Interview with Alexander Andreev

On the last warm day of autumn we managed to meet Alexander Andreev, chat, ride and film some videos with the beautiful backdrop of the Krylatskoye rowing canal. Alexander recently switched to a BMW F800R, a rarity in world stunt riding. He also stands out because he actively trains on a pit bike. We filmed a couple of interesting videos. We filmed all day, were dead on our feet by the end and got sunburned faces, but we are happy with the result, even though it was our first experience. We also did an interview, asking about the motorcycle, stunt riding in Russia and how it all began; in short, read on...

Stuntex: How did you do your first wheelie?

Alexander Andreev (AA): My first wheelie was a power wheelie off a traffic light on a carbureted 919 Fireblade, under acceleration. That was already my second season after buying the motorcycle; before that I hadn't ridden motorcycles at all.

Stuntex: How did wheelies off traffic lights grow into stunt riding?

AA: I saw how more professional people were training in Moscow and followed their example. As soon as I mastered circles, problems started with the Fireblade: the spark plugs started fouling and the motorcycle stalled. I had to swap it for an F4i the next season.

Stuntex: Tell us more about the F4i...

AA: My F4i was unusual. More precisely, it was a 1995 F4 converted to fuel injection. That is, the engine and frame were from 1995, but instead of carburetors it had injection. The motorcycle ran «perfectly» because I «looked after» it, so I had to replace the engine twice :) First I looked after the oil «well» and replaced the engine, then I looked after the coolant the same way and replaced the engine a second time. Fed up, I decided to sell it and quit motorcycles altogether. In reality I couldn't afford a decent motorcycle, so I rode a pit bike. Now I've got myself a new BMW and I'm still getting used to it; I've fully prepared it but haven't set it up yet. BMWs need finer tuning than Japanese motorcycles, for example.

Stuntex: What are your impressions of the motorcycle?

AA: A very peculiar motorcycle. It has pros and cons. I like the engine's strong low end. The motorcycle has a long wheelbase, which makes stoppies harder but drifts easier, since it doesn't try to wheelie when the rear wheel breaks loose. Of course, it isn't easy to master this motorcycle right away, but I'm training and feel that soon I'll handle it like a 600.

Stuntex: What setups are on your motorcycle: number of sprocket teeth, tire pressure and so on? Do you pay attention to this?

AA: Until recently I didn't pay any attention to it at all. But now I've started to understand that a lot depends on it. What tires, what pressure, sprocket size, everything matters. I inflate the tires by feel. I can say that the front has to be inflated less than on Japanese bikes to make stoppies easier, and the fork also needs adjusting to suit you. My sprocket has 60 teeth.

Stuntex: Could you repeat all your tricks on a completely stock motorcycle?

AA: Right away, definitely not. Hypothetically, it's hard to say.

Stuntex: Sasha, how do you organize your training? Is there a system, principles?

AA: The main principle is that quantity turns into quality!

Stuntex: Are there tricks that are especially hard, that are scary to do?

AA: Not really, you just need to give each trick time and master it step by step. There are tricks where, when you practice them, you'll fall sooner or later anyway. For example, the stoppie. To learn to ride a stoppie properly, you'll have to fall. That's one of the peculiarities of stunt riding, but it doesn't stop me.

Stuntex: Have you ever crashed really hard?

AA: No, thank God!

Stuntex: How do you feel about stunts in the city?

AA: Negatively: in the city everything should be by the rules. Of course, sometimes you want to do something on the road. But to do a trick on the road, you need to be able to do it consistently on the lot, on autopilot, at the very least. Road conditions must be right: few cars, a good road, visibility. Never do a trick if you haven't practiced it properly.

Stuntex: Sasha, you're often seen on a pit bike. What place does the pit bike have in your training? Do you practice tricks on it or ride for fun?

AA: Yes, I train on it. It's lighter, easier to handle, and in a crash there's no damage to it or to me. When I practice new things, I start with the pit bike. It's easier for me to transfer the skills afterwards than to practice them on a big motorcycle right away. The principle is the same, only the weight and engine torque differ.

Stuntex: Is stunt riding a sport or a show?

AA: Both. There are competitions where you fight for points and places. There are shows where you fight for applause. Spectators sometimes make you give even more than prizes and titles do.

Stuntex: Do you do any other sports?

AA: Yes, I do breakdance and acrobatics. I keep my body in shape all the time. Plus people like to watch it, and it adds variety to my performances.