NOVEMBER 5, 2025

The original - and still our favorite - Autoextremist logo. 

The AE Quote of the Century: Everybody loves The High-Octane Truth. Until they don't. -WG 

SPECIAL EDITOR'S NOTE: We'd like to remind you that Peter's first work of fiction, "St. Michael of Birmingham" is out now. Make no mistake, it doesn't resemble anything you've read from him before. In fact, it is quite a dramatic departure. It is mystical. It is sexy. It is funny. It's moving. And it is a flat-out wild ride unlike anything you've experienced. Having said that, it is definitely not for everyone, but then, it is from PMD, so that probably shouldn't come as a surprise! Check it out on Amazon Kindle here. -WG

(Brough Superior Motorcycle images)
Editor-in-Chief's Note: This is the Richard Mille RMB1, an extremely limited edition from France-based Brough Superior Motorcycles. Don't worry, you can't afford it - I just thought some of our readers might want to be aware of it. This is what the Brough Superior PR minions say: "Swiss watchmaking brand Richard Mille and Brough Superior, an iconic manufacturer of exceptional motorcycles, have joined forces in an exclusive partnership. This bold collaboration has given birth to a unique creation, the RMB01. Much more than a motorcycle, it is a work of art that combines craftsmanship, technological innovation, and heritage. Innovation, a pronounced taste for bold aesthetics, and a constant desire to push boundaries symbolize this shared development. From design to manufacturing, the finish is meticulously thought out to evoke emotion. This philosophy and quest for perfection are widely shared by Richard Mille, thus forging a strong and unbreakable bond between the two partners." (Alrighty then! -WG) According to the manufacturer: "The result of this alliance perfectly illustrates the union between Richard Mille's unique vision of ultimate watchmaking and Brough Superior's cutting-edge motorcycle engineering. The RMB01 is an ambitious project, an unprecedented achievement, designed to awaken the senses and push the boundaries of excellence on the track." 

This motorcycle is clearly not for everyone, and since "standard" motorcycles from Brough Superior start at around $60,000, I can only imagine what this special edition will cost. $100,000? Probably. Other stuff? Positioned as an "uncompromising track bike," the RMB01 draws inspiration from the Board Trackers, the first racing bikes in history that raced on wooden tracks at the beginning of the last century. Extremely stripped down, they expressed the quintessence of motorcycling: lightness and performance. "A simple design," according to the Brough Superior PR minions, "characterized by an elongated tank, a minimalist seat, and a fully visible engine. This concept is modernized in a sophisticated and elegant way, with elliptical, muscular, and taut lines, which give the machine a very dynamic feline silhouette. The lightness is emphasized by numerous visible openings throughout the bike as well as by aerodynamic appendages that use air for downforce and stability."

More? The 997cc twin-cylinder engine is made from solid blocks of high-quality aluminum (5000 series alloy, with a high magnesium content), featuring a crankcase fully machined by a 5-axis CNC machine. Weight is optimized thanks to precise contouring of the internal parts and numerous recesses, 160 kg of raw material for 23 kg of finished parts. The Fior-style double wishbone fork is a hallmark of Brough Superior. This geometry "offers several benefits, including the separation of steering and braking, which ensures stability in fast corners, and the anti-dive effect, which improves braking performance." This design also features "moving mechanical parts, axles, and pivots, reminiscent of watch movements," according to the manufacturer. "Inspired by the gears of watch movements, the custom wheels feature an assembled design with lightweight alloy hoops for improved handling and a bolt-on hub for rigidity. The stacking of these hubs and the matching disc rotor designs suggests a mechanical stacking system similar to that of a tourbillon."  All components were designed and manufactured specifically for this ultra-exclusive motorcycle. A forged carbon frame, a self-supporting exoskeleton, combined with a structural engine machined entirely from solid blocks of aeronautical-grade alloy. The same goes for the running gear (swingarm and fork). This design limits weight, a guarantee of efficiency.

