Motos and Friends from Ultimate Motorcycle magazine (Motos and Friends by Ultimate Motorcycle)

Arthur Coldwells chats with Associate Editor David Bober about the new Ducati Multistrada V4, his experience with YCRS, and his use of the Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 safety system. For more info on these items in the Podcast check out these links: Ducati Multistrada V4S Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 System YCRS - Yamaha Champions Riding School To read David's story: 2021 Ducati Multistrada V4 S Review: Style, Sophistication, Performance

In the first segment this week, Editor Don Williams on the new Benelli Imperiale 400.  This hyper-retro machine has styling that makes it look it comes straight from the 1940’s or possibly 1950’s. On paper, the Benelli is truly unimpressive, but always one to keep an open mind, Don takes to the urban streets curious to see who exactly might enjoy this motorcycle. There’s a chance that Benelli with the Imperiale, has managed to create a riding experience that is a good deal more than just the sum of its parts.      

In our second segment this week, Editor-at-Large Neale Bayly chats with author Rob Brooks. Rob is the founder of the RoadDirt.tv website, and he has also authored a couple of books available on Amazon as well. Despite a bit of a rough start to his motorcycling career, Rob has most definitely found his passion, and he clearly plans to keep exploring the world of motorcycles for a long time to come.  

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Our first segment introduces you to the new Arch 1s. This latest, slightly more sporting American V-twin, adds to the original KRGT1 coming from the boutique manufacturer based in Hawthorne, Southern California. Senior Editor Nic de Sena rode through Malibu with Gard Hollinger, who co-founded Arch Motorcycle with his friend, Keanu Reeves. The 1s is a unique ride for sure, and Nic explains what makes the bike really stand out.

For the entertaining story behind Arch Motorcycle from Gard Hollinger himself, you must listen to his podcast episode on Motos & Friends HERE

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The guest segment of Motos and Friends is brought to you by the faster and most technologically advanced, 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa—visit your local dealer or suzukicycles.com to learn more.

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In our second segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with multiple Emmy award-winning writer, Producer, Director, and actor, Thom Beers. the former Chairman & CEO of Fremantle Media North America, responsible for American Idol and America’s Got Talent.

Thom’s  fertile imagination led to most of the really big reality TV shows such as 'Deadliest Catch' (now in its 17th season!), and many others. Of course for us in the motorcycle world, you’ll be interested to hear the genesis and story of how he started the first real fabrication reality show ‘Monster Garage’, that showcased Jesse James, and then how that led to ‘Biker Build Off’ and the ‘Zombie Choppers’ movie. 

You’d imagine that most of Thom’s time is spent sitting behind a desk and on his phone. Not so. His intense stories of capturing much of the content for these shows make for some hair-raising listening.

2023 Arch 1s Review: The $128,000 Question

Hello everyone and welcome once again to Motos and Friends, a weekly podcast brought to you by the editors of Ultimate Motorcycling. My name is Arthur Coldwells.

I’m not sure if it’s his first love on two wheels, but it is safe to say that Editor Don Williams is a dirt-bike nut. He rode competitive Trials for over 30 years, and he and his wife ride every weekend—and sometimes more on every type of off-road machine they can lay their hands on. He now tells us of his recent experiences on the Kawasaki KX250X—a cross country dirt bike that seems to work well.     

The guest segment of Motos and Friends is brought to you by the faster and most technologically advanced, 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa—one of the most iconic sportbikes ever. Check it out in person at your local Suzuki dealer now, or visit suzukicycles.com to learn more.

In our second segment, Editor-at-Large Neale Bayly chats with Allan Karl, author of the book “Forks—A Quest for Culture, Cuisine, and Connection”.  Allan went on a 3 year-long ride around the world, across 5 Continents and 35 Countries. Actually, that number is now up to 83 Countries. In this first part of the story, Neale and Allan chat about his motivations, and a few of the adventures—and mis-adventures—on his epic journey.

So, from everyone here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode.

Buy Allan's book on Amazon here

This week, Editors Don Williams and Nic de Sena discuss the new Triumph Scrambler. This model uses the 1200 twin engine from the Bonneville range, and it in two distinct flavors, the X and the XE. Previous versions of the Scrambler were not very off-road focused, however Triumph has changed all that, and Nic had the opportunity to do a lot of pretty hard-core desert riding in his quest to find out how capable the Scrambler truly is once it goes off-pavement.   

In the second segment this week, I chat with the recently appointed Head of MV Agusta North America, Luca Dovesi. Luca started his career with Ducati in Thailand, and he then moved on to KTM Singapore where he was head of After Sales and Network Development. Three and a half years later, in January 2023, he was brought in by KTM from Singapore, to head up the re-organization and re-emergence of MV in the US. As Head of the premier brand of Italian performance motorcycles, Luca’s energy and enthusiasm came across very clearly as we talked about the progress made so far, and what KTM’s plans are for the storied Italian marque.   

So, from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!

We love your feedback! Please comment or suggest:

  @ultimatemotorcycling

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Hello everyone and welcome once again to Motos and Friends—the weekly Podcast brought to you by the editorial team at Ultimate Motorcycling. My name is Arthur Coldwells.

Vespa is possibly the storied name among scooters. The Italian marque produces premium quality machines that excel in urban environments. And what better urban environment to test a Vespa than in the heart of Italy—Rome? Senior Editor Nic de Sena took himself there—not to splash around in the Trevi fountain as one might assume, but to actually ride the new Vespa 300 GTS in its natural habitat. If you live in Rome, you need a Vespa like the Pope needs a balcony. If you live elsewhere—well you be the judge after you hear what Nic has to say.   

In our second segment, Editor-at-Large Neale Bayly chats with Cyndi Sadler, co-owner of track day provider Sportbike Track Time –the biggest provider of track days on the East Coast. Cyndi is a real rider and loves her track days riding her Honda 125 two-stroke GP bike.

So from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!

Hello loyal listeners and welcome to Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly podcast -- Motos and Friends! My name is Arthur Coldwells.

In this week’s episode, firstly Editor Don Williams tells us about his experiences n the new Triumph Speed Twin 900. This retro Triumph ticks all the boxes looks-wise, but with the vertical twin motor putting out very modest horsepower, is it a decent ride—or is it just for posers?  

In our second segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with Laura Craft. Laura has been riding for about ten years and on a recent visit to California, she and Teejay were able to ride the local mountains around Southern California on their MV Agusta motorcycles. Laura is an excellent rider and I think she really enjoyed herself. For more information on Laura and her friends check out her YouTube channel Mototribe.

So we hope you ride safe, and enjoy this episode!  

In our first segment, Editor Don Williams has just returned from Sardinia, Italy, where he was riding the Suzuki V-Strom 800DE. This is the all new, upper-middleweight ADV machine that features—among many other things—the new Suzuki 775cc parallel-twin motor. This highly anticipated motorcycle from the big S has a lot of depth to talk about, and Don reviews the bike completely, giving us his impressions both off-pavement and on.

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Have you looked at the 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa yet? One of the most iconic sportbikes ever, it’s faster and the most technologically advanced Hayabusa ever. Check it out in person at your local Suzuki dealer now, or visit suzukicycles.com to learn more.

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Cat MacLeod, owner of Leod Escapes, gets to chat with Associate Editor Teejay Adams in our second segment. If you Google ‘hedonism’, it doesn’t actually mention Leod Escapes, but judging by Cat’s description of some of his magical MotoGP track-riding tours and associated antics, Google really should include it. Can you think of any better way to spend two weeks than three days of riding a legendary MotoGP circuit, while being coached by World Superbike legend Troy Corser—and then getting to tour the local spectacular area, all the while, staying in upscale hotels and eating the best food?

Cat is a great story-teller and he doesn’t hold back. Fair warning: you probably should not have kids under 13 listening to this segment, so please be aware of that.

As motorcycle people we’re often accused of being ‘crazy’. I say: fair enough, we probably are. So have a listen to Cat Macleod, and go book yourself the trip of a lifetime. And no, we don’t get paid anything to say that.   

We love your feedback! Please send us your comments and suggestions at producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com   and if you like Motos & Friends, hit the Subscribe button!

Leod Escapes Italian Dream to Mugello Track & Tour

This week’s first segment is brought to you by editors Don Williams and Nic de Sena.

Don recently returned from Spain where he rode the new 2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen 801. Performance comes in many forms, and certainly the Svartpilen has a unique take on things while delivering amazing speed. It’s a premium motorcycle with lots of high-end features and a unique, almost steampunk look to it that makes it a real standout. It’s fast and user-friendly, and if doing things a little differently appeals to you, then Don’s take on the new Husqvarna will be of interest.

Motos and Friends is brought to you by Arai helmets. Arai is obsessed with every detail—even those unseen. There is such a thing as “The Arai Difference”.   For instance, if your experience has been that helmets are hard to get on, then try the Arai Contour-X, designed with a wider bottom opening for easier on/off.  Once on, you will be impressed at the amazing comfort of the Contour-X, especially if you’re into long-distance touring.

If you’re into Dual-Sport, then you’ll want to check out the new Arai XD-5. It’s a completely redesigned helmet, and as with everything from Arai, every improvement is made with a priority for protection. One of the major changes is the new VAS-A visor system, derived from the one originally developed for the Corsair-X. The new visor is designed to maximize surface area to glance off impact energy whilst at the same time offering easy installation and removal of the visor and peak. So get to your local dealer and try out the full range of Arai helmets. You will be instantly amazed at the fit and all-day comfort of any Arai helmet. You should also check out AraiAmericas.com to learn more.

If you’ve ever found yourself away from home and pining for a motorcycle ride, then Twisted Road might be the answer. In this second segment, Teejay Adams chats with Austin Rothbard, creator of the App that he describes as “the Airbnb of motorcycling”. Although your first take might be skepticism that anyone would want to rent out their precious motorcycle, it turns out that there are plenty of people not only willing to do so, but who are doing it regularly. The App has been around since 2017 and so it’s an idea that seems to be well evolved. Interesting!

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In this week’s first segment, Editor Don Williams takes us through the new 2023 Kawasaki KLR650 S. This simple machine has been around—in various iterations—for over 30 years, and could arguably be called the “original” ADV bike. Of course it has its pluses and a couple of minuses too, depending on what you use it for. This new S model has a reduced seat height which will certainly appeal to many riders. Don takes us through everything this new version of the venerable KLR does well, and not so well.  

In the second segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with Maddi Patterson (Insta @maddi_paddy). Maddi started out as an umbrella girl on the MotoGP grid. But, there’s a lot more to Maddi than just good looks. She’s bright, articulate, and a really good creative writer. Ultimately, she’s managed to parlay those talents into becoming a journalist. Maddi’s driving force is helping others, and she’s done everything from adopting a donkey, mentoring young up and coming racers, and advocating for rider safety. Significantly, she and her husband raised money for Ukraine and made several trips to the war zone carrying in much needed medical supplies. There’s a lot to be admired about Maddi Patterson, including her survival from a life-changing accident.

So from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling—we hope you enjoy this episode.  

Racing for Ukraine

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Hello everyone and welcome once again to Motos and Friends, brought to you by the spectacular Yamaha R7 – a new generation of supersport machine.

Associate Editor Will Embree recently went to the world launch in Italy of the GasGas range of Motocross and Enduro off-road machines. The model variation is very extensive, and American buyers have a choice between several four-strokes as well as two-strokes to choose from. Will explains the differences between all of them and for those of you undecided where GasGas fits into the market with its sibling brands, and which GasGas model might interest you, he will help you make up your mind.

This week’s snippet is brought to you from the Saddlemen racing pit at Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota. Teejay Adams caught up with Lady Racer Patricia Fernandez [@lady_racer926] who tells us a little bit about the Saddlemen racing program in the Moto America King of the Baggers series, and why Saddlemen products are of real world benefit to her. 

In our second feature segment, Neale Bayly once again catches up with world-traveler Allen Karl who continues to talk about his journey around the globe on his BMW F 650 GS Dakar.   

We love your feedback! Please comment or suggest:

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Hello everyone and welcome once again to Motos and Friends, the weekly podcast brought to you by Ultimate Motorcycling. My name is Arthur Coldwells.

Motos and Friends is brought to you by Yamaha. You can check out the amazing YZF-R7 at your local Yamaha dealer, or of course at YamahaMotorsports.com.  The YZF-R7 is an amazing supersport machine that is comfortable too!

In this week’s first segment, Editor Don Williams takes the smallest BMW ADV bike on an urban adventure in Los Angeles. The BMW G 310 GS  is a full size motorcycle with a modest engine, so of course we wonder if it is a little too underpowered and might struggle. Don put it through its paces and gives us his take.

In the second segment, Neale Bayly and Kiran Ridley have returned from the Ukraine to Paris where Kiran is based.

Kiran is an award winning photojournalist, and as an accomplished documentarian, he has covered stories as diverse as drug smuggling around the Mexican border, to the devastation of the Australian Bush Fires, to the tragedy of the Mediterranean migration crisis. Neale and Kiran reminisce about their motorcycle adventure in the Ukraine, and their observations and experiences with the incredibly resilient people of Ukraine, who have been put through such brutal hardship.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiran_ridley/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kiranridley 

This week we go off-road! Don Williams tells us about Honda's brilliant new CRF300L Rally, a very different bike from the CRF300L apparently, and in the second segment Nic de Sena tells us about his recent challenges on the Big Bear Run.

Hello friends—welcome once again to the Ultimate motorcycling podcast, Motos and er… Friends. 

In the first segment this week, Editor Don Williams talks with Associate Editor Freeman Wood, who recently returned from Portugal and riding both the GT and Rally Pro versions of the all new Triumph Tiger 1200. The Gt version is more street-oriented than the Rally Pro, and if you’re in a quandary about which one interests you the most, Freeman’s comments may help clarify things.

In the second segment, I get to chat with ex-500cc Grand Prix racer, Paul Lewis. I met him once way back when—and he said to me “Arthur, you’ve got to understand, going fast on the racetrack is all about commitment.” No kidding.   

In the early 80s, towards the end of Barry Sheene’s remarkable career, Paul burst on to the World Championship road race scene and caused quite the stir, setting pole position in his very first race at Donington Park.

Paul later raced at Daytona for several years running—including one year riding the John Britten Pre-cursor machine. Nowadays, Paul is a principal at Salt Motorcycles—a gorgeously retro, hand-built in Australia, café racer based on the KTM 300cc 2-stroke dirt bike motors. Fast and very light Salt Motorcycles must be an absolute blast to ride.

Paul is a real character; he’s raced against many of the absolute best from the GP heyday, and I loved catching up with him and hearing about some of the craziness of the past 500cc Grand Prix era.

I know you’ll absolutely love this episode.   

Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Pro Fast Facts Review

Salt Motorcycles, Brisbane, Australia

YouTube: Paul Lewis in 1983 Bathurst Western Underwriters 1000 NOTE: Due to a technical glitch the download figures were restarted after 2 days. To get the correct total downloads for this episode please ADD 18,186 to the number below.

Editor Don Williams chats to Editor-at-large Freeman Wood about his ride on the new BMW R 18 Transcontinental and the bagger version, the R 18 B. Freeman is a BMW GS owner himselfyy and has ridden many of the big boxer twins in the past, so his opinions compare directly back to his other experiences aboard BMWs.

We hope you enjoy this episode!    

2022 BMW R 18 Transcontinental + R 18 B test

Hello everyone and welcome once again to Motos and Friends, brought to you by the editors at Ultimate Motorcycling. 

The Suzuki SV650 has been around for several decades now, and is largely unchanged. Yet the middleweight Suzuki continues to be incredibly popular. Associate Editor Kelly Callan tells us why she continues to rate it as one of her favorite bikes.

Our second segment features another of my really good friends, Joel Larson. Joel has been a hardcore motorcycle rider for most of his life and has owned everything from Suzuki Gixxers to several Ducati Multistradas. Joel’s extraordinary life started in earnest as a teenage drummer, when he founded the iconic 60s band “the Grass Roots”. They sold some 36 Million records during its heyday. Along his 30 year touring career it can be said that Joel fully embraced the rock n’ roll lifestyle, and even these tales told here hint at the sheer joy of living large. One of the nicest people I’ve ever known, Joel’s effervescent, positive appreciation of life is definitely catching.

