Riders shopping for new or used Indian motorcycles will now be able to view, research, and purchase them at Polaris Xchange, a new online shopping and selling platform. Other new and used products from Polaris will also be served, including the Slingshot three-wheeler, ATVs, UTVs, and snowmobiles, as well as Polaris accessories and protection products. Once the purchase has been made, customers can pick up the vehicle from a participating dealer or have it delivered. For more information, read the press release below from Polaris Industries.
MINNEAPOLIS – Polaris Inc., the global leader in powersports, is putting customers in the driver’s seat as they shop for their first or next powersports vehicle with the introduction of Polaris Xchange. Built from the ground up with the needs of the powersports customer in-mind, this one-stop online marketplace provides customers the ability to shop, research, and start the buying process on thousands of off-road vehicles, snowmobiles, motorcycles, side-by-sides, auto-cycles, and ATVs from participating Polaris dealers nationwide.
“We are constantly infusing new ways of thinking and using our knowledge of the powersports customer to help advance our industry, introduce new people to powersports and enhance the experience for our owners and riders, and Polaris Xchange is another example of that industry leadership,” said Vic Koelsch, senior vice president, chief digital and information officer at Polaris. “Polaris Xchange simplifies the shopping process for customers, allowing them do most of the process online before visiting their local dealership to sign the paperwork.”
Consumer shopping habits have evolved in recent years with more consumers leveraging online resources for discovery, research, and learning as they start the buying process prior to visiting a physical retail location, and powersports consumers are no different.
Polaris Xchange offers consumers the tools they need to feel confident as well as conveniently start the buying process from the comfort of their homes, including: finding the vehicle, viewing used vehicle history and condition reports, shopping for accessories, indicating interest in protection products, determining trade-in value, and prequalifying for a loan. From there, the customer simply needs to complete the purchase and pick up the vehicle from a dealer or have it delivered.
Polaris Xchange also provides value to Polaris dealers who can publish their new and used inventory online, increasing visibility, reach, and awareness to shoppers.
“We set out to streamline the shopping process and provide consumers with even more confidence as they look to purchase,” said Koelsch. “Through Polaris Xchange, we are offering a one-stop, credible resource that makes it easier to not only find new Polaris vehicles but search through available used powersports inventory at our trusted network of dealers.”
With JoyDrive as a technology partner, Polaris Xchange will showcase used powersports inventory from all powersports manufacturers as well as available inventory of new Polaris vehicles at participating dealers.
Our guest on Episode 56 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Kyle Petty, a NASCAR racing icon and founder of the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America. Petty is part of a multi-generational stockcar racing dynasty that included his grandfather Lee; his father, Richard; and his son Adam. Petty is known for four wheels, but he’s been riding motorcycles since he was a boy and loves putting on the miles. Since 1995 he has organized the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America, an annual motorcycle ride that raises money to support Victory Junction and other causes for children with chronic illnesses and conditions. The 27th Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America kicks off on April 29 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and runs through May 5. We encourage listeners to visit KylePettyCharityRide.com and make a donation. You can follow the ride on social media, and if you’re in the area, you can meet up with the group at one of their stops.
The custom BMW R 18 B ‘Heavy Duty,’ designed by Fred Kodlin and his son Len, was unveiled at this year’s Daytona Bike Week. The bike features modifications to the frame, the addition of an air suspension system, a custom paint job by tattoo artist Marcel Sinnwell, and adaptations to the body that serve both for function and, in the case of the winglets, strictly for the sake of form. For more information, read the press release from BMW Motorrad below.
Anyone who talks about the U.S. customizing scene mentions Fred Kodlin almost in the same breath. For more than 40 years, he has dedicated himself to customizing motorbikes, from radically modified creations to sophisticated new designs. Since the 1990s, he has been incredibly successful with his custom bikes and was able to win various important Daytona shows regularly. He was the very first non-U.S. citizen to be inducted into the Sturgis Hall of Fame.
For the first time, Kodlin has now set about customizing a BMW together with his son Len: the BMW R 18 B. “The R 18 B Heavy Duty was a real father-son project,” said the boss of Kodlin Bikes in Borken, Germany, happily. “There was a lot of creative input from Len, which also goes to show that the next generation at Kodlin Bikes is already in the starting blocks.”
The biggest challenge in customizing this year’s crowd puller at the Daytona Bike Week in Florida was undoubtedly the frame. “We have completely remanufactured the upper tubes to lower the fly-line and thus the seat height of the R 18 B,” explained Fred Kodlin. “We also redid the steering head and the triple clamps so that the caster fits despite the changed steering angle and so that the bike rides well.”
The result was the R 18 B Heavy Duty, a bike in typical Kodlin style. Viewed from the side, the fly-line drops sharply to the rear from the chopped windshield taken from the Original BMW Motorrad Accessories range and finally runs harmoniously into the side cases made by Kodlin out of glass fibre-reinforced plastic and the low rear end. From the top, the R 18 B Heavy Duty is characterized by a strong waistline in the seat area and a flowing connection to the side cases.
