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Pushing the Limits

Daring Duo Rides into the Sunset

By Karen Barbier

Imagine road surfing on a motorcycle or lying on its seat while your partner drives with his legs. Todd and Lori Colbert go beyond imagining it. They actually do it. As Team X-treem, Todd and Lori are known for the outrageous motorcycle stunts they frequently perform.

Deciding to Ride

Todd, 24, and Lori, 22, began their stunt cycling careers at different points in their lives. Todd started riding when he was just five years old. "Dad bought me a tiny motorcycle," he explains. "I just had a natural ability."

Todd adds that the riding eventually progressed from motocross racing at age 14 to giving in to his daredevil side at 20 and doing stunts.  Lori, on the other hand, was a newcomer to the sport when, at age 17, she took a typical dirt bike to a local dirt track. "I didn't think it would be a career," she says. "I thought I wanted to be a vet."

Double Trouble

It was not until a year or so after she started riding that Lori met Todd at a local Saturday motorcycle meet. The two started dating and eventually married 11/2 years later. Shortly after the wedding, Todd suggested that Lori jump on the back of his bike and soon their motorcycle hobby became a career.

The two soon faced some basic business decisions:

• what would they be called?

• where would they perform?

• how would they manage their business?

 "We started with a different name, but it wasn't catchy," admits Lori. "Eventually family and friends helped us come up with X-treem Limits for the name of our company and us being called Team X-treem."  Team X-treem also realized they needed a manager and decided to hire Bill Weber of Holly Springs, NC. "We were doing all of it on our own," says Lori. "But it was like we were just a couple of kids. People talk to him much easier than they would us."

Once they had the manager, the name, and the business plan, Team X-treem was ready to become a business. In November, 1997 it became official - Todd and Lori were a stunt team.

The team admits that gaining name recognition is difficult and requires hard work, determination, and performing for free.  "When we first started out, we would do shows for free; we would perform at schools on career days," says Lori. The team still speaks to kids at several Florida schools when they can, but it's more difficult now that their performance schedule includes a season full of paid shows.

"We have shows just about every weekend during the season," says Lori, adding that the season runs from March through late October or early November.

What a Show!

Becoming motorcycle performers didn't happen overnight, and Todd and Lori spent hours practicing and developing programs for their performances. When developing programs, Todd and Lori take track size and length into consideration when deciding on certain stunts.

"We have a set program," says Lori, "but Todd checks out the track to see if we will be able to do all of our stunts or if our program needs to be modified. Some of the tracks have banking and different lengths of straightaways. For instance, if the straightaways are long enough, Todd skis behind the bike."

X-treem Marketing Techniques

In addition to performing, Team X-treem created products that are sold at their events, including hats, posters, and T-shirts. "We've recently made a video called X-treem Limits," adds Lori. 

The team also has sponsors, like Bridgestone Tires, who provide them with money and equipment, and they continue to look for more.

Lori is practicing for a solo career and offers some words of advice to future motorcyclists: "You've got to stick with it, make sure you wear protective gear, and, if you decide to give it a try, make sure you practice in a safe place!"

Karen Barbier, managing editor of Young Entrepreneur, has a master's
degree in literature.

Revised: June 16, 2003.
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