Top 10 - 90’s Moto Video Segments
Hey kids, remember VHS tapes? No?! Well, be older you little idiots! Before things like Youtube, Vevo and Ticky Tock (Is that what it’s called?) were a thing, we old folks had to buy large pieces of plastic put them into a square machine, that made a cacophony of weird whirring sounds just to watch a movie, a homemade clip of your weird uncle get hit in the crotchal region with a tennis ball or even a classic 90’s moto video. You punks have it so easy! Old man rant over.
Anyway, I was about 13 when the first Terrafirma and Crusty Demons of Dirt came out and my small moto-loving mind was blown at the sight of a selection of pro riders and a bunch of guys I’d never heard of wearing baggy trousers hitting huge jumps in a variety of locations across the US, all set to loud brash rock music for the most part. I ended up buying every one I could find and even though I knew they were just slick marketing tools for clothing and bike companies, I was hooked and watched them all over and over again. So here is the 10 best segments in 90’s moto videos.
10. Cooperland - Steel Roots
Soundtrack: Secret Place - Megadeath
Guy Cooper’s 160 acre playground in Stillwater, Oklahoma is definitely on of the ultimate moto bucket list riding spots, and no more is it shown off than in the 1997, Jeremy Mcgrath led movie, Steel Roots. This segment sees Jeremy and friends (mainly Jimmy Button and Grayson Goodman) hitting humungous jumps, dodging trees and pulling some pre Axel Hodges shit by landing rear wheel first from a jump and riding out in a wheelie. All the while the legend, Guy “Airtime” Cooper is throwing around a 610 Husaberg like it’s a 125. This is in a time when 4strokes were big ole bastards heavier than a whale after a visit to an all you can eat plankton buffet! The best part for me is when the film makers emphasise this by lowering the music to let the four dinger ring out just to prove the point. Its the only bike sound in this whole segment and it just underlines what a badass Copp was/is, and how he can hang with the legend that is MC.
Cooper showing no respect for the Husaberg’s size and weight!
The action is set to Megadeth’s ‘Secret Place’, and this clip definitely makes me wish I knew where Cooperland was so I could go there and NOT do some even bigger jumps than what I’m used to.
You can watch Steel Roots here.
9. Johnny Campbell - Terrafirma 3
Soundtrack: Modern Democracy - Biohazard
This might seem like an odd one to be on this list, but you watch the time-lapse sun rise over the desert landscape and then JC splitting the shot at over 100mph on his hefty XR600 and tell me you don’t get a bit juicy! This is mostly helicopter footage, as it seems to be the only mode of transport that can keep up with the Honda mounted Campbell through the Baja desert, but it’s sooooo good. There’s a couple of shots of him picking his way through bumpy terrain that are just a joy to watch, he’s so fluid and loose on the bike and makes it look effortless even though he’s probably hitting speeds that he would be pulled over for on the street. Then, the switch from this technical riding to just head down, flat out style is a juxtaposition I can get behind. Plus those retro style Honda shirts the pit guys are sporting half way through the segment are worth the 2 minute watch alone. Don’t believe me, watch it here.
8. Z50s - Crusty Demons of Dirt 3
Soundtrack: Intermission - The Offspring / Buck Neked on a Big Wheel - The Smut Peddlers
The Z50 is the machine that put ‘pit bikes’ on the map. In fact, I’m pretty sure this video started the pit bike craze that swept the mid 2000’s and still lingers in the air today. This clip is the shortest on the list but it is a minute and a half of pure joy. Watching pro mx riders, BMX’ers and their friends hitting trails and attempting tricks on pocket sized Hondas is enough to put a smile on anyones face. Even the music cuts between The Offspring’s comical ‘Intermission’ (with groans) to punk jam, ‘Buck Neked on a Big Wheel’ by the Smut Peddlers just adds to the fun of the whole piece and really encapsulates the feel of late 90’s Moto. Plus the shot of the guy launching one of the compact four strokes into a river was such a good image, it made the cover of the whole damn movie! Watch the clip here.