Finally, the technical chassis highlight is an air suspension system at the front and rear, supported by a compressor placed barely visibly behind the left side case. This allows the R 18 B Heavy Duty to be lowered and raised in a fraction of a second. This is both as useful as it is spectacular: To park, lower the chassis, and it rests on hidden support points letting the bike crouch just a few centimeters above the asphalt, waiting for the next ride.
The Kodlin team also delved deeply into the subject of body construction for a good three months. A completely new sheet metal tank was created – longer than the original, flowing in shape and with indentations on the sides. The connection of the tank and rear frame was also modified for this purpose. The original mobile phone charging compartment, on the other hand, has been taken over from the R 18 B.
A front spoiler, including a three-color underfloor lighting system – a popular feature, not only in Daytona – and a front fender are also made of sheet metal, the fender fitting snugly around the 21-inch front wheel. Finally, Kodlin created a corresponding counterpart for the rear wheel from two R 18 B rear fenders joined together, in which the rear and side indicator lights are integrated in a very discreet manner.
The two side covers made of sheet metal, which form a smooth transition to the side cases, are completely custom-made. Speaking of side cases, R 18 B loudspeakers by Marshall and an amplifier are fitted inside. Kodlin’s attention to detail is also evident in the aluminum milled hinge panels of the cases in the style of the original R 18 B components.
The so-called winglets above the cylinders are another design element. They are also made of metal but do not fulfil any function in the actual sense. Rather, they underline the design of the R 18 B Heavy Duty and make it appear unmistakable, especially when viewed from the front. The customizing job is rounded off by a seat made by Kodlin and an instrument cover with covers made of Alcantara and imitation leather, as well as specially made handlebars and a self-created exhaust system.
Elaborate Paintwork by Tattoo Artist Marcel Sinnwell
Marcel Sinnwell has painted other Kodlin showbikes in the past, but these days, he only rarely picks up a spray gun for very special jobs. For example, when he paints yachts or an R 18 B Heavy Duty.
For this project, the color gradients were completely airbrushed with translucent paint. The inspiration for this was the mixing of color pigments in the paint and especially the way form streaks in the milky basecoat when first stirred. The result goes along very well with Daytona Bike Week, where complex and colorful paint schemes are more than just good form.
Additional design touches on the R 18 B Heavy Duty are provided by hand-painted pinstripes and an airbrushed pattern on the rear fender that combines Kodlin and “100 years of BMW Motorrad.” The brake calipers, gearshift, and foot brake levers and footrests, however, are BMW Motorrad standard components that have been color-matched.
BMW R 18 B: The Perfect Bike for Customizing
But Fred Kodlin by no means laid his hands on all the assemblies and parts. He said what was a particularly positive surprise for him was the bolts. “They are all made of stainless steel, with a nice Torx head,” he said. “That’s not the way it is on other bikes. The basic bike and especially the engine are very, very cleanly finished. All the electrical cables are already nicely hidden, so we didn’t have to do anything to the engine.”
For this reason, numerous R 18 B components were deliberately not replaced but at most modified. For example, the shortened hand levers and handlebar end weights. Likewise, the engine remained unchanged from a technical point of view. Only the cylinder head covers, belt cover, and intake snorkel were painted in metallic black.
Cruise control with distance control, reverse gear, and eCall have remained unchanged. These are absolutely unique features of the BMW R 18 B in the cruiser world, where these functions are not offered by any other manufacturer.
Edelweiss Bike Travel, a worldwide leader in motorcycle tours and travel since 1980, has organized an exclusive tour for Rider magazine. Join one of Rider’s editors on the Unknown Italy Tour, which reveals the secrets of the Appenines, the chain of mountains that runs down the spine of the boot-shaped country.
The 12-day vacation, which runs from Oct. 9-20, 2023, includes travel days on each end, seven riding days, and three rest days (which can also be spent riding!).
The tour begins in Florence, the capital city of the Tuscany region that’s world-renowned for its food, wine, and Renaissance art and architecture. Arrive a couple days early to allow time to visit the iconic Duomo, Michelangelo’s David sculpture, Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus,” and da Vinci’s “Annunciation.” You’ll also want to stroll the historic streets and enjoy a gelato!
For the first two riding days, we’ll ride on twisty, lesser-known roads through the Appenines to Perugia, the capital city of Umbria that’s known for its defensive walls around a historic city center, and then it’s on to Santo Stefano di Sessanio, a medieval town located within the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park, where we’ll spend a rest day.
Next, we’ll continue riding south to spend a night in the small village of Serre di Conca, and then we’ll make our way to the legendary Amalfi Coast that overlooks the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Gulf of Salerno. A popular holiday destination, the Amalfi Coast is known for sheer cliffs, secluded beaches, and pastel-colored fishing villages.
From the Amalfi Coast, we’ll explore more backroads on our way to the mountain village of Morano Calabro, which is located near a 3,600-foot pass. For the third and final rest day, we’ll ride to Matera, the European Capital of Culture for 2019. The city is perched on a rocky outcrop in the region of Basilicata, and nearby is the Sassi area, a complex of cave dwellings carved into the mountainside.
