Favorite Book of The Year - Hodgson’s Back on Track
With the year quickly coming to a close there’s a certain amount of self-reflection hanging in the air. That quasi-introspective light that reveals both the magnificent and the less then stellar, the things you admire and the thing you’d like to alter when next season comes.
Clearly this hasn’t been the best year for my personal riding because I just haven’t had enough time to actually do it and I’ve spent far more hours away from the bikes than near them. On one level that eats away - rather constantly - at my sense of ‘what’s right in the world’, however the desire to be ‘near’ bikes has shown itself in a variety of different forms. Some of which are relatively obvious - like the hours spent working on moto-docs, while others were surprisingly unexpected.
In particular the vast amount of moto-reading that I found myself consuming over the course of the past year. Some of these escapes where brand specific while others era specific, and a few were merely tangentially moto-related, yet of all the books I flew through this year none was nearly as illuminating as Back on Track
Generally speaking I’m always somewhat hesitant to pick up a biography written with or by the subject themselves, as often times these sorts of books are crafted in the glowing light of perfection and rarely shed insight into the person themselves. Instead these sort of ‘tell all’ experiences feels less like the truth and more like you’re reading what is essentially one very hefty Nike commercial that’s sole purpose is to help stir the subjects celebrity status. However Back on Track is remarkably different than other puff-piece Bios — Because it isn’t one.
The book was not written during a Championship season, nor does it paint a perfect picture of Neil or pretend that he is in fact a perfect person. Instead Back on Track offers the most candid look that I’ve ever read on what it takes to run among the big boys in WSBK. From the highs to the lows to the constant search for that little bit of extra speed in every corner, Hodgson and co-writer Neil Bramwell lay it all out there for the audience to relive and learn from.
Perusing the pages you get the sense that the actual act of racing is almost the easiest part of being a professional World Superbike rider. Rather it’s the constant movement and motion from one place to another and the assortment of issues that go along with living a vagabond existence that seems to be the most trying part of professional racing.
In addition to the absolute sense of honesty that the book portrays, Back On Track is surprisingly open about what works and what doesn’t when you’re racing. Considering that at the World Superbike level of racing it is truly everyman for themselves and an arena where success is often predicated on secrecy, it truly astonishing that Neil is as open about what goes on in the pits and how that ultimately affects his outcomes during a race. He and his team spend the year constantly plagued with parts that don’t work, bikes that blow up, a lack of factory support and a somewhat elusive search for better results. The way that they go about sorting these issues out is really the core of the book and the journey from the first race of the season to the last offers a surprising amount of knowledge that applicable not only on the track but in the everyday real world when you’re not even around a bike…
“The Honda Myth: The Genius and His Wake” - Go Read It!
A few weekends back I was kicking tires and telling lies inside the paddock during the AMA races at Fontana when the topic of Honda Motor Corp’s rapid historical ascent to the top spot in worldwide manufacturing came up in conversation. Even though I’ve clearly been hooked by the uniquely articulated passion of the Italian motorcycle industry, I’m not naive enough to ignore the tremendous historical contributions and implications that the Japanese motorcycle industry, and the Honda Motor Corp. in specific, has offered to motorcycling in general. In relatively short order, a mere twenty to thirty years post World War II, Honda went from a bit player in Japan to a dominant force worldwide. That’s an amazing amount of growth and a tremendous story to say the least.
My fascination with the brand’s history undoubtedly hit a high point during the Twist The Throttle shoot, when we visited one of the Honda factories in Japan and spent time with some of their folks inside their Tokyo headquarters. The way their “associates” (what Honda call its employees) spoke about the brand seemed remarkably different then the rest of the companies we visited. They were equally as passionate, but in a much more concrete way - almost as if the presence of Soichiro Honda still existed.
The tangible nature of the old man’s impact is one of the key differences that separates Honda from the other brands, partially I suspect because unlike the founders of Suzuki or Kawasaki for example, both of which started in the late eighteen-hundreds and in completely different business, Soichiro is still part of the company’s relatively ‘modern’ history. In the grand scheme of things, he really hasn’t been gone all that long. Therefore the fact that his drive and ambition still strongly echo probably should be all that surprising to the general motorcycle fan.
