Chris Pfeiffer, the world stunt champion quoted about RedBull Tour To India “India is going to be a bumpy ride, but I am looking forward to it”. The champ is impressing the spectators and gaining a huge fan club from India.
A journalist made it possible to have a chat with the champ to make him retort about the most inquisitive question about him that every Indian citizen is probing these days. And gathering the stuff, i thought to share with my readers is a good idea. Just have a look!
What is it with boys and toys?
Boys need toys and that’s true. And the older the boys, the bigger the toys! (laughs)
Which was your first bike that you rode?
KX 100
How old were you?
I was five and the bike was 50 years old, my dad modified and made it into a kids’ bike for me.
You started riding bikes at five. Didn’t you take any professional training?
I never took any training, I always practice by myself. My mechanic and my wife always keep filming me and I get feedback from them. I like to practice with young guys and they have lots of new ideas for me.
Which bike do you ride now?
BMW F800R, that’s my main love and I don’t change it. I have five identical BMW F800R bikes. Sometimes I don’t find even these five to be sufficient for my tour needs.
Why five identical bikes?
I always carry two bikes where I go. One acts as a spare bike because I don’t travel with a mechanic. So, if at times I have technical problems, I switch to the other. I always want to have exactly the same setup on all my bikes so that I can switch in between the bikes even during the show if something happens. My bike is my tool and you always need the same tool to be really good with it.
How can you travel without a mechanic?
My mechanic needs to work on my bikes at home. He can’t help me on the roads when I’m riding.
Do you subscribe to modification of bikes?
You need modification of bikes for our sport. I can’t ride for my shows on a stock bike. It isn’t possible. I need an additional hand break and other similar stuff.
How many bikes do you have in all?
Even I don’t even know! I think I have 12, and that includes five of my stunt bikes.
What draws you to biking and trying all these stunts?
Passion. It is all the doggedness. You need to work very hard and practice, and only if you have a passion to do it, will it happen.
Do you ride for fun?
Yes. After so many years, I still jump on the bike and try to improve and find new things. You forget what all is around you when you are on the bike. My bike is the best thing ever for me.
Where do you practice your stunts?
I have a motor sport area near my house in Germany which is just ten minutes away from where I live.
Which is that one stunt you can’t do?
360 stoppie. That means turn 360 degrees on the front wheel. And I can’t do it; honestly, I think my bike is not meant for it. Other bikers can do it, but I can’t. I can do a 270 easily but I think this 360 stunt is impossible on my bike. My bike is good in other things though.
You performed a skyscraper stunt on the roof of the BMW tower which was over three minutes in duration. How long can you hold the clutch in your next stunt?
Forever. I am strong with my fingers; my index finger can hold it for a long time.
And what about the bunny hop record where you jumped over 33 people lying next to each other?
I would not repeat that act again. It was stupid. I would not want to endanger other people ever again.
Do you get tired while performing?
After 10 minutes, I’m really exhausted. But when I’m practicing, I can go for two hours because you can take breaks.
What about your family, are they scared for you?
No. My wife knows me only like this; she met me when I was a stunt rider. She loves that I am living my dream but she is like me. She is also a very fast motorcyclist and a skier.
How long can you carry on with this daredevilry?
Forever! I’m kidding, I love what I do, my motivation is really high to continue but of course, the young guys are are very good. If my experience is good, my physical shape is good, I can continue for a couple of years.
Jean Pierre Goy has performed stunts in so many films, like The Dark Knight, Tomorrow Never Dies etc; are you going to do the same?
Not really. No plans. I see stunting as a sport and I don’t want to become a film stuntman. Maybe for the future, when I stop competing, maybe there could be a plan. But for now, I see it as a freestyle sport where I want to create new tricks and push the limit.
Who is the best stunt biker according to you?
There are several, but there is this Polish guy, who is the most talented. He is known by the nick name, Stunter 13. He may not be the best in everything but he’s the most complete. I don’t claim that I am the best in everything, but I can say that I am good in everything. The combination is good, maybe the best show rider, but I won’t claim I am technically the best rider.
You are known as the Godfather of stunt biking. Will you ever train people?
I will never do that. I never do workshops for beginners, I don’t like it. Imagine if there are eight people who want to learn a wheelie, out of those, two can do it easily, they don’t need a teacher; two are not talented and will never learn; and in between those, four guys are okay, who crash, so these people are not going happy from this experience. I think if you want to become a stunt rider, you need to have the confidence to try by yourself and get advice from the stunt riding community. Only if you are strong, you are okay, for the sport a dangerous and a difficult thing. I can’t imagine teaching beginners, but I can teach talented riders on a good level.
What do you know about India?
It’s another world and will be a big adventure for me. I am very interested in getting to know India, not as a tourist but by riding. And there will be so much of improvisation with so many people around, maybe bad roads, maybe problems with the food, and I know all the things that can happen to a European when they come to India. Still, I’m looking forward to it.
Is there any person who you would like to meet in India?
I will be very happy to meet Rannvijay, as he is also a bike enthusiast.
What have you heard about Indian roads?
They are very bumpy. Ride quality is not going to be the best but I’m sure we will find some nice venues.
Any plans of trying Motorsports GP?
I am over 40, maybe my next life. I’m not too much into road racing.
Extra Talks:
Most memorable and challenging stunt?
Climbing the Rock Wall in Italy.
Are you scared of heights?
No, not at all.
So you can climb anything?
Yes, even the Eiffel tower is no problem for me. I was a free climber, so hanging in the walls – it’s no problem for me
What are you scared of then?
I am scared of snakes, and trains. When a train crosses the road, I am always scared.
RELATED POSTS:
