The Motorcycle.com review!

Evans Brasfield’s stunning Cyclone shot for Motorcycle.com…a magnificent photograph!

When the oldest and biggest online motorcycle magazine gives you a call, you pay attention.   Hell, we pay attention whenever a magazine calls us, but I’ve been following Motorcycle.com for 20 years (yep, they started in 1994).   When they called, it was an especially good feeling.   Tom Roderick (the writer) and Evans Brasfield (the photographer, who also does a lot of writing) visited with us last week and it was a hoot.   Freeway, dirt, twisties…we did it all, and meeting these fellows and watching them work was a special treat.

So, the article…you can read it here.   And when you’ve finished reading it, come on back to the blog so I can share some of the photos I grabbed on our outing last week.   I held off on publishing them on the blog because I didn’t want to jump ahead of the Motorcycle.com guys.

First, my shot of Evans at work…and how about that awesome RX-3 photo above?   Here’s what it looks like when you get to watch two professionals at work.

Evans in the dirt with a wide-angle lens photographing the RX-3

We rode into the little mountain town of Lytle Creek and then I took the guys up to Sheep Canyon for the “in the dirt” photos.    Here’s a few of the photos I grabbed…

Evans and his KTM

This is Bob, another guy on a KTM…I never met him, he was riding in the same area, and he was happy to pose for a photo!

Evans getting dialed in on the road into Lytle Creek

Tom Roderick leaning into a corner

Tom Roderick having fun on the RX-3

Evans setting Tom up for the next series of action photos

After playing on the twisties leading into Lytle Creek and in the dirt, we headed up Lone Pine Road to the Grizzly Café in Wrightwood.

I guess I should mention that I told Tom not to be afraid to push the RX-3.   He was not.   He and Evans passed me (I was riding my KLR) and that was it…those boys were GONE!

I tried to catch up, consoling myself that Evans was on an 1199cc motorcycle and that’s why I couldn’t run in the same league.   Tom, though, was on the 250cc RX-3, and let me tell you, that guy can ride!   I watched him lean into the first corner, and that was the last I saw of either of those guys until they stopped a few miles up the road for more photos.   I’m a little bit embarrassed to tell you that Tom and the 250 Cyclone left me and my 650 KLR in the dust.   It was humbling, but impressive.

Okay, so back to the Grizzly Café part of the story.   I had the world’s best tuna melt (no kidding, like Tom on the RX-3 diving into a corner, it was impressive, too).   If I remember correctly Evans got a burger.   Tom ordered this roast beef and jalapeno chemical weapons sandwich even after the waitress told him it was “pretty hot.”   When she brought the food to our table a few minutes later, it hurt just looking at those peppers hanging out of Tom’s sandwich.  Tom had no problems, though.   This guy eats like he rides!

Tom Roderick, whipping tight corners and weapons-grade jalapeno peppers into submission

Evans Brasfield, photog extraordinaire!

After wrapping up our late lunch, I grabbed a parting shot of the grizzly above the restaurant….

A great spot for lunch…the Grizzly Cafe!

Another fun day, folks.    And Evans and Tom, thanks for the great review!

I’m off to Zongshen in a bit, boys and girls.   Ride safe, watch out for the grizzlies, and keep an eye on the blog!