Over the years I have ridden a huge variety of motorbikes and have noticed that when I’m riding some models I get a lot of appreciative waves while others attract none.
So which bikes attract the most appreciation form the public and other riders and motorcycle camaraderie and which ones make you a motorcycle pariah?
Interestingly, Harley-Davidson motorcycles create the most division.
In the past 25 years I have ridden every model from the Milwaukee company and I can tell you that no other bike attracts more attention from the non-riding public, particularly children.
The bigger, louder and more colourful, the more attention it attracts.
Of course, obnoxiously loud Harleys tend to also cop a fair amount of disdain from the public, as do any ridiculously loud motorcycles.
Yet the motorcycle-riding population tend to shun Harleys, unless they are also riding one.
Harley riders wave at Harley riders, but non-Harley riders rarely wave at HOGs.
Maybe there is some degree of superiority among Harley riders who, I find, often don’t acknowledge other makes, even if the rider waves at them.
OMC members also rarely wave at “normal” Harley riders.
Perhaps that’s because, like the Del Fuegos in the 2007 John Travolta movie Wild Hogs, they think they are posers or wannabe OMC members.
As Ray Liotta’s character, Jack, says in the movie: “The joke is the assholes who buy leather outfits and think they’re bikers.”
Most ignored
In my experience, these are the brands, types and models that rarely receive waves from the public and/or other riders and their riders rarely wave:
Scooters: Except for Vespas and old Lambrettas who attract waves from hipsters and pretty young women with a Roman Holiday fixation, most riders seem to disdain scooters and won’t wave when I’m riding one.
Most of the motoring public either have them in their blind spot or seem to actively hate them. Scooter riders seem to acknowledge their pariah status and don’t wave, either.
Goldwings: Kids and people impressed by size will wave. However, most riders and the public seem to think Goldwing riders should just get a car and will not bother returning or giving a wave. It’s a shame as Goldwing riders are among the biggest and most enthusiastic wavers.
BMWs: BMWs were long considered the “Camry of motorcycles”, ridden only by middle-aged men in cardigans. Either that or they are ridden by wankers, so people tell me. However, some modern models, such as the S series and the R nineT derivatives are breaking this mould and do attract some waves.
Adventure bikes: It depends on whether you or the other rider is wearing those garish adventure outfits. Perhaps it’s because they are deemed to be Charley and Ewan posers.
Would you wave at this?
Trail bikers: No one waves at them because they are rarely on public roads. They don’t wave back either, probably because they have their hands full.
Sportsbikes: Similarly, sportsbike riders are usually too busy concentrating on getting their knee down to wave. It’s also difficult to lift your hand to wave in those restrictive leather outfits. They also go by so fast you don’t get time to wave to them.
Wave attracters
In my experience, here are the motorcycles that attract the most waves:
Trikes and outfits: These get a similar reception to Goldwings, but they attract a lot more appreciation than disdain, probably because the pillion is having such a great time and often waving exuberantly at everyone.
Classic motorcycles: The public just love old motorcycles while riders appreciate them and understand the commitment it takes to own and ride them. And the riders are so proud, they wave at everything!
Old Boxer BMWs: I’ve separated this group from the above because old boxer BMWs are now enjoying a resurgence of popularity among young hipsters. When I owned an R 65 back in the ‘80s I even received waves from OMCs.
Triumphs Bonnevilles: Probably because they look like classic motorcycles, they attract admiration. They also get waves from young hipsters and even old-school OMCs. My Street Scrambler even attracts the occasional wave from adventure riders! And maybe because most of them are not riding flat out with their knees down, they tend to be active wavers.
Street Scrambler
Have you experienced this wave and non-wave phenomenon depending on the bike you are riding? Please leave your comments below, but remember this article is meant to entertain, not incite a riot!
Danny Buchan of the FS3-Racing Kawasaki team took victory in the opening race at Knockhill, marking the fifth different winner in the premiere class in five rounds.