WARNING: As you might imagine, this segment contains adult themed content and is NOT suitable for children or those of a sensitive nature. Please exercise discretion.

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This week, Editor Don Williams somewhat reluctantly rides the Beta Xtrainer 300 off-road bike. The Beta is a bit of an odd beast. It’s a not-quite-full-sized 2-stroke dirt bike, designed to be a little less intimidating than a full-sized machine. Previous years’ versions were hampered by less-than-stellar suspension. So a highly skeptical Don rode the 2023 model to see if any of the issues have been addressed.   

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We’re all familiar with the Suzuki Hayabusa—one of the most iconic sportbikes ever. However, the latest 2023 version is now faster, and easily the most technologically advanced Hayabusa ever. Check it out at your local Suzuki dealer now, or visit suzukicycles.com to learn more—you won’t be disappointed!

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In our second segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with Ashley Lusky, co-founder of Kickstands Up, the one place where riders of every style can connect to all the motorcycle rides, races, meetups and rallies in their area. Ashley is a long-time off-road rider, yet she still doesn’t consider herself an expert. She recently returned from a serious ADV trip to Baja, California, and she and Teejay chat about the challenges for young women learning to ride off-road.

So from all of us here at Motos and Friends—we hope you enjoy this episode!

We love your feedback! Please send us your comments and suggestions at producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com   and if you like Motos & Friends, hit the Subscribe button...

In this episode Senior Editor Nic de Sena tells about the new Honda Grom and the Barber Small-Bore Festival. In the second segment we chat with Matt Rambow, owner of Colorado Norton Works and his resto-mods.   

Hello everyone and welcome to Motos and Friends, a weekly Podcast brought to you by the editorial team at Ultimate Motorcycling. My name is Arthur Coldwells.

Electric mobility is everywhere nowadays. Whether it’s a car, a truck, an assisted bicycle, a scooter, or any number of new innovations, the electric revolution is certainly here.  In this week’s first segment, Nic de Sena took a ride on Zero’s recently announced new Adventure bike—the Zero DSR-X. There’s been a lot of hype about this new arrival on the ADV scene, and of course the questions are many. Nic talks to me about whether Zero actually have a credible, alternative energy ADV bike—or if the machine is just simply an empty promise.    

In our second segment, I chat with Al and Bridget from ‘Throw Your Leg Over’. They took time out to record this episode from somewhere in the middle of Romania, of all places.

These interesting Aussies have traveled—and painstakingly documented—the thousands of miles they’ve covered riding the best roads and sights through Australia, Tasmania, Europe, eastern Europe, and Scandinavia, among other places.

Their guided tour books and videos are all available online as a tremendous resources for all you would-be travelers. A membership to Throw Your Leg Over also helps fund their future travels—and who knows where those might lead them.   

Al and Bridget are truly committed to their passion for travel, and that really comes across. Their fun and zeal for life on two wheels is great to hear.

We hope you enjoy this episode!

This week we have a couple of unusual chats for you. In the first segment, Senior Editor Nic de Sena talks to Arthur Coldwells about the new Ohvale GP2 mini bike. This is a full race machine that is scaled down to work on kart tracks, and yet it is designed to give a rider the full racebike experience. The Ohvale is not a toy and many, many professional racers use one to enhance their skillset and help with their training.

The second segment comes to you from the recent Barber Vintage Festival, held annually at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds Alabama. George Barber himself was kind enough to spare a few minutes to chat about the new Advanced Design Center project that has been created on the top floor of the museum. Ably headed up by Brian Case of Motus Motorcycles fame, George Barber’s Design Center is there to encourage and explore design. He has generously outfitted the center with every type of creative and production tool you can imagine, including a couple of high end 3D printing machines, and full clay-modelling capability. Brian Case has already collaborated with ex-Ducati designer Pierre Terblanche and their first project—done remotely with Pierre residing at home in South Africa I might add—is a modern take on the exquisite early 90s Ducati Super Mono, designed at the time by Pierre. The Advanced Design Center is a heck of a project and George Barber is justifiably proud of it. It is there to encourage and explore design, especially with young people who perhaps do not have the means to really explore their ideas or turn them into reality.  If you’re a designer with some ideas, please feel free to contact Brian Case at the Barber Advanced Design Center and talk to him about perhaps starting you off, or taking you to the next step in your career. His contact information is below.

design@barbermuseum.org 

2021 Ohvale GP-2 190 Review

The Motos and Friends Podcast from Ultimate Motorcycling is brought to you by Yamaha.

Discover the thrill of the open road with the 2024 Yamaha Tenere 700, the ultimate adventure bike designed to conquer any terrain. The Tenere 700 has a powerful 689cc liquid-cooled, inline twin-cylinder engine, delivering adrenaline-pumping performance for both on-road cruising and off-road exploration. It's built for the bold; ready to tackle gravel, dirt, or pavement with equal confidence. With a lightweight chassis and long-travel suspension, every ride feels effortless, offering agility and stability in every twist and turn. Plus, adjustable suspension means you can tailor the ride to suit your adventure style. Learn more at YamahaMotorsports.com and visit your Yamaha dealer to experience the thrill of the Tenere 700 for yourself.  

Unfortunately it rained at the launch earlier this year in Spain, so Nic de Sena got hold of a 2024 KTM 1390 Super Duke R Evo and tested it thoroughly on both track and on the street in California. You may be thinking of switching brands, or you might also be looking to upgrade from a middleweight, but as Nic said, the big KTM super-naked gives you “the most fun for the buck”. It’s a highly complex machine and Nic explains all.

In our second segment this week, Arthur Coldwells chats with the thoughtful and brilliant motorcycle designer, JT Nesbitt of Bienville Studios in New Orleans. Actually, JT is the designer of the premiere edition cover bike of Robb Report Motorcycling magazine back in 2004—the Wraith. JT’s latest project is the exquisite-looking Magnolia 4; a breathtakingly beautiful retro-styled, inline-4 motorcycle. Check out Bienville Studios for pictures and more information on the design journey that JT and his team have been on for the last few years.  

By the way, if you’re into Dual-Sport riding, then should check out the new Arai XD-5. It’s completely redesigned, and typical Arai, every improvement is made with a priority for protection. For example, the new visor system is designed to maximize vision and surface area to glance off impact energy whilst at the same time offering easy installation and removal. 

Arai is obsessed with every detail; there is such a thing as “The Arai Difference”. A helmet is not only about safety, it’s also about comfort. The incredible fit and plush interior of any of the Arai helmets is immediately noticeable.

So get to your local dealer and try out the full range of Arai helmets. You will be instantly amazed at the fit and all-day comfort of any Arai helmet. You should also check out AraiAmericas.com to learn more.

We love your feedback! Please comment or suggest:

  @ultimatemotorcycling

 @UltimateMotoMag

 @UltimateMotorcycling

 producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com

Arthur chats with Avery Innis at Suzuki about the amazing new Hayabusa.

Don Williams and Kelly Callan discuss the Yamahas WR450F and 250F having spent several months riding the two. 

In the second segment, we discuss the typical motorcycle size progression from newbie to expert. Which way should you go if you're new to the sport? Hopefully we'll help you clarify your thinking.   

2021 Yamaha WR450F Review

2021 Yamaha WR250F Review

Hello everyone and welcome to Motos and Friends, a weekly Podcast from Ultimate Motorcycling.

This week’s Podcast is brought to you by Yamaha motorcycles. Filling the gap between the entry-level R3, and the flagship superbike R1, Yamaha’s YZF-R7 is a great supersport machine that perfectly balances real performance with rider comfort. Check it out at YamahaMotorsports.com, or of course you can see it for yourself at your local Yamaha dealer.

This Podcast is also brought to you by the new, state-of-the-art Schuberth C5. The modular C5 is a flip up design that blends safety with amazing quietness within its compact, light weight design. Visit Schuberth.com for more information.