As I recounted my respect for what I’d seen and for what Soichiro accomplished, one of the folks I highly respect in the moto-landscape suggested that if I really was curious about how Honda got its start, then I ought to pick up a copy of “The Honda Myth: The Genius and His Wake” by Masaaki Sato (a former writer for the Nikkei paper in Japan, which is effectively their equivalent of the Wall Street Journal)… More After the jump… (more…)
Ducati Multistrada 620 : Commanding Confidence
Photos by Stephen Schauer
I’m squeezing the front brake as I work my way through the entrance of a deep downhill one hundred and eighty degree corner when the bike begins its ultimate fighter like challenge to push the limits of a reasonable lean angle. What once was horizontal swiftly kicks the other way and a second later I find myself sliding across the saddle and hanging out over the other side of the bike as I head through the rest of the turn with an unadulterated and almost irresistible sense of invincibility. Between the gooey gripping tires and the immense leverage of the broad handlebars, this bike is fluently speaking the language of do-no-wrong absolute certain movement and it’s making it perfectly clear that there’s only one place that it’s going to go – around this particular bend.
Inspiration it seems comes in many forms and this frantically joyous feeling is clearly asking if not begging to be bold, so coming out of the corner I whack the outside handgrip and rip the throttle back. It’s a big motion that creates an even bigger movement. As the road begins to snake left, the bike takes a moment to catch its breath and then it wildly exhales with yet another crazily vigorous motion that gives birth to the widest of grins.
In a synapse popping instant of surprising entertainment you realize that the act of being tossed back across the saddle in such a frenzied and near maniac interpretation of a sportbike transition from one corner to the next is not only something you weren’t expecting out of this ride, but also a wildly enjoyable act. As the bike makes another radical pendulum swing it dramatically sends me off of my axis one more time before succumbing to an almost instinctively deep-seated desire to chase its own perfect line.
Ducati ST3S ABS : Sleeper of The Pack
Photos by Stephen Schauer
A thick early morning marine layer is hanging just a few feet above the coast as I whip through another mile of twisting euphoria. Each consecutive series of corners comes flying at me in a rapid succession that almost seems implausible and yet it’s not. Because it’s happening right before my eyes and even though I can’t quite believe it’s real, I know it is. Driving hard out of the turn I peer ahead and as soon as I’m able to focus on the next corner, it becomes the last corner. Gone. Just like that. Consumed in a remarkably easy singular motion that only comes forth when you realize that you’re not just out riding, you’re hunting a form of ecstasy.
With my heart pounding and a trace of sweat covering my brow, I swoop from corner to corner in an effortless advance. It’s one part bodysteering, a touch of countersteering and a dash of sliding off the saddle. The perfect recipe for an easygoing graceful yet utterly sporty early morning adventure. The kind of exploration that allows you to do as much or as little work as you want and still enjoy the ride to exactly the same degree.
By the time I finally pull up to a stoplight in Malibu after miles of full tilt swooping satisfaction it’s nice to finally take a breather - even if that breather includes a mouth full of sea salt. Sliding the bike into neutral, I turn my attention to a group of wetsuit-clad surfers who are crossing the street and staring. They have no idea exactly how much fun I’ve already had before even tasting a sip of coffee this morning. Of course right now I’m not even visible on their radar. In the lane to my right stands a piece of heavy metal auto lust, a brand new Aston Martin DB9 and it’s luring every set of available eyes towards it.
Like most of the greater Los Angeles region, Malibu offers an almost crazy perspective when it comes to cars. Around here what you drive is far more important to some people than just about anything else in life. People will live in shacks but throw down serious amounts of coin for their automobiles, all in the name of personal illusion. Yet while perception is the rule around here, right now I can’t help but feel like there’s a certain kind of pleasure that comes from being the forgotten man. The lost member of the moto lust crowd. It’s the kind of gratification that can only come from knowing that you’ve been let in on the big secret and nobody else has…
A secret called the Ducati ST3S with ABS.
