Kick-Ass Motorcycle Scenes in the Movies: The Matrix Reloaded

Speeding into Oncoming Traffic Two Up on a Ducati …

The near 15 minute freeway chase scene in the Matrix Reloaded raised the bar for this type of action sequence. The interaction of characters, vehicles, and camera angles is truly amazing. This is the first film that almost organically captures the action by weaving in, out, and under the traffic.

Much of the sequence involves action in, on, and around cars and SUVs but it truly heats up when the vinyl clad Trinity takes the Keymaker for a head-on ride through oncoming traffic on a black Duacati 996. The blend of live stunts and computer graphics (cgi) is clean and does not create an artificial barrier between the audience and the action, but draws in the viewer.

In addition to the riding and driving the sequence includes the typical highly stylized Matrix martial arts, choreographed by Yuen Wo Ping. The only change I would make to the freeway chase scene is to have Neo arrive on a Harley Davidson Nightster, barreling down the highway at super speeds with guns blazing.

Kick-Ass Motorcycle Scenes in the Movies: Torque

There’s Nothing Wrong with Mindless, Guilty Pleasures …
Torque is damn near the definition of mindless, guilty pleasure for me. This is a movie I take on the road when traveling for business, it’s great for tuning out the world, and noisy kids, on airplanes and it’s great to watch in hotel rooms after spending long hours in meetings.

There is nothing subtle in this movie, it highlights everything that is good and bad about motorcycling and the people that ride. Fast bikes (good), dirty riders (not so bad on weekends), hot women (good), bad bikers on Harleys (cliché), good and bad guys on sportbikes (whatever).

The best scene is during the opening credits when the hero, on an Aprilia, gets going so fast he spins a street sign on it’s axis with enough velocity that it appears to say “cars suck”. That is kicks-ass. Most of the movie is cgi stunts including a ridiculous scene at the end with the 227mph Y2K, helicopter turbine powered motorcycle. While the chase scene is silly the fact that the movie included the Y2K is awesome. Of course the villain is riding an equally fast v-twin but not a Harley Davidson Nightster.

When you just want to kick back and think of a world ruled by the baddest bikes and their riders put on Torque, suspend belief, and enjoy.

Kick-Ass Motorcycle Scenes in the Movies: Deja Vu

While I’m in between motorcycles and riding I thought I’d write about some of the most kick-ass motorcycle scenes in movies. Now “kick-ass” can imply many things, crazy stunts, expert riding, unique machines, etc. At times I may write about kick-ass movies that would have likely been more kick-ass with a motorcycle scene.

The first installment is just such a movie, Deja Vu staring Denzel Washington as an ATF agent investigating an act of domestic terrorism in New Orleans (no, it’s not the Administration’s handling of Katrina). What makes this movie kick-ass is the extreme geeky undertones mixed with explosions and gun play. If you’ve seen the trailer you probably don’t realize how truly geeky this movie is; make no mistake, there’s a fairly reasonable discussion of folding the space-time continuum (a.k.a., time travel). It’s not as accurate or in-depth as the explanation on the tenth dimension but still, it’s pretty kick-ass for a Hollywood movie.

Bad news, there’s not much in the way of motorcycle scenes in Deja Vu – a chase scene with a Harley Davidson Nightster would have made this movie even more kick-ass but even so, it’s worth checking out.

Best Coffee in Coastal North County

If you are riding the coast on a Harley Davidson Nightster, or any other motorcycle, and decide you could use a caffeine boost I recommend the 7-Eleven at 1446 Encinitas Blvd. It appears to be a family owned store (franchise) where the coffee is always fresh, literally twelve or more pots on the burner at any time, and plenty of choices on blends and flavors. The service is always polite and, being a 7-eleven, you can spend the money you would have spent on some fancy coffee drink for a power bar. Of course, you have to be willing to pour your own cup.

Check out:

7-ELEVEN #17475
1446 ENCINITAS BLVD
ENCINITAS, CA 92024-2930

Sunday Ride Update

Well I don't feel like a total wuss for not riding on Sunday morning as the North County Times reports flooding and lightening in Escondido and Valley Center. "I was out on the freeway responding to an accident at about 6 a.m., and it was right on top of us. We could see bolts hitting the ground everywhere," said fire Capt. Art Holcomb in the North County Times article. This type of weather would have made riding the twisty, and likely very slippery, roads of East County a real bummer, even if I were riding a Harley Davidson Nightster.

No Ride This Weekend

My buddy John and I had planned to go out on the 76 East this morning and ride East to the 79 and down to the 78. The weather had a different plan and we scrapped the ride due to thunder and lightening in the Eastern sky. Given it wasn't raining at home I would have headed out but with both my 2003 Suzuki SV650S and 2003 BMW F650GS Dakar for sale I did not want to risk having any wet weather issues.
I'm looking forward to Labor Day weekend and taking a rental Sportster XL1200 for a ride along the aforementioned route. Seems like those windy roads East of Escondido and Valley Center are made for a Harley Davidson Nightster.

No Test Ride this Weekend

I was hoping to rent a Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 from the local dealer this weekend to get an extended test ride, but the bike had already been reserved. Now I'm going to have to go out on my 2003 Suzuki SV650S (not a problem, its a great bike). The good news is that I've planned ahead and have the Sportster XL1200C reserved for Labor Day. I'm really looking forward to having a chance to feel what it's like ride the bike even though the rental is not a 2008 Harley Davidson XL1200 Sportster 1200 Nightster but a Sportster Custom.

Why the Nightster?

First, I have to admit I have not been a Harley Davidson fan; sure every now and then I'd see a decent looking Harley but the chrome, leather and tassels just don't match my Teutonic definition of what a motorcycle should be. I'm more into clean form and performance, at least that's what I tell myself but time has proven that performance is not as important as I'd thought or hoped. What's become important is a comfortable ride with reasonable seat of the pants power, more specifically torque, and a bike that looks as good as it rides. Honestly, I see myself as more a BMW rider than on a Harley Davidson but the new Nightster may just change my mind.
The 2008 Harley Davidson XL1200 Sportster 1200 Nightster is a slick looking machine. It emphasizes the 1200cc power plant, putting it out in the air to cool and show all what a v-twin looks like. The bike itself is retro cool, looking like a modified Sportster 1200L Low, with bobbed fenders, blacked out trim and the ever so bitchin combination tail lights and rear turn signals. For someone like me looking for a less frantic ride than that found on a sportbike and a more confident stance than the tall BMW F650GS Dakar provides, the Harley Davidson Sportster may just be a perfect solution.
I won't know until I've had a chance to ride a Sportster 1200 and get a feel for the handling dynamics of the bike and the feel of the motor; honestly, I'm hoping that it's going to be great but only twisty roads and a bit of highway will tell.

The Harley Davidson Sportster XL1200N Nightster

The 2008 Harley Davidson XL 1200N Sportster 1200 Nightster. Looking suh-weet in Mirage Orange Pearl and Vivid Black.