Untitled - TCX Boots

FIRST RIDES
2016 KTM OFF-ROAD/MOTOS
2015 URAL cT
DIRT QUAKE
PIKES PEAK - RACE TO THE CLOUDS
X-GAMES FLAT TRACK
FLAT TRACK COFFEE
PROFILE: GREG LUTZKA
SMOKEY MOUNTAIN CRAWL
MEMORABLE MOTORCYCLE: VINCENT COMET
BACKMARKER: LOST IN TRANSLATION
PROJECT BIKE: 2015 YZ450F
PRODUCT REVIEWS
X GAMES, FLAT TRACK A
BY BRYAN HARLEY
PHOTOS BY BRYAN HARLEY,
ESPN IMAGES, GREG LUTZKA
AND ANDREA WILSON
50
The X Games. Big air, big tricks, and some
of the best extreme athletes in the world.
This year, Harley-Davidson got flat track riders
recognized as being among this group of select
athletes, and at the 2015 X Games Austin, flat
track racing was declared a medal sport for the
first time ever.
But it would take a monumental effort to make
it happen. The week before Austin was supposed
AND THE HARLEY FACTOR
to host the race, torrential storms swept through
the region leaving rivers swollen and areas
underwater. The racers themselves raced the
Sacramento Mile the weekend before the
X Games so they had three days to transport
their motorcycles and gear 1700 miles. They
would be racing big Twins on a 3/8-mile track
more suited to 450s. But as they say, “The show
must go on.”
No sooner had we touched down at AustinBergstrom International airport than it was off to
the track. The diligent X Games grounds crew
was bustling trying to get the track ready, steam
rollers were busy trying to stamp the dirt into a
raceable surface. The front straight had a hump
in it midway from the TV cables buried beneath
it. The back straight looked equally rough and
broken. The corners were tight, and with no
51
feature X
GAMES, FLAT TRACK AND THE HARLEY FACTOR
rubber laid down yet a groove
hadn’t been established. Suspension settings were going
to be a premium under these
challenging conditions.
Yes, there were grumblings
initially about track conditions
in the paddock. But everyone
also singled out the storm as
the culprit and acknowledged
the efforts of the X Games
crews to whip it into shape.
The energy in the pits though
was palpable as riders prepared to spin their first laps
on the new track, thoughts of
taking home the first HarleyDavidson Flat Track gold
medal foremost in everyone’s
minds. The shot in the arm X
Games exposure would bring
to their sport added to the
excitement, the race being
broadcast on ESPN to millions
of fans across the globe. If that
didn’t get you hyped, better
check your pulse.
The paddock was a bevy of
the best AMA Pro Flat Track
has to offer, from defending
GNC1 champ Jared Mees to
current point’s leader Kenny
Coolbeth, Jr., who would be
competing on a Harley loaned
to him by fellow racer Willie
McCoy. Jake Johnson would
be hitching a leg over an older
XR750 salvaged from the Texas
Tornado Boot Camp run by
former World Superbike champ
Colin Edwards. Two-time
Daytona 200 winner Danny
Eslick was ready to rip up
some dirt instead of shredding
on asphalt, and a little international appeal was thrown into
52
the mix with the addition of Canadian flat track
racer Doug Lawrence and Australian sensation
Michael Kirkness.
Riders would soon gather at the gates and rip
off a few practice laps to lay down some rubber
and get their first feel for the surface. Straights
were just long enough to unleash a moderate
handful of power but corners were tight for the
big bikes. From the start riders were really having to work to keep their bikes online, but these
riders are accustomed to dealing with less than
ideal conditions and were anxious to show the
world what flat track racing is all about. Eslick
summed it up best after practice, saying: “it’s
the same for everybody.”
Thursday was race day. The paddock was
busy making final adjustments based on input
from practice. We got an opportunity to talk
to the crew chief of Harley-Davidson’s Factory
team Craig Lager who gave our group a little
Flat Track 101 on the XR750. The motorcycle is
based on a hand-built frame. The 750 engine
is basically the same one they’ve been using
for over 30 years, the base kit costing $30,000.
Then it’s up to tuners like Lager to work their
magic on air/fuel ratios, spent gases and suspension settings that suit the track and rider.
