Rob Brooks

Rob’s Monthly Musings: Goodbye, FTR

Posted by Rob Brooks | Apr 4, 2025 | Industry & Racing |

Over the winter between the 2024 AFT racing season and the start of this one in March, American Flat Track dramatically changed the rules and specifications for motorcycles used in their AFT SuperTwins class. For nearly a decade, Indian Motorcycle dominated the premier class with their incredible FTR750. The revived “Indian Wrecking Crew” tore up the class for years, with Jared Mees and teammates breaking records, winning races and clinching championships year after year since 2017. Early on, many thought the renewed legendary rivalry between Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle would make for incredible competition in the class. Turns out, Harley’s 750 machines couldn’t hold a candle to the FTR750 bikes, much less ever beat them on the track. By the 2024 season, the Harleys had all but disappeared from the class, with most teams utilizing the FTR750, Ysmaha’s MT-07, KTM 790 Duke, even a couple running the Royal Enfield 650, to name a few.
Now all that has changed. If you can’t beat them, eliminate them from the competition.

Why We Ride- How A Movie Became A Mission

Posted by Rob Brooks | Mar 14, 2025 | Ride Life, Rides & Roads |

Bryan Carroll is a man on a mission. He wants to see childhood brain cancer eliminated in our lifetime. And he’s determined to help make that dream happen. Bryan, the producer and director of the acclaimed 2013 motorcycling film, “Why We Ride”, along with his friend and colleague James Walker, love motorcycling, and love the motorcycle community. And like so many in our community, Bryan and James have big hearts for philanthropy, specifically for children’s causes.

Moto Misfortune

Posted by Rob Brooks | Mar 6, 2025 | Nuts & Bolts, Ride Life |

First published years ago by Rebecca Dudley of the News-Tribune, she shared the story of a biker who pushed his motorcycle from his front patio into his living room, where he began to clean the engine with some rags and a small bowl of gasoline. When he finished, he sat on the bike and decided to fire it up, to make sure everything was in running order.
Yes, in the living room.

Spotlight: 50 Years of CMA

Posted by Rob Brooks | Feb 27, 2025 | Ride Life |

My initial contact with CMA (Christian Motorcyclists Association) came in 1998, when I was invited by a friend to a local chapter meeting and dinner. The group convened monthly in a fire station cafeteria, and one of the first CMAers I met that night was a big bearded burly guy who approached me and introduced himself as “Rev”. As I extended my hand, he instead reached past and gave me a back-popping bear hug, declaring, “You are welcome here, brother!”
Within months, I was a patched-in member, and I’ve never left.

100 Miles on a Triumph Speed Twin 1200 RS

Posted by Rob Brooks | Feb 13, 2025 | Bikes & Gear |

Triumph’s quintessential big Bonney is the epitome of classic Brit bike style, yet utilizing all the modern tech we’ve come to expect in our motorbikes- EFI, ABS, adjustable suspension, various ride modes, etc. The Street Twin 1200 rolls with upright ergos, solid shifting and braking, light and responsive handling, and that nostalgic Triumph vibe one can only experience on a Bonneville. I’m biased admittedly, owning a 2017 Bonney 900 myself, and having grown up around them with my Triumph-riding father back many moons ago. I love these motorcycles.

Rob’s Monthly Musings: My Analog Youth

Posted by Rob Brooks | Jan 28, 2025 | Ride Life |

I grew up in a different world, at a different time. A period in history that will never repeat itself, never return again.
I grew up in an analog world.

Triumph and BDR Debut a New South East Route

Posted by Rob Brooks | Jan 21, 2025 | Rides & Roads |

Now in its 15th year, most of the great and more well-known BDR routes are out west, from Texas and South Dakota westward, with the exception of Montana. But here in the Southeast, the home of Road Dirt, we’ve not had the opportunity to experience the BDR rides like our western brothers and sisters. That is about to change, with the development of the soon-to-be publicly announced South East Backcountry Discovery Route (SEBDR). Finally, some BDR close to home.

Spotlight: 100 Years of the AMA

Posted by Rob Brooks | Dec 20, 2024 | Industry & Racing, Ride Life |

The AMA is the largest motorcycle rights organization in the world, and has inspired the founding and growth of similar organizations for motorcycle riders in other countries across the globe.

The Long Way Home

Posted by Rob Brooks | Dec 16, 2024 | Ride Life |

One mid-December afternoon, the wife sent me on a short “honey-do” run up town for some Christmas gift cards. I of course chose to ride, this time selecting the small Honda SCL500 we still had on loan. The perfect bike for negotiating small town traffic, the little scrambler is also ideal for detours on the way home. Riding back out of town, I veered southeast away from the suburban sprawl and out into open country still dotted by gently rolling hills covered in horse and cattle pastures. I passed a small neighborhood at one point and noticed what appeared to be a father and daughter decorating the front entranceway with lights and wreaths. The little girl turned and waved enthusiastically as I rode by, so I gave her a wave back and a beep on the horn, to which she clapped as I viewed in my left rear mirror. Returning home, Lisa quipped, “That took longer than expected. Have any trouble finding everything?” I replied with a wry grin, “No trouble at all.”