The tour concludes in Bari, a port city on the Adriatic Sea that’s the capital of Italy’s Puglia region. Bari’s mazelike old town, known as Barivecchia, occupies a headland between two harbors.
Day 6: Serre di Conca – Costiera Amalfitana (Amalfi Coast)
Day 7: Costiera Amalfitana (Amalfi Coast) (rest day)
Day 8: Costiera Amalfitana (Amalfi Coast) – Morano Calabro
Day 9: Morano Calabro – Matera
Day 10: Matera (rest day)
Day 11: Matera – Bari
Day 12: Departure from Bari
Pricing starts at $6,250 per person, including motorcycle rental for a rider in a double room (see below for what’s included in the price). See the tour webpage for tiered pricing for different motorcycle models as well as pricing for a passenger and a single room supplement.
Join one of Rider’s editors on this unique, once-in-a-lifetime motorcycle adventure. Space is limited, so make your reservation today!
Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America (Kevin Kane Photography)
Kyle Petty is known for four wheels, but he’s been riding motorcycles since he was a boy and loves putting on the miles. Since 1995 he has organized the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America, an annual motorcycle ride that raises money to support Victory Junction and other causes for children with chronic illnesses and conditions. Earlier today, Rider‘s Editor-in-Chief Greg Drevenstedt interviewed Petty for the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast, and the episode will launch on Friday, March 17.
The following is the official press release for the 27th anniversary ride. We encourage folks to visit the KPRC website and make a donation. You can follow the ride on social media, and if you’re in the area, you can meet up with the group at one of their stops.
Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America (Kevin Kane Photography)
All eyes will be on Nevada and Utah from April 29 – May 5, 2023, as former NASCAR driver and racing analyst Kyle Petty celebrates the 27th Anniversary Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America with a scenic journey through the Sagebrush and Beehive states. As one of the most popular charity rides in the country, Petty will lead more than 125 motorcycles on a seven-day trek, covering over 1,500 miles in an effort to raise funds and awareness for Victory Junction – a camp dedicated to providing life-changing camping experiences for children with serious and chronic medical conditions.
Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America (Kevin Kane Photography)
Presented by Cox Automotive, the Ride will kick-off in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Saturday, April 29 and will return to Salt Lake City on Friday, May 5 – marking the second time the Ride has started and ended in the same city. Cox Automotive is the world’s largest automotive services and solutions provider and is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. The company’s brands include Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book and Manheim, which will host breakfast for the Ride at Manheim Utah on Saturday, April 29, and at Manheim Nevada on Wednesday, May 3.
Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America (Kevin Kane Photography)
“Our team at Manheim Utah is excited to kick off this inspirational event and cheer on the riders as they begin their journey,” said Cade Rindfleisch, general manager at Manheim Utah. “We look forward to sponsoring the Kyle Petty Charity Ride, especially seeing the joy it brings to the children at Victory Junction.”
Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America (Kevin Kane Photography)
Petty’s mile-long motor brigade features 225 participants, including 30 new riders, who will enjoy many indescribable views, bucket list items and unforgettable points of interest along this year’s route. Some of the highlights include visiting the Bonneville Salt Flats, lapping the track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, riding scenic Highway 12, Highway 14 and Highway 50, passing through Capitol Reef National Park, exploring Legends Motorcycle Museum, and so much more.
Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America (Kevin Kane Photography)
Spectators along the 2023 route are encouraged to attend one of the Ride’s seven overnight stops or daily pit stops to greet Petty and the riders, purchase memorabilia, and make donations.
Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America (Kevin Kane Photography)
27th Anniversary Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America Schedule:
Day 1, Saturday, April 29 – Salt Lake City, Utah to Ely, Nevada
Day 2, Sunday, April 30 – Ely, Nevada to Tonopah, Nevada
Day 3, Monday, May 1 – “Free Day” in Tonopah, Nevada
Day 4, Tuesday, May 2 – Tonopah, Nevada to Las Vegas, Nevada
Day 5, Wednesday, May 3 – Las Vegas, Nevada to Cedar City, Utah
Day 6, Thursday, May 4 – Cedar City, Utah to Moab, Utah
Day 7, Friday, May 5 – Moab, Utah to Salt Lake City, Utah
Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America (Kevin Kane Photography)
“Nevada and Utah are two of my favorite states to ride motorcycles in,” said Petty. “The vast changes in the landscape – from the desert to the red rocks to mountain terrain – paint the most vivid and breathtaking scenes, which I believe are best experienced on a motorcycle. Our riders are in for a picturesque treat along every road we travel, especially on Highway 50 (the loneliest road in America), which we pick up in Ely, Nevada – one of my favorite towns in America. I consider myself extremely blessed to be able to ride this incredible route while also raising money to send kids to Victory Junction. The Ride allows me to combine my passion for helping others with my love of motorcycles and it is such a special gift.”
Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America (Kevin Kane Photography)
Victory Junction has served as the Ride’s primary beneficiary since its establishment by Petty and his family in 2004 in honor of his late son, Adam. Since it first began in 1995, the Ride has raised more than $20 million for Victory Junction and other children’s charities. As a result, the Ride has helped Victory Junction mobilize resources to provide over 115,000 camp experiences for children of all levels of abilities who are living with complex medical conditions at no cost to their families.
Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America (Kevin Kane Photography)
Among the celebrities participating in the 2023 Ride are NASCAR Hall of Famer and seven-time champion Richard Petty; NASCAR legends Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace; former Formula 1, Champ Car, and NASCAR driver Max Papis; former NFL great and Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker; and NBC Sports NASCAR personality Rick Allen.
“Any chance I get to spend a week out West, I’m taking it,” said Kyle’s father, Richard Petty. “Add in riding motorcycles and you think, ‘It can’t get better than this.’ Then, you throw in helping the kids at Victory Junction and it’s just the cherry on top. That’s why I always look forward to Kyle’s Ride every year.”
Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America (Kevin Kane Photography)
The 2023 Ride is made possible by presenting sponsor Cox Automotive, as well as Coca-Cola, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Dodge Law, Racing Electronics, WinCraft Racing, FLUIDYNE Racing Products, Petty Family Foundation, Headbands of Hope, Piedmont Moving Systems, Fuel Me, Wiley X, Blue Emu and Goody’s.
Keep up with Petty and the Ride on social media at the following accounts:
Led by former NASCAR driver and racing analyst Kyle Petty, the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America is an annual cross-country motorcycle trek that raises funds and awareness for Victory Junction. The Ride is one of the most successful and popular charity events in the country. Since its inception in 1995, more than 8,875 riders have logged nearly 12.6 million cumulative motorcycle miles and raised more than $20 million for Victory Junction and other children’s charities.
About Victory Junction
Victory Junction is a year-round camping facility for children with serious illnesses and chronic medical conditions. Co-founded by Kyle Petty and his family in honor of his son Adam, Victory Junction provides life-changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun and empowering, in a medically-safe environment, always free of charge. In addition to traditional camp sessions, Victory Junction’s REACH program takes camp experiences to children and their families at hospitals, clinics, and in Ronald McDonald Houses throughout North and South Carolina.
Since opening in 2004, Victory Junction has delivered more than 115,000 camp experiences and has served children from all fifty states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico, as well as four countries. Victory Junction is a member of the SeriousFun Children’s Network of Camps founded by Paul Newman, and is accredited by the American Camp Association. To learn more, please visit victoryjunction.org.
About Cox Automotive
Cox Automotive is the world’s largest automotive services and technology provider. Fueled by the largest breadth of first-party data fed by 2.3 billion online interactions a year, Cox Automotive tailors leading solutions for car shoppers, automakers, dealers, retailers, lenders and fleet owners. The company has 25,000+ employees on five continents and a family of trusted brands that includes Autotrader, Dealertrack, Kelley Blue Book, Manheim, NextGear Capital and vAuto. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with $21 billion in revenue. Visit coxautoinc.com or connect via @CoxAutomotive on Twitter, CoxAutoInc on Facebook or Cox-Automotive-Inc on LinkedIn.
The item at the top of associate editor Paul Dail’s resolutions list for 2023 was to get some track experience by attending the two-day ChampSchool offered by Yamaha Champions Riding School. Yamaha was kind enough to loan us an MT-09 SP, and YCRS Chief Instructor and CEO Nick Ienatsch was kind enough to extend Paul an invitation for the Jan. 27-28 ChampSchool at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which featured “Fast” Freddie Spencer as a guest instructor. –Ed.
ChampSchool Lead Instructor and President Chris Peris works with a student at the ChampSchool in Las Vegas.
Not much about me screams either “sportbike” or “trackday.” With a shaved head and beard nearly as long as my face is tall, to look at me, you’d probably guess I ride a Harley. And you wouldn’t be wrong. My main bike currently is a 2004 Heritage Softail Classic. I’m a cruiser guy. But the length of my beard might belie the length of time I’ve been riding – at least this most recent stint. According to a website I found with a glossary of both common and obscure motorcycling terms, I’m a “BAB,” or Born Again Biker, which is “someone who has recently returned to riding after a period of absence…and really ought to get some advanced training.”
Taking a breather between track sessions. Is it obvious that I’m not used to track leathers?
I’ve taken a couple MSF parking-lot classes that were informative, but when the opportunity arose to pick up a Yamaha MT-09 SP test bike in Southern California and take it to the Yamaha Champions Riding School’s two-day ChampSchool in Las Vegas, I jumped at it. I may be a cruiser guy about to turn 50, but I still have a pulse, and the idea of learning from some of the best racers in the country got that pulse, well, racing.
Prior to the school, I was sent the online Champ U “Champion’s Habits: Core Curriculum.” I talk more about this in the sidebar below, but in the immediate, it was very helpful to watch the courses before attending the class. Much of the information was repeated within the first couple hours at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but this method of instruction made perfect sense to me. It’s the same reason I usually have my 10-year-old son read through all the instructions before jumping into a project. That way, once you actually get down to business, you understand the big picture – where you’re going and how you’re going to get there. I was pleased that most things the instructors at ChampSchool said in those first hours were lessons I remembered from Champ U.
