Rob Brooks

Electric Soul

Posted by Rob Brooks | Apr 3, 2020 | Bikes & Gear | 2

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 | 0

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 | 3

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 | 0

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 | 4

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 | 2

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.

Supercross For A Great Cause

Posted by Rob Brooks | Feb 17, 2020 | Industry & Racing | 0

The Florida race not only kicked off the Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship but was also the “This Race Saves Lives” event in which teams featured St. Jude patient-inspired artwork on their bikes and gear. The custom graphics and one-of-a-kind gear was collected after the race and will become available in the coming days where fans can bid on items from their favorite teams and riders. The online auction went live during the opening segment of Race Day Live and the first item up for bid was Ricky Carmichael’s custom-built Suzuki Boulevard M109R B.O.S.S. Fans can bid on Ricky’s bike and other items by visiting stjude.org/supercrossauction through the final round in Salt Lake City, Utah on May 2.

Riding the Royal Enfield INT650 Interceptor

Posted by Rob Brooks | Feb 9, 2020 | Bikes & Gear | 0

Royal Enfield is among the largest motorcycle manufacturers on the planet, and one of the oldest. First launched in 1901 as Enfield Cycle Company of Redditch, Worcestershire, England, the company’s signature bike has been the legendary Bullet, the longest-enduring motorcycle design in history. Eventually establishing manufacturing in British Commonwealth India in 1955, Enfield partnered with Madras Motors to form Enfield India, building a 350cc Bullet for their market. Eventually Royal Enfield England folded up in 1967 as the British motorcycle industry began its slow painful death, but the brand thrived in its new home of Chennai, India. Interestingly, the brand has recently opened a technology development facility back in “merry old England”, so in a sense, the brand is returning to their geographic roots.

Great American Motorcycle Show 2020

Posted by Rob Brooks | Jan 27, 2020 | Bikes & Gear, Industry & Racing | 2

With the departure several years ago of the Progressive International Motorcycle Show from Atlanta (or the entire southeast, for that matter), the Great American Motorcycle Show fills that gap left behind for us here in the Deep South. Men and women, young and old, from across the spectrum of our great land, came together to share and enjoy our common passion- all things 2-wheels (and sometimes 3) and a motor.