This week, Senior Editor Nic de Sena talks to us about the uber-cool new Yamaha XSR 900. This gorgeous, retro-styled machine is another take on the awesome MT-09. There are some differences other than styling though, so it’s interesting to hear Nic’s thoughts on how this version of the three-cylinder 900 from Yamaha fits within the model range.  

In the second segment, Editor-at-Large Neale Bayly talks with a true racing icon, Mr Daytona himself—Scott Russell. Hailing from Georgia in the deep South, the former World Superbike and AMA Superbike Champion won the Daytona 200 a record five times, and also the Suzuka 8 Hours in 1993. Scott is the all-time leader in 750 cc AMA Supersport wins, and in 2005 he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.  

This is Part 1 of 2, where Scott takes us from his humble beginnings on the back roads of Georgia and the start of his racing career, through to the massive crash at Daytona that ended that chapter of his life. A notorious bad-boy off track as well as shockingly naturally talented on track, Scott’s raw telling in his signature southern drawl of how things unfolded for him, is an absolute must listen.  

From all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!

2022 Yamaha XSR900 First Rise Review

Hello everyone and welcome to Ultimate Motorcycling’s podcast, Motos and Friends. My name is Arthur Coldwells.

This week’s episode is brought to you by Yamaha YZF-R7. The R7 lives up to its legendary name, as a high-performance supersport machine. Check it out at at your local Yamaha dealer, or of course at YamahaMotorsports.com.

In this week’s first segment, Editor Don Williams and I chat about electric bikes and the electric bike revolution that is likely the future of motorcycling. Actually this episode is specifically about Honda’s new CRF-E2… an electric dirt-bike for kids. We asked our tester, 8-year old Avery Bart to put the E2 through its paces and according to Don, she loved it. Honda has stated that the company goal is for 50% of its sales to be electric by 2030—an ambitious goal for sure, and the CRF-E2 is the first step in that direction.   

In the second segment, I chat with one of my Aussie motorcycle industry friends—Dale Schmidtchen. Dale has worked for most of the major moto factories globally during his career, and his take on his CF Moto ADV bike is interesting. Beyond that, one his many projects is currently helping to sell the world’s most expensive motorcycle—a Harley V-Rod worth around 50 million dollars. Yes, that’s 50 million with an ‘M’.

Dale also owned a race team in the 1990s and helped bring several well-known Aussie racers to the world stage. He’s a very modest, matter-of-fact guy, but I always really enjoy chatting with him; I hope you enjoy listening.

Incidentally, if you’ve got around fifty mill burning a hole in your pocket and you fancy owning the so-called ‘Mona Lisa of motorbikes’—contact us at producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com and we’ll put you in touch with Dale.       

From all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!

2022 Honda CRF-E2 Review [15 Fast Facts: Electric Motorcycle Test]

The Cosmic Starship - Jack Armstrong's art and the Harley V-Rod

In this week’s first segment, Senior Editor Nic de Sena take a look at the Ducati DesertX ADV bike. Powered by the same liquid-cooled V-twin motor as several other models in the Ducati range, the DesertX is another entry into the upper-middleweight class of ADV machines. The big question of course, is can the DesertX make its mark and differentiate itself from a growing field of competitors?

The second segment is the premiere of our new series of ‘Owner Reviews’. These are real-world opinions of machines owned by everyman riders. For this first one, I chat with my friend Dale Wagler. Dale is a former Marine and hard-core street- and dirt-bike rider. Dale recently acquired a new BMW 1250 GS Adventure, and he gives us his thoughts on the bike’s positives—and a few negatives too.  

If you’d like to be considered for a future Owner Reviews segment on an episode of Motos & Friends, please email us at producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com and tell us briefly about your bike. We’d love to hear from you!  

So, from all of us here at Motos & Friends… we hope you enjoy this episode!

Hello everyone and welcome once again to the Ultimate Motorcycling podcast—Motos and Friends. My name is Arthur Coldwells.

Motos and Friends is brought to you by the Yamaha YZF-R7—Yamaha’s awesome supersport machine that is as capable on the racetrack as it is on the street. …and it’s comfortable too! Check it out at at your local Yamaha dealer, or of course at YamahaMotorsports.com.

In this week’s first segment, Senior Editor Nic de Sena rides the BMW K 1600 GT. This is the sporty bagger version of BMW’s K series of machines, those are the models with the awesome 6-cylinder engine. The GT has been given a little makeover for 2023, and Nic gives us his take. 

In the second segment, I chat with one of my all time heroes—three-time World Champion racer ‘fast’ Freddie Spencer. I’ll do my best not to come off as too much of a fanboy here, but frankly it’ll be tough!

In my humble opinion, Spencer is a contender for the GOAT—greatest of all time. Sure, his career was a little shorter than some, and his number of championships falls behind the likes of Lawson, Doohan, Rossi, and of course Marquez. But at the time, Freddie literally changed the way motorcycles were ridden. 30 years before Marc Marquez, Freddie was able to push the front wheel into a slide, corner after corner, lap after lap in order to get the bike turned faster than anyone else. Freddie took completely different lines and was able to get on the throttle so early he could out accelerate anyone off a corner.

In the modern era, of course Freddie is the chairman of the FIM MotoGP Stewards panel. This is the panel of referees for all three classes of Grand prix racing. I talked to Freddie about his task there, and although for contractual reasons with Dorna and the FIM he cannot talk about specific riders, teams, or events, nevertheless his explanation of the job makes for interesting listening. It’s a tough job, and frankly I wouldn’t want to do it! 

At any rate, Freddie’s new book ‘Feel’ is available on Amazon—I’d highly recommend you reading it whether you’re a fan of Freddie or not, even whether you’re into racing or not; every rider has something to learn from his mental approach.

Actually—Ultimate Motorcycling is giving away five copies of the book—signed by Freddie himself—to the first five listeners who contact us with the correct answer to the question: How many national AMA championships did Freddie win, and which years were they?

Please email your answers to producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com and we will contact the winners and send you a signed copy of Feel. Those five winners will be announced on a future episode. Unfortunately for legal reasons this offer is ONLY open to US residents.

So, from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!

Hello everyone and welcome to the Motos and Friends Podcast, brought to you by the Editors of Ultimate Motorcycling. My name is Arthur Coldwells.

This Podcast is brought to you by the Yamaha’s YZF-R7. The R7 is a comfortable yet high-performance supersport machine. Check it out at at your local Yamaha dealer, or of course at YamahaMotorsports.com.

This Podcast is also brought to you by the new modular helmet from Schuberth, the C5. The C5 blends safety with light weight and amazing quietness. Visit Schuberth.com for more information.

This week, in the first segment Editor Don Williams talks to us about the new Kawasaki Versys 650 LT.  It’s the middleweight ADV style machine that uses the same 650 parallel twin motor as the Ninja 650, so it’s an excellent performer in a user-friendly, good looking package.  

In the second segment, I chat with one of my dearest industry friends—now retired Honda PR executive, Jon Seidel. Jon’s fascinating career spans some 30 years with Big Red, and gave him some great experiences with some incredible machines. I was fortunate enough to be invited on many of the press launches that he organized. His new project is documenting and saving many of the old archives from years gone by—and incidentally, if you have anything that may be of value to the project, please contact us by email at producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com and we’ll pass it all on to Jon.     

So on that note, from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!

Kawasaki Versys 650 LT Review and Pictures

Motos and Friends is powered by the Yamaha R7. The R7 is part of Yamaha’s R World, and the R7 is your gateway to a new generation of supersport machine.

In our first segment, Editor Don Williams checks out the new Honda Rebel 1100T with the DCT gearbox. This is a different kind of cruiser; it certainly has some sportiness to it, and with a nod to touring with small bags and a fairing, it’s easily capable of day-long rides too.

In our second segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams talks to A-list Hollywood stuntman, Joe Bucaro. Joe has spent nearly 40 years riding and crashing motorcycles; drifting and crashing cars, and stage-fighting as the stunt double for many of your favorite action stars. Joe has doubled extensively for Gerard Butler in most of his movies; Jason Momoa in the upcoming ‘Fast and Furious 10’; and also for stars such as Chris Pratt, Vince Vaughan, Steven Seagal and countless others. In Butler’s latest movie ‘The Plane’ Joe tells us about a two-and-a-half minute fight sequence that they managed to shoot in just one, complete take.