It’s not the fastest motorcycle in the world or the most exclusive, but it’s certainly one of the most multifaceted. As I watch the heat on the DB9 continue to grow, I can’t help but smile. When was the last time you swung your leg over an Italian motorcycle and enjoyed being the sleeper in the crowd? When the light finally turns green one roar is all it takes to make the point. While you don’t need to exceed at business to ride this bike, the bike itself is nothing but business when it comes to riding. (more…)
Ducati S2R 1000 Monster : The Definition of Fun
I’m mere miles away from some of the densest population centers that the city of Los Angeles has to offer and yet I’m not even conscious of it. Twisting around the back half of the Mulholland Highway it’s remarkable how a great ride can completely alter your outlook on life. Bring a smile to your face. Not because it permanently changes you, but rather because it forces you to focus on a unique moment in time. A unique story that’s all your own. Corners and straights that merely existed somehow coalesce into one fluid and marvelous adventure that’s yours and yours alone.
Coming through the corners I find myself thinking that there’s an amazing sense of simplicity and it’s marvelous. It’s also a concept I thought I’d outgrown. Not because I wanted to but because I had to. The real world is inevitably filled with complications. Work. Family. Car payments. You name it. Nothing feels simple anymore. Life, it seems, has forced me to grow up. It forces all of us to grow up. Yet this wildly wicked amusement park ride reminds me of a time when the world was just simple and fun.
How fantastic is that?
I can’t help but thinking that on some level and at some point we all wish we could go back in time to a simpler part of our lives. For some that could be childhood or perhaps their teenage years. For others it might even be when they were young adults making their way in the world. Yet regardless of which particular chunk of time we’re talking about there’s a commonality - a bond perhaps - where we all search for a way to remind ourselves of what it was like to live a carefree existence. A world filled with unequivocal passion and enjoyment.
This bike does that… And more…
Coming out of the next corner I twist the throttle back and hurl ahead on a short downhill straight, which leads me directly to the doorstep of a whip-your-head-around left hand switchback. I suspect that most people think corners like this only exist in the Alps but thankfully they’re wrong. They live and breathe among us too. Instinctively my right hand begins to brake as I slide over in the saddle and with an amazing sense of confidence for having never ridden this bike before I nail the smoothest downshift I’ve felt in quite awhile. Seconds later it becomes clear that I’m not the only one who enjoys leaning over. The bike digs it too. It’s solidly planted. Confidently planted. My heart is pounding and I pin my helmet to my shoulder and look through the turn. With no oncoming traffic headed my way I swing the bike into the turn with a simple push. And it just falls… As if this is where it was built to play.
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MV Agusta Brutale 910 : Show Me, Don’t Tell Me
It’s late in the afternoon on a Friday, a mere hour before dusk and I’m ripping through the Malibu Canyons listening to the one of the most evocative sounds I’ve ever heard while on a motorcycle when I’m reminded of the mantra, “show me, don’t tell me”. Oddly enough because this bike does both; it’s hot, it’s stunning and it also happens to fly.
And by fly, I mean it rips up the road in front of you with such a wild ferocity that you are fairly certain that even the speedo can’t keep up.
Whipping around each successive corner I feel like a kid again. I’m mesmerized by the same sensation that I remember having on dirtbikes as a child – only now I’m an adult who’s riding on the street and enjoying breathtaking scenery that I’ve witnessed a million times before fly past me in a whole new way.
Like most riders, I think I’ve got a pretty good handle on the sensation that comes from going fast. It’s one of the reasons why people ride in the first place because on some level we like to thrill ourselves. But then you get on a bike like the new MV Augusta Brutale 910 and you realize that whatever physical reaction you’ve felt from going fast is nothing compared to what you feel on this bike when you come out of a corner and get on it hard.
Without hesitation, the second you begin to twist the throttle the Brutale fires you straight ahead and by the time your mind catches up with the bike you find yourself half a mile down the road smiling inside your helmet. It’s amazing. As sensations go, I’m sorry you can’t bottle this sort of emotional and physical excess. It’s that much fun.
To be perfectly honest this all started out innocently enough, I was hanging out at ProItalia before I headed up to Willow Springs and had some time to kill. So I did what any self-respecting gearhead would do, I spent some time kicking tires. This as it turns out is a much more dangerous activity than heading to a track.
