Rob Brooks

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.

God’s Own Racetrack, Part 2

Posted by Rob Brooks | Jul 6, 2020 | Ride Life, Rides & Roads |

Tuesday began with packing, cleaning up the beautiful Prairie Rose, fueling, then rolling out in the direction of Fossil and Antelope, two big goals for the day. Heading west on State 26, we rode through the canyons and high hill country of Malheur National Forest, breathtaking country. Truly reminded me of the landscapes in so many old westerns I watched in my youth.

God’s Own Racetrack, Part 1

Posted by Rob Brooks | Jul 1, 2020 | Ride Life, Rides & Roads |

The sign at the starting point of Idaho’s Winchester Grade should have been a clue, should have served as an early warning that we were riding into a danger zone- “Closed To Thru Traffic. Locals Only.” We ignored the warning. “Aw, that sign’s been there for years,” one guy quipped. “Yeah, just a little bumpy pavement,” declared another. “The views are worth the road,” chimed in a third. I was thinking, “I’ve got a bad feeling about this…”

Perfection A Fickle Mistress

Posted by Rob Brooks | Jun 29, 2020 | Industry & Racing |

The phrase, “perfection is a fickle mistress” could be appropriately applied to the MotoAmerica race weekend at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Only one rider remains undeafeated: Richie Escalante in Supersport.

Sedici Marco Mesh Riding Gear Evaluation

Posted by Rob Brooks | Jun 25, 2020 | Bikes & Gear |

European motorcycle apparel company Sedici has long been regarded for high quality riding products, specializing in street and track performance gear. They have partnered with Cycle Gear to carry their brand to American riders for a number of years, and since I’ve consistently had great experiences with the good folks at CG, I naturally sought them out when contemplating a new set of all-purpose, all-weather riding gear.

Tomac Takes Supercross Title

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

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac earned his first Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship Title in the 450SX Class at the season finale, Round 17 Presented by the Utah Sports Commission inside Rice-Eccles Stadium. Tomac won the title by 25 points after a smart ride to finish fifth in the race. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Zach Osborne won the event, taking home his career-first 450SX Class victory. Second went to his teammate Jason Anderson, who led 15 laps of the 25-Lap Main Event. Rounding out an all-Husqvarna and team podium, Dean Wilson turned an early lead into his first podium of 2020, the second of his career.