What's up with this East Coast versus West Coast nonsense? The bike industry has apparently been taking cues from the hip-hop world, because lately we've seen a disturbing amount of comments on Web forums and even from readers' letters.
Having lived in all corners of the U.S., I've definitely seen diverse styles. But when sportbike clubs, stunt teams and general enthusiasts are brought together at places like Daytona or Myrtle Beach, the only obvious differences are some funky accents. To suggest that there's some sort of rift among the sportbike sectors is rather ridiculous.
Last year, the mildly controversial program Superbikes! covered two club rides-one in New York and one in California during a subsequent episode. Through the wonders of video editing, a friendly rivalry was created between the organizers (and therefore the east and west), but it was merely based on who could draw more riders, not claims that one style or focus was more worthy than the other. Otherwise, we again couldn't distinguish a difference.
We all know Florida has been the hotbed of stretched and slammed custom rides for the last couple of years, and there are more custom sportbike shops in the Sunshine State than we can keep track of. But lately we've watched California catch up and produce some killer customs that are just as creative and detailed as any eastern ride. Perhaps there aren't as many dedicated sportbike-specific shops, but the ones that are doing it are doing a good job and thinking beyond the basic 240-rear Hayabusa build.
To hear somebody announce that he only "does the twisties" or "kills the strip" is enough to turn my stomach. Please. I've been to the Tail of the Dragon in North Carolina, and it's every bit as good as any Southern California route. And though the Eastern Seaboard may host more drag events, let's not forget about Las Vegas Speedway-one of the premier drag venues in the country. East Coast riders are just as fast and appreciate a good road just as much as a West Coaster. So hopefully there's another common misconception stifled.
The stunt community, particularly, has expanded the notion of coastal rivalry as well, and it's as absurd as the aforementioned case of East Coasters not liking corners. The favorite factor to harp on for the freestylers is that the western riders are more technical and ride prettier bikes, while the east-enders tend to have a more "balls-out" attitude and aren't concerned about the appearance of their bikes. But I say if you put the top five riders from each region side by side, we'll find none of these claims to be evident. The further you move down the food chain, the more it all melds together anyways-until there aren't any noticeable differences whatsoever.
We need to crawl out of our caves and open up to all that the sportbike community has to offer. From freestyle competitions to female-only track days to club rides, there are plenty of events to keep us all moving ahead and enjoying our ridiculously fun toys. There's no need for separation because of imaginary trends, so let's tone down the drama, please.
Keep it pinnedDave Sonskydavid.sonsky@primedia.com