Wild, Free & Alive by Jeffrey with illustration by Wayfarer
I woke up flat on my back in tall golden prairie grass, the sun warmed my face. My right arm felt like it was on fire, my neck hurt like hell, and breathing was difficult. Able to move my fingers and toes, I sat up placing my elbows on my knees. The tires on my Suzuki DR 650 were still spinning, the motor humming quietly. A white tail doe stood near my bike, she shook her head and stumbled off, both of us feeling the effects of the collision. After a few minutes, I straightened the handlebars and rode home.
WINNERS SO FAR:
1. for the month of May 2023: “Been There Done That” by Steven Sanner
2. for the month of June 2023: “A Hundred” by Chris Dutcher
3. for the month of July 2023: “First Time” by Rhys
4. for the month of August 2023: “Hilary” by Gearhead
5. for the month of September 2023: “Mountain” by Koz Mraz
6. for the month of October 2023: to be announced soon
As a handyman, Richard had little to offer than stained clothes and bleached hands. He had worked odd jobs so often and so many, the obvious thing to do was to list himself on classifieds for any small home-repairs. Decidedly, he climbed out into the cold night to the back alley where he had chained his Triumph Bonneville. Few had chopped a Triumph since it was such a collectible.
The inaugural Moto Beach Classic started out as a wild idea from Roland Sands and crew in 2017 and has developed into a Southern California motorcycle cultural explosion. From massive concerts to short track racing on the sand in Huntington Beach, the Moto Beach Classic has always delivered the unexpected in the heart of Southern California surf culture.
This year’s event takes place on October 15, 2022 and brings a massive new partnership with Red Bull and their iconic Red Bull Straight Rhythm Race, for a one-day, jam-packed, moto-centric event with a projected attendance of 20,000 moto fans, at Huntington State Beach.
The Moto Beach Classic will anchor the cultural side of the day with Super Hooligan National Championship racing and over 100 riders doing battle on a dirt short track built on the sand. Key attractions also include a custom bike show, vendors, art, food, and drinks, all moto centric and all Surfside.
This one-day event will include the best motocross riders on the planet, battling side by side for Straight Rhythm glory on a specially-built dirt motocross track featuring full-size supercross jumps and no turns, parallel to Pacific Coast Highway, alongside the hospitality and perks expected of Red Bull signature events.
Roland Sands Design is still currently taking submissions to the Moto Classic Bike Show. Please email motorcycle description, images and builder info to info@rolandsands.com.
The vendor village at Moto Beach is a great way to see and experience products from some your favorite brands. Whether you’re into motorcycles, e-Bikes, hand crafted art, riding gear, sunglasses, leather goods or jewelry, there is something for everyone. Past vendors included Roland Sands Design, Deus ex Machina, Vans, Indian Motorcycle, Moto Doffo Winery, Stellar Moto, BMW Motorcycles, Dunlop Tires, GEICO, Saddleman Seats, Royal Enfield, KROQ, ASV, MoonEyes, Black Fly’s, Super73, STACYC, HD LiveWire, Russ Brown Attorneys, Vance & Hines, Hurley, Inked Iron, We Big, K&N Filters, Yamaha.
Architects of Inspiration Art Show
The Architects of Inspiration will be a centerpiece of the Moto Beach Classic event. A curated collection of unique installations inspired by moto and surf culture. Initially structured to solely be an art collective, the Architects of Inspiration has grown to be a larger platform that included more creatives, such as live muralist painters and local music gurus. This year, the Architects of Inspiration Art Show will take place on the sand between the Super Hooligan Dirt Track and the Moto Classic Custom Bike Show.
Super Hooligan Flat Track Racing
As with any RSD event, the main focus is on motorcycle racing. The Moto Beach Classic serves as the season finale for AMA Super Hooligan National Championship and also offers anyone a chance to race on the short track built on the sand. Past classes include Run What Ya Brung, Desert MX Open, Vintage Air Cooled, Mad Dog Mini and more, offering a ton of fun, regardless of which side of the handlebars you are on.
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This is going to be good, like the party of parties. I’ll stay between the white lines as I attempt to cover the rally and my first wild experience after relocating to the Black Hills and available for action every day.
Constant hum of action prevailed daily, with the rumble of V-twins, non-stop shows, concerts, celebrations, parties and jamming bars are just the tip of the chromed mountain leading up to the rally. Last year, my shop wasn’t complete, and I was attacked by the deadly Covid virus. I found myself locked down in my basement dungeon.
Only semi-prepared this year, the rally kept coming like it or not.
Also read the note by Bandit in the article…. Editor’s Note by Bandit:“In a changing world, I ask myself constantly about the mindsets behind different chopper movements in the States and as you will see here in the Nordic Countries. I would love to listen to their conversations.”
A history of beer, bikes, cole slaw and ‘rowdyism’
by C. A. Bridges from www.news-journalonline.com
Bike Week, now marking its 81st year, may not be your grandfather’s — or even your great-grandfather’s — bike rally. A gathering for motorcycle race fans, a drunken party, a biker brawl or a family vacation destination, Bike Week has been a lot of things over the years.
It’s our Mardi Gras, our Fantasy Fest, our Carnival. It’s a portable, 10-day street party of motorcycles and biker lifestyle.
It begins with the story of the legendary Suzuki Hayabusa. When that beast launched back in 1999, it triggered a hurricane of anxiety among various manufacturers – and it all came down to the top speed of the bike – a stunning 194 mph.
The Hayabusa represented a quantum leap in speed and made it the fastest motorcycle you could buy and ride on the streets. In fact, it took the title away from the already insanely fast Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird, and it did it by a startling 14 mph.
