Bye, Rainer!
Rainer Schwarz, official Harley-Davidson stunt rider, leaves the stage
• Rainer Schwarz competed on US V-twins for 18 years
• Skillful motorcycle acrobatics – even on Harley-Davidson touring bikes
(Neu-Isenburg, December 20, 2016) Anyone who calls him can often hear the comfortable chugging of a fat diesel tractor in the background: Rainer Schwarz is a passionate farmer. But the likeable guy from Herbishofen in the Lower Allgäu also has another side... Wheelies over breathtaking distances, combined with a perfect precision landing, impressive stoppies up to the vertical, great donuts and brutal burnouts in which the entire scene is covered in thick, light gray smoke is submerged.
As a stuntman, Rainer was a born danger freak. Show after show he received frenetic applause. He regularly had to sit in detention after his final to sign autographs. But that's over now: in 2016, the official German Harley-Davidson stunt rider rode his last show.
The safety precautions on the routes became ever stricter and the corset into which stunt riding was squeezed became ever tighter. “When it's best, you should stop,” Rainer commented on his decision after celebrating the last burnout. In any case, it was nice with Rainer over the last 18 years – very nice.
He had been driving American V-twins since 1999 - initially only those with the Buell logo on the tank. But as early as 2003 he ventured into Harleys. The Dyna Super Glide Sport was the first Milwaukee Iron to be spurred on by the Bavarian extreme biker. And during the wild V-twin dance on the asphalt, he made the enthusiastic spectators forget that this vehicle weighed a whopping 300 kilos.
During those years, the stuntman had up to three fearless passengers on board while he presented his horsepower acrobatics. Since 2004, evening shows have been garnished with skilful pyrotechnics, which ensured spectacular images. And in no way was there ever any mercy when it came to rubber: enveloped in opaquely thick smoke and accompanied by the blood-curdling thunder of the V-twins, we wheeled until the rear tire burst with a dull thud. Nothing has ever changed, regardless of whether Rainer appeared in Faak, in Hamburg or at any of the many other Harley events and regardless of whether he beat a Sportster, a Dyna, a V-Rod or a tourer across the asphalt. He even brought massive, disguised travel machines like the Electra Glide into wheelie mode with ease.
It all started like it did for many children of the baby boom era and the early 1970s: at the tender age of ten, Rainer jumped on a motorized two-wheeler for the first time - and was completely blown away. From then on, anything that rattled, screeched, boomed and made him go fast – really fast – was his thing. The racing track became his favorite place, where no one could beat him when it came to slalom, circuit, super moto and enduro. He shook up the automotive racing scene until 1996, and a year later he gave his first stunt show on two wheels.
Show after show, the audience's hearts sank at the sight of Rainer's feats. But the motorcycle-obsessed artist was never crazy. “It takes a lot of passion, perfect planning and of course practice, practice and more practice,” says Rainer, explaining his simple concept that took your breath away.
Of course, the friendly Bavarian will continue to be found wherever fans of American V-twins come together - but in a civilized manner and in accordance with the rules on public roads. “But maybe he can be persuaded again…” hopes Frank Klumpp, Harley-Davidson Marketing Director. “Our door is always open for Rainer and a bike is ready for him.”
The Motor Company bows to Rainer Schwarz and says “Thank you” for a cool time.
Text: Copyright Harley-Davidson