"Many parallels between watchmaking and motorcycle mechanics were co-developed," according to Brough Superior PR minions, "such as the visible mechanical speedometer, innovative materials, and assembled rims that reproduce the gearing of watch movements."

The RMB01 will be made in France in a limited edition of 150. Each motorcycle is hand-assembled and bench-tested to ensure optimal performance. Three versions are available: "Nocturnal Sapphire," "Selene" and "Pearl of Speed."





The AE Song of the Week:

She stood there bright as the sun on that California coast
He was a Midwestern boy on his own
She looked at him with those soft eyes so innocent and blue
He knew right then he was too far from home
Oh
He was too far from home
She took his hand and she led him along that golden beach
They watched the waves tumble over the sand
They drove for miles and miles up those twisting turning roads
Higher and higher and higher they climbed

And those Hollywood nights
In those Hollywood hills
She was looking so right
In her diamonds and frills
Oh those big city nights
In those high rolling hills
Above all the lights
She had all of her skills

He'd headed west cause he felt that a change would do him good
See some old friends, good for the soul
She had been born with a face that would let her get her way
He saw that face and he lost all control
He had lost all control
Night after night, day after day it went on and on
Then came that morning he woke up alone
He spent all night staring down at the lights on LA
Wondering if he could ever go home

And those Hollywood nights
In those Hollywood hills
It was looking so right
It was giving him chills
In those big city nights
In those high rolling hills
Above all the lights
With a passion that kills

In those Hollywood nights
In those Hollywood hills
She was looking so right
In her diamonds and frills
Oh, those big city nights
In those high rolling hills
Above all the lights
She had all of her skills (Hollywood nights)

(Hollywood hills)
(Above all the lights)
(Hollywood nights)
(Hollywood nights)
(Hollywood hills)
(Above all the lights)
(Hollywood nights)
(Hollywood nights)
(Hollywood hills)
(Above all the lights)
(Hollywood nights)
(Hollywood nights)
(Hollywood hills)
(Above all the lights)
(Hollywood nights)

"Hollywood Nights" by Bob Seger from the album "Stranger In Town" (1978).* Written by Bob Seger. Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Listen to the remastered version here. 

*Bob Seger was never the LA type: Born and raised in Michigan, he remained rooted in the Detroit area and built a reputation as a blue-collar rock star with a Midwest sensibility. When he got off the road and hunkered down to record, he often did so at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama, which is even more distant (physically and culturally) than Los Angeles. For the Stranger In Town album, he worked in Detroit and in Alabama, but went to LA to finish the album. When he was there, he rented a house in the Hollywood Hills, where he could see the bright lights of the big city.

The "Hollywood nights, Hollywood hills" idea came to him when he was driving in the area; when he got back to his rented house, he saw a copy of Time magazine (March 6, 1978), with the model Cheryl Tiegs on the cover. She fit the LA archetype: blond, skinny, huge smile. Her headline read: The All-American Model.

Using the chorus he came up with in the car, Seger started crafting a story about a guy from the Midwest who comes to Hollywood and meets his dream girl. They go on whirlwind adventures, but it comes to a sudden end one morning when he wakes up alone. He's left looking over the Hollywood Hills, wondering if he can ever go back home. To create the insistent percussion on this track, Seger's drummer, David Teegarden, recorded one pass, then overdubbed a different pattern on top of it, so it sounds like there are two drummers playing on it.

Billy Payne of Little Feat played the piano and organ on this track. Backing vocals were done by the Waters family: Julia, Luther, Maxine and Oren. Recording in LA gave Seger access to this talent; the Waters' backed some of the biggest names in music, including Lionel Richie, Bruce Springsteen and Barbra Streisand. The rhythm in this song lends itself to speed. Many of us have found ourselves inadvertently blowing past the speed limit when the song comes on the radio.

This song captures the essence of Hollywood from an outsider's perspective, not unlike "Hotel California" by the Eagles, which has lyrics by the Texan Don Henley (and guitar by Seger's friend and fellow Michigan native, Glenn Frey). (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)



Editor's Note: Click on "Next 1 Entries" at the bottom of this page to see previous issues. - WG