Scott Redding scored top honours in the second bout to reclaim the championship lead from Tommy Bridewell.
Danny Buchan
Josh Brookes went 8-4 for the weekend, while fellow Aussies Jason O’Halloran and Ben Currie failed to finish either race.
Jason O’Halloran suffered machine problems in both races which saw organisers give him the black-orange flag forcing his retirement from both races.
For Ben Currie his return from injury turned out to be a little premature with his injured foot not coping with the stress of the racing conditions which forced the young Victorian to pull out of the races.
Josh Brookes
In Superstock 1000 Levi Day suffered a DNF in race one due to a loosening boot starting to come adrift from his foot which forced him to pit. He then closed out the weekend with a 14 place result.
Levi Day in the wet conditions
British Superbikes
BSB Superbikes Race 1
At the start of the opening race Tarran Mackenzie launched off the front row to lead the pack from pole-sitter Xavi Forés and Buchan with Christian Iddon and Jason O’Halloran in close contention. A moment for Forés dropped him behind Buchan on lap five and then the FS3-Racing Kawasaki rider was hunting down Mackenzie at the front.
Jason O’Halloran
Buchan was piling the pressure on Mackenzie at the front and with a decisive move at the Hairpin on lap five and then posted consistent lap times to begin to make a break from the pack. Mackenzie though crashed out of contention before mid-race distance ending his chance of a podium finish.
Buchan was untroubled at the front but behind the battle for second place went down to the wire as Scott Redding was cutting through the pack from his 16th place grid start; by the final ten laps the Be Wiser Ducati rider had closed down the battle for second with Forés leading Iddon.
Danny Buchan
Redding had closed the gap and with three laps to go he made a move at turn five on Iddon to move ahead of the Tyco BMW rider and then repeated the move a lap later to move into second place as Forés held third.
Redding celebrated a determined second place finish ahead of Forés and Iddon who claimed Tyco BMW’s best result of the season. Tommy Bridewell was fifth ahead of Bradley Ray and Luke Mossey. Luke Stapleford and Glenn Irwin completed the top ten.
Christian Iddon
BSB Superbikes Race 2
In race two Redding returned to the top of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship podium at Knockhill, mastering the Scottish circuit to claim the race two victory for Be Wiser Ducati and move back to the top of the standings by four points.
Scott Redding
At the start of the race Mackenzie claimed the initial advantage into turn one, but Buchan carved ahead just a corner later to put the FS3-Racing Kawasaki back at the front of the field. Redding was in third and he moved second on lap two with a move at the Hairpin on the Be Wiser Ducati.
Iddon had been sitting in eighth place but a crash at turn four on the third lap left the Tyco BMW with a fractured left fibula. The BMW Safety Car was deployed and as the pack formed up behind, Buchan, Redding and Mackenzie were the leading trio with Josh Brookes, Ray and Bridewell next in line.
Danny Buchan would also crash out in Race 2
Redding was instantly on the attack when the race resumed and after two laps he had pulled a decisive move on Buchan to take the lead. Buchan and Mackenzie then were embroiled in a battle for second, but Bridewell was also on the move and desperate to forge his way further up the order.
By lap 17 Buchan had made a move on Redding to regain the lead, but a lap later an unfortunate crash saw the FS3-Racing Kawasaki rider tumble out of the action unhurt. That gave Redding the advantage he needed and he was able to hold the advantage until the race was red flagged on lap 25 when Ray suffered a mechanical failure and subsequently affected the track conditions.
Scott Redding claimed the Race 2 win for an overall victory and championship lead
Mackenzie had been eager to make amends for his race one crash and he was able to hold off Bridewell in the closing stages as the pair completed the race two podium with Brookes and Andrew Irwin completing the top five.