Joe’s fearlessness and incredible talents on a motorcycle, in a car, on a horse, and of course his fighting skills, have kept him kinda safe over the years, and still doing what he loves. This chat is a fascinating and entertaining peek behind the curtain into Hollywood and the fun of making movies.

So, from all of us here at Motos and Friends—we hope you enjoy this episode!

We love your feedback! Please send us your comments and suggestions at producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com   and if you like Motos & Friends, hit the Subscribe button!

The new Yamaha R7 is the supersport version of the company's brilliant MT-07. Ron Lieback got to ride it at the track, and he tells us all about it. In the secnd segment we meet Brian Weston from Arai helmets. Brian explains about Arai's 'glancing off' ideas and much more. 

This episode is brought to you by Yamaha Motorcycles--Yamaha Revs Your Heart.

Check out the new Yamaha R7 here!

This week, Associate Editor Gary Ilminen gleefully ventured forth from his snow-swamped home in Wisconsin to Austin, Texas, where he had the opportunity to take the all-new Indian Sport Chief for a long ride. The new Sport Chief is a slimmer, cruiser, and as its name implies, it has a definite sporting side to it.

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Have you looked at the 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa yet? One of the most iconic sportbikes ever, it’s faster and the most technologically advanced Hayabusa ever. Check it out in person at your local Suzuki dealer now, or visit suzukicycles.com to learn more.

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In our second segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with Steve Sims. He’s a well known motivational speaker, coach, and author of 'Go for Stupid;  The Art of Achieving Ridiculous Goals'. Steve is best known as the ‘sky’s the limit’ fixer who provided elite concierge services to some of the world’s wealthiest and most influential people. That heady list includes John Travolta, Elon Musk, Steven Tyler, Ricard Branson, and many, many others. He laughingly describes those 25 years as “spending billionaires’ money to give them more interesting cocktail hour stories”. He’s a serious motorcycle rider who has a fascinating set of stories to tell. So sit back, and prepare to be entertained!

For more info on Steve: SteveDSims.com  

Instagram & YouTube: @stevedsims

We love your feedback! Please send us your comments and suggestions at producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com and if you like Motos & Friends, hit the Subscribe button!

Interested in reaching our enthusiastic listeners? To become a sponsor or advertise with Motos & Friends please email us at producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com

.

This week we start off with a discussion between myself and Senior Editor Nic de Sena on the eBicycle craze that seems to be so hot right now. We’ve tried various eBicycles over the last year or so but the question still remains —are they pseudo-motorcycles; are they a gateway perhaps to motorcycling; and are they here to stay?

In the following segment Don chats with Associate Editor Damon Powell about the new Kawasaki KLR650. The venerable KLR has been around since 1987 and Damon has ridden... well… all of them.

I hope you enjoy this episode. As a reminder—please send your feedback on our Podcast—good or bad, and especially if you have any suggestions, we’d love to hear from you! You can contact us either on our Facebook page at Motos and Friends, or email at podcast@ultimatemotorcycling.com. Thank you!  

2022 Kawasaki KLR650 Adventure Review

2022 Sondors Metacycle New Electric Motorcycle

Super73-ZX Review: Stylish Urban Pedal-Assist E-bike

Motos and Friends is brought to you by the Yamaha Heritage line. The Yamaha name stands for a heritage of motorcycle performance and classic styling. Visit your local dealer to find the 2023 Yamaha sport heritage bike for you.

This week we decided to change it up a little and we’re bringing you three segments in this episode.

In our first segment, I chat with Associate Editor Jonathan Handler, freshly returned from a trip to Germany to ride the interesting new BMW R 18 Roctane. This all out cruiser features the impressive BMW R 18 motor which has had a slightly mixed reaction in its other iterations. I have to say, in this particular model, the big boxer twin seems like the perfect fit for someone who wants a seriously powerful cruiser that’s a little different from everything else out there. Let’s see if Jonathan agrees with me!

In our second segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with Ritzo Muntinga of SPC Power Clutch. Ritzo introduces the sintered aluminum indestructible clutch. The company now has a patent on these clutch plates and frankly they sound like a game-changing idea. If you’re a seriously heavy clutch user, especially in sport such as off-road, Motocross, and so on, or perhaps you’re a drag racer or stunt guy, then you’re going to be really interested in what Ritzo has to say.

In our third segment, Teejay chats with Angie Sandow. Angie plays guitar in her AC/DC cover band, she’s an author, motivational speaker, and of course a motorcycle rider. Interestingly, she’s also partially handicapped—she only has one hand. To hear how she overcomes life’s challenges—and still gets to play guitar and ride her motorcycle—are amazing. Her bubbly personality and sheer strength of will come across are inspiration indeed.       

So, from all of us here at Motos and Friends—we hope you enjoy this episode!

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We love your feedback! Please comment or suggest:

  @ultimatemotorcycling

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 @UltimateMotorcycling

 producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com

Hello everyone and welcome to Motos and Friends, brought to you by the editors of Ultimate Motorcycling. My name is Arthur Coldwells.

This week’s Podcast is brought to you by Yamaha motorcycles and specifically, Yamaha’s YZF-R7. The R7 is a great supersport machine that perfectly balances real performance with rider comfort. Check it out at Yamaha Motorsports.com, or of course you can see it for yourself at your local Yamaha dealer.

This Podcast is also brought to you by the new, state-of-the-art Schuberth C5. The modular C5 is a light weight flip up design that blends safety with amazing quietness. Visit Schuberth.com for more information.

This week, in the first segment Senior Editor Nic de Sena talks to me about his take on Harley-Davidson’s new Low Rider S. The Low Rider S is an aggressive, club-styled machine with real performance—just our kind of bike!

In the second segment, I chat with Ed Lovett, Founder and CEO of the global auto sales platform collectingcars.com. Started in 2019, collectingcars.com has now surpassed over 300 million dollars in sales from its global audience. Well that’s all very impressive I hear you say—but what’s that got to with motorcycles? Well… as well know, a gearhead is a gearhead, and so moving into the motorcycle market was inevitable. Indeed, the auction platform has now seen over 250 motorcycle sales, including a world-record setting sale price on a Honda RC 213V-S that went to a collector for 175,000 pounds—that’s just over 200 and 10 thousand us dollars. Yes, I admit it—that bike is my all-time favorite motorcycle—simply the best bike I’ve ever ridden; and by quite a margin at that.

So on that note, from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!

Street-Legal Alien: Honda RC213V-S Test

2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider S Review

This week's Motos & Friends is all about motorcycling icons; we’re focused on the heritage of motorcycling.

Speaking of heritage, have you seen the Yamaha Sport Heritage range of classically styled, performance motorcycles? I’ve been riding the gorgeous-looking Yamaha XSR900 and its great looks are more than backed up by its incredible performance. Visit YamahaMotorsports.com to find out more about the exciting Heritage line, or check it out for yourself at your local dealer today.

Our featured motorcycle this week is Harley’s new addition to its Icons Collection: The 2023 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Highway King. This new machine is a beautifully styled tribute to the 1968 Electra Glide FLH, but of course now with modern motor, chassis, suspension and so on. Don Williams rode the machine to er… Williams in Arizona and reports back on his adventure and what he thought of the bike.

In our second segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with Kelly Knievel. He’s the son of 70s stunt-riding icon, Evel Knievel, and brother to the late Robbie Knievel. Kelly is a producer, actor, and the head of K&K Promotions, which owns the rights to Evel Knievel’s name.

Evel Knievel of course, needs no introduction. He was the literally the ultimate showman. His many stunts included jumps over cars, buses, as well as attempts at the fountains at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, and at the Snake River Canyon in Idaho. Having grown up in this legendary family, Kelly’s memories of both his father and his brother are fascinating to hear.    

The Evel Knievel Museum is in Topeka, KS

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We love your feedback! Please comment or suggest:

  @ultimatemotorcycling

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Hello and welcome once again to Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly Podcast—Motos and Friends. 

