Ride On, Chris Kallfelz (1962-2023)
Some thoughts on the passing of a beloved MO contributor
Longtime MO readers will remember Chris Kallfelz’ Head Shake column that ran for over four years on Motorcycle.com from 2014-2018. A thoughtful man with wide-ranging motorcycling experience, Chris never failed to both provoke reflection and laughter simultaneously. Unfortunately, he succumbed to cancer a week ago today. For those of us who were friends with him on social media, he handled his failing health with his usual mix of practicality, honesty, and good humor. I feel strange sitting here teary-eyed mourning the loss of a man I never met in person but had a relationship with through his words. So, rather than spend a lot of time describing the Chris that we MOrons knew, I’ll just let him tell you himself.
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Like most of the best happenings in his life, Evans stumbled into his motojournalism career. While on his way to a planned life in academia, he applied for a job at a motorcycle magazine, thinking he’d get the opportunity to write some freelance articles. Instead, he was offered a full-time job in which he discovered he could actually get paid to ride other people’s motorcycles – and he’s never looked back. Over the 25 years he’s been in the motorcycle industry, Evans has written two books, 101 Sportbike Performance Projects and How to Modify Your Metric Cruiser, and has ridden just about every production motorcycle manufactured. Evans has a deep love of motorcycles and believes they are a force for good in the world.
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F*ck cancer..
Rest in peace Chris
Back in the early '90s, I worked with Chris at the AMA. He sold me my first road race bike, an FZR600. We used my Explorer and an ancient three row trailer to drag our bikes to WERA races all over the Midwest. It was me and my son and Chris and Melissa. Jobs changed and time passed and we lost touch. When I started reading his Head Shake pieces, it was like reconnecting with an old friend. Boy, he could write. He was pretty quick on the track, too. When you think of Chris, spare a thought for Melissa. WFO, buddy.