The Money Shot: Eddie Chan, SJPD, is The Man!

[James Burleigh]

This is a photo I shot today of Eddie Chan from the San Jose PD. He is an amazing rider! And he won the event. I had a half-hour interview with him that was for me like sitting in a university PhD course on riding style.

For example, to explain how gingerly he uses the rear brake, he said, "Imagine there is a small bird between your foot and the brake: You just want enough pressure to keep it from flying away, but not so much that you injure it. If you injure the bird, you will drop your bike."

I can't wait to share his insights with fellow riders in my article.

 

[dcarver]

Good stuff Hans. What issue/month?

 

[Tyler]

Eddie rocks... B)

 

[puppychow]

Looks like a Ninja on an ST.

 

[Surly]

These Police Officers that ride like this impress me so much. Hope that you can place more details of your interview on this FORUM.

Highest regards

Surly

 

[Thug]

Great Shot!

 

[bgross]

Looks like magic!

Excellent shot.

 

[ionbeam]

PR3s, 2 fingers on the front brake, 4 fingers on the clutch, look where you are going and always have your baton in the holster on the right side.

 

[dcarver]

The baton is a counterweight. Without it he would fall over?

 

[Greg 03]

I definitely want to get my hands on this article so I can share it with my fellow motor officers. Please let me know what issue so I can try to buy one!

 

[rogdeb]

I definitely want to get my hands on this article so I can share it with my fellow motor officers. Please let me know what issue so I can try to buy one!

Me too Hans ----- great shot !

I've seen 3 of these Cop Contests and am always impressed.

 

[creg-ny-baa]

Some things motorcycle leave me slackjawed:

Valentino at Philip Island the year he had to overcome a 10 second penalty,

Observed trials

Motor officer contests.

Skilz.

 

[James Burleigh]

Thanks, all. I do not have a deadline date from the editor yet, but I will share when known. I want to recommend to the editor a sidebar within the article that describes Eddie's recommendations. I think the best single gold nugget I came away from the event with, that will make the article worth reading all by itself, is his recommended exercise on the bike to learn how to do what he does.

This was the first time I encountered Eddie, but apparently he is a Bay Area motorcycle celeb on BARF (Bay Area Riders Forum) and in regional competitions. He was very generous with me with his time and comments during the interview; and after he won we chatted some more, and he told me to call or email him if I have any questions about riding, want more information for the article, or if I want to learn how to handle my FJR better. I said "Yes, to all that!"

I may talk to the magazine editor about an article on his riding techniques. I found this video of him on Youtube from a couple years ago:



BTW, I was able to interview the top riders on each of the bike classes: Harley, BMW, Honda (Eddie).

I also met and spoke with the deputy commissioner for the CHP (she used to patrol on a Kawi 1000), and with the CHP's head trainer regarding their training techniques. Did you know the CHP is going over to Harleys?

 

[exskibum]

REALLY looking forward to reading your article, Hans.

 

[Tyler]

I've always been curious about the courses and how the competitors know which cones to circle, etc. There are some obvious places where you can see the pattern but knowing where to go next, etc.? Do they get a layout ahead of time to study and then a dry run or two before the clock starts?

 

[James Burleigh]

I've always been curious about the courses and how the competitors know which cones to circle, etc. There are some obvious places where you can see the pattern but knowing where to go next, etc.? Do they get a layout ahead of time to study and then a dry run or two before the clock starts?

Good question. I will try to address this, and will ask the event sponsor about specifics. But I can tell you that Friday was practice day: riders practiced with the course all day before competition on Saturday.

 

[dcarver]

What? No car tire seen anywhere? Hmmmm...

 

[creg-ny-baa]

I just watched the video. Gawd. I'd probably knock over a cone walking the course.

Yeah, CHP is going to HD. Insert puke smiley here.

 

[James Burleigh]

What? No car tire seen anywhere? Hmmmm...

In my interview, Eddie talked to me about tire selection for this kind of competition, given the type of surface and weather--more evidence that if you want to be (at least one of) the best, you think about every variable.

I'd probably knock over a cone walking the course.