This week’s Podcast is brought to you by Yamaha motorcycles. Discover how the YZF-R7 provides the perfect balance of rider comfort and true supersport performance by checking it out at YamahaMotorsports.com, or see it for yourself at your local dealer.

This Podcast is also brought to you by Schuberth Helmets and the new Schuberth C5.

This week features Senior Editor Nic de Sena’s impressions of the new KTM RC 390. The entry-level KTM has always been an impressive motorcycle that has sold extremely well, however the factory has now taken the bike to another level, with top-spec features that are typically found on flagship machines. Clearly KTM has realized that even smaller engined machines should have high spec suspension, brakes and electronics packages. Nic tells us how well the new RC 390 is equipped, and what he thought of riding the smaller displacement rocket.   

In the second segment I chat with automotive and motorcycle industry icon, Gordon McCall. Gordon is the Director of Motorsports at the Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel Valley, California.

This weekend of Saturday May 14th sees the annual Quail Motorcycle Gathering re-start after its Covid-forced hiatus, and having attended every one of the previous Motorcycle Gatherings, personally I’m very happy that the event is back on the schedule. Gordon chats about the event and a little of what’s happening this year. It’s a great event and if you feel like a trip to the gorgeous Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley, you’ll get to meet Gordon, Roland Sands, and of course a large number of stunning motorcycles too.

From all of us at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!

2022 KTM RC 390 Review 

Riding to the The Quail Motorcycle Gathering

This week we ride two genre-departing motorcycles from the established American manufacturers. Jess McKinley gives us his thoughts on the all new Harley-Davidson Pan America Special, and Ron Lieback gives his on Indian's latest version of the FTR 1200 S. 

Hello everyone and welcome once again to Motos and Friends, brought to you by the Editors at Ultimate Motorcycling magazine.  I’m Arthur Coldwells.

This week, Editors Don Williams and Nic de Sena discuss the 2024 Harley-Davidson Street Glide. The new Street Glide has had a total revamp, from the new fairing and lights, to the engine and chassis, the Street Glide is now an even more serious bagger than before. Nic and Don take us through their experiences with the new machine and why they’re so pumped on the changes.

In the second segment this week, recently appointed Head of MV Agusta North America, Luca Dovesi, chats with me about his vision for MV Agusta North America. Luca talks about the challenges he’s facing and how he plans to leverage KTM’s sales and distribution expertise to rebuild faith in the MV Agusta brand. We all know that the Italian manufacturer has always designed and produced the most exquisite and innovative motorcycles. But now, with the Pierer Mobility Group’s considerable commitment and horsepower behind them, the future just might be looking pretty bright for MV Agusta, and us, the consumers in America.

So, from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!

We love your feedback! Please comment or suggest:

  @ultimatemotorcycling

 @UltimateMotoMag

 @UltimateMotorcycling

 producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com

Season’s Greeting to you all! The team here at Ultimate Motorcycling wishes every one of you a happy and relaxing holiday—I think we’ve all earned it!

This week’s episode brings you the Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak edition. Senior Editor Nic de Sena rode it in sketchy weather conditions in the mountains above Palm Springs. The bike is really very different from the ADV version launched earlier this year, so I’m sure you’ll be interested to hear what he has to say.

This second segment brings us a young lady that I personally admire very much. Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with LaShundra Rucker, founder and owner of Sportbike Chic, a motorcycle apparel and accessories retailer for women. LaShundra is a former Marine, so as you might imagine, she’s made of stern stuff. Sportbike Chic is growing well, and as a small business owner myself, I know how challenging it can be to make a living in the motorcycle world. That she had the courage to do it, and the brains to make it work, is very impressive, and it makes her worthy of our respect. She’s very articulate and has a great sense of humor, so I really enjoyed hearing what she had to say about her company’s journey to date.  I hope you do, too!  

2022 Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak Test: Palms to Pines First Ride

SportBike Chic™

This week Editor Don Williams and Associate Editor Jonathan Handler take you to the South of France where Jonathan got to ride the local roads on the all-new, redesigned Triumph Rocket 3. The Rocket comes in two flavors: the Storm R model, and the Storm GT version. The two-and-a-half liter engine puts out a claimed 180 horsepower and a tarmac-shredding 166 ft/lbs of torque. Jonathan talks to us about his experiences of the local roads riding the beast, and whether the Rocket 3’s astonishing numbers result in a well-tamed muscle-machine, or if it is completely unmanageable.

Have you ever tried riding at the drag strip? In our second segment this week, Teejay Adams chats with tuner and racer, ‘Shorty’ Cruz, owner of Shorty’s Performance in North Hollywood, California.  Shorty and his amazing daughter Gisela both regularly ride at Irwindale Dragstrip where they test their bikes and reaction-times inexpensively and in a safe environment. Going to the raceway doesn’t necessarily need a Top Fuel multi-million dollar dragbike; you ride whatever you like—fast or slow—and see if you’re able to hone your skills and improve your technique, no matter what machine you’re on. According to Gisela and Shorty, it’s a fun, helpful community of like-minded people and it might just appeal to you to see what you can achieve on your bike. If you’re interested in tuning your bike check out Shorty’s Performance on Facebook.   

Here’s a quick reminder to leave us your comments on our social media—we’re on all the usual platforms at Ultimate Motorcycling. We love hearing your feedback… so good or bad, please let us know what you think. If there’s something in particular you’d like us to cover, we’d love to hear those ideas too! Anyway, from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode.

We love your feedback! Please comment or suggest:

  @ultimatemotorcycling

 @UltimateMotoMag

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 producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com

This week we bring you something a little different. In the first segment, Senior Editor Nic de Sena talks to us briefly about the new Honda Navi. At just over $1800, this little runabout is crazy good value for money and perfect for those students needing easy transport around campus, or perhaps for city folks looking for an easy, urban traffic-beater.

In the second segment, Editor Don Williams gives us a roundup of the various Italian machines announced at the recent EICMA motorcycle show in Milan. These include Moto Guzzi, Ducati, Aprilia, Benelli, Italjet, and Bimota. There are some mouth-watering motorcycles coming down the pike in 2022, and we are looking forward to riding and reviewing these new arrivals!

2022 Honda Navi Review (10 Fast Facts For Urban Motorcycle Riders)

2022 Honda Navi First Look (13 Fast Facts - $1807 Motorcycle)

Motos and Friends is brought to you by the Yamaha R7, your gateway to a new generation of supersport machine.

In our first segment, Editor Don Williams rides the new Suzuki GSX-8S. This highly anticipated upright-naked sportbike features the all-new parallel twin from the big S, and we have been very excited to try it out. Don really liked the motor in Suzuki’s new V-Strom, so it’ll be interesting to see if it is perhaps even better suited to a street bike. The big question of course, is who exactly is the target rider for the 8S?

Speaking of sportbikes, the Isle of Man TT is arguably the most fearsome, intense—as well as the longest—motorcycle race in the world. The Superbike races are around 225 Miles and 1200 corners, including 2 full pit stops! It takes a very special level of skill, courage, and yes, a large dollop of insanity too, to ride in, let alone win, a TT race.

The TT is always the first week in June, so it's on right now—see the links below. Just in time for this year’s event, I chat with my Aussie friend, Rennie Scaysbrook. Rennie is the Road Test Editor for Cycle News magazine here in the US. As a fellow journalist, he and I have tested motorcycles at tracks all over the world; he’s a great guy, a good laugh. He holds the record for the challenging Pikes Peak Hill Climb, so as you might imagine, he’s an especially talented rider too.

Rennie rode the IOM TT last year in the Supersport category and acquitted himself well, despite some technical gremlins. He’s riding again this year for the Craig Wilson team, but this time he’s on a Superstock-class Honda Fireblade CBR1000RR-SP. Now that’s a whole different ballgame!

Rennie’s descriptions of riding the sections around the famed TT course are absolutely electrifying. Do you think you’ve got the mental fortitude, concentration, and level of skill that it takes to thread the TT needle on country roads through tiny villages at 195 miles per hour? Rennie’s take on riding the TT will likely answer that for you.

This chat is a doozy—so hold on to your hat for this one.