Nick Ienatsch demonstrates how lean angle affects the 100 points of grip concept, which is one of the ChampSchool Four Core Habits.
That’s not to say that I wasn’t still nervous. After all, even if you’ve read the instructions, sometimes you break the little pieces when you’re building a model. I wasn’t particularly interested in breaking the $12,000 motorcycle that didn’t belong to me…or the little pieces that make up my body.
But my mind was put to ease by one of the first things ChampSchool Chief Instructor and CEO Nick Ienatsch instructed us to do: Turn to the person standing next to us and say, “I don’t care what you think about my riding.” I’m guessing that even after that, most attendees at the class probably actually did care, myself included, but that was just me dealing with my own insecurities, and starting the two days with that directive was a good reminder. More importantly, even though I was one of the slower riders, I was never made to feel that way by the instructors.
Freddie Spencer (left) and Nick Ienatsch (right) instruct students between track sessions.
It also helped that the approximately 25 students were divided into two groups depending on track and general riding experience (and then further divided into an approximate 4:1 student-instructor ratio). The two groups would alternate sessions on the track and sessions in the classroom reviewing the time they had just spent on the track and reinforcing other concepts. The only time all of us were on the track together was toward the end of the second day – at which point it wasn’t so nerve wracking being passed by the more advanced students, and I was able to keep my focus on my riding.
Strength Through Struggles
In between each track session, students were asked to rank themselves from 1-10 on a scorecard of “CHAMPS” categories (Comfort/fun, Have brakes past tip-in/efficiency, Apexes/direction, My plan/eyes, Position/timing of body, Smooth initial/final 5%). My three lowest scores were consistently related to braking, scanning forward, and my body position.
ChampSchool instructor uses hand signals to guide a student behind him.
While “eyes” was obviously tied to “My plan” (scan ahead on the track and make a plan), the benefit of the CHAMPS scorecard during the classroom sessions was that it gave riders another kind of plan: the things they needed to work on when they went back on the track.
Another great feature of the school is the filming and reviewing of student riding, which happened twice, once toward the end of the first day and then again before lunch on the second day, with the review of the footage happening at the meal after the filming.
In order to move the process along, students were either taken out two at a time to watch their riding with an instructor on a laptop or their riding was reviewed on a larger projector screen with the whole group. For the review of my first ride, I was one of the smaller two-at-a-time groups. I’m not sure if this was by design, but I was glad I didn’t have to watch my puttering along in front of the whole group. And after getting almost a blow-by-blow analysis of the entire ride by my instructor, I was pleased to see improvement in the second-day video (thankfully, since this one was viewed in front of the main group). And like with the CHAMPS scorecard, watching the videos gave me a plan for when I returned to the track.
The classroom where student video sessions were reviewed.
ChampSchool ‘Roller Coaster Moments’ and Other Surprises
The cost of attending the two-day school at the Las Vegas Speedway was $2,495 (prices vary depending on the track), not counting travel or rental costs for a bike if you don’t bring your own or the required “standard track gear” – in my case, track leathers and boots. This is a little higher than some fees I’ve seen, but considering the bona fides of the instructors, the quality of instruction, the amount of track time, and the online curriculum sent in advance of the class, I think it’s a solid value.
However, there were a couple experiences where it felt like the organizers and instructors thought, Let’s give them an even bigger bang for their buck. I called these the “Roller Coaster Moments.” There were lessons to be gleaned from each one, but mostly I just walked away glad to be alive.
Clearly not a photo of me.
The first one was shown in the online curriculum…kind of. At several points in the videos, instructors hop in a minivan to illustrate how riding can be similar to driving. Makes sense. And so it also made sense when, after some introductory instruction at the speedway, they said, “Okay, let’s get in the minivans, and we’ll illustrate some of these things we’ve been talking about.” Sure, I thought. I remember seeing them doing this in the videos.
What they didn’t show in the videos is the extreme version of illustrating the points.
Did you know a minivan can take corners at 80-plus mph? I didn’t. Nor did I necessarily think it should. My instructor for the two days (and minivan driver that first day) was Cody Wyman. In addition to all of Cody’s racing accolades, he is also a professional driving instructor. Again, did you know a minivan can take corners at 80-plus mph? Apparently it can, although my death grip on the underside of my seat (you can probably still see my claw marks) was because I was convinced we were going to go ass-over-teakettle.
Cody was sure to check in on all his passengers as we careened around the track, and I think I mumbled something like “I’m good,” and I think he said some other things we were supposed to be learning, but it wasn’t until they repeated the exercise the next day that I was able to breathe and pick up some of the finer nuances of braking and finding the straightest lines to the next apex.
Cody Wyman prepares a student for the braking drill.
The second “Roller Coaster Moment” was riding two-up with an instructor. I’m not sure what else to say besides it was like being on the back of a rocket. I don’t remember much beyond trying not to collapse Cody’s lungs or fracture his ribs with my arms as I clutched the grab bar that had been affixed to the Yamaha MT-10 tank in front of him while he took corners at speeds that I’m pretty sure were faster than the minivan. At least the van had seatbelts.
