Leather jacket – CHECK! Fireproof gloves – CHECK! Bluejeans… umm… check?

Yep, apparently that’s all the protection required when you try to flambe’ yourself on a motorcycle in India. This is rider Shabir Ahluwalia, and he’s just achieved a new record of 224 feet 8 inches running a motorcycle through a tunnel of fire. The people over at Guinness World Records were on hand with their clipboards and a bottle of water to verify that the lack-luster stunt was official and that Mr. Ahluwalia now has his own little place in the history books. Click through for the video and prepare to be only marginally impressed.

Source: Youtube.com

“Keep the rubber side down”; this is a pretty common term amongst motorcyclists for a variety of reasons. Obviously self-preservation is one, but the second and more economically friendly answer would be to keep your machine in one piece. Racing however drastically reduces the chances of this happening, just as jumping out of a plane greatly reduces your chances of living to a ripe-old age. Some people though just like to push the boundaries, and when this happens all hell can break loose.

Source: VWVortex.com

If you’ve ever run flat-out on a motorcycle then you know that the margin for error is slim-to-none. In fact one miscalculation in judgement can in some cases, get you killed. Both Kurt and myself have years of experience behind the bars and can tell you first hand that riding a motorcycle is one of the most rewarding experiences that one can have. However, there is a big difference in riding along for a Sunday stroll and riding balls-out on the racetrack. The following video is of rider Tim Röthig, a test rider for Bridgestone as he muscles a 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10 around the Nürburgring in 7:50-secs. Granted there are cars out there that have lapped the ring in far less time, but I’ll be damned if their drivers have been as connected with their machine as this man. Click through for the video and be prepared to hang on for one crazy-ass ride.

Source: Youtube.com via Autoblog

Having logged over 100,000 miles in the saddle of various motorcycles, I can tell you that if I had one way in which to travel that this would be it. Those that don’t ride will never understand the feeling of freedom, exhilaration and pure connection to the road that riding offers. The fact is that most people are afraid of motorcycles. They hear of horrid accidents and think that most riders have a death wish, when in fact it’s totally the opposite. Ever hear the phrase, “Live to Ride, Ride to Live”… well, it’s 100% true. Motorcycles make you feel alive. They bring to light every sense in your body and offer an almost out of body experience when your cruising down the road on that perfect sunny day. Sure there’s an element of danger in riding, but hell, that’s part of the fun. If you’ve never ridden a motorcycle then please do yourself a favor and try it just once. If you don’t like it, then fine, however don’t simply dismiss it because of what others say as you’ll be missing out on one of the greatest experiences of a life time.

The problem with sportbikes is that they’re tricky to ride anywhere near the limit. Take launching one, for example: too much throttle and you either light the rear tire of loft the front end; too little throttle and you suddenly find yourself looking at every other rider’s taillight. Then there’s the issue of power-on wheelies exiting corners; sure, they’re fun, but they’re also slow. Wouldn’t it be cool if you could buy a sportbike that minimized problems like this without slowing you down? You can, and it’s called the Aprilia RSV4. Equipped with all the techno-wizardry you need to make you a better rider, the bike is way smarter than the average rider. The video below explains what Aprilia’s Performance Ride Control can do better than I can, but be warned: you still have to supply your own common sense.

As someone who used to use a motorcycle as his daily form of transportation I can safely say that the following video was one of the most disturbing things I’ve ever seen. This video was taken in Kentucky as two sport bike riders were running down one of their favorite twisty roads. Upon seeing a slow moving pickup truck in front of them the first rider goes to pass and with that all hell breaks loose as the driver of the truck tries to run him off the road. Now keep in mind that the rider did pass over a double yellow line, and illegal move in any state, but that in no way, shape or form gives the truck driver the right to try an commit vehicular manslaughter. The next seven minutes of footage show the motorcyclist literally running for his life as he tries to get away from the crazed driver who is trying to run him down. Keep in mind that there is some NSFW language here, but if that doesn’t offend you then click through, because this is one of the most shocking videos I’ve ever seen.

