Harley Davidson Sportster

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Selling my Alpinestars TZ-1 Jacket
2008-02-02 17:36:00
I currently have my near new Alpinestars TZ-1 blue leather jacket, size 42 for sale. I've listed on Craigslist, Kijiji and eBay. The jacket was a great match for my Suzuki SV650 but doesn't quite go with the Sportster.If you're interested, check out the ads.Wouldn't you know it, 1 hour after posting the jacket was sold.
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Local Events
2008-02-02 17:26:00
Biggs Harley-Davidson in North County has the following events planned for the month of February. Contact the dealer directly with questions.Saturday Morning Pancakes! – Follow that great sausage smell over to Biggs for a complimentary pancake breakfast every Saturday morning from 9 to 11.H.O.G. Chapter Meeting Friday, February 8th - 7:00 PM at Biggs H-D (San Marcos). Our Military Donations Committee would like to remind you to bring food or toiletry items for the Military to the meeting. These items are packaged and sent to our troops in Iraq.Formation 101 Saturday, February 9th - 8:30 AM at Biggs H-D (San Marcos). Come learn how we ride as a group. If you haven't been in a while, come refresh your knowledge. Coffee and doughnuts. Members receive a Rider Pin for attending. Contact Mike L, our Safety Officer for more information.H.O.G Chapter BBQ Saturday, February 16th - 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Biggs San Marcos, and boy do they know how to BBQ! Ladies of Harley (LOH) Meeting, Wed...
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Installing the Harley Davidson Layback License Plate and Turn Signal Reloca
2008-02-01 09:39:00
Well before I ever wrenched on a motorcycle I worked on cars, there was a time when I even did that as a profession. I've always been pretty good at applying a strong dose of common sense to the job and figuring out when things just don't seem right. Having previously owned BMW and Suzuki motorcycles I became accustomed to working on those machines and following the instructions provided by the manufacturers. Both manufacturers provide clear, concise instructions that are every bit as precise as their products. Anyone who could follow instructions and could tell the difference between a Phillips and Flat head screwdriver could do many straight forward tasks and fit most accessories.With the Harley Davidson products I've learned that there is room for interpretation and that the ability sense when things aren't quite right are required for successful, or at least less frustrating, projects. I may be spoiled by the Germans and the Japanese, but it seems to me the good folks in Mil...
More About: Signal , Harley Davidson , Harley-Davidson , Turn

10:00 to Yuma
2008-01-22 03:16:00
I've been wanting to get out and do a "long" ride on the Sportster. I set the goal of crossing the state line, figuring that would require a reasonable number of miles. After watching the movie "3:10 to Yuma " with Russell Crowe I decided I'd make the ride out to Yuma myself and take a look at the fabled Territorial Prison.I left Sunday at 10am, a bit later than planned but early enough to make it out and back before dark. I dressed warn (for SoCal) with thermal shirt, short sleeve shirt, and a sweat shirt under my leather jacket. For pants I went with my standard riding trousers, the Arbor pants from Aerostitch. In past, the cold air on my face has created quite a chill so I covered up with a bandana. I probably looked like a bank robber but my face was warm. I also thought the look appropriate for the ride. The Sportster motored along the San Diego freeways very smooth. The ride is significantly more comfortable than that of the Suzuki SV I previously owned, and even the BMW F650...

Installing the Tour Master Cruiser II Slant Saddlebags
2008-01-19 23:45:00
As mentioned in previous posts I recently purchased a set of the Tour Master Cruiser II Slant Saddlebags, size large, from Tonker.com. I was impressed when the bags arrived two days after ordering (free shipping) and quickly went about getting them installed.I'd already installed the Harley-Davidson Saddlebag Supports (see previous post) so the work requiring tools was pretty much done. The Tour Master bags out of the box hung a bit high on my 2008 Sportster XL1200 Custom so the first step was to adjust the length (or width depending on how you want to look at it) of the yoke. This is very easy to do, simply untie the know, remove the laces, and then lay the bags across the rear fender. I aligned the top of the bags with the rear frame rail and then matched the holes on the two sides of the yoke. The overlap was four holes in. With this set I laced up the pieces and tied the knot securely.To keep the bags from shifting Tour Master provides buckles and links made out of nylon strap....