Watch the Video...
Everything is carefully calculated, down to
adjusting intakes for elevation and the amount
of humidity in the air. Lager said Baker’s XR750
was pretty dialed to start but a few adjustments
to gearing and suspension were made to meet
the demands of the X Games’ choppy 3/8-mile.
When asked about the keys to victory in
Thursday’s race, Baker emphasized consistency, stating that being smooth and disciplined on
the motorcycle were paramount. He also said it
would take patience, the patience not to override the motorcycle or racetrack. He pointed out
that a small groove and primarily one race line
would make passes difficult.
“Since it’s kind of the biggest race of a lot of
our careers to come out here and go for a gold
medal in the X Games, it’d mean everything to
me. It would definitely probably be the top thing
on my resume, to come out of the X Games
with a gold medal. The GNC title, that’s obviously the most prestigious one that I have and
will ever have just because that’s our heritage
of flat track; that’s what everybody wants to win
when it comes to flat track. But as far as a new
era of sports and extreme sports, winning the X
Games by far puts you on the map more so than
any other race,” Baker said.
53
feature X
GAMES, FLAT TRACK AND THE HARLEY FACTOR
Competitors would hit the track one-byone in the seeding session trying to put
down the fastest lap. The on-track intensity
increased a few notches from the tentative
practice laps. When the dust had settled,
Mees sat atop the leaderboard, incrementally better than second-fastest Johnny Lewis
and third-fastest Baker. But the event really
reached a fevered pitch in Heat 1 race. All
hell broke loose when the gate dropped,
the roar of revved-up Twins filling the air followed by a cloud of dust, bikes bucking as
riders jockeyed for position. The way Baker
powered to 2.288-second victory made him
an early favorite to win the Main. Johnson
threw his name into the running as well after
ripping off an even faster time in Heat 2.
In the Main event, Mees shot out of the
gate and dominated the race for 19 laps.
Bad part is, it was a 20 lap race. Mees
told Cycle News’ Andrea Wilson that “The
knockoff that holds the sprocket on came
undone and lost the drive.” Powerless,
Bryan Smith shot to the front, Sammy Halbert barely missed colliding with Mees while
pursuing Smith. Bryan rocketed to the win,
his third flat track victory in a row, reveling
in the victory by showcasing logos from his
latest “Bad Ass” sponsor, Kid Rock, who’s
dabbling in both beer and a “Made in Detroit” line of clothes. The biggest irony of the
night was Harley-Davidson handing over
the keys to a new Street 750 motorcycle to
a green-clad Kawasaki rider, the motorcycle
prized to the winner of the first X Games flat
track race. To the victor go the spoils.
Though The Motor Company undoubtedly would rather have awarded a Harley
rider the keys to its Street 750, H-D reaped
benefits way beyond one motorcycle
through its sponsorship of the X Games. Its
name is now associated with an official X
Games event. The Bar & Shield was visible
all around COTA, from the side of the Big Air
ramp to the BMX dirt jumps. Young fans of
the X Games are potential customers and
54
with numerous Moto X events, plenty of motorcycling fanatics were in attendance. Commercials touting Harley’s current “Roll Your
Own” advertising campaign aired about
every other commercial break, broadening
the scope of Harley’s X Games exposure.
A prime example of Harley’s influence
extending into other areas of the X Games
came at breakfast Friday morning. There we
met freestyle rider Lance Coury and his wife
Courtney. Coury has an X Games gold medal to his name in Moto X Speed & Style and
was in town to see if he could add another
to his resume. Coury was hanging around
the Harley Factory flat track truck checking
out Baker’s bike the day before. When he’s
not launching off moto ramps, Coury can
be found ripping up the canyons of SoCal
on his 2012 Dyna. Of course, the skills he’s
honed as an FMX rider means it’s hard for
him to keep the front wheel of his Dyna on
the ground at times… at the expense of
his scraped-up back fender and frequently
busted taillight. And while motorcycles are
naturally his passion, his love for his Harley
is as deep as his love of dirt bikes.
