K you can own one yourself. Of course, it’s not street legal, running a V4 65°, 1099cc mill with SBK racing specifications. It’s clearly meant to make the same technology developed in racing available to those who intend to compete at top levels in factory derivative series, or for those who want to own an RSV4 or Tuono V4 with top tier performance.
And who want to shout “‘Merica!” every time and everywhere they ride or display it.