Installing the Harley-Davidson Saddlebag Supports
2008-01-19 20:06:00
When I finally made the decision to go with the throw-over saddle bags from Tour Master I also decided to use the Harley -Davidson Saddlebag Supports, figuring that while a bit pricey ($100) they would be of good quality and fit for my 2008 Sportster XL1200 Custom. I purchased the supports from San Diego Harley, took a quick look at the instructions and thought it looked like quick work to do the install.I set the Sportster's jiffy stand on a two-by-four to get the bike near level. The Harley kit covers multiple Sportster years and has a variety of hardware. I read through the instructions in detail to pull out the specific nuts and bolts required for the install. The first thing I noticed was that the rear mount for the support is assembled using a 2 3/4" bolt that runs from inside the fender and is finished with an acorn nut. Having recently completed the turn signal relocation project I knew that given the low height of the Custom there wasn't much room between the tire and fend...
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Saddlebag Update
2008-01-17 00:41:00
I've got to give a 'shout out' to Tonker.com, great prices, great service and FAST shipping. In my last post I mentioned ordering the large Tour Master Cruiser II Slant saddlebags from Tonker.com, the company had the best price I could find online and free shipping on orders over $75. I ordered the bags over the weekend, received shipping confirmation on Monday and was amazed to find them on my door stoop Tuesday morning. I'll do a full write up on the bags in a future post but have to say I am very happy with my decision to go with the Tour Master product, very nice bags, easy to install, and I'm already getting compliments on how the look on the Sportster XL1200C. For those of you who didn't get it in the above, I highly recommend Tonker.com and the Tour Master Cruiser II luggage.
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Saddlebags for the Sportster
2008-01-15 03:05:00
I've been thinking about saddlebags for my Sportster for quite some time. Even before I purchased the bike I knew I wanted bags, ideally to carry jacket, extra shirts in cold weather, and my notebook for going back and forth to the office. When I rented the Sportster from the local dealer it was equipped with the Harley-Davidson "Sportster Leather Saddlebags". I found the bags to be very flexible, large enough to cram a long armored jacket into, and liked the easy to use clips under the chrome buckles. I was less excited when I found out the bags are almost $600 not including all the bits required to get them attached to the Sportster.For the last couple of months I've been looking at various options for saddlebags, searching for the right mix of style, capacity, quality and price. I took a look at the bags people were using on the XL Forums, a lot of nice options are out there. I looked at Willie & Max, Saddleman, and LeatherLyke and several others but didn't find what I was...

Motorcycle Helmets
2007-11-14 02:32:00
I am writing this as follow up to an earlier posting on helmet options for my 2008 Harley-Davidson Sportster. There have been more than a few strong feelings expressed on the topic of helmets so I’m providing some feedback and a poll so others can weigh in.I’ve ridden the Sportster XL1200 Custom for about a thousand miles with a half helmet and no windscreen. Overall it has been a lot of fun and is a true immersion into the experience of riding. There is really nothing out there to separate rider from the full experience, sites, sounds, smells, temperature. That said, I’ve never really felt comfortable riding with my face fully exposed, probably a result of starting on sportbikes. A Harley windscreen was fitted to the Sportster in October and that has made long distance riding much more enjoyable. Behind the screen I feel I can ride all day, without the screen long rides became tiresome. With the windscreen I experienced some significant buffeting about the head, very noticeab...
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From Sea to Sea with Desert in Between
2007-10-23 02:54:00
October 14 my friend and local banker John Harelson head East up through Ramona. It’s early Sunday morning, the sun is just cresting the Eastern mountains and the further we go the colder it gets. To put things in perspective, cold for a Southern Californian is anything below sixty degrees. As we wind up the 78 into the town of Ramona we enter a fog bank and in the moisture the temperature drops, the official low is 51, including wind speed and moisture it was damn cold.Riding out old Julian highway and into Julian proper we made good time – not many people on the road in the early morning, just riders out looking for some fresh air and no traffic. On the way to Julian we detour down Wynola road, enjoying the twisty road and beautiful fall colors. We pass a group of wild turkeys standing by the side of the road and then wind into the town proper, stopping at the Julian Coffee House on the East side of Main Street, next to the gas station.A few cups of coffee and the tanks topped...
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Hot Deal on a Cool Cruiser Jacket
2007-10-13 02:27:00
The folks at New Enough Motorcycle Leathers are blowing out the Power Trip Supercharger leather jackets at $72-$85. These appear to be pretty sharp and well made so I thought I’d pass it along. With the weather getting cooler now may be the time to get an extra jacket, to mix things up on the daily ride.Digg It | Reddit It | Add to del.icio.us
More About: Cruiser , Jacket , Cool , Deal

