Rob Brooks

Ducati, Others Prep To Reopen Motorcycle Production

Posted by Rob Brooks | Apr 27, 2020 | Industry & Racing |

Ducati Motorcycles in Italy has announced a graduated reopening of production this week, as workers begin returning to the factory. The company plans to slowly return to pre-COVID levels of manufacturing in the coming weeks, according to a report in Italian media site OmniMoto. After suspension of all operations back on March 13, Ducati has announced the reopening of operations at the Borgo Panigale plant, specifically on the facility’s workshop and engine assembly lines while following strict health protocols.

Motorcycle Market Malady

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

Deep in the global COVID pandemic, and amidst a nearly ten-year decline in sales, the motorcycle industry has continued to take a beating here in 2020. If automotive sales have declined, motorcycle sales have ridden off a cliff. Global sales have plummeted worldwide, in every category, in every country, for every manufacturer.

Above The Ton

Posted by Rob Brooks | Apr 11, 2020 | Industry & Racing, Ride Life, Rides & Roads |

Sport bikes are exhilarating to ride, for their cornering abilities, lean angle capability, instantly available raw power, head-snapping acceleration, and of course, high speeds.
None of which should ever be fully exploited on the street.

Electric Soul

Posted by Rob Brooks | Apr 3, 2020 | Bikes & Gear |

I must admit a certain reluctance to involve myself in motorcycling’s growing “fringe”, the electric bike. I’m an “ICE” guy (internal combustion engine), and still love everything about a rumbling, vibrating, exhaust-smoking motorcycle that I have to clutch, shift, feed fuel, and wrench on to keep running. I’ve been disinterested in the many varied electric/eclectic battery-powered startups over the past 20 years, admittedly including Zero. “Not a true, traditional motorcycle,” I would scoff…

2020 Isle of Man TT Joins List of Race Cancellations

Posted by Rob Brooks | Mar 17, 2020 | Industry & Racing |

The government of the Isle of Man has canceled this year’s annual Isle of Man TT, originally scheduled for May 30- June 13, as a precautionary measure against the worldwide spreading of the coronavirus. The legendary motorcycle time trials race has attracted thousands of pro racers and fans from across the globe since its inception in 1907. The two-week racing event has only been canceled one other time in its long history, in 2001 due to the government’s concerns over an outbreak of “foot-and-mouth” disease in the neighboring United Kingdom.

Motorcycle Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems

Posted by Rob Brooks | Mar 16, 2020 | Bikes & Gear, Nuts & Bolts |

If you are like me, I’m not good at remembering to consistently keep up with tire pressure, whether it be my motorcycles or our family automobiles. In fact, to insure I check and adjust these monthly, I set an alert in my phone, synch it with my calendar, then hopefully I’ll actually heed it when the set date comes. That last part can be intermittent at best, given how easily distracted I can be.

Midseason Supercross Action

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

The Monster Energy AMA Supercross series roared into Atlanta’s massive Mercedes-Benz Stadium this past weekend, and Road Dirt contributing photographer Brandon Johnson got trackside for all the gritty (literally) action.

Shakeup At Harley-Davidson Motorcycles

Posted by Rob Brooks | Feb 28, 2020 | Industry & Racing |

A major shakeup has taken place at America’s leading motorcycle brand, Harley-Davidson. President & CEO Matt Levatich is stepping down from his post, and leaving the company, ending a career with H-D spanning 26 years, as reported in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

My Brother’s Keeper

Posted by Rob Brooks | Feb 22, 2020 | Ride Life |

Motorcyclists have some unwritten codes, which we all (mostly) abide by, such as “the wave”, riding staggered with each other, among others. Notably, most motorcyclists also follow the rule, “never leave a fellow rider stranded.” This is regardless of brand or type of bike. I’ve been on the giving and receiving end of this “biker good will”, and it’s one of the many reasons I love the motorcycling community.