Photo: Speed.com
It’s been more than a year since the first Unrideables documentary was released, but there’s more Grand prix racing history coming from Speed. The Unrideables 2 - The Rainey Days has just surfaced, and the new movie is a great treat for the motorcycle racing enthusiasts. If you haven’t seen the first episode, then you can already call your friends and make arrangements for a really awesome weekend of motorcycling history, even though the Xmas is drawing in closer and closer.
The Unrideables 2 continues the story of the GP500 and now takes us to the early 1990s, when Wayne Rainey dominated the race track for three seasons in a row. He beat all the big guys who had already become famous, such as Kevin Schwantz, Eddie Lawson, Mick Doohan, and many others the motorsport fans look at with deep reverence.
However, those days were not exactly all fun and games, as some maybe imagine. The name of the documentary was not chosen only because it kind of sounds cool. The 500cc two-stroke machines used for Grand Prix racing in that era were anything but tamed and forgiving, and would never miss a chance to buck the rider off their backs.
Now, if you’ve ever ridden a two-stroke motorcycle, you know how brutal the acceleration of these machines can be. Now imagine yourselves on a bike which tips the scales at say, 120 kg (265 lb) packing 150 horsies which are ever so eager to throw you off the bike at the slightest mistake.
Cue in the tension caused by the race, and don’t forget to factor in the narrow tracks, the leathers which now seem almost primitive, the lack of rider airbags and you’ll most likely start to get close to what motorcycle Grand Prix racing used to be. If you’re looking to understand more, get comfortable and take your time to watch the Unrideables 2, 45 minutes of pure adrenaline which will provide you with a better insight in the history of the sport. Again, Speed delivers a must-see for all the motorcycle enthusiasts regardless of what type of bike they’re riding. Of course, you can always watch the Unrideables 1 just before you press play on part 2.
However, those days were not exactly all fun and games, as some maybe imagine. The name of the documentary was not chosen only because it kind of sounds cool. The 500cc two-stroke machines used for Grand Prix racing in that era were anything but tamed and forgiving, and would never miss a chance to buck the rider off their backs.
Savage bikes, hardcore racing nerve
In fact, watching this documentary you’ll find out that those motorcycles were in fact even scarier for the riders themselves than it looks. That is, because everybody knew that their bikes were exceptionally susceptible to rider errors, and the tiniest mistake in throttle adjustment usually ended up with a crash.Now, if you’ve ever ridden a two-stroke motorcycle, you know how brutal the acceleration of these machines can be. Now imagine yourselves on a bike which tips the scales at say, 120 kg (265 lb) packing 150 horsies which are ever so eager to throw you off the bike at the slightest mistake.
Cue in the tension caused by the race, and don’t forget to factor in the narrow tracks, the leathers which now seem almost primitive, the lack of rider airbags and you’ll most likely start to get close to what motorcycle Grand Prix racing used to be. If you’re looking to understand more, get comfortable and take your time to watch the Unrideables 2, 45 minutes of pure adrenaline which will provide you with a better insight in the history of the sport. Again, Speed delivers a must-see for all the motorcycle enthusiasts regardless of what type of bike they’re riding. Of course, you can always watch the Unrideables 1 just before you press play on part 2.
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