Even on a bike, sky is the limit

Rev up those two wheels, make the engine roar and let the adrenaline pump because the sky is the limit when it comes to freestyle stunt riding.

Any strip of road can become a setup for you to unleash an ingenuity of extremes.

This is 42-year-old German Chris Pfeiffer’s motto, a four-time freestyle world champion, who has amassed records for accomplishing challenges with mind-blowing stunts. Taking Karachi by a storm last Friday evening, he had the crowd roaring with his performance at the autocross venue in Clifton where he proved why he is known to get people’s pulses racing.

Pfeiffer arrived for his tour of Pakistan on April 16 to perform in three cities – Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad – and put on a show for the country’s stunt biking fans.



Even amid security concerns in the country, Pfeiffer took the opportunity to explore and not only benefit from the experience, but also introduce the sport to Pakistan bikers.

“I heard about the situation here but I wanted to explore the country with my own eyes,” Pfeiffer told The Express Tribune. “Locals here tend to use their bikes as a speeding tool. I wanted to show them that this can also be a sport.”

The show as it happened

Even though his show witnessed a chaotic ordeal with the crowd going wild as one of the stages collapsed and several people were taken to the hospital, Pfeiffer appeared unfazed during his two sessions between which an enthralling fire dance was performed by young boys from Lyari.

Screams and shouts were overwhelming as the champion’s BMW F800R led the show with ‘wheelies’ to get the crowd going wild.

Next, Pfeiffer got the spectators’ adrenaline pumping with his ‘stoppies’, maintaining full control. The burnouts were next, smoking up the area with the smell of tyres, engine sounds and loud music creating a state of hype.

And of course he fancied it up with the finale, a ‘christ’ – a stunt performed with the rider standing on the seat or tank with both arms extended while the bike is in motion – and then concluded his performance with a ‘de activator’ as he jumped off the back of the motorcycle flashing a victory sign.

Power through, advises German

While stunt riding sounds like a thrill, it is also a risk from its namesake.

“It is difficult to pinpoint,” said Pfeiffer when asked about his most dangerous trick. “You can fall off during any stunt and thus, you need full concentration. Wheelies are less tricky than stoppies though.”

Tips for aspirants

Pfeiffer, whose love affair with the sport began 16 years ago, began with trial biking and he believes it is the best base for a stunt rider.

There is no school to learn stunt riding, but local enthusiasts can watch videos and tape themselves, advised Pfeiffer, who did just that. A hindrance to pursuing the sport is that one cannot just go and buy a stunt bike — you need to get a normal one and then modify it.

The German suggested the sport is taking a ‘more slow, technical’ turn, which may disappoint many. What aspirants need to realise is that no matter how many times you fall, you need to just grab your bike and keep trying. This is just the kind of attitude one needs to become a legend.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 26^th, 2013.