Peter Hickman had been giving chase to Ray before his technical problem and that meant the Smiths Racing BMW rider claimed sixth place ahead of Dan Linfoot and Mossey who held off Glenn Irwin and James Ellison.
Danny Buchan – Race One Winner
“It’s still not sunk in yet and I’m pretty overwhelmed by it, it was such a long first race. At the beginning of the race I actually hit Taz (Mackenzie), I hit his exhaust going down the straight. It was a good race and I knew I could do a good job, mid race onwards I settled into a rhythm and brought the bike home and took my first win. Credit to the FS3 team for all their hard work that they have put in, to pick up my first win and the team’s first BSB win, it has been a long time coming. I’ve been trying and trying it’s been a stressful three years for everyone around me. Thanks to all my family and friends who have always supported me.”
Danny Buchan on the podium in Race 1
Scott Redding – Race Two Winner
“Scotland is great! Danny (Buchan) is the man at Knockhill this weekend – he has been strong in the wet and dry. He won the first race so he had that confidence, I was confident as well as I came through I knew I had the pace. I didn’t really want to lead. I wanted to learn as I am still learning the tracks so when he came by he was pulling away, but I could catch him so I was like, just stay there. The Safety Car came out and I just thought, ‘ok regroup’, we went again and he had a little moment and I thought should I just stay behind? And I thought no I will just try and lead a little bit and see how it goes. I led a couple of laps and felt good, then I think I ran a bit wide in to one of the corners and Danny came by and I thought, that’s alright I will try and stay and learn. I learnt a little bit through the chicane and I thought I will just stay here and have a dig at the end and he lost the front and I thought, oh now I am leading again! I picked my pace up and then it was done. The race was good, I am happy to have the win with the second this morning; people said will Redding manage the British tracks once we get to Knockhill – now we know!”
Scott Redding claimed the Race 2 win and top overall honours with a 2-1
Josh Brookes – 8-4
“To be honest, I’m glad to be leaving Knockhill as it hasn’t been a great weekendand I’m disappointed for the whole team as everyone’s been working hard and putting in as much effort as always. It just hasn’t clicked for me this weekend and although it started well on Friday, it came to a halt after that and we never really progressed with our pace stuck at that level. The weather made it tough although it was the same for everyone, but we made some small improvements for the second race and salvaged a half decent result with fourth. I wish we were going to Snetterton straightaway to clear my head but it’s been a good circuit to me in the past and I’m confident the Be Wiser Ducati will work well there so I’ll be looking to bounce back strongly and get back to the front.”
Josh Brookes
Xavi Forés – 3-11
“It’s been a bitter sweet weekend at Knockhill, but we do have many positives to take away. I wasn’t expecting at all to take the pole position yesterday, or finish on the podium! Being back on the podium after the results at Brands was like a victory for me and the team, I’m happy as we were there in dry conditions, so we are making good steps with the Fireblade, but we do still have some work to do. The second race was hard, I started from 13th and made it hard work for myself to get back up into the leading pack. During the race I felt I was defending rather than attacking and it was hard work, the wind at the circuit also picked up and that didn’t help. But I think moving to the next round we have to take the positives with us from this weekend and remind ourselves that we can be up there, have the pace and finish on the podium.”
Xavi Fores
Tarran Mackenzie – DNF-2
“I’m leaving with a smile on my face, which is nice I was very annoyed with myself for crashing out of the first race. There was a backmarker in front of Danny and I tried to stick to the left as the inside of the track was so wet and I was on the dirty part of the track and it caught me out. Fortunately we made amends in race two. I put together a good pace towards the end of the race, Scott was probably a bit too far away but it got cut short anyway. It’s nice after what happened at Brands, I’m happy to finish second and come away with some solid points.”