The Next Harley You Can’t Buy
2007-10-13 02:00:00
According to Autoblog, Harley Davidson have announced the future release of the Sportster XR1200 for Europe. This model moves away from the classic cruiser style to more of a standard or “naked” bike configuration including an aero tail and real rear-sets, not the centered or forward mounted controls found on American Sportsters. This may be pure speculation but it wouldn’t surprise me to see The Motor Company looking to extend its presence in Europe where riders are far more likely to ride the more upright standards or sport bikes than cruisers. The XR1200 looks like an evolution of the Nightster, with a radical rear fender and tail treatment (for a Harley). I’m not sure how they’re going to get enough air into lump through that little snorkel but I’m sure the details are all being worked out. So is this just a less comfortable version of the venerable Sportster or is this the new world market entry for Harley? Time will tell.For kicks, check out the translated Italian ...

Life with the Harley-Davidson Sportster
2007-10-03 22:57:00
Last night while riding home I couldn’t help but think how much I am enjoying my 2008 Harley -Davidson Sportster XL1200C Custom. I was on the freeway at the time, keeping pace (or ahead of traffic) when coincidentally the clock turned 700 miles. The bike remains stock, the first time I’ve had a bike and done nothing to it within the first couple of days. I’ve not made any changes because I want to take in the experience of riding the stock bike and because the bike is so damn good I don’t feel the need to make any serious modifications. Certainly accessories will come, but they don’t need to happen immediately.I was coming home from the new customer appreciation event put on by San Diego Harley-Davidson in Kearny Mesa. The event, which included dinner, was very enjoyable and a good opportunity to meet the dealership staff in a casual setting. I was impressed by apparent interest the staff members have in the customer’s overall experience. This makes sense as there is trem...
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Slow Isn’t Always Safe
2007-10-02 22:59:00
On Sunday I had a chance to get out and run “the East County loop” as I’ve come to call the ride from the 395 North, to the 76 East, to Julian, and then back home via 78 West. To mix things up on this ride I ran the loop in reverse, hitting Ramona on the 78 East, to Julian, etc.On this ride I encountered significant traffic on the 76 leg, pretty much from Lake Henshaw to the 15. The most frustrating of the traffic was a driver in a Mercedes SLK doing between 35 and 40 from the lake to the Pala Casino. The speed alone would have been marginally frustrating but it was a nice day and having a relaxed ride is not a bad thing. What was frustrating and dangerous was the build-up of cars behind the SLK, and more worrisome, my Sportster.One ass rode the back of my Harley-Davidson for a good five miles. To try and be as safe as possible I put some distance between my front wheel and the car in front (an SUV behind the SLK). By the time the Mercedes reached the casino there must have be...
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Sleep Deprivation and Riding
2007-09-29 21:10:00
I only got two days of riding in this week so I’m hoping to make up some miles this Sunday. Wednesday I took the girls to school, Friday I was supposed to pick-up my son, and Thursday I was tired from only about 3 hours sleep the night before (no, I wasn’t up all night playing Halo 3).I actually felt like riding Thursday morning but don’t when I’ve not slept. Sleep deprivation has a major negative impact on my riding as it lowers my awareness – not good when surrounded by cars – and I tend to get point fixated. The point fixation is extremely frustrating and not safe. For those of you not familiar with the term, point fixation is when you find yourself staring at a point on (or off) the road. Because the bike tends to go where the rider is looking point fixation is very dangerous.I find that rides on my Harley-Davidson Sportster are more enjoyable the further up the road I can get my mind. This takes active concentration, not just sitting back and following the road or, ...
More About: Riding , Riva

