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Backmarker: L.A. Confidential Pt. 1: Franz and Grubb
Tucked away in North Hollywood is Franz and Grubb Engines, where Dan Irving has developed a reputation as one of the most trusted vintage Triumph specialists in southern California.
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Backmarker: Hollywood Electrics Harlan Flagg
MotoUSA’s Backmarker visits Harlan Flagg’s Hollywood Electrics shop and chats with motorcycling’s foremost ‘EV’angelist about the current state of electric motorcycles.
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Backmarker: The Ghost in the Machine
MotoUSA’s Backmarker relates the tale of a bike purchase with an unusual condition of purchase, which gives new meaning to Ghost in the Machine.
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Backmarker: An Unlikely New Year’s Resolution
Our Backmarker proposes a New Year’s resolution for industry-wide, European-style tiered licensing for motorcyclists in the USA.
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Backmarker: Ghosts of Biking Past, and Future
Our Backmarker looks at ways to bridge the gap between old, experienced motorcyclists and the new crop of millennial riders.
Backmarker: Dan Mahony’s Photographic Ephemera
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Our Backmarker laments the losses of Dan Mahony, a prolific AMA Flat Track photographer that recently lost his archive in a house fire.
Backmarker: Gary Nixon and What Could Have Been
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Our Backmarker looks at the tendrils which connect recent racing controversies to Gary Nixon and the 1976 FIM F750 Series.
Backmarker: Checking in with Eddie Mulder
Thursday, November 12, 2015
MotoUSA’s Backmarker checks in with Eddie Mulder, the former off-road and flat track racer turned Hollywood stuntman.
Backmarker: Toyota’s Amazing Motorcycle Ad
Thursday, October 22, 2015
The best motorcycle advertisement of the year wasn’t made by a motorcycle company. Our Backmarker delivers the backstory of the Toyota Blow Off Steam ad.
Backmarker: Finishing Mike’s Collection
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Our Backmarker finds his way to a man named Richard Chase, who has made a business out of snagging motorcycle deals off Craigslist.
Backmarker: Deconstructing DuQuoin Tire Controversy
Friday, September 25, 2015
MotoUSA’s Backmarker deconstructs some of the pertinent details behind the recent AMA Pro “DuQuoin Tire” bulletin.
Backmarker: Elena Myers and Dean Court
Thursday, September 17, 2015
MotoUSA’s Backmarker shares a tale of Trans-Atlantic matched racers Elena Myers and Dean Court and how a social media romance blossomed into a full-fledged relationship.
Backmarker: K&N’s Norm McDonald
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Out in Tulsa, Oklahoma K&N Yamaha is still run by its 82-year-old founder, Norm McDonald – the same fellow that co-founded that other K&N. MotoUSA’s Backmarker explains.
Backmarker: Motorcycle Riding as a Social Benefit
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Inspired by a recent study in “Smart Mobility,” MotoUSA’s Backmarker makes the case for the social benefits of riding a motorcycle.
Backmarker: AMA Flat Track Bombshell
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Will the new rule changes AMA Pro Racing has proposed for Flat Track really draw more crowds, or are they simply unreasonable? MotoUSA’s Backmarker takes a look.
Backmarker: The Naked Frenchman, or Bastille Day Blues, Part deux
Thursday, July 23, 2015
MotoUSA’s Backmarker finishes the account of his experience at the 2003 Bol d’Or Classic, finding a hero’s tale in the next-but-one garage.
Backmarker: The Naked Frenchman, or Bastille Day Blues (Part ‘un’)
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
MotoUSA’s Backmarker shares a tale from the 2003 Bol d’Or Classic complete with world class riders, scantily-clad women and some harrowing mechanical challenges.
Backmarker: Evan Steel’s 2014 Superbike Season with EBR
Thursday, June 25, 2015
To better understand the demise of EBR, our Backmarker sits down with Evan Steel, Aaron Yates’ crew chief for the 2014 World Superbike Championship.
Backmarker: Steve Christini’s Better Moustrap
Friday, June 5, 2015
Our Backmarker talks with Steve Christini about the long, hard road to develop a viable AWD motorcycle and the market where the machines have found the most success.