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Twisting Asphalt Trys Out A Helmet Cam
Over the course of the past year and a half I’ve pretty well documented every ride that I’ve taken with my super compact Canon SD10 digital camera. It’s an absolutely fantastic gem of a camera. I would recommend it to anyone in a heartbeat - whether they’re a rider or not. Whats become clear to me is that it’s absolutely amazing how quickly you can become enamored with digital photography when it applies to areas of your life that you enjoy. However, during the past several months even though I’ve greatly enjoyed taking digital still images of the rides I take, my mind has increasingly moved in the direction of digital video. The chance to document the absolutely amazing natural beauty of the Santa Monica Mountains and the SoCal experience of canyon riding with video seems to picturesque an opportunity to pass up.
Due to a number of factors based on all of this, a unique opportunity has presented itself. As some of you might recall in a previous post, I wrote a short bit about how a company called Twenty20 Camera has recently introduced a new line of helmet & motorcycle cameras. A short time after I posted about it, one of guys who runs the company named Jason Green was kind enough to offer me a chance to actually get my hands on a unit and take it for a spin this weekend while I’m out at the CLASS course on the Streets of Willow racetrack.
Long time readers of this site will know, in the past I’ve reviewed some other items on this website simply for kicks. This is the first time that a manufacturer has asked me to review their product on their dime. So that’s pretty cool. That being said I want to be clear that I only agreed to this if I was allowed to give an honest evaluation of the product, not a tit-for-tat feel good piece. I feel I owe everyone who reads this site whether it’s regularly or not at least that much… (more…)
Ducati People by Kevin Ash
Once The West Wing wrapped earlier tonight - seriously, has there been a better season? - I stole a few moments and finished the last few pages of Kevin Ash’s book, “Ducati People : Exploring The Passion Beind This Legendary Marque”. After ripping right through “Ducati 999 : Birth of a Legend” picking up another Ducatisti based book seemed like a no brainer.
Usually I find that most motor-related books that deal with company histories tend to be very bland on the character and very heavy on the details. Ash however treats the history of Ducati a bit differently. Instead of turning each page and finding what feels like a monotonous desmotronic valve discussion, he focuses on the people instead. The book features a rather large ensemble cast of twenty-four folks for whom beign associated with Ducati is a passion. They all have a varying degree of importance to the marque, but each is given their own chapter in essence to tell their unique piece of the Ducati story. By no means does this offer a comprehensive history of the brand, but instead small glimpses into the very foundation of what I would call the essence of the brand. None of the chapters are amazingly long in length, but they’re distilled down to one basic core element; feelings. What it felt like to be somewhere or do something. On a personal level I find this sort of editorial slant much more satisfying because let’s be honest here, I don’t really care what millimeter bolt the factory used in ‘73 but I do care about how the factory got from 1973 to today.
The book also offers some interesting perspectives by way of dedicating individual chapters to people you normally would never hear from in the more nuts & bolt history books. One of the women interviewed is a female factory test rider who started on the assembly line. Another is a rather ordinary desk jockey with no fancy title. Both offer very glowing opinions about working at Ducati, but not in an overhanded PR sensibility. (more…)
Alanf’s Review of Faster
Interesting and nicely written review of the new 2 disc set of Faster by fellow motorcycle rider Alanf, titled “Getting faster all the time…”. Ever since I watched the original non-collector edition of Faster, which I wrote about awhile back, I’ve been mulling over whether or not to pick up the new 2 disc set…
Ducati Design In the Sign of Emotion
In my continuing quest to read as much as I can about Ducati Motorcycles, tonight I’d like to add one more rather opinionated review of yet another Ducati book. For the past month and a half I’ve been working my way through “Ducati Design In the Sign of Emotion” by Decio Giulio Riccardo Cagugati and earlier tonight I basically wrapped up reading it.
Usually this is where I gush endlessly over what a fantastic read such-and-such book was, only tonight I can’t say I feel very passionate about “Ducati Design In the Sign of Emotion”. While I’d love to say that it’s yet another fantastic read for the Ducatisti faithful, sitting here right now I find it hard to describe how little I feel personally invested in the book. Completely let down might be to strong of a phrase to use, but I had hoped that Cagugati’s book would shead all sorts of light into the design process at Ducati over the years - much like “Ducati 999 Birth of a Legend” did in a very specific manor for the new 999 and 749 models. Yet ‘Ducati Design’ makes me feel less connected to marque perhaps because even though the words ‘design’ and ‘emotion’ are in the title the truth is this is really a history book - not a thesis on the creative process within the walls of Ducati over the years.
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