Rob Brooks

Road Dirt Rides Nikens

Posted by Rob Brooks | Oct 26, 2020 | Bikes & Gear |

We rolled into the parking lot of Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, anticipating an enjoyable walk back through the annals of American motorcycle history. As with everywhere we rode the Yamaha Nikens, a gathering of gawkers closed in, slack jawed and cameras snapping. An old curmudgeon in a “brand specific” shirt shuffled up to Ted, who was still removing his helmet, and loudly asked in a deep Southern drawl, “Whut da hail is ‘at??” Ted smiled and replied, “It’s a Yamaha Niken.” Before he could offer any details, the old codger declared, “Ha, more like a Yamaha nuthin!” There was a brief moment of stunned silence on our part, as he ambled around the bike, chuckling. Did this clown really just insult the motorcycle of a total stranger??

Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge & Resort

Posted by Rob Brooks | Oct 19, 2020 | Rides & Roads |

Nestled among the ancient, sublime Great Smoky Mountains of western North Carolina, down a winding, narrow road through a verdant valley, lies a secluded, 40+ acre motorcycle resort that attracts riders from across the continent and even the world. Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge & Resort, first established in 2003 “by riders for riders”, resides along a meandering, burbling creek fed by chilly mountain waters, and serves as the perfect base camp for some of the best motorcycle riding in North America.

MotoAmerica Hits The Brickyard

Posted by Rob Brooks | Oct 11, 2020 | Industry & Racing |

But the Superbike star for the weekend would have to be Bobby Fong of M4 ECSTAR Suzuki. After snatching the lead in race one on Saturday after Beaubier crashed out, Fong fought off Beaubier’s Attack Yamaha teammate Jake Gagne for the win. Then the Suzuki rider claimed the 2nd step in race two, and dominated race three after teammate Toni Elias crashed out in front of him, as did Jake Gagne behind him.

Hot Laps In A Honda Talon

Posted by Rob Brooks | Oct 7, 2020 | Bikes & Gear, Industry & Racing |

Recently I was given the opportunity by American Flat Track and Honda Powersports to take a ride in a modern version of those old buggys, a Honda Talon 1000X-4 side-by-side. At the Dixie Speedway round of the AFT season, they gave me the chance to not only experience a ride in one of these beasts, but we would run several hot laps around the track to experience the thrill of powering and sliding it across the Georgia red clay.

2020 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Review

Posted by Rob Brooks | Oct 1, 2020 | Bikes & Gear |

I spent the beautiful September day up in the north Georgia foothills, visiting my childhood chum Kent Giles (a military fiction writer) at his hermitage in Marble Hill, and tooling around the Jasper/Coal Mountain area on my last full day with the Tiger 900. A gloomy weekend of rain had given way to abundant sunshine, cool breezes, and being a Monday, largely empty back roads. Diving the Tiger through curves and corners, I suddenly came upon a tight, right-turner that I couldn’t see through. Downshifting and scrubbing off some mph, I shifted weight and leaned through the curve, only to find a patch of wet, right at the apex, laden with an amalgam of brown/red leaves and corner grit. No braking, a slight roll off the gas, and some considerable anal pucker, but the Tiger held the line, tracked through without a hiccup, and I continued on my merry way. Albeit, a bit more measured, we’ll call it.

MV Agusta USA Unveils The Superveloce

Posted by Rob Brooks | Sep 23, 2020 | Bikes & Gear, Industry & Racing |

While attending the MotoAmerica race weekend at Barber Motorsports Park, Road Dirt photog Dean Phelps and I had the unique opportunity to attend the unveiling of an entirely new motorcycle being debuted by MV Agusta. While up in the media center at race control, Doug McCloskey, the CEO of MV Agusta USA walked up and introduced himself, and invited me to a special “reveal party” to be held that night across the track in the famed Motorsports Museum. “We’d be thrilled and honored,” I assured Doug.

MotoAmerica at the Barber

Posted by Rob Brooks | Sep 21, 2020 | Industry & Racing |

Monster Energy Attack Performance Yamaha Cameron Beaubier won his 13th race of the year on Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama, a day after winning his 12th of the season and the 50th of his stellar AMA Superbike career. Sunday’s victory was similar to his other 12 wins with Beaubier jumping out front off the line, storming away at an unmatchable pace, and then maintaining that lead to the finish.

The Unstoppables

Posted by Rob Brooks | Sep 14, 2020 | Industry & Racing |

Monster Energy Attack Performance Yamaha’s Cameron Beaubier leaves New Jersey Motorsports Park and heads to Barber Motorsports Park this week with a massive 84-point lead in the 2020 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship after what was another walk-in-the-park victory for the four-time series champion. Over in Liqui Moly Junior Cup and Twins Cup, 15-year old “Boy Wonder” Rocco Landers dominated both classes, both days, with four wins across the weekend to claim the points lead in both.

Road Dirt Remembers 9-11

Posted by Rob Brooks | Sep 10, 2020 | Ride Life |

Most of us over the age of 25 remember where we were, what we were doing, and who we were with, on that fateful day in early September, 2001. I had ridden my Yamaha Royal Star to the office that day, and after pouring up a cup of coffee, was at my desk going through the morning’s emails. A coworker send a staff wide message, stating a plane had crashed into one of the World Trade Center towers. Soon, several of us were gathered in a conference room, watching the events unfold on screen. Thinking a freak accident had happened, and somehow a small plane had flown into the building, we were suddenly horrified to witness a second plane, a large jetliner, plow into the second tower, fire and debris exploding out from the impact. The first words out of my mouth, when I could finally find words to speak, were “We’re under attack.” I’ll go to my grave remembering the images and footage all day from New York, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania. It was a defining moment in American history, and a defining moment in many of our lives.