Backmarker: Seller’s Remorse
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Our Backmarker heads to Steelville, Missouri to check out a large, hodgepodge motorcycle auction and ends up selling his 1965 Honda Dream 150.
Backmarker: Racing with Steve McQueen
Friday, May 8, 2015
A reader correction leads our Backmarker to some incredible stories of Steve McQueen’s racing exploits during the 1964 ISDT.
Backmarker: Eric Peronnard’s X Games
Thursday, April 16, 2015
MotoUSA’s Backmarker catches up with Eric Peronnard, the man behind EnduroCross and, most recently, Flat Track getting into the X Games.
Backmarker: Helmets Optional in MotoAmerica?
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Our Backmarker stumbles upon a shocking statement in the technical rules regarding helmet use and America’s new national road racing series.
Backmarker: Meeting Michelle Duff
Friday, March 20, 2015
MotoUSA’s Backmarker recounts the incredible story of Mike Duff’s racing career and the turn of events that saw Mike become Michelle later in life.
Backmarker: Stories I’ll Never Write
Thursday, March 5, 2015
In the midst of some seasonal cabin fever, MotoUSA’s Backmarker reflects on some of the stories he’ll likely never write.
Backmarker: Bayliss Hopes to Go Flat Trackin’
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Troy Bayliss is eager to run all five “miles” on the 2015 Flat Track schedule on a Ducati, but will it happen? MotoUSA’s Backmarker takes you behind the scenes.
Backmarker: Justin Kell
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Justin Kell operates Glory Motor Works out of Glendale, California and is the man Hollywood turns to when a script calls for motorcycles.
Backmarker: Honda NS750 Flat Tracker
Thursday, January 22, 2015
MotoUSA’s Backmarker gets the story of Honda’s ill-fated NS750 flat tracker from Jerry Griffith, the man that chopped and turned a CX500 engine into the very first NS750 prototype.
Backmarker: New Year’s Resolutions
Thursday, January 8, 2015
With a new year ahead, our Backmarker offers up some resolutions for MotoAmerica and AMA Pro Racing along with a pledge to turn his new garage into a proper workspace.
Backmarker: Merry Christmas
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
For his last submission of 2014, MotoUSA’s Backmarker reflects on the biggest stories of the year.
Backmarker: Breakfast with Preston
Thursday, December 11, 2014
MotoUSA’s Backmarker catches breakfast with Preston Petty, a man that changed the motorcycling world with his work in plastics.
Backmarker: Finding Kel Carruthers’ TR2
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Our Backmarker meets with Chris Hill, owner of an iconic TR2 that once belonged to Kel Carruthers. Looking for the story behind the TR2, the two get Carruthers on the phone for some insight.
Backmarker: An American in Japan
Thursday, November 13, 2014
MotoUSA’s Backmarker connects with Mike Harper, who discusses his road-racing past in Japan during the birth of the Japanese motorcycle industry.
Backmarker: AMA Mission Creep
Thursday, October 30, 2014
A couple weeks ago, the AMA issued a press release connecting the CDC, Ebola and universal helmet laws… Our Backmarker did not fail to notice.
Backmarker: MotoAmerica & Flat Track
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Wayne Rainey’s new MotoAmerica road racing series is the blockbuster news story in U.S. motorcycle racing. Our Backmarker ponders the possible implications MotoAmerica has for AMA Flat Track racing.
Backmarker: Situational Awareness for Riders
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Our Backmarker imparts rider safety advice with tips for maintaining situational awareness out on the road.
Backmarker: “I Hate It When That Happens”
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Our Backmarker weighs in on a heartbreakingly sober road safety campaign video.
Backmarker: Rainey’s MotoAmerica
Thursday, September 4, 2014
MotoUSA’s Backmarker continues to lay out his proposal to develop U.S. road racing talent amidst recent news of Wayne Rainey’s MotoAmerica series.
Backmarker: North American Novice Cup
Thursday, August 21, 2014
MotoUSA’s Backmarker offers up the beginnings of a solution to the lack of American riders competitive in world championship road racing.
Backmarker: Hot ‘n Bothered in Sacramento
Thursday, August 7, 2014
MotoUSA’s Backmarker heads to California to spend some time with Triumph’s factory Flat Track team at the Sacramento Mile.
