If you're like most of us, the melting snow and warming sun has you thinking about your motorcycle. Maybe you've seen a few of the early fanatics out there already, braving the March wind and sandy roads. But, as I write this today, it is twenty degrees outside, so most of us as still just working up the Jones for riding. Here are some suggestions for Internet video to help you ease the craving during the coming weeks.
First, let's start with an old favorite. If you've never seen the movie Faster, I highly recommend watching the trailer for this documentary on the MotoGP race series. The movie documents the 2001 and 2002 race seasons, as Valentino Rossi takes on all comers and rival Max Biaggi can't seem to stop falling off. The trailer captures the raw drama of the movie and does its job to make you want to watch the whole movie. This trailer alone made me into a MotoGP fan.
In 2005, the director of Faster, Mark Neale made a sequel called The Doctor, The Tornado and The Kentucky Kid, which focuses on the 2005 Laguna Seca MotoGP race. Like Faster, the film is more than just a documentary: it is a drama that captures personal conflict and tells a character-driven story.
Riding is about more than racing, of course. A set of three movies - Why They Ride, Lines and the Mountain Rider Series -- focus on the spirit of street riding.
Why They Ride, is a documentary by two brothers, Corey and Casey Wilkinson, who set out to discover Deal's Gap. The movie documents their trip from Wisconsin to US 129 in the Smokey Mountains. The road that captures their imagination - the Dragon -- has 318 curves in 11 miles. Are you interested? I know I am! The web site has two trailers for the movie which looks to be a good one.
Lines is another movie that focuses on why street riders ride. Shot on some breathtaking roads in Oregon, the movie has five episodes. Each episode focuses on a different rider, a different road and a different bike. My favorite episode is the one which features a group ride and the dynamics between three sport bikes on a twisty road. The episode on the solitary rider who explores why he rides is a close second favorite.
All of the episode make you want to head out on the road and ride some sweet lines. And the Oregon scenery is almost as good as Vermont's and the roads are stellar.
Unfortunately, you can no longer buy the full Lines movie, so these trailers will have to do. To view the episodes, go to the movie site and click on the link, The Movie. Links to the episodes can be found on the right side of the page. As you mouse over the episode link, the map shows the location of the road on the Oregon map. Click on the episode link to see the link the episode trailer.
My final recommendation is for another online only choice: the Dr. Sardonicus Mountain Rider series. This series is a mix of street and track day riding and is all about the motion of motorcycling. Set to techno and rock music with rich production values, much of this series is shot from the rider's view or from low level cameras mounted on the bike to capture the lean and speed of riding. This series makes you feel like you're of hanging off your bike riding through the corners, knee down (or so I imagine!). If this doesn't amp you up for a ride through your local twisties, then you better consult with a physician because you may be dead.
The Dr. Sardonicus web site disappeared while I was researching this article. To see these videos, go to You Tube and search for "Dr. Sardonicus".
Until you can actually get out and ride, enjoy the "ride"!
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