Tarran Mackenzie
Jason O’Halloran – DNF-DNF
“We worked hard this weekend and were fourth quickest overall after practice. Then the rain came for qualifying and I ended up eighth on the grid but I was feeling good for race day. Conditions were really hard in race one with a narrow dry line. I was up to fifth when I unfortunately had to retire with a technical problem. I was given a penalty for race two and ended up 21st on the grid, but I made my way into the group fighting for the top ten before unfortunately having to retire again with a technical problem. Snetterton is up next, somewhere I love racing so I’m looking forward to that already.”
Monster Energy Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales took a stunning win at the Motul TT Assen, round eight of the 2019 MotoGP World Championship.
Vinales stalked the front before striking for the lead and stretching his legs to pull away from reigning champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team).
French rookie Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) followed up his record-breaking pole position on Saturday with another podium, impressing once again even as he continues to recover from arm-pump surgery.
Suzuki-mounted Alex Rins took the holeshot from third on the grid, streaking away from the line and soon joined by impressive rookie teammate Joan Mir as he slotted into second. Quartararo didn’t retain P1 but he stayed third after a solid start.
At the start of lap two Vinales made his first move to take Marquez, but then all eyes on were the lead as Rins suddenly exited, leaving Mir under the pressure of leading a premier class race for the first time, and Quartararo in second for a rookie 1-2.
The number 36 then headed a bit wide and the number 20 sliced through, with Vinales taking over in second and Marquez up into third.
Mir had been shuffled back into fourth but Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) soon struck, having passed teammate Petrucci to begin his assault on the front, before there was another strike of bad luck lightning as Vinales headed wide from the lead.
Marquez took over, stalking Quartararo, with Dovizioso then within touching distance of the number 12 Yamaha as he got shuffled back. Marquez tried to attack, Quartararo resisted, and Viñales was then back on their tail and it was a trio locked together in the lead.
That was how it would stay for much of the race. Vinales overcooked turn one, but reeled them back in, Marquez attacked Quartararo a lap later after a wobble for the Frenchman, and then Marquez had his own moment and the rookie was back in the lead.
With 11 to go, Vinales broke the stalemate. He attacked Marquez and got through before then homing in on Quartararo, pouncing where Marquez had earlier as the newcomer struggled again with a bit of a wobble at high speed, however, a small error soon after cost him and Marquez took over in P1.
Vinales sliced back through as swiftly as he could and the two were starting to gap Quartararo behind. With six laps to go they were still both locked together and there was nothing in it, but gradually then, Vinales started taking a tenth here and a tenth there.
Finally, it seemed the number 12 had broken the Honda rider. The top three had all had their share of dramas during the race, but Vinales was then pitch perfect to the flag. Eventually, the gap was nearly five seconds over the line and the Spaniard celebrated in style.
It’s his first win since Phillip Island last year, Yamaha’s first of the season and one of his most impressive rides. Quartararo took his second podium in succession in third as he managed to last the distance, ever-impressive as he continues to makes waves in MotoGP.
Dovizioso was the man behind him, locked in battle with teammate Danilo Petrucci and Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) for much of the race and coming out on top. Morbidelli eventually just beat Petrucci to complete the top five and equal his best ever premier class result.
Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) recovered from a moment to take P7 and overhaul Mir’s impressive performance as the rookie finished eighth, with Australian Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) crossing the line in ninth after a more difficult weekend. Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Andrea Iannone completed the top 10.
There were a few names missing from the finishers along with Rins, the biggest of which was Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). The ‘Doctor’ lost the chance at a ride back through the field as he collided with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) and both went down, making it a difficult run of three for the number 46 of late.
Augusto Fernandez (Flexbox HP 40) is a man in form and the Motul TT Assen saw his run of firsts finally culminate in a first-ever GP victory as he became the 37th different winner in Moto2.
The Spaniard was a force to be reckoned with in a manic fight at the front throughout and came through the chaos of a clash between championship rivals Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) and Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP40) to beat Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) to the flag by tenths.
Completing the podium after the war of attrition was Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46), while it was disappointment for pole-sitter Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team). With 14 to go, drama hit as he crashed out, dashing his hopes of a strong result from P1 on the grid.