Source: Autoblog.com

If you were to ask me what I missed most about racing and riding motorcycles, I’d have to say it would be the feeling of true freedom that they provide. They’re marvelous machines that stimulate the body, mind and soul in ways that can’t be explained. For those that ride, you get it. For those that don’t, you should. Are they dangerous? Absolutely, but f*ck it, so is crossing the street. What I’m getting at is that it doesn’t matter whether you’re riding a hot pink 50cc Vespa, a tuned 200 mph sport bike or a high flying dirt bike. All that matters is that you’re out there riding. The below video was done by Jmills Entertainment and captures exactly what I’m talking about. Now I’m not saying to go out there and start trying to land triples on your first outing, but experiment. By an older bike, learn the basics and experience what guys like myself and Kurt have known for years – motorcycles are good. Click through for the vid.

Source: RalfBecker.com

This is Ryuichi Kiyonari, a rider in the World Superbike Championship series. He’s 29 years old, rides for the HM Plant Honda team, and has more talent in his pinky-toe then most riders possess in their entire bodies. At first I was thinking of giving you some deep specs on him, his bike and how he came into the sport, but truth be told that’s actually quite boring. What’s interesting is the way he displays total control of his bike in any situation. I found this video of Kiyonari running at Donnington Park back in 2008, and watching him throw his machine around in rain soaked conditions such as these is simply astonishing. When you’re riding a high-powered motorcycle on a rained soaked raceway I can tell you from experience that traction is not your friend. Every corner is just another chance for that front tire to wash out, or that rear tire to break traction and high-side you into oblivion. For Ryuichi Kiyonari though the rain is not a problem, in fact he handles it with a grace and control that very few riders possess. Click through for the video and watch in awe at some of the most amazing bike control you’re ever likely to see.

Image: Chip Yates

On January 9, 2011, Chip Yates rode the SWIGZ.COM Pro Racing Electric Superbike to a second and a third place finish in WERA competition. Yates ran in the Heavyweight Twins class, so he was up against bikes like the Ducati 848 and 1000, the KTM 1195 and the Suzuki SV 650. The event marks the first time that an electric bike has competed against gas powered bikes, and it’s a clear indication that battery powered bikes can be very competitive against their fermented-dinosaur fueled counterparts. Video below.

Yates starts off tentative in the video, since he’s never run the bike in competition and sat out the warm-up lap to preserve the batteries. At about 1:50 in the video, he rolls on (the rheostat?) and absolutely walks the guy next to him, which goes to show that a flat torque curve is a good thing. Yates had a hard time keeping the front end down, which made getting on the power out of corners a tricky negotiation between power and traction. Given that this was the bike’s first competition outing, two podium finishes are an impressive way to kick off the season.

Ironically, Yates built the bike, which puts out an estimated 194 horsepower, to run against other electric motorcycles. When the TTXGP and the FIM lowered electric bike weight limits to 550 pounds in the Open Class, Yates’ bike was suddenly ineligible. His choices were to run the Heavyweight Twin class in WERA, or not race at all. Clearly, Yates made the right call.

Source: Motorcycle USA

Precision, coordination, flexibility, creativity and nerves are attributes that very few people possess in their entirety. Sure we may think we have them, but then something like this comes out of nowhere and tells us that we’re mundane as compared to others in this world. This is pro bike rider Danny MacAskill, a rider who not only defines each one of those properties, but takes them to the next level. The above video follows MacAskill on a journey from Edinburgh back to his hometown of Dunvegan, in the Isle of Skye, Scotland. What’s amazing is MacAskill seemingly defies gravity on what’s little more than a lightly modified BMX bicycle. The tricks, jumps and balancing acts that he accomplishes are nothing short of extraordinary, as is the film editing that makes this short movie so enjoyable. Do yourselves a favor and watch it in its entirety… you’ll be glad you did.

Source: Youtube.com