Before breakfast was over, another X
Games gold medalist joined us, skateboarder Greg Lutzka (see Lutzka’s full
story on page 60). Both Coury and Lutzka
shared their passion for motorcycles at
Harley’s Jump Start experience at the X
Games. Baker also bided his time at the
Harley booth giving fans the opportunity to
sit on and twist the throttle on H-D’s electric
LiveWire as part of Jump Start.
The games would go on, a mix of motorcycles, music and action sports. The only
thing more electric than Harley’s LiveWire
was Metallica’s set on the Super Stage
Saturday night. While the 2015 X Games is in
the books, we know Mees would dearly love
to make amends for his misfortune this year.
No doubt Baker and Halbert would love to
trade bronze and silver for gold, too. With the
first Harley-Davidson Flat Track event in the
books, we are equally anxious to see who
rides away with flat track gold next year.
55
r e v i e w s
BY BYRON WILSON • PHOTOS BY ERIC NO VISEDLAK
SCORPION
1909 LEATHER
JACKET
MSRP: $499.95 – $514.95
WWW.SCORPIONUSA.COM
Scorpion pays homage to the year that Indianapolis Motor Speedway
opened with its 1909 leather jacket. The 1909 aims at a vintage aesthetic, mimicking the bomber style of some of the earliest motorcycling
jackets. It sports a simple design, with the only flourishes found on the
arms and chest, where extra strips of leather accentuate the jacket’s
supple, distressed leather body. Quilted exterior shoulder accents add
another touch of style to an otherwise unassuming leather jacket.
I’ve been wearing the 1909 for the better part of six months now and
it’s been a fantastic jacket in both cold and warm weather. To start with,
it’s fairly robust, the 1.1mm cowhide leather nearly the same thickness
as that offered on top-spec racing suits. In addition, leather overlays on
the elbows provide even more abrasion protection.
The 1909’s impact protection comes via Sas-Tec CE-approved armor
at the shoulders and elbows. The inserts are SC-103 protectors made
from dense, visco-elastic foam that is lightweight and comfortable. The
interior pockets holding the elbow and shoulder pads are nice and snug
as well, ensuring the pads don’t shift around when the jacket is on.
There’s a pocket for a Sas-Tec CE back protector as well, but that piece
is sold separately.
Airflow through the jacket is surprisingly generous. Perforated panels
extend from the cuff of the sleeve under each arm and down just below
the armpit. Two zippered exhaust vents are found at the jacket’s back,
blending into the seams that run down either side of the back panel. The
breast pocket on the front of the 1909 is mesh-lined and also acts as an
intake vent when opened. This made the 1909 comfortable even when
the temperatures pushed past the 90-degree mark. That is, of course,
when the removable liner is out. For colder days, riders can reinstall the
EverHeat jacket liner with Kwikwick panels that come with the 1909 and
reduce the effect of wintry air. However, the liner is a vest only, so arms
are left to fend for themselves in the cold.
130
Fit is snug without being prohibitive. I measure a 42-inch
chest and generally fit a size large. The 1909 has been perfect
in this regard, and its “large” size is recommended for riders
measuring between 42 and 44 inches. The zippered wrist closures provide a good seal against the elements, and the padded comfort collar closes via two snap buttons and doesn’t
irritate the neck in the slightest. Adjustment to fit at the base
is achieved by button flaps with two settings and accordion
panels on the left- and right-hand side.
There are two hand-warmer pockets on the exterior in addition to the breast pocket. There’s also a small stash pocket
on the right sleeve for smaller items. All exterior pockets are
closed by large, antique brass YKK zippers which blend well
with the vintage look of the jacket. Inside, two mesh liner
pockets are available for additional storage along with a third
pocket inside the right flap of the jacket.
Overall the 1909 looks the part of a classic leather motorcycle jacket and it has only gotten better with age. The brokein patina is now more pronounced and the level of comfort
is higher than ever after prolonged use. The jacket is an
investment, pricing between $499.95 and $514.95 depending on the size, which range from S through 3XL, but it’s an
investment worth making if you want a cool, vintage-styled,
high-quality, all-around leather jacket.
BUY IT NOW!
Highs & Lows

•Classic, vintage leather
styling
•Impressive airflow for
warm weather riding
•Perfect fit and quite
comfortable

•Cold weather liner
vest only
•$500 jacket stretches
the budget
131