• Rennie Scaysbrook: 2022 Isle Of Man Video Diary
• Do you know a kid that might want to read Rennie’s books?
  • The Big Book of Motorbikes + Coloring Book
• Check out the TT Races official website
  • Videopass $29.99
• No Room For Error documentary | Official Trailer 2 | TT Races
• CycleNews.com

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"Basically, you have to be prepared to die" -- Tom Montano chats with Arthur about riding the Isle of Man TT. 

Hello everyone and welcome once again to Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly podcast—Motos and Friends.  My name is Arthur Coldwells.

Our first segment features the new Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory. Senior Editor Nic de Sena brings us his report on the flagship version of Aprilia’s upright middleweight machine. He gives us insight into whether it’s worth spending the extra money on the Factory version, and also of course, whether this sporting Aprilia is really the motorcycle for you.

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The next guest segment of Motos and Friends is brought to you by the faster and most technologically advanced, 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa—one of the most iconic sportbikes ever. Check it out in person at your local Suzuki dealer now, or visit suzukicycles.com to learn more.

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In this segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with (arguably) one of the most interesting Suzuki race riders of all time. the iconic RG500 alongside teammate double World Champion Barry Sheene. The two were almost as famous for their exploits off-track, as for their success on it. Those were the days! Steve also raced the Isle of Man TT for about ten years where he won 13 Silver Replicas, and got a podium finish. His insight into that particular brand of mayhem are fascinating.

But there’s waaay more to Steve Parrish than his motorcycle racing. He is also the most successful Semi-Truck racer ever, and, little known piece of useless trivia—he’s my birthday twin: 24th February. He is a natural entertainer and you can’t miss his recounting of the world’s most entertaining—and arguably terrifying—double-decker bus ride ever. If any of you were actually on that hell-ride then we’d love to hear from you!  

From everyone here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode.

Steve’s book ‘The Parrish Times’ on Amazon

Instagram @SteveStavrosParrish

http://www.steveparrishracing.com/

https://movolytics.com/

Nic de Sena chats with H-D Chief Engineer on the new Sportster S--a massive upgrade for the iconic machine. 

In the second segment Arthur Coldwells talks with Corina Roberts of RedbirdsVisions.org about her latest project--helping to save lives on the Angeles Crest Highway and other roads. As co-founder of Highway 2 Track Days, Corina explains what they do, and how she thinks it helps. 

https://www.redbirdsvisions.org/highway-2-motorcycle-track-days.html   

The Motos and Friends Podcast from Ultimate Motorcycling is brought to you by the new Suzuki Hayabusa. Led by the Suzuki Intelligent Ride System, the new Hayabusa stays true to its iconic design, with its straighter, sharper lines making it the most aerodynamic Hayabusa ever. Take a look at the ultimate sportbike at Suzukicycles.com, or of course you can swoop into your nearest dealer and check it out in person; you will be absolutely astonished.

This week Don Williams takes us for a ride on the all new Indian FTR R Carbon. Of course the new iteration of Indian has brought us some excellent cruisers and touring machines—the company is clearly serious. Yet, interestingly, it seems that Indian clearly wants to branch out …a lot.

The new 1200cc V-twin FTR shows the world just how seriously the company is getting with the sport side of its business, and indeed,  the FTR was the machine ridden to Championship victory by Lady Racer Patricia Fernandez. Riding her Saddlemen sponsored FTR to win last year’s Superhooligan class of the Bagger Racing League, Patricia proved that the FTR can consistently make it to the top step of the podium.

The second part of this week’s podcast is the 3rd part of George Puckhaber’s travelogue. We’ve already heard how he travelled down to the end of the South American continent and back, and now he recounts his recent trip to the far East—to Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. This time he didn’t ride his BMW 1200 GS…

2022 Indian FTE R Carbon Review

This week, Associate Editor Teejay Adams and I get to ride a Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 for our travels around Brisbane, Australia, thanks to the team at Motorcycle Holdings who arranged it.

In Royal Enfield tradition, the Interceptor 650 features the larger twin-cylinder engine in a retro styled package with a ton of charisma. It turned out to be really fun ride—we were pleasantly surprised by how it performed.

In the second segment, I get to chat with one of my longest-standing industry buddies, Robert Pandya.

Robert was recently named COO of the Buffalo Chip Campground in Sturgis, South Dakota. The legendary Chip is the central part of the Sturgis rally every year, and with the redoubtable energy of Robert Pandya, I expect to see the attendance grow exponentially. We’ll see. Robert’s a fun guy to talk to; I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy this episode!

Royal Enfield Australia

Cannon Coffee

This week, Editors Don Williams and Nic de Sena discuss the new Moto Guzzi Stelvio. It has been around eight years since Moto Guzzi updated the Stelvio, and so expectations were quite high when Nic went to the launch in Spain. Don chats with Nic about his experiences with the new Stelvio, and whether this new version is now a credible ADV bike.  

Motos and Friends is brought to you by Arai helmets. Yes, there is such a thing as “The Arai Difference” and it reflects the company’s incredible attention to detail. For instance, if your experience has been that helmets are hard to get on, then try the Arai Contour-X, designed with a wider bottom opening for easier on/off; it is the helmet you’ve been waiting for. Once on, you will be amazed at the extreme comfort of the Contour-X, a key benefit for long-distance touring.

Another example of “The Arai Difference”: Side Air Channels. The Corsair-X utilizes internal ducting, which effectively increases the extraction of hot, moist air from the eye-port area, to both help reduce shield fogging and increase your comfort. Get to your local Arai dealer and try the Contour-X and the Corsair-X, you won’t be disappointed! If you want to learn more, visit AraiAmericas.com.

In the second segment this week, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with Ray Hammons. Despite his mature age, a couple years ago Ray realized a long time dream—to learn to ride a motorcycle. To say that he jumped in with both feet is somewhat of an understatement. Ray was fortunate enough to attend the YCRS Champ Street School when he first got his license, and interestingly, he credits the school with saving his life almost immediately. The topic of whether you should cover the brake when riding is actually quite controversial, and if you do it during an MSF course, you will fail. This is patently wrong, and Ray is clearly hoping the right people wake up, and this change is made to rider training across the country.  

We love your feedback! Please comment or suggest:

  @ultimatemotorcycling

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In our first segment this week, Nic de Sena tells about his recent comparison test between the Kawasaki’s all-new ZX-4RR and Yamaha’s brilliant YZF-R7. He rode both bikes at the Streets of Willow Springs and although they’re actually very similar in some ways, they are of course very different machines in other ways.

In our product Snippet this week, I chat with Teejay Adams about the new Cortech Lite gloves. Essentially, Cortech has utilized a new type of material that is both super-thin yet tough, and perfectly suited to lightweight riding gloves.

In our second segment Teejay Adams has a fun chat with an influencer she recently met on the Kawasaki Eliminator launch in California. @AyaLolwut (Instagram) is a motorcycle enthusiast through and through. Aya is a software engineer for a healthcare provider, and she also models—sometimes with a motorcycle, sometimes without. Aya is a busy lady and seems to split her time between riding, modeling, riding, working, wrenching, and then apparently, riding some more.  

So, from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling—we hope you enjoy this episode!

We love your feedback! Please comment or suggest:

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John Cabral and Harry Gunusen chat about America's fastest Pro Street Bagger. 

American Turbo Power: https://www.facebook.com/American-turbo-power-511231132290263

Augustine Herrera (rider) https://www.facebook.com/augustine.herrera

Herrera Racing https://www.facebook.com/Herrera-Racing-200375816753000 

R&R Cycle http://www.rrcycles.com/shop/ 

Original story: https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2020/02/14/8-second-harley-street-glide-chat-with-builder-harry-gunusen/ 

Motos and Friends is brought to you by the 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa. This legendary Sportbike is the quickest, most technologically advanced, and the most aerodynamic Hayabusa ever. Head into your local Suzuki dealer now, or visit suzukicycles.com to learn more.

In this week’s first segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams and I discuss the new Yamaha XSR700.  That’s the retro-styled version of the MT-07 that comes in any color you like—as long as it’s black. Actually, it looks really good with the gold accents on the gas tank and the matching gold wheels. Teejay tells us whether there’s a decent bike lurking under all that flash.

