Why We Ride

Why We Ride is an excellent documentary for bikers, it covers a lot of disciplines and deserves a 9 out of 10. It was ruined however by the bombastic music throughout the whole movie, it even drowned out the wonderful sounds of bikes running down the Salt Flats, why is that I wonder. If there is a version available without "music" I would gladly pay for that and watch it over and over again, but for now I am disappointed how an excellent documentary was disfigured by the soundtrack. Imho it is possible to compile a DVD with options for different languages, subtitles etc. The producers could have opted for a separate soundtrack without music I feel. Other than that, high praise for the video editing and the comprehensive coverage of motorcycling through the ages. The fact that everything seems to originate from the United States of America I take with a pinch of salt however.

This is one of the single prettiest films a gear-head can watch. The shots, the lighting, the composure... I don't think I've ever seen another movie that can justify so much slow-motion, but it really is well done here to allow the viewer to take in everything about the shot. My only complaint is that it's strictly about motorcycling in America. There are a few shots of BMWs, Ducatis, Triumphs, and Vincents, but that's about it. MotoGP only gets talked about very briefly, as if the filmmakers knew they had to acknowledge it, but couldn't get anybody from MotoGP to participate or didn't care to. They also didn't talk about World Superbike. It's almost all dirt bikes and big, gaudy, chromed cruisers. I almost turned it off during some of the cruiser parts, but the interviewees had good stories, the editing kept me interested, and the parts focused on Bonneville and kids riding was really great. Recommended viewing for American motorcyclists, but there's a whole wide world of riders out there that may find this to be take-it-or-leave-it.

Been riding my bike for about 15 years, and still it´s kinda hard to tell people why i like it so much, you really have to ride to understand because everyone is so different, is two wheels for almost all of us, but also something deeply personal and it has to do a lot with the freedom sensation you get while riding your bike, it's meditation, adventure, freedom, a sense of wonder and discovery and this film does a lot putting what we all feel into words and beautiful images, i watch this one as white noise sometimes while i work or do chores, and then i have to ride! hahahaha love this! go out and ride!

Just saw "Why We Ride", and while it was entertaining, it isn't a great movie. For one thing, although it does show the passion that many motorcycle riders feel, the emphasis gets a bit overwhelming. I think the film takes itself too seriously, especially with music intended to add gravitas to the interviews. It seems like the producers missed the "having fun" aspect of riding in large part, which is so evident in "On Any Sunday".

Another problem with the film is that it didn't spend enough time on each area of riding, and tries to show too many types activities and riding styles, to the point that just as you are starting to say "that's cool ..." it's on to another topic.

A third issue is that too much prior knowledge on the part of the viewers has been assumed by the film-makers. For example, unless you know who Mert Lawill is, and already know his involvement with making a handle-bar grip for amputees, it's extremely easy to miss the importance of what he has done. Also, the interviewees are unnamed until the end of the film. Sure, most of the riders in our audience knew a few people, but most of us were wondering who they were, and why they were being interviewed.

We watched this film in a group of riders and non-riders. For the most part, this film just confirmed the feelings of the rides, but didn't really make the non-riders want to try motorcycles. It might not be fair to compare it to "On Any Sunday", but the comparison is inevitable. "On Any Sunday" makes most people want to at least investigate riding a bit more, just as "The Endless Summer" makes people want to go to the beach and think maybe they can surf, too.

"Why We Ride" is entertaining for riders, but it's not going to convince anyone to go out and get on a bike.

This film was done in such a moving way. It reminds you of all the reasons why you ride. Why being on 2 wheels is like music being played on the road, dirt, so on and so forth. Before my wife started riding I use to tell her to watch as we go into turns during group rides so she could see the bikes work one after the other as they lean in and lean out and how amazing it was to see that. I think the only reason that individuals don't love to ride is because they haven't tried it. People put such labels on motorcycle enthusiasts when in reality this our free therapy! They don't realize how freeing it can truly be. They don't realize how unbelievably nice the motorcycle community really is. The interviews the footage shot the quotes the age range was all great! I would highly recommend this to all riders and nonriders!