500 Mile Break-In Period Complete
2007-09-25 23:11:00
We just passed the 500 mile mark today, completing the factory recommended break-in period. The odometer clicked past 500 on the way down to the local dealership, San Diego Harley-Davidson, where I bought my Sportster XL1200 Custom. A fitting destination for the event made even more momentous as I was heading down to buy Mickey our brindle boxer (named after the Irish boxer in Snatch) a birthday gift.Digg It | Reddit It | Add to del.icio.us
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The Best Book on Riding Technique
2007-09-25 20:44:00
I’ve read a lot of books on riding over the past several years with the goals of improving my technique and having an overall more enjoyable and safer ride. By far the best book I’ve read to date is Keith Code’s Twist of the Wrist 2. This book is a very complete analysis of the physics of riding presented in a very understandable format that includes pictures and tips. Understanding the dynamics of traction and how those dynamics change during cornering, braking, and acceleration has really improved my riding and my confidence. While this book is targeted at sport bike riders the information applies to all including Harley-Davidson riders. I highly recommend Twist of the Wrist 2. Note, the first book in the series is also very good but not necessary if you buy the second.Digg It | Reddit It | Add to del.icio.us
More About: Technique , Book , Riding

Harley-Davidson Creed
2007-09-24 05:21:00
Agree with it or not, there is a certain feel to riding a Harley that in my experience other bikes just don’t convey. Some owners may be posers but the real riders have their own take on life and the road. I don’t necessarily agree with all the opinions in this video, and lord knows it’s heavy handed, but this video captures the essence of Harley-Davidson . See it at the official HD site here.Digg It | Reddit It | Add to del.icio.us
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Sound of Stock 2008 Sportster XL1200C Custom
2007-09-21 19:30:00
As part of what appears to becoming a “sounds of Harley-Davidson” series I’ve captured some footage of my stock 2008 Sportster XL1200C Custom . This bike is stock including the pipes. The Sportster has about 370 miles on it so is not fully broken in yet; I expect the pipes will get louder over time. You can compare this with the sound of the Sportster Custom with Harley’s Screamin’ Eagle pipes in the video posted earlier this month.Digg It | Reddit It | Add to del.icio.us
More About: Sound , Stock , Ports

NPR Report on Motorcycle Makers Responding to Noise Complaints
2007-09-18 18:27:00
When it comes to Harley-Davidson motorcycles “loud pipes save lives” seems to be the battle cry of the masses. When I first rode a HD it was running Screamin’ Eagle slip-ons and I thought them loud, though enjoyable, at the time.When I bought my Sportster Custom I looked into the Screamin’ Eagle option and was told by the dealer rep that those pipes “weren’t very loud.” They seem plenty loud to me and I know it would annoy my neighbors to be running anything much louder than stock up and down our suburban street. The greatest benefit I see in the Screamin' Eagle pipes is in torque and horsepower, as shown in the dyno chart.National Public Radio just produced a segment on the topic of loud pipes including comments from representatives of The Motor Company. The biggest concerns are the “noise laws” communities including New York City, Denver, and Lancaster, PA are passing against loud pipes. The concern is this becomes a slippery-slope that leads to further regulati...
More About: Motorcycle , Report , Makers , Noise

Update on Riding Glasses
2007-09-18 03:04:00
According to local Harley dealer Panoptx is the way to go when it comes to riding glasses. Reasons include better foam to seal out road dust and, more importantly, shatter proof lenses – something Harley-Davidson does not offer in their line.One cautionary note on the Panoptx: do not wipe the inside of lenses if wet, this can damage the anti-fog coating and “make them pretty much useless.” While I question that this would make the glasses useless it could certainly have an impact on their day-to-day use and you don’t want to bollocks up a pair of pricey glasses.I purchased the Whirlwind CV model today. The frame are very comfortable even with the foam seal, they are fairly light and not tight on the temple – important traits for all-day use. I will provide impressions on the glasses after I’ve had a chance to ride with them for a couple of weeks. Given that the days are getting shorter I should have plenty of opportunities to use the day/night Photochromic lenses.Digg It...
More About: Update , Glasses , Riding