7. Lusk, Carmichael - Terrafirma 2
Soundtrack: Sauturated - Sprung Monkey
I remember watching the interviews with Carmichael, Stewart and Pastrana from the first Terrafirma and being disappointed. I wanted to see how fast they actually were and what they could do on a minibike. But my dismay faded when the title card for this section of Terrafirma 2 played on the screen. Here we finally get to see the GOAT as a 13-14 year old shredding his KX super-mini side by side with pro rider Ezra Lusk at Ezra’s private supercross track. I’d never seen anyone up to this point do anything like this on a bike that had less than 125cc’s. I couldn’t believe how he was pulling off one handed and no legged whips that pro riders would be proud of. If I want to get picky, that front wheel is a bit high on the Nacnac Ricky, but hey, I’ve never done one (on purpose) in my life so I can’t comment. Lusk makes a return from T1 to pad out the scene, but Carmichael is definitely the star of this show, as he was through pretty much his entire pro career.
The song, Saturated by Sprung Monkey, is not as fast paced as some of the rest on the video, but its a nice change of pace and makes some great accompaniment to the slow mo footage that turns the 90’s up to 11 with some great scene on scene overlays and some dissolve edits that George Lucas would be proud of. Watch it here.
6. 1994 125 Nationals - Terrafirma
Soundtrack: Them Bones - Alice in Chains
Whiplash! No not the Metallica song, it’s Ezra lusk at Budds Creek in 94. Jesus Christ! From the moment ‘Them Bones’ by Alice in Chains kicks in and ‘Yogi’ rag dolls down that hill, you know this segment is going to be epic. It’s no surprise that these outdoor national round ups were a stalwart of the Terrafirma franchise. They’re essentially microcosms for professional motocross, hard charging, hard passes and even harder crashes, it’s everything that makes up this sport we love so much and a great interlude amongst video clips of free riding antics. I don’t really need to say much more about this one, just watch and enjoy….and maybe grimace a bit. Those are some hard hits.
5. Supercross 96 - Terrafirma 3
Soundtrack: Plugged In - Headcrash
From the 94 nationals to the 1996 supercross series and another ‘round up’ segment. Now many will argue that Terrafirma 2 is the best one in the series, and its a strong argument. But for me, it’s always been T3. It was the first one to break from the ‘title card, segment, title card, segment…repeat for 30 mins’ format and went to a more flowing style similar to Bruce Brown’s iconic 1971 masterpiece, On Any Sunday and I’m sure that’s no accident by the Fox crew. This is McGrath’s 14-1 season, which when you watch this clip and see how many times people try to chop his front wheel, you’ll wonder how on earth he got it done. But then you remember, “Oh yeah, he’s the king” In conclusion, the colours are bright, bikes are smokin’ and the music is an early example of Rap/Rock fusion. It doesn’t get more much more 90’s than this.
4. Mike Craig /Mike Metzger - MOTO XXX
Soundtrack: Snomnombulance - Strung Out
This section really highlights the change in style that moto free riding was going through in the mid to late 90’s. From riding in the hills with your buddies, pulling huge whips, to the more purpose built jumps and tricks that would be the birth of the freestyle era that hit Hard in the 2000’s. The first minute of this, is the infamous Mike Craig, just going off in a style that only he, and maybe his son Christian, can. The thing is, he does pretty much the same jump over and over again, twisting the bike sideways, and it never gets old! Seriously, I think I could watch it on one of those 10hr YouTube loops (other streaming services are available) and still want more when it was done. After a brief interlude from some strippers, this is Moto XXX after all, the piece then switches to Wombat Acres (before it became the Metal Mulisha Compound) and another Mike just doing his thing. Metzger was the absolute man around this time. He was the original innovator of tricks, many that can bee seen in this segment, and he was catapulted into the mainstream moto media via some epic Fox ads around this time. It’s no wonder the “industry” dubbed him the Godfather. A super nice touch to look out for, is that he’s wearing silver (almost chrome) boots and they look awesome. I remember seeing this pair of boots on display at the Dirt Bike Show here in the UK at the end of 97 and wanting a pair, but this might be the only pair Pete Fox and crew made. The soundtrack is provided by Moto XXX owner, Jordan Burn’s band, Strung Out, who were a staple of 90’s punk rock and motovideo soundtracks and Somnombulance is definitely my favourite track of theirs. Watch it here.