While I joke about this being a “Roller Coaster Moment,” the lesson was indeed solid, and it segues into my biggest surprise – or perhaps realization – of exactly how amazing motorcycles are when it comes to moving through space and time, especially sportbikes – even with my 200-lb butt on the pillion.
Several times over the course of the two days, we were told to trust the bike. We all hear about “lean angle” and “rider triangle” and “geometry,” but it was fascinating (and reassuring) to hear from professionals exactly how much these machines have been designed to take your physical inputs and convert them using math and science into results that allow the bike to cling to the earth in seeming defiance of natural laws. But I learned that they’re actually pushing those very laws.
ChampSchool instructor demonstrates the 100 points of grip.
Common ChampSchool expressions like “Load the tire before you work the tire” revolve around math and science. Adding 5% of brakes starts to compress the fork, which changes the geometry of the bike and widens the tire’s contact patch, and suddenly (well, similar to his dislike of words like “flick” or “grab,” Nick would probably scold me for such an “abrupt” word choice as “suddenly”) you can add more brakes or lean angle to make a tight corner. It’s more than “man and machine”; it’s an amazing symbiosis. We are riding the motorcycles, and they are listening to what our bodies are saying.
It’s also worth noting I was a little surprised about the caliber of the instructors, not only in their accomplishments but also – and maybe more importantly – their behavior. Nick may have started the class by saying that they would be hard on us, but what I found from all the instructors was positive correction and consistent support and encouragement. And Cody was about the nicest guy you could imagine. Someone could say, “Well, sure, because you were paying them,” but a few weeks after ChampSchool at the AIMExpo show, with hundreds of attendees, I was wandering around trying to take it all in when I heard, “Hey Paul!” It was Cody. I hadn’t even noticed him, and he could’ve just let me pass, but instead he stopped me and took a minute to talk. He didn’t have to do that, but the fact that he did spoke volumes to me.
Cody Wyman offered consistent support and encouragement, even to this old cruiser guy.
ChampSchool Final Takeaways
I attended ChampSchool for two reasons: to become a better at my job with Rider, especially when I need to attend a bike launch at a track, and to become a better rider. I’m sure you want to feel like I’m a competent associate editor, but you’re probably reading this to know whether you will become a better rider if you attend ChampSchool. For me, it was mission(s) accomplished.
Students are instructed on an upcoming drill called “Pointy End of the Cone,” which helps riders learn how to deal with obstacles in corners. This was my favorite drill.
Between Las Vegas and my hometown in southern Utah, there’s a great 12-mile stretch of interstate (yes, interstate) through the Virgin River Gorge, with tall canyon walls and lots of curves. Riding home after ChampSchool, I trusted my bike and I trusted myself. I centered myself and repeated my mantra as I rode toward the slice in the mountains where the interstate cut into the towering walls, and I opened it up a little more through the gorge, as traffic was relatively thin that day.
Still cautious but more confident, I pushed myself. The catchphrases that were repeated in both the online curriculum and at the class echoed in my head – load the tire before you work the tire, brake until you’re happy with speed and direction, and a host of others – and a stretch of road that had been a little more intimidating than enjoyable just a few days earlier was now more fun and exciting.
So thank you to Nick, Cody, and everyone else involved with ChampSchool for taking this cruiser guy and making me a better rider…and making the ride more enjoyable.
With the sun setting on day 2, ChampSchool Chief Instructor and CEO Nick Ienatsch was kind enough to stand for a picture.
For more information, including upcoming ChampSchool classes, as well as other course offerings, such as the one-day ChampStreet program, which is geared more toward street riding, visit the Yamaha Champions Riding School website.
SIDERBAR: Champ U
While the Champ U online Core Curriculum is available for free as part of ChampSchool, for those who are unable to attend one of the ChampSchool events, purchasing the Core Curriculum independently is an excellent alternative, especially considering it’s on sale for only $49.95 as of publication.
For that cost, you get 12 modules comprising a total of 43 video lessons (most ranging from 3-7 minutes long) and corresponding quizzes. The 12 subjects run the gamut – from front and rear braking, downshifting, and body position to mental approach, the 100 points of grip, and a concept they call “radius=mph” – and there are more than 30 drills to reinforce these lessons.
If it seems like there is some overlap, you’re right, and as a former teacher, I can tell you that learning comes from repetition, a tactic Champ U employs very effectively when topics intersect one another. In fact, a decent amount of the information was familiar to me already, but much like I still regularly ride the test course at my local DMV, I also think it’s valuable to hear the same information from a different perspective. And along those lines, the Champ U content creators know how to turn a phrase. Nearly two months after the class, many of the pithy catchphrases from the Core Curriculum still roll around my head as I roll around on my bike.
They also effectively use humor, which keeps the content from feeling like you’re back to studying up for your motorcycle endorsement. Video production value is good, and most of the instructors look very comfortable on the other side of the camera.
The information is largely geared toward track riding and sport bikes, but they drew several parallels to street riding. Even where they didn’t, as primarily a street rider, I made several connections between the lessons and my own experiences. And once you buy it, it’s yours to revisit as often as you’d like.