Baby’s First Bath
2007-09-17 03:19:00
After commuting three days last week and a big ride yesterday it was time to clean my Vivid Black Sportster Custom today. The bike had a fair amount of dust build-up detracting from the overall shine.I wasn’t sure if I should leave the seat on for the wash or remove it first. The ECM for the fuel injection is under the seat and I didn’t want that to get wet. At the same time, I did not want to get the seat wet unnecessarily. I ended up removing the seat (easily done by removing the lager screw at the back and pushing forward off the center mount), placing the ECM in a ziplock bag, and wrapping the large wiring connection with plastic wrap.With the electronics protected I rinsed the Sporty lightly and washed her down with Meguiar’s Gold Class Car Wash. Being mid-afternoon it was pretty sunny out and the tank and fenders spotted quickly. The Sportster was overall very easy to clean and I highly recommend the stock Custom rear mag wheel over the upgraded spoke wheel. The mag is v...
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The First 300+ Miles on the Sportster Custom
2007-09-16 16:37:00
This week I’ve put over 370 miles on the Sporty including 160 on Saturday that included destinations in Julian and Oceanside. I continue to be amazed by the bike overall; it is very comfortable for clocking miles, handles well in the twisties, and has plenty of power. I am mostly surprised with how well the Harley-Davidson handles.Going through very tight turns you can really lean the Sportster over and feel very confident in the control. The only thing to watch for is gearing, you want to be low enough in the gears to leverage the copious torque through the turns. I found that the Sporty and I performed best when looking as far as possible through the turns, and if I got fixated on the rider in front the ride became significantly less smooth and enjoyable.My neighbor Doug and I did the 130 mile Julian loop in about three hours. Now that we’re into Fall the weather and scenery are perfect for riding and it stayed cool enough for jackets the entire time. The ride out to Oceanside...
More About: Miles , Custom , Ports

Selecting the Right Lid for the Harley-Davidson Sportster
2007-09-14 07:03:00
Does the helmet have to match the bike ...When I started talking to my buddies about buying a Harley the first thing nearly everyone said was, "you’re going to need a new helmet." The helmet they were all referring to is an Arai RX-7 Corsair, a damn fine and safe helmet. The reason they all thought I needed a new helmet was because the Arai does not match the image of the Harley-Davidson ; rather, it is a helmet more fitting a sportbike including the Gary McCoy paint scheme.Riding the Sportster home I got to thinking about the helmet. It was true that the kangaroo graphic paint scheme does not match the classic Vivid Black Sporty and the full face helmet does not match the “image” of the Harley rider. I got to thinking maybe I’d try something different. So what’s the right helmet? A three-quarters number with a face shield or maybe without? Maybe a half helmet?I knew I didn’t want the “yamika” some riders prefer as I do believe that a good helmet is the best thing to ...
More About: Harley Davidson , Ports

Operation Rolling Thunder
2007-09-12 07:39:00
Bringing home a new Harley-Davidson motorcycle ...About a month ago I came to terms with my midlife crisis and realized that it was time to re-think my approach to motorcycling. I had two bikes, a 2003 Suzuki SV650S and a 2003 BMW F650GS Dakar. Both bikes are very nice and have the pros and cons but neither was for me; the Suzuki is just not comfortable for extended trips and the BMW is both awkward (for someone of my size) and sluggish with its large single cylinder.I had seen some of the new Harley-Davidson Sportsters and thought they looked pretty nice and that with a 1200cc engine they would have plenty of power. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve spent several hours in the local HD dealers looking at bikes and thinking about what would be right for me (if any). On Labor Day I rented a Sportster XL1200C Custom and road almost 130 miles and knew at the end of the ride that was the bike for me.Since then, I’ve sold both the Suzuki and the BMW (BTW, if you are looking to sell a...
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Sound of the Sportster XL1200C
2007-09-05 05:32:00
Not the subtlest of sounds ... Harley-Davidson motors may not be the most refined engines on the planet but they do have a primal charm that seems most authenticate from products made in the USA. The Screamin' Eagle pipes make the sound of the 1200cc engine more raw and (obviously) louder.In this clip you can also hear the sound of the fuel injectors tapping away, it is most notable when I move the camera to the left side of the engine.Overall a great sound a part of the complete Harley package.Digg It | Reddit It | Add to del.icio.us
More About: Sound , Sportster , Ports

