4/17/2023 0 Comments 2010 sportster chopperIn the canyons, the Raider is comfortable pushing speeds higher than most bikes in the test could achieve and was quite happy in the curves. With a low seat height and modestly sized tires, it's surprisingly maneuverable at low speeds. The Raider is a big and hefty bike-719 pounds-that feels overweight only when you lift it off the side stand. And the Yamaha was the only bike with a real fuel gauge. The rear passenger pillion was the largest and most comfortable seat of this group. Indeed, this was the only bike here with twin front-disc brakes. The Raider doesn't compromise function for flash. Despite the price difference, most thought the Yamaha's engine was far more polished and sophisticated. Only the Victory was quicker-yet it costs over $5000 more. This thing is brutally quick and blasted through the quarter-mile in only 12.34 seconds. With 106 lb-ft of peak torque, it's phenomenally easy to reel in just about any car or bike on the road with a casual flick of the wrist. Between the frame rails sits a massive and incredibly potent V-twin that Yamaha borrowed from the Roadliner and the Stratoliner. The Yamaha Raider really straddles two genres-the power cruiser and the custom chopper. None of the ones we tested-the Victory Vegas Jackpot, the Harley-Davidson Softail Rocker C, the Yamaha Raider S and the Honda Fury-costs more than 21 grand. Nor do these bikes empty wallets like a night in Vegas. Thanks to solid engineering, combined with an eye for design, a factory-made custom dramatically reduces those annoyances. As in the world of high fashion, comfort and functionality take a back seat to style. And the stretched handlebar position quickly tires shoulders. The steamroller-wide rear tire snugs tight to the seat with little or no suspension movement. The raked-out forks make the bike tough to maneuver at low speeds and cranky on curvy roads. A radically cool, old-school custom chopper is typically terrible to ride. Nowadays, playing Hells Angel can be as easy as walking into a dealership. Thanks to the tube, the popularity of this genre has skyrocketed, so naturally the mainstream manufacturers have jumped in. It was a homegrown, rebellious movement that gained serious traction in the early 1970s thanks to the 1969 movie classic Easy Rider.īut a lot has changed, most notably the rise of made-for-TV bike builders like Jesse James and Orange County Choppers who craft gorgeous, meticulously detailed rides-for six-figure price tags. After all, where's the sweat equity? The first customizers-returning World War II servicemen-began to "chop" or strip the bikes down by bobbing the fenders and removing parts to make them appear less cluttered. To hardcore bikers, of course, a factory-made custom chopper is an oxymoron. These bikes are two-wheeled jewelry, the rides that put personal style and attitude above all else. You can find the whole set on Amazon.The impossibly long, low look of a custom chopper is unmistakable. Even if you’re not much into motorcycle racing-they’re well worth your time. Whether you have watched any of these movies or not, I urge you to do so, either for the first time, or once again. How Faster and its sequels came to be, and of course, what Mark is up to now. In catching up with Mark we hear his story. Mark’s exceptional story-telling shows the human side of racing, and several of the stories behind the ecstasy of victory-and the agony of defeat. Finally, in 2015 Mark came out with Hitting The Apex, narrated by Brad Pitt. ![]() For 2011, Mark premiered Charge, Zero Emissions/Maximum Speed as well as Fastest. Of all the motorcycle documentary-style movies made, Mark’s 2003 racing-epic “ Faster” has stood the test of time.įaster was quickly followed by a sequel, Faster & Fasterin 2004, and The Doctor, the Tornado and the Kentucky Kid in 2006. So is the Scram 411 a decent open-road bike, or is it really only capable of being a city bike?įor our second segment, I chat with movie writer, Producer, and Director, Mark Neale. It’s a modestly powered, single cylinder machine, with urban-cool styling and a slight ADV leaning. Associate Editor Gary Ilminen went to the launch of the new Royal Enfield Scram 411, and gives us his impression of the bike. Their retro-styled bikes are cool looking, work well, and as it happens, they’re priced right. Royal Enfield have been doing rather well in the last few years.
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