Ted Edwards

Dunlop Roadsmart IV vs Pirelli Angel GT – Long Term Handling Observations

Posted by Ted Edwards | Aug 1, 2022 | Bikes & Gear |

As I pushed wide into the oncoming lane of the right hand turn, two thoughts ran through my head. First, I am a better rider than this. Second, I was amazed that I needed this much bar pressure to steer Dave’s bike. Thousands of miles and countless curves had trained my muscle memory for my 5th generation Honda VFR800 and its Dunlop tires, so when I jumped on Dave Wensveen’s identical VFR and his Pirelli tires, I almost immediately ran wide on the tight right hand corner. I tried correcting my line. It was too late.

Fighting the Giant

Posted by Ted Edwards | Jul 22, 2022 | Industry & Racing, Ride Life |

Don’t be surprised if you have never heard of Max Flinders. Some have, most have not. However that is part of the underdog script, unknown, under the radar and under-supported. Such is Max Flinders. Max has never won a MotoAmerica Superbike race and never finished on the podium. If you want to find his name on the race results you have to scan down toward the middle. He has few sponsors, no entourage, and his truck driver is also named Max Flinders because, well, it’s him.

Dunlop-Pirelli Tires Wet Handling Shootout

Posted by Ted Edwards | Jul 15, 2022 | Bikes & Gear, Ride Life |

Speeding up might have ended the misery sooner but that had its own perils. Adding high speeds to wet and cold conditions is a pure confidence move- confidence in your bike, your riding skills, but most of all, your tires. This fiasco was part of Road Dirt’s summer tire shootout.

Colorado 500: A Race To Give

Posted by Ted Edwards | Jul 5, 2022 | Ride Life, Rides & Roads |

In the 1970s, Indy car racer Wally Dallenbach took his winnings from the California 500 and bought a ranch near the Fryingpan River in Colorado. In 1975 he explored the mountains and mining ghost towns around his ranch on his motorcycle with his son Wally Jr. and friend Sherm Cooper. They loved the trails so much that the next year they invited friends Dick Singer, Art Lamey, Lon Bromley, Del Garnder, Ed Kretz, Al Unser and Bobby Unser. That first ride in 1976 needed a name and being Indy 500 veterans, the group named it the Colorado 500.

Riding Your First Track Day

Posted by Ted Edwards | Jun 20, 2022 | Nuts & Bolts |

Recently I was at The Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington for a motorcycle track day. Since it was a Tuesday, turnout was light leaving lots of open track. The sun was shining, temperature was in the mid-60s and a slight breeze was blowing, a perfect day. In nine days MotoAmerica would be here turning and burning on the same surface.
If you’ve have ever had ideas of doing a track day, this is for you.

Dunlop-Pirelli Tires Dry Handling Shootout

Posted by Ted Edwards | Jun 13, 2022 | Bikes & Gear, Rides & Roads |

Dunlop sent Road Dirt a set of their new RoadSmart IV sport touring tires to compete with Pirelli’s sport touring offering, the Angel GT in a sport touring tire shootout. Road Dirt guest tester, my riding buddy and hard core tourer Dave Wensveen was roped into this test because he and I have identical 5th generation Honda VFR800s, perfect testing beds for sport touring rubber. My bike runs with the new set of Dunlop RoadSmart IVs while Dave rides with the Pirelli Angel GT. For our (mostly) dry handling test, we headed south to the Columbia River Gorge and the Rowena Curves.

The Mantainer

Posted by Ted Edwards | May 16, 2022 | Ride Life, Rides & Roads |

Angry skies followed us out north of Wenatchee that September day, dark and menacing they were, rumbling all the while, waiting for the perfect moment to drench us in their fury. When the skies cracked open they poured out their anger in an intolerable rain that drenched the forested land, hammering away at us and our bikes, a misery from which there was no refuge. We had to keep going. Stopping just prolonged the agony.

Summer Tire Shootout- Dunlop Roadsmart IV vs Pirelli Angel GT

Posted by Ted Edwards | May 13, 2022 | Bikes & Gear |

When these manufacturers make motorcycle tires for the common folk however, they draw on that racing pedigree to build sport touring tires with high grip, high mileage and good wet weather performance. But how well do they really grip? How long do they really last? What are they like to live with through everything a hard core sport tourer can throw at it over the course of the tire’s life?
Road Dirt is going to find out.

Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR: Quick Take

Posted by Ted Edwards | Apr 29, 2022 | Bikes & Gear |

Triumph has taken the naked hooligan Speed Triple 1200 RS, added carbon fiber and plastic, bolted on ridiculously low clip ons and rearset pegs, a single round headlight, race quality brakes and electronically smart suspension. Triumph calls the result the Speed Triple 1200 RR and it is one wicked sportbike. Given the invitation to ride one, I flew down to the outskirts of Triumph America’s headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia and took it for a spin.