Test Riding the Harley-Davidson Sportster
2007-09-05 04:46:00
Riding the Harley -Davidson Sportster through the Center of the Sun ...A work friend, Jesus, and I rented Harleys from the local dealer, Biggs in San Marcos. This is the first time either of us had ridden Harleys and neither of use was that comfortable with spending an extended amount of time on someone else's bike, but hey, that's why they offer rentals. I rented a Sportster XL1200C Custom and Jesus a Dyna Wide Glide, apparently the next smaller bike in the Harley-Davidson line. After signing papers and getting the run-down on the bikes we left Biggs at 10AM. It was already hot in San Marcos, probably in the high 80’s and rapidly climbing.With jackets on we rode up the 395 past the 76 and into Fallbrook. This was the period of getting used to the XL1200 motor. I’ve ridden v-twins in the past but nothing of this size (Suzuki’s SV650 to be exact). At first the Harley motor seemed very rough, with the momentum of the internal mass, crank, pistons, etc. quite noticeable, especia...
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2008 New Model Year Event at San Diego Harley
2007-09-02 04:08:00
My Father-in-Law, Warren, and I went down to Kearny Mesa for the San Diego Harley -Davidson Full Metal Attraction, 2008 New Model Year Event . We didn’t get down as early as I had hoped so we caught the tail-end of the event. It looked like they had a good turn out with a lot of bikes, a band, some BBQ scraps, etc.I was hoping the event would include test rides but that was not the case. We did see a Nightster in Mirage Orange Pearl and Vivid Black and it looked very cool. The Vivid Black Sportster Low was also there do I had the chance to look at the bikes side-by-side – it’s tough to pick between the two. I like the low for it classic vintage looks and Warren pointed out that it may be able to clean the chrome and paint on the Low than the textured finish on the Nightster. The Nightster has some great appeal in it’s ‘60’s hot rod look; the bobbed rear fender, side mount license plate and pegs are all very cool. I have to say that the guys and San Diego Harley-Davidson ar...

Kick-Ass Motorcycle Scenes in the Movies: The Matrix Reloaded
2007-08-29 19:11:00
<br>&a mp;amp;lt;br>Speeding into Oncoming Traffic Two Up on a Ducati …The near 15 minute freeway chase scene in the Matrix Reloaded raised the bar for this type of action sequence. The interaction of characters, vehicles, and camera angles is truly amazing. This is the first film that almost organically captures the action by weaving in, out, and under the traffic.Much of the sequence involves action in, on, and around cars and SUVs but it truly heats up when the vinyl clad Trinity takes the Keymaker for a head-on ride through oncoming traffic on a black Duacati 996. The blend of live stunts and computer graphics (cgi) is clean and does not create an artificial barrier between the audience and the action, but draws in the viewer.In addition to the riding and driving the sequence includes the typical highly stylized Matrix martial arts, choreographed by Yuen Wo Ping. The only change I would make to the freeway chase scene is to have ...
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Kick-Ass Motorcycle Scenes in the Movies: Torque
2007-08-29 08:01:00
<br/>& amp;amp;lt;br>There’s Nothing Wrong with Mindless, Guilty Pleasures …Torque is damn near the definition of mindless, guilty pleasure for me. This is a movie I take on the road when traveling for business, it’s great for tuning out the world, and noisy kids, on airplanes and it’s great to watch in hotel rooms after spending long hours in meetings.There is nothing subtle in this movie, it highlights everything that is good and bad about motorcycling and the people that ride. Fast bikes (good), dirty riders (not so bad on weekends), hot women (good), bad bikers on Harleys (cliché), good and bad guys on sportbikes (whatever).The best scene is during the opening credits when the hero, on an Aprilia, gets going so fast he spins a street sign on it’s axis with enough velocity that it appears to say “cars suck”. That is kicks-ass. Most of the movie is cgi stunts including a ridiculous scene at the end with the 227mph Y2K,...
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