Backmarker: Reflections on Supermoto’s Return
Thursday, July 17, 2014
MotoUSA’s Backmarker looks at the quick rise, fall and resurrection of a National Supermoto race series in the United States.
Backmarker: LiveWire & Ghosts of Harley’s Past
Thursday, July 3, 2014
MotoUSA’s Backmarker takes a look beyond the ad agency spin and delves into Harley-Davidson’s true history to explain why the new LiveWire electric bike shouldn’t be such a shock.
Backmarker: H-D LiveWire Launch & First Ride
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
MotoUSA’s Backmarker reflects on Harley-Davidson’s place in the EV market before hopping on The Motor Company’s LiveWire electric motorcycle for a ride around Manhattan.
Backmarker: Kenny Noyes
Thursday, June 19, 2014
MotoUSA’s Backmarker looks at the winding road which brought Kenny Noyes to Kawasaki and the CEV Superbike championship in 2014, where he’s currently the points leader in the class.
Backmarker: Michael Dunlop & BMW at the TT
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
MotoUSA’s Backmarker speaks to Berthold Hauser about Michael Dunlop and BMW’s success at the 2014 IOMTT and looks back at some of BMW’s past successes in the event.
Backmarker: Ride to Work Day
Thursday, May 15, 2014
MotoUSA’s Backmarker spreads the good word on the upcoming Ride to Work Day – as well as propose a grand bargain to the AMA regarding helmet use and lane-splitting.
Backmarker: Lessons from Senna & Cosmos
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
MotoUSA’s Backmarker reflects on the tragic death of Ayrton Senna 20 years ago, as well as the cosmic talents of MotoGP’s reigning champion – Marc Marquez.
Backmarker: TT Rider James Hillier
Thursday, April 17, 2014
MotoUSA’s Backmarker, a former Isle of Man TT rider himself, chats with one of the rising stars in the ‘real roads’ course ranks – Englishman James Hillier.
Backmarker: Exploring St. Louis’ Vintage Scene
Thursday, April 3, 2014
MotoUSA’s Backmarker stole away for a lunch in St. Louis and discovered an array of vintage motorcycle shops.
Backmarker: My “American Pickers” Moment
Thursday, March 20, 2014
MotoUSA’s Backmarker recalls an American Pickers moment, which includes a chance encounter at a bar, an innocuous country barn and a trove of old, obscure motorcycles.
Backmarker: Ulrich’s ‘Triple Crown’
Thursday, March 6, 2014
MotoUSA’s Backmarker speaks to John Ulrich about his as-yet-to-be-named west-coast American road race series, which has already attracted the attention of a number of major AMA SuperBike teams.
Backmarker: The New Road Hazard
Thursday, February 20, 2014
As if motorcyclists didn’t have enough distracted drivers to worry about, our Backmarker makes some dire predictions on what Google Glass may mean for riders.
Backmarker: The Fastest Bikes on Dirt
Thursday, February 6, 2014
MotoUSA’s Backmarker meanders between the fastest and slowest bikes on dirt, reflecting on the potential of unrestricted flat track machines and Honda’s newest trials bike marketing venture in the States.
Baker, Carr, Backmarker 2nite on Barry Boone
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Superprestigio winner Brad Baker, flat track legend Chris Carr and our own Backmarker Mark Gardiner are the special guests tonight on Talking Motorcycles with Barry Boone.
Backmarker: At the Superprestigio
Monday, January 13, 2014
Motorcycle USA’s Backmarker heads to Barcelona for the revived Superprestigio dirt track race, which pitted MotoGP champion Marc Marquez against AMA Flat Track champ Brad “The Bullet” Baker.
Motorcycle journalist Mark Gardiner has been covering the two-wheeled world for decades. His long-running Backmarker continues as a monthly publication on Motorcycle USA, with Gardiner focusing his editorial gaze on anything from the latest industry trends to oddities from motorcycling past. More of Gardiner’s riding spirit can be read at his popular blog, Bikewriter.com. Gardiner is also the author of Riding Man, an autobiographical account of his journey to race the Isle of Man TT.