3. Richie Canyon - Crusty Demons of Dirt 1
Soundtrack: Ashes - Strung Out
The Richie Canyon location was pretty iconic in the early 90’s and it appears several times in segments throughout moto video history. This is the first scene after the intro in Fleshwound Films ground breaking release, ‘Crusty Demons of Dirt’ from 1994. The first Crusty film is legendary and is my favourite of the franchise, to be honest I lost interest after about 4, same with the Terrafirma’s for that matter. This scene opens with the classic Seth Enslow skit, riding the bike from his bedroom, down the stairs through the living room and through the glass window into the back of his pick up that’s waiting out side. Pretty cool even though you can tell its been set up.
This was a time of white CR’s with purple seats and baggy LBZ gear, which is set up I still want to recreate and possibly will in the future (minus the baggy gear, no one needs that). This clip has everything you need from 90’s moto video segment. Jumps up sheer cliff walls, slick trail riding on-bike footage, and a guy called Chad Smanjak (who?!) throwing some whips so big they could choke godzilla! But its not just Chad giving us the goods. This segment boasts the talents of the ‘Godfather’, Mike Metzger, throwing some of the very first heel clickers ever put on film, along with Joel Albrecht, Buddy Antunez, Factory Phil Lawrence and Mike Healey all providing cameo stylings. The only thing missing is scantily clad women and fire, but watch the rest of the movie and these two boxes are checked very quickly. Give it a look.
2. McGrath - Terrafirma 2
Soundtrack: Disconnected - Face to Face
What do I really need to say about this one? This is probably he most iconic scene from any moto video ever and more than likely you were thinking it would be my number one. Well, close but no burrito I’m afraid. I was a big MC guy in the 90’s (still am really) and this segment certainly hit big when I saw it. The cinematography is great and a perfect blend of handheld, helicopter and on bike footage. It’s over 3 mins of the King of Supercross doing what he does best, going big at the legendary Castillo Ranch. Whips and NacNacs aplenty, including one slow mo shot that looks like it came straight from a ‘How To’ video on dirt bike trickery! Huge hill jumps, Windham esc Transfers (before Windham esc transfers were a thing) and whoop speed that would make even the current pro 450 rider a tad uncomfortable.
The musical accompaniment is a song called Disconnected by Face to Face and it’s an absolute belter and the perfect soundtrack to McGrath’s two stroke antics. If you’ve never seen it, you’re missing out! But here’s your chance.
1. Intro - FLY
Soundtrack: Follow the Leader - Eric B & Rakim
This may seem like cheating to have this at number 1 but hey, its my blog. You can’t tell me what to do, you’re not my real dad! I feel like this Fly film as a whole is one of the forgotten gems of moto videos, constantly getting lost amongst Terrafirma, Crusty Demons and Moto XXX releases, but it’s one of my favourites and this intro is one I can watch over and over. Seriously though, this for me is a masterclass of editing and the point where the Fox video creators really hit their stride. Loads of short sharp cuts, quick zooms and even filters, waaaaaay before instagram was thing. Visually, its great and content wise, it quite literally has everything as well. Racing footage and crashes from supercross and outdoor nationals, dune riding including the infamous Glamis canal jump, an early freestyle comp from Paris Bercy, Goon Riding, Bradshaw’s video debut, Metzger (of course), crowd shots, mechanics, chest protectors, and Jeremy Mcgrath on a quad. Wait, what?! Yep, that’s right, the king him self blasting through sand dunes on four wheels. And you though KTM was the low point of his career.
All of this creamy moto goodness is set too rap legends, Eric B and Rakim’s Follow the Leader, off of their Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em album. It was different at the time and maybe that’s why it sits atop this list. Or maybe its because the Fox video department have created a piece of art that still looks as good today as when it was made, 25 years ago. (Christ I’m old!) Although it might look better if they added it to their remastered series on Youtube. Just saying Fox. For now though you can watch it here.
If you, like me are a fan of retro motocross, don’t forget to check out my online shop where I have a number of 80’s and 90’s inspired items including Tees, Stickers and Prints. Use the code MOTOJAMS10 at checkout to get 10% off all items through May 2021.
I do not own any of the copyrights for the images or videos included in this article.