In Moto3, Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers) became the first rider this season to win two Moto3 races, with the Italian holding off Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) to cross the line just 0.045s clear, while Jakub Kornfeil (Redox PrüstelGP) took third.
Veteran American racer Carlin Dunne has died in a crash only metres from the finish of the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb, riding the Ducati V4 Streetfighter prototype.
There have only been six deaths in the event’s history, but organisers seriously considered dropping motorcycles after the two crashes in 2014-15.
Instead, they restricted the field to bikes with single handlebars which excludes super bikes with clip-ons and tightened the vetting process for riders who have to show they can compete safely.
Carlin, aged 36, was the title defender, a four-time winner, the top qualifier and was on target for a record time.
Our condolences to his family, friends and fans.
The victory in the heavy motorcycle class went to Australian Rennie Scaysbrook who set a record time of 9:44.963 riding a 2018 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100. He smashed the record by five seconds.
Rennie Scaysbrook
Official statements
The hillclimb officials issued this statement:
Throughout the 97 years that this unique race has been conducted on America’s Mountain, we have experienced the ultimate joy in victory, the disappointment of failure and now, the unexpected heartbreak of the loss of a competitor, whose love of the race brought him to Pikes Peak. We mourn the tragic death of Carlin and he will remain in our hearts forever as part of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb family. Carlin will be remembered as a warm hearted mentor with a competitive spirit. He was a gentle and thoughtful man who touched everyone who met him. We will always remember his contagious smile and genuine love for sport.
Ducati North America CEO Jason Chinnock issued this statement:
There are no words to describe our shock and sadness. Carlin was part of our family and one of the most genuine and kind men we have ever known. His spirit for this event and love of motorcycling will be remembered forever as his passing leaves a hole in our hearts.
Hillclimb course
The 20km Pikes Peak course has 156 turns, starts at 2860m above sea level and climbs to an altitude of 4300m which is halfway to the summit of Everest.
Ducati recently released this video of Carlin training on the Streetfighter V4 prototype.
The Italian manufacturer said the Pikes Peak event was identified as an important part in the development process of the new model.
The company has won the Colorado hillclimb three times in 2011 and 2011 with the Multistrada 1200 and last year with the Multistrada 1260.
Carlin rode to victory on each of those occasions and the company celebrated with Pikes Peak versions of those models.
Ducati Multistrada 1200 Pikes Peak
Ducati says the Streetfighter V4 “derives directly from the sporty Panigale V4 stripped of its fairings, and fitted with high and wide handlebars”.
Streetfighter V4
The Ducati V4 Streetfghter prototype carlin raced was expected to have even more power than the Panigale V4’s 213 horsepower (158kW).
“The high performance of the 1100cm³ Desmosedici Stradale is kept in hand by aerodynamic profiles specifically designed for this model,” Ducati says.
However, the street production version may be a little tamer, although probably still more than the Aprilia Tuono’s 173hp (129kW).
Panigale V4 R
“The prototype will race with a ‘pixelated’ livery, designed by the Centro Stile Ducati; unlike the normal practice with prototypes, the livery does not hide the lines, but exalts them by deliberately revealing how the bike will finally look, “Ducati said.
There is not a lot of difference from the Panigale V4.
Gone is the windscreen and full fairing, although there is still a fair amount of aero bodywork for a naked bike. The rear of the bike looks very similar.
The biggest difference is in the short nose cone with very discrete “eyes” as LED headlights.
Ducati boss Claudio Domenicali said the Streetfighter V4 will be “one of the stars of the Ducati World Premiere 2020”.
“Streetfighter V4 is the Panigale for road riding; so there was no better stage than the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb for what will be the highest performance Streetfighter ever put into production,” he says.
The bike will be presented to the public at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan in November and will be available in Ducati dealerships from mid-March 2020.