In our second segment, I chat with Steve Rapp. An ex-factory Suzuki and Ducati rider in the Moto America race series, Steve, among many other accomplishments won the prestigious Daytona 200. He also competed with real credibility in a couple of MotoGP races for Richard Stanboli of Attack Performance.

After retiring from professional road racing Steve became a commercial pilot, flying A320s out of LAX for Alaska Airlines. I suspect he’s the only Airline Captain that’s also an ex-professional motorcycle racer. Steve’s calm, matter-of-fact delivery when talking about his high-speed escapades was interesting to say the least. Very impressive guy indeed.

So, from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode.

Steve Rapp at Iconic Motorbike Auctions taking delivery of his classic Honda VFR1000R 

image courtesy Iconic Motorbike Auctions

Motos and Friends is brought to you by the new Schuberth E2 helmet. The Schuberth E2 is endless adventure!

Whether you follow the Mission Foods King of the Baggers Moto America race series, you have to admit that the performance extracted from the Indian and Harley-Davidson heavyweight machines is astounding. Nic de Sena recently had the opportunity to chat with the race team and ride the Indian Challenger campaigned by Tyler O’Hara and Jeremy McWilliams. The bike is clearly not for the faint of heart!  

In our second segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams has a fascinating chat with Paul d’Orleans, also known as “The Vintagent”. Started by Paul back in 2006, the website quickly became incredibly popular for those with an interest in older two-wheeled motorcycles. A world-renowned authority on vintage machines, Paul is a judge at many classic events and shows, including the Quail Motorcycle Gathering.

So, from all of us here at Motos and Friends—we hope you enjoy this episode!

We love your feedback! Please send us your comments and suggestions at producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com   and if you like Motos & Friends, hit the Subscribe button!

The Vintagent Facebook

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The Vintagent Website 

Mean Marshall's Motorcycles

Welcome to Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly Podcast, Motos and Friends, brought to you by the Yamaha R7 – a new generation of supersport machine. 

On paper, the BMW M 1000 R is an absolutely spectacular machine. It’s the upright naked superbike version of the S 1000 R, with the motor from the track-focused S 1000 RR in a comfortable to ride package. In our first segment this week, Nic de Sena takes the M 1000 R on to the street and to the track, and he reports back on what all the fuss is about.   

00:39:34. Our snippet this week comes to you from the MV Agusta factory is Varese, Italy. As you may or may not know, KTM’s parent company—The Pierer Mobility Group—late last year acquired a significant stake in the fabled Italian racing brand that produces arguably the most beautiful motorcycles in the world. I spoke to three of the key players (Timur Sardarov, CEO; Luca Martin, COO; and Florian Kecht, CSO for KTM) in that partnership. I managed to get their take on exactly what PMG will bring to MV Agusta, how likely the company is to survive, and whether this is real—or just smoke and mirrors.

01:06:27. Our second segment, brings you Part 2 of Neale Bayly’s fascinating chat with iconic racer and 5-time Daytona 200 Winner, Scott ‘Mr Daytona’ Russell. The native Georgian of course needs no introduction, but in case you missed it, you can hear Part 1 of his interview ‘Scott Russell Unfiltered’ here. Neale and Scott have been friends for many years, and Scott opens up about the challenges he’s faced; the ups and downs of life after racing—after that unfortunate and horrendous crash at Daytona that ended his career. We’re happy to say that Scott is thriving now.    

So from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling—we hope you enjoy this episode!  

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Well, ‘tis the season to be jolly and all that, so in the first segment this week, we bring you a brief Gift Guide. Associate Editor Teejay Adams and I discuss several suggestions for that hard-to-buy-for motorcycle enthusiast you care for. Alternatively, if you hear of something you fancy and you figure you’re on Santa’s nice list—then maybe drop a little hint in the right place and make his job slightly easier.

The second segment is just plain cool. Well, to be more specific, Jeff Buchanan chats with Mert Lawwill about the King of Cool—Steve McQueen. That’s a little cryptic, so, to be more specific, it was 50 years ago this year that the most enduring motorcycle movie ever made was released: On Any Sunday. If you haven’t seen it, the documentary featured Mert Lawwill, Malcolm Smith, and Steve McQueen as the individual subjects.

Subscribe to RoadRUNNER magazine

McQueen's Motorcycles: Racing and Riding with the King of Cool

The Harley-Davidson Source Book

SportBike Chic Tank Purse™

Fanttik X8 Apex TIre Inflator

Backmate from Eric Bostrom

Badass Moto Gear Motorcycle Cover

Miss Moto MotoGirl Dungri Overalls: Ladies Riding Pants US$198

Sena +Mesh Review: Mesh Intercom Adapter for Legacy Sena Units

Dainese Men and Women D-Air® Smart Jacket

The Bad Editor by Peter Jones: Rider's Library Review

Kisan Electronics PathBlazer [Project Bike Headlight Modulator]

Joe Rocket Heartbreaker Boots: Women's Motorcycle Boots Review

Gary's 2021 Holiday Gift Guide for Ultimate Motorcyclists

50th-anniversary celebration release of "On Any Sunday"

Triumph with Steve McQueen connection sells at Bonhams Auction

On this week’s Motos & Friends we explore the theme of travel and touring. Our ‘Moto’ is Honda’s NC750X… a super user-friendly and incredibly versatile middleweight that won’t break the bank. Interestingly, with the addition of Honda’s luggage system, NC750X has a downright amazing amount of carrying capacity. The bike comes in both standard shift and DCT flavors, and Don Williams gives us his thoughts on the DCT—Dual Clutch Transmission—version.  

Our chat this week comes from long-time friend Neale Bayly. Neale and I have been fellow moto-journalists for approaching two decades, generally roaring around the globe testing the latest and greatest. All very cool and all that, but for those of you who have not heard of Neale, nor did you catch his TV show Neale Bayly Rides on either Speed when it was around, or on YouTube now, then hopefully you’ll find this conversation quite interesting. For those of you that have heard of this self-styled 'philanthropic adventurer', you’ll hear the genesis behind Neale’s true passion in life, raising money for his Wellspring Foundation, a charity based around motorcycling that raises money for both an orphanage in Peru, and subsequently for another in Africa.

If the mood takes you, you can contact Neale in one of several different ways below, and he’d love to hear from you. If you feel like taking a Neale Bayly Ride, or you just want to feed your soul a little and donate to Wellspring, then please check out the links below

Wellspring

Nealebaylyrides

2021 Honda NC750X DCT review

Hello everyone and welcome once again to Motos and Friends, brought to you by the spectacular Yamaha R7 – a new generation of supersport machine.

Nic de Sena recently spent the day in Malibu with the 2023 MV Agusta Dragster RR SCS America. This is the limited edition model with the lovely red white and blue livery. Nic takes us through his thoughts on the Dragster’s specs and ride, and also includes his thoughts on how the proprietary SCS automatic clutch works and fits into the Dragster persona.   

John Ulrich and his son Chris started the Roadracing World Action Fund non-profit in 2001, with the goal of buying air-fence rider protection for use around American racetracks. They have been spectacularly successful. One of their main ways to raise money is by having ex-Superbike Pro racer Chris, take guests on fun, two-up rides around the track at each round of the Moto America series in exchange for a donation—he’s raised over $60,000 so far. Teejay Adams got to experience this thrill ride of a lifetime at Brainerd Raceway, and she gives us her impressions of what it’s like to cling on for dear life at 160 miles per hour. Spoiler alert: She absolutely loved it. You can check out her on-board video on our YouTube Channel.

Donate to RWAF and check out the impressive list of Contributors.  

Check out RoadRacing World and Motorcycle Technology magazine.  

In our second feature segment, Cat McLeod of Leod Escapes comes back to chat with Teejay about traveling in Europe including some handy gear and packing tips. The always-lively and very entertaining Cat gives us the dos and don’ts of how to  travel and hopefully avoid making a fool of yourself when you’re embedded in a foreign-language (to us!) country.

So from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling—we hope you enjoy this episode!  

1