Q&A with Lee Bowers: Professional bike stunts and riding!
So, if you know anything about bikes (well, stunts on bikes) then you certainly would have heard of Lee Bowers. He's the legend that has taken the stunt world by storm.
As his website reads, he is: "The UK's No. 1 professional free-style stunt rider. He is a Guinness Book of World Records holder and a multiple UK Freestyle champion." To say he's experienced would be an understatement. He got his first bike when he was just 11 years old and for the last 10 years, he's been competing in championships and live shows all over the world.
In case you didn't already know, Safely Insured are the insurance partners behind Kawasaki Insurance, and Lee has also been an ambassador for Kawasaki's Green Team for over 10 years. We managed to track him down, despite his busy schedule, and ask him some questions about his passion for all things bike related.
Q&A with Lee Bowers
How did you get into a career of stunt driving?
"From the young age of 11, I got my 1st bike and have loved them ever since. I watched some videos when I was about 26 years old of stunting. It was then that I went and bought my own bike and changed it into a stunt-bike. I self-taught how to ride and perform stunts - since then, I've never looked back. That was in 2006."
How does the rush compare on a bike, to a car?
"Personally, I've always loved bikes - the feeling of freedom and the adrenaline rush I get from it. I guess you could say, I've never really been a car man - always bikes."
What’s your favourite make and model of bike?
"I only ride Kawasaki bikes, and have done since my first ever bike which was a KX85. I still ride one now but my favourite bike for stunts is the ZX636 Ninja. For road use, I use the Kawasaki H2."
How many bikes do you currently own?
"I have many, many bikes. These range from a KLX110, all the way up to the big bike - the Kawasaki H2. Here's a few that I own: the KLX100, KX85, KX450f, ZX636, ZX10, and the H2."
What’s your favourite stunt to perform?
"I am known for my acrobatics on the bikes, but I love to do a combination of everything. I love drifting, wheelies, and acrobatics combined into one smooth flow of tricks. I just like to have fun."
Where do you perform?
"I have performed all over the world doing stunts, including: America, Barbados, Europe, Russia, Poland, Dubai, and all over the UK. I also do quite a lot of the shows at: Santa Pod Raceway, Kawasaki dealership open days BSB (and world superbikes), Goodwood Festival of Speed, Autosport, and the MCL nec."
Have you ever featured in any famous films?
"I stared in a block buster film called "Now you see me 2", where I performed all the bike stunts. I've also been in many adverts, music videos, and I am also a Guinness Book of World records holder for the fastest intercept on a bike. Normally, a lot of the extreme super-bike stunts you see are me."
Have you performed with anyone famous?
"I have ridden for Chris Evans on Top Gear live. I've also performed with: Xzibt (rapper), a lot of famous bikers, and Terry Grant – he’s my main car vs. bike man. He has multiple world records and is currently sponsored by Jaguar and Monster Energy. I do a lot of work with him, all over the world."
What’s the greatest memory you have so far in terms of your stunt career?
"I have a lot of memories. I just love to perform all over the world and make people smile - make them happy. A happy crowd equals a happy Lee. I love to travel and meet new people and see new places and I get to do it for my job, so it's a win-win all the time. I love what I do!"
What’s the scariest thing about your job?
"Being injured and not being able to perform / work. I love to ride - it's my life, so yeah, that scares me!"
What’s the best road-trip you’ve been on with your bike?
"Every trip I go on is different, but I always like to venture to new destinations. One of the best memories was when I performed at 52 shows in Dubai over 2 months. That was just awesome!"
Do you use any specific workshops to perform work on your bike?
"Kawasaki HQ, MSS Kawasaki, and FWR Tyres look after my bikes when it comes to any major work. I have a workshop that a friend and I built in their garden, that's where we do 99% of our modifying / fixing of the bikes etc."
What bike would you recommend for someone who wants to ride for the first time?
"I'd recommend a smaller Kawasaki model, or a Z300 - something with a small engine size to start off with. After that, work your way up to something bigger. Control is the key to safe riding!"
We would like to say a huge thanks to Lee for taking the time to answer our questions for us. His insights into the love he has for bikes is truly inspirational. Not only are they machines, but they are his passion, his joy, his life.
If you want to see more of Lee Bowers / his stunts, you can via his website or his social media accounts.
Here they are: www.Bowers-stunts.co.uk | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter 
Insurance for a Kawasaki bike
As previously mentioned, Lee is a customer of Kawasaki Insurance. If you want to find out more about what type of insurance they offer, please visit the Kawasaki Insurance website: www.kawasaki-insurance.co.uk
If you want to get a quick bike quote, please visit the Wicked Quotes website: www.wickedquotes.co.uk