In answer, Kawasaki announced the creation of the Ninja ZX-12R, and it promised a top speed of more than 200 blistering miles per hour. That announcement led regulators to consider tamping down the lust for speed among manufacturers, and it also led to what’s come to be known as The Gentleman’s Agreement among the top motorcycle manufacturers across the globe.
As the story goes, the “agreement” called on manufacturers to set the upper limit on motorcycle speed at 200 mph. Since then, that agreement has been violated to varying degrees, and here are some of the motorcycles that flirt with – and exceed – the barrier posited by The Gentlemen’s Agreement.
The Yamaha YZF-R1M, which purports to achieve a top end of 185.7 mph, has itself become legendary for its on and off-track precision and power. The R1 line and the street legal R1 models achieve their punch following a power-and-less-bulk formula.
Offering lightweight carbon-fiber construction and powered by an explosive 998cc, liquid-cooled “cross-plane” inline-four, the R1 creates 200 hp and offers 89.2 lb-ft torque. When that kind of juice moves through its 6-Speed manual, the R1M does 0-60 mph in a snot-loosening 2.3 seconds. One of these beasts will set you back just over $26,000 USD.
Next up on this rogues gallery is the KTM 1290 Super Duke R. This KTM is a naked hypersport bit of lunacy that packs a 1301 cc, 75-degree V-twin motor into a novel frame. The 1290 Super Duke R wacks the limits of physics to the tune of 180 hp and cranks out 103 lb-ft of torque.
At a svelte 462 lbs. dry weight., the Super Duke R covers 0-60 mph in just 2.6 seconds and is limited to 186 mph. If you must have one, this KTM will set you back right around $18,000 USD.
The Hayabusa is back, and the 3rd Generation variant uses the same 1340cc inline-four motor to produce a healthy 188 hp and 110 ft-lbs of torque and covers 0-60 mph in a serviceable 3.2 seconds.
While it’s now restricted to 186 mph top speed, it does its progenitors proud. It will be priced at just north of $22,000 USD.
The BMW S1000RR represented a huge technological leap for the time, and when it launched in 2009, it was packed to the brim with electronics and rider-assist features unheard of even for the sophisticated ‘ultra bikes’ of the time.
The latest iteration, the 2021 BMW S1000RR is powered by a water/oil-cooled inline-4 motor that generates a stunning 205 hp and 83 lb-ft of torque.
In ‘Race Pro Mode’ it covers 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds and is capable of reaching a top speed of 192 mph. All that performance does not come cheap and the sticker price is expected to come in around $30,000.
An Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory is a sublime example of Italian design and engineering and an amazing achievement when you consider the fact that the has only been in the game since the end of the Second World War. Aprilia is dedicated to motorcycle sports and they use the competitive anvil to forge their lightning-fast and supple machines.
The RSV4 1100 Factory is powered by a 1099cc V4 engine which turns out 217 hp and 90 lb-ft of torque. And perhaps most critically, it weighs just 390 lbs and that finely-balanced power-to-weight ratio means it can do 0-60 mph in just 2.9 seconds and achieve a reported top speed of 198.8 mph. The Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory sports an MSRP of $25,999.
Known for the subtlety and innovative character of their designs, Ducati remains iconic for their blend of finish, style and pure power. The Panigale V4R combines carbon fiber and their signature desmodromic engine, Desmosedici Stradale R 998 cc Inline-4, produces 221hp straight out of the factory and you can ramp that power up to 234 hp with the addition of an Akrapovic full-racing exhaust.
The Desmosedici Stradale motor puts out 92 lb-ft of torque and travels from 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds before ultimately achieving a top speed of 199 mph. You can be the proud owner of a 2021 Ducati Panigale V4R for just under $23,000.
As we near the top of this list, we find a pair of Kawasakis perched near the pinnacle. The ZH2 and the Ninja H2 are both said to be capable of 200+ mph, and these novel supercharger-boosted motorcycles feature 998cc inline-4 motors that crank out 200 hp and 101 lb-ft of torque.
The ZH2 with the ability to cover 0-60 mph in under 3 seconds and reach a top speed of more than 200 mph also represents a devil’s bargain of sorts. For 2021, Kawasaki ZH2 is priced at just over $17,500.
The lunatic Kawasaki Ninja H2R – with a stated top speed of 248 mph, is a track-only machine and therefore not allowed on our list. The H2R does hold the record holder for top end speed as it reached a snot-loosening 250 mph in just 26 seconds. For 2021, the Kawasaki Ninja H2 is priced at $29,500.
But the bike at the top of the list of mad-dog bikes you can ride on the street belongs to the Lightning LS-218.
Electric motorcycles are clearly the future, and the neck snapping torque offered up by an electric motor is surely attractive to wild fools in search of speed at all costs.
The Lightning LS-218 is powered by a 380V electric powerplant coupled to any of three battery packs: 12, 15, or 20 kWh. At its top tuning settings, this nearly silent monster churns out 200 hp and 168 lb-ft of torque and can reach a top speed of 218 mph.
Coupled with a demented 0-60 mph time of just 2.2 seconds, it takes the top slot when it comes to streetworthy guts. The 2021 Lightning LS-218 comes in at around $39,000 USD out the door.
Of course, most of these figures are reported by the manufacturers and results may vary according to conditions and tuning…
That’s a wrap! The 40th anniversary of the Best Party Anywhere® has officially come to a close, and the last camper has rolled off Sturgis Buffalo Chip® property. Now that the dust has settled on nine days of good times during the 2021 Sturgis Rally, the only thing left at the Chip is this question…
WHAT. THE. EFF?
That’s because 140 of the most head-scratching items ever collected have made their way into the venue’s lost and found. Check out all the weird and wild stuff left behind and see if you can help the Chip find its rightful owners.
