Rob Brooks

Austrian Armageddon

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

The now infamous crash in the premier class began with a high speed collision between Petronas Yamaha rider Johann Zarco and Avintia Ducati’s Franco Morbidelli down the long stretch toward the circuit’s sharp right turn 3. At over 180 mph the riders tangled then tumbled out into the gravel and grass, while their bikes careened toward the right hander, even as other riders were negotiating the turn. As can be seen from the footage, both bikes rocketed back across the track at still well over 100 mph, trailing debris in their wake, narrowly missing Monster Energy Yamaha riders Maverick Vinales and 7-time world champion Valentino Rossi.

Motorcycle Tank Restoration

Posted by Rob Brooks | Aug 19, 2020 | Nuts & Bolts |

I’ve found that old bikes, or even those that have just sat unused for months or years, tend to exhibit some of the same symptoms of age and neglect- gummed carbs, seized brakes, cracked hoses, and of course, rusted/corroded tanks. None of these are insurmountable, but the first symptom I always check for, is the rusted tank. So often, people who claim, “It ran when I parked it” have likely left fuel in it as well, if even in a small amount. Over time, gas evaporation occurs, replaced with H2O moisture accumulation, and left unattended will create the conditions for rust in the tank and corrosion on the inner gas cap.

The Queen of Speeds

Posted by Rob Brooks | Aug 12, 2020 | Industry & Racing |

Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle®/Vance & Hines rider Angelle Sampey charged to a final-round win in Pro Stock Motorcycle competition at the Dodge NHRA Indy Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis. The three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion (2000-2002) won for the 43rd time in her career two days after her 50th birthday. The victory is Sampey’s first in the class since 2016. She joined the Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle®/Vance & Hines drag racing team in 2019.

MotoAmerica Heats Up PittRace

Posted by Rob Brooks | Aug 10, 2020 | Industry & Racing |

As a rule of thumb this past weekend, if you won on Saturday, you won on Sunday at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. That’s how the speed battles played out in multiple classes in MotoAmerica’s 4th round of racing at PittRace. To top it off, Superbike reigning champ and current dominator in the class Cameron Beaubier celebrated the 100th AMA Superbike start of his career, and the 4-time national champion took his 45th career win on Sunday. In masterful fashion.

MotoAmerica in HOTlanta

Posted by Rob Brooks | Aug 3, 2020 | Industry & Racing |

The “Dog Days of Summer” here in the Deep South can be utterly stifling, with temps in the upper 90s and humidity equally as high. Combine those with harsh sunlight above and cooking tarmac below, and you’ve got difficult conditions to race in, if not outright dangerous. Hydration and shade are a must. And that was exactly what the MotoAmerica contenders dealt with all weekend at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

The Firefly Hour

Posted by Rob Brooks | Jul 30, 2020 | Ride Life |

Summer “dog days” in the Deep South are often hot, humid, still, and stale. Temps in the upper 90s may not be the hottest in the nation (my brother regularly experiences 100+ in middle Texas), but the stifling humidity and often breezeless days tend to leave us soaked in sweat, forcing us to escape the summer suck either indoors or poolside.

MotoAmerica Bringing the Mania to Laguna Seca

Posted by Rob Brooks | Jul 22, 2020 | Industry & Racing |

The final round of the 2020 MotoAmerica season promises to be an extravaganza of two-wheeled mania at Laguna Seca, October 23-25. If you can find a way to attend, you really should.

The Last Bullet

Posted by Rob Brooks | Jul 14, 2020 | Bikes & Gear, Industry & Racing |

Royal Enfield has announced the cessation of an iconic motorcycle in their model lineup- the legendary Bullet 500. Claiming the distinction as the world’s oldest motorcycle in continuous production, the ending of the legendary model came as a surprise to many. As of October 2020, the Bullet 500 will no longer be in production. The company claims the bike fell victim to India’s increasingly constricting emissions regulations, and the rise in popularity of their newest flagship model, the Interceptor 650, which we had the pleasure to ride and write about ourselves.

Another Casualty of the Times

Posted by Rob Brooks | Jul 9, 2020 | Industry & Racing |

In the midst of a economically debilitating pandemic, and in light of the dramatic changes taking place in the print publishing world in recent years, the iconic motorcycle magazine American Iron has announced the current issue #390 will be their last. This comes as the most recent casualty in a series of print deaths across the past several years. We’ve seen the departure of Motorcyclist and Cycle World (two publications this author freelanced for), Cruiser, American Bagger, Hot Bike, Cruising Rider, even Motorcycle Consumer News, among others. Some of these have gone digital/social media, while others simply folded. This is not exclusive to motorcycle magazines, as the entire print industry continues to experience upheaval, especially in these current trying times.