The novel coronavirus has swept across the face of our planet for more than a year now and there is nothing better that we can do to protect ourselves than to stay indoors and reduce our movements outside the house.
This of course has thrown a spanner into the plans of bikers worldwide whose mana comes from the freedom of the open road. The thrill of planning impromptu road trips and zoning into that meditative state where nothing else in the world matters except the weather, the road, and the sound of the engine; are some things that for a biker are akin to insulin for a diabetic.
But given the situation, we are all in at the moment, with the bike parked in the garage and the weekend spent planning on what to watch on Netflix instead of where to ride, there won’t come a better time to add to your ‘To Watch’ list, the following films from the motorcycle world.
These recommendations are from my collection of documentaries that dive deep into the psyche of motorcycle enthusiasts and celebrates the journey and achievements of noteworthy riders. Of course, the list is by no means exhaustive and many other films overlap on the same themes, but I’ve found these to be the best examples of their category. (Click on the image to watch the trailer)
5). Riding Solo to the Top of the World (2006) & One Crazy Ride (2009)
Category: Motorcycle Adventure - India
Both of these masterpieces are by the national award-winning filmmaker, trail-blazing biker, and founder of the 60kph Motorcycle Club – Gaurav Jani. As the name suggests, Riding Solo to the Top of the World is about his solo ride to Changthang Plateau in Ladakh, one of the remotest locations in the Indian subcontinent, and One Crazy Ride is about his expedition through the uncharted roads of Arunachal, albeit with few of his buddies this time.
Although it is a delight to watch Gaurav negotiate the rough, unforgiving terrains on his overloaded Royal Enfield motorcycle, often finding himself in situations of visible danger, it is seeing his grit, “never say die” attitude, and insatiable thirst for adventure, compelling him to continue in the face of insurmountable odds, that puts the viewer at the edge of his seat.
Unfortunately, Gaurav Jani passed away on May 24th, 2020 due to multiple organ failure, which makes appreciating his films a fitting posthumous tribute to a true biker and adventurer.
4). Long Way Round (2004), Long Way Down (2007) & Long Way Up (2020)
Category: Motorcycle Adventure - International
The Long Way series is about the adventures of Hollywood actors and riding buddies, Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman on their motorcycles, traveling around the world.
As the names suggest, Long Way Round is their journey from London to New York, via eastern Europe, Mongolia, Russia, and Canada; Long Way Down is the same from Scotland to Cape Town, South Africa, and lastly, Long Way Up is their most recent adventure from the southern tip of Argentina to Los Angeles, USA, this time on electric Harley-Davidson Livewire motorcycles.
These are some of the first pieces of film before the era of YouTube or travel vlogging became a thing, that visually satisfied the fans of long-distance riding, who until then had to appease themselves on travel literature like Ted Simon’s Jupiter’s Travels. Like any good adventure travelogue, it involves instances of the duo getting lost, rough terrains causing things to break down, and the bonds of their friendship is tested. But at the same time, it also provides the viewer great insights into human kindness, serendipity, and the colorful contrasts of culture and living around the world.
3). Faster (2003), Fastest (2011) & Hitting the Apex (2015)
Category: Motorsports – Moto GP
If you draw a Venn diagram of bikers and Moto GP fans, you would find that the former is the superset of the latter. This is because one cannot be a Moto GP fan and not be a biker, and these are documentaries for the hardcore Moto GP fans out there.
Against a backdrop of motorcycle Grand Prix history, ‘Faster’ focuses mainly on the intense competition between the former World Champion Valentino Rossi, who many consider the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) in the motorsport and his rival Max Biaggi through the early 2000s. ‘Fastest’ takes the story a bit further, into the early 2010s where the focus is more on the then-emerging talents of the sport and rising competition to Rossi's supremacy– Ducati’s Casey Stoner, Honda’s Dani Pedrosa, and the second face of Yamaha Factory Racing, Jorge Lorenzo
Hitting the Apex, narrated by Brad Pitt is a powerful documentary film that distills the essence of Faster and Fastest while adding even more drama and excitement to the mix. It impresses onto the viewer the thrills as well as the very real dangers involved in the sport and shows us that although they may seem god-like, the best Grand Prix racers are just as human as the rest of us.
2). TT3D: Closer to the Edge (2011) & Charge (2011)
Category: Motorsports – Isle of Man TT
From Moto GP, we move on to the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy (TT), referred to by fans as the ‘Holy Grail’ of road racing. Started in 1907, it is one of the oldest racing championships in the world and with over 150 fatalities, also one of the deadliest.
As it involves racing powerful superbikes at over 200kmph through the streets of the island, it is the very real danger of certain death that gives this sport its ethereal aura. ‘TT3D: Closer to the Edge’ gives us a chance at comprehending the mindset of its champions, John McGuiness, Guy Martin, and Ian Hutchison, who, despite the staggeringly dangerous odds, keep going back for more. Needless to say, the film might be a bit too much for some as it involves visuals of gruesome motorcycle crashes including one which caused the demise of racer Paul Dobbs.
‘Charge’ on the other hand focuses on the introduction of zero-emission racing into the Isle of Man TT championship with the TTXGP (later on the TT Zero) in 2010. Being the world’s first zero-emission superbike racing, it makes for an interesting watch as this event was the genesis of India’s electric motorcycle brand ‘Tork Motors’.
1). Why We Ride (2013) & On Any Sunday: The Next Chapter (2014)
Category: Motorcycle - Lifestyle
Both of these documentaries are a must-watch for any biker as they talk about things that are incredibly personal to them, like the captivating moment of euphoric high you experienced the first time you rode your beloved motorcycle, the boundless joy you still experience while riding, and the inexplicable love affair with your motorcycle that others sometimes struggle to fathom. Since it debuted just months after I purchased my motorcycle, Why We Ride in particular, holds a special place in my heart as it was all new to me and I could resonate with each sentence spoken in the film. As the films explore the rich and illustrious history of motorcycling and motorcycle racing, they prove that both concepts have been inseparable right from the moment man put a motor onto a bicycle frame and called it a “motorcycle”.
I’m sure these incredible films brought tears of happiness to the eyes of millions of motorcycle enthusiasts around the globe, both young and old, as they remind them of what it means to be a biker and also makes them feel part of a global community with a shared common experience that has remained constant throughout the ages.