And if you know someone who is considering taking up riding or if you are new or recently returning to riding, Champ U is now offering a “New Rider” class with 35 lessons, 28 quizzes, and drills designed to prepare students for life as a motorcyclist at an introductory price of $19.95.
No, this isn’t an early St. Patrick’s Day post about Yamaha using green-anodized aluminum. Last month, Yamaha Motor began manufacturing motorcycles at its plants in Japan using aluminum that’s refined using 60% less carbon dioxide than traditional aluminum. Read the more about green aluminum in Yamaha’s official press release below.
Yamaha Motor announced today that it has reached an agreement with an aluminum ingot supplier for the procurement of green aluminum, and began using it as a raw material for parts in Yamaha motorcycles in February 2023. This is the first time for green aluminum to be used in Japanese motorcycles and Yamaha Motor plans to gradually expand its usage in models going forward.
“Green aluminum” is aluminum that is refined using renewable energy sources to emit around 60% less CO2 in its manufacture compared to traditionally refined aluminum. Of course, the percentage of less emission by renewable energy depends per manufacturer. Aluminum parts account for 12% to 31% of the total vehicle weight of a motorcycle, so adopting green aluminum is one effective approach for reducing CO2 emissions from the raw material manufacturing part of a product’s life cycle (falls under Scope 3 Category 1 emissions for supply chains).
Through the development of its engineering and production technologies and expertise, Yamaha Motor has actively pushed the use of recycled aluminum, which now comprises some 80% of Yamaha Motor’s aluminum usage. This introduction of green aluminum is meant to complement this and will be employed for parts that still cannot be manufactured with recycled materials. As a first step, Yamaha Motor will utilize green aluminum for certain parts in its large-displacement and off-road competition motorcycles, and Yamaha Motor plans to expand the number of models using the material in the future as available supply volumes allow.
In line with the Yamaha Motor Group Environmental Plan 2050, the company is aiming to achieve carbon neutrality throughout all of its business activities—including its entire supply chain—by 2050. To realize this, Yamaha Motor has set a goal of switching to 100% sustainable materials by 2050, such as adopting more plant-derived resin materials, developing recyclable polypropylene, and adopting green materials and other recycled materials for its motorcycles manufactured in Japan and overseas.
Pennsylvania VFW, District 29 Riders present a new motorcycle from Wheels 4 Warriors at the state VFW mid-winter conference in Gettysburg. Retired Marine Sean Williams, center, is joined by Craig Toupin, left (green shirt), president of Wheels 4 Warriors, and Henry Mannella, right (white shirt), Pennsylvania VFW Commander.
According to Rider‘s 2022 readership survey, 30% of our readers are active military or veterans. We all enjoy the freedom and excitement of riding motorcycles, but for many veterans, riding a motorcycle serves a therapeutic purpose as well. Cory Angell, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army and a member of the Pennsylvania VFW, District 29 Riders, shares this story about the healing power of Wheels 4 Warriors and the VFW Riders.
Jesse Cunningham served in the U.S. Army as a military policeman. His combat tours in Iraq were extensive and caused changes to him and his life. He now helps veterans across the country journey to a better place by riding motorcycles.
“I came back from my first tour, and I couldn’t relate to the world back here,” Cunningham said. “So I turned right around and did it again. It just felt easier being over there.”
Faced with problems adjusting – and a family that could see the effects – Cunningham left the military and began seeking ways to heal.
“I was with the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, where I met a Vietnam veteran,” Cunningham said. “It was more than just riding. I had a mentor, a combat veteran who helped me in other ways – in ways only a combat veteran can.”
Cunningham serves as the vice president for Wheels 4 Warriors, which helps “Veterans two wheels at a time.” The Nebraska-based organization partners with veteran organizations across the U.S. to establish mentorship programs. These programs provide veterans with camaraderie, support, and the sense of service that was lost after leaving the military.
In Pennsylvania, Wheels 4 Warriors helped Veterans of Foreign Wars, District 29 Riders secure a motorcycle for a veteran. The organization went as far as reviewing the veteran’s service and adding custom art to the motorcycle.
Pennsylvania VFW, District 29 Riders President Anthony Warner said riding seems to be a natural fit for a veteran.
“Many of us worked on vehicles and did mechanical work,” he said. “Riding involves teamwork, safety, and adrenaline. It’s a natural extension of us. When you leave the military what do you do with that energy?”
Pennsylvania is not the only state. Rob Pedersen, VFW Riders Virginia President and Department Chairman, sees it too with growing numbers of riding veterans.
“I am a VFW Rider and American Legion Rider,” said Pedersen. “I enjoy riding with likeminded people, but just getting wind in my face does wonders for me personally.”
Pedersen rode as a kid on dirtbikes and got his first streetbike, a 1983 Honda VT500C, in the late ’80s. It was his mode of transportation for years, but then his life changed and he didn’t ride for 15 years.
“I didn’t realize how much I missed it, and that it could just melt the stress off of you,” Pedersen said. “I have seen shows that talk about how riding helps with PTSD, and I believe that to be true.”
