Whether you're a seasoned expert or a beginner, there is always something to learn. The comfort of your living room is a painless place to start. Motorcycle videos are popping up everywhere, so if you're into racing, backroad riding, stunting or just want to dial in your suspension, there's a DVD out there for you. Here are a few we've discovered lately; note that previews are available on most of the websites.
The 2006 MotoGP season will go down in history, not only because it saw the last of the 990cc bikes but also because it was undeniably spectacular. Reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi became the Comeback King by fighting his way back to the top after a terrible start to the season, and Nicky Hayden led the points all season until being taken out by his teammate, Dani Pedrosa, which made the Spaniard the most-hated MotoGP racer in America. And, of course, the battle for the world championship crown went down to the final round! A must-see DVD and a must see again if you've already seen it.
$29.99
www.sroent.com
Not only is this the best-named DVD around, it's an excellent way to learn about your bike's suspension. Whether you ride on the street or track, Dave Moss of Catalyst Reaction Suspension Tuning takes you through setting sag, optimizing compression and rebound damping and afterward takes you for some laps around the racetrack and demonstrates the differences between a good set-up and bad. A sister DVD, An Introduction to Sport Bike Suspension, delves deeper into suspension set-up by focusing on the relationship between preload and rebound, reading tire wear and high- vs. low-speed compression adjustments. Moss also goes through different bikes for case studies.
$24.95
www.feelthetrack.com
The top three motorcycle streamliners in the world go head to head to set a new land speed record in the 2006 Bub International Motorcycle Speed Trials at the Bonneville Salt Flats. With Rocky Robinson in Mike Akatiff's Ack Attack, Chris Carr in Denis Manning's #7 'liner and Sam Wheeler in his EZ Hook, the 16-year-old record fell several times during the event and ultimately went down to the last five minutes. World's Fastest Motorcycle is a breathtaking DVD which includes aerial, trackside and on-board footage of the racing as well as expert commentary from Dave Despain of SPEED-TV.
$29.95
www.speedtrialsbybub.com
From the company that brought you Sick Air and Servin' It Up, Full Throttle Video brings you a box set of all three DVDs in its Road Rage series. You guessed it: Road Rage is a mad stuntah's guide to the galaxy featuring such groups as the Star Boyz and Las Vegas Extremes risking their epidermis (and maybe their lives) for some good old-fashioned stand-up wheelies and other illegalities of choice. Curiously, there's also race footage of former Superbike stars Jamie James and Freddie Spencer, whose names we'd bet a box of Band-Aids have never left the lips of these adrenaline-seeking bikerobats.
$29.95
www.fullthrottlevideo.com
If you don't have On Any Sunday in your video collection, you'd better buy it before your friends call you a poser! This 1971 documentary captures the true spirit of motorcycling in such vivid fashion that it earned an Academy Award nomination. Director Bruce Brown's epic film features classic racing footage from flat-track to motocross to roadracing to Baja. And his unique commentary, coupled with action footage of such icons as Malcolm Smith, Steve McQueen and Mert Lawwill, carries viewers through the excitement and danger of motorcycle racing at its purest.
$19.99
www.montereymedia.com
Lose yourself in the beauty and serenity of the Appalachian Mountains. This DVD captures some of the best motorcycling roads in the country, some of which were featured in our November 2006 issue's "Dream Rides" feature. Footage covers the areas around the Smoky Mountains, Pisgah Forest and Nantahala Forest on such famous roads as the Cherohala Skyway, Blue Ridge Parkway and the infamous Deal's Gap, the 11-mile road with 318 turns affectionately nicknamed "The Tail of the Dragon." Explore your world.
$15.95
www.homeofthedragon.com
See Travis Pastrana and Jeremy McGrath, along with the rest of the insane Nitro Circus crew, flip, slip, grab big air and crash their way around the globe. Featuring more mayhem per minute than nearly any other freestyle DVD, it includes Pastrana's first-ever X-Games double-backflip. Think of it as Jackass on bikes. It's hard to believe the human body can bend into those shapes. Kids, do not try this at home!
$29.95
www.studio411.com
Huge props to Jessica Hale, producer/director of the new film Wide Open, which gives viewers an up-close and personal look at American flat-track racing. Hale guides us through the 2006 AMA Grand National Championship and gives us a peek at the tracks, the riders and what transpires behind the scenes of some of the most exciting motorcycle racing anywhere. Ride the Springfield Mile with Kenny Coolbeth and watch a candid interview with racing legend Jay Springsteen. If you've been under a rock and have never seen a dirt-track race, this is a good place to start.
$20
www.flattrack.com