The positive effects of riding were measured in “Modulation of attention and stress with arousal: The mental and physical effects of riding a motorcycle,” a study published in the journal Brain Research in 2021.
“Stress levels … continue to rise, and people are exploring pathways to better their mental and physical health,” said Dr. Don Vaughn, the neuroscientist who led the research team. “The differences in participants’ neurological and physiological responses between riding and other measured activities were quite pronounced. This could be significant for mitigating everyday stresses.”
While study participants were riding, the study found enhanced sensory processing and visual attention, increased focus, and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
Pedersen, Warner, and Cunningham all agree – it’s not just about riding.
“The riders in Virginia with the VFW and American Legion have grown over the seven to eight years I have been involved with them,” Pedersen said. “Our Virginia riders do a ton of things for their posts and communities. I imagine it’s that way wherever you go.”
In Pennsylvania, Warner said they want to reach those who didn’t ride before but always thought about trying it.
“Any veteran that wants to ride, we are here to help,” Warner continued. “We are safety oriented, just like the military. We have training options for you and help you get your license.”
BMW partner VTR Motorrad AG & VTR Customs in Switzerland recently built a customized BMW R 18 First Edition commissioned by one of its customers to pay homage to the Ju 52 three-engine commercial and transport aircraft from the 1930s christened “Iron Annie.” Everything from the dial on the speedometer and replica cooling fins to the custom color scheme and corrugated aluminum planking reflect the appearance of the well-known aircraft. For more information, read the press release below from BMW Motorrad.
Munich/Schmerikon — The old “Aunt Ju” Junkers Ju 52, the legendary three-engine commercial and transport aircraft from the 1930s, is still familiar to many people. The Ju 52 with the aircraft registration D-AQUI in the Lufthansa color scheme grey-black from 1936 became particularly well-known worldwide. During its time in the U.S. from 1970 to 1984 under the American aircraft registration N52JU, it was christened “Iron Annie” for short by its then-owner Martin Caidin.
It was precisely this aircraft that inspired a customer of BMW partner VTR Motorrad AG & VTR Customs in Schmerikon, Switzerland, to commission a very special customized version of the BMW R 18: the R 18 “Iron Annie.”
Years before, the customer, who is an architect, had an R nineT built at VTR Customs that was also inspired by aviation style elements from aircraft construction.
With the R 18 “Iron Annie,” the dial of the speedometer integrated into the tank is intended to be reminiscent of old cockpit instruments or access panels with quick-release fasteners, as found on many aircraft. And of course, it was imperative to borrow from the Ju 52’s characteristic corrugated aluminum planking. The seat was designed to be reminiscent of a riding saddle, and only the “Iron Annie” color scheme in grey and black was used for the paintwork.
A BMW R 18 First Edition served as the starting point for the customizing project. First the engine was removed and painted black. All chrome parts were painted black, and the fork stanchions also received a black coating in the form of a DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) coat.
The cockpit trim was pulled back as narrow and flat as possible to emphasize the streamlined shape. The 7-cm shorter fork and a height-adjustable Wilbers shock absorber emphasize the crouched stance of the motorcycle.
“To make the bike look smaller and give it a more filigree appearance between the wheels, we had large 18- and 21-inch wheels made by Kineo,” said Daniel Weidmann, owner and managing director of VTR Motorrad & VTR Customs.
As a further technical treat, racing-style HC3 pumps from Magura were fitted in place of the standard R 18 brake and clutch fittings. The dial of the customized speedometer has a hand that was specially made by watchmaker Zeitzone Zurich.
“One of the big challenges with the R 18 Iron Annie was the replica cooling fins in the area of the rear silencers,” Weidmann said. “Shaping these parts into parallel and beautiful radii and at the same time still fastening them harmoniously took a number of attempts.” This consumed countless hours of work, as the fuel tank, the tail with the suggested tail fin of an airplane, the side panels, and the cockpit were artfully hand-formed from aluminum sheet. Reminiscences of traditional metal aircraft construction are also provided by the numerous lens-head rivets.
“What almost pained us a little when we saw all the handmade, bright aluminum sheets shimmering and shining was that they would have to be painted,” Weidmann said. “However, we are extremely satisfied with the result because the R 18 Iron Annie differs even more clearly from our well-known Spitfire, which is also designed in aviation style.” The R 18 Iron Annie will receive road approval and is sure to turn quite a few heads in its new home on Lake Geneva. It will remain a unique model, as was promised to the customer.
Our guest on Episode 55 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Guillermo Cornejo, co-founder and CEO of Riders Share, a peer-to-peer motorcycle rental network. Riders Share was founded in 2018, and there are now more than 4,000 different motorcycles available to rent in the U.S. in every street-legal category. Riders Share has grown by more than 75% annually over the past two years and is ranked #1 on Google for “motorcycle rental” searches. We talk to Cornejo about how he started Riders Share, the most popular motorcycles to rent on the network, and the additional income motorcycle owners earn when they rent out their motorcycles – some have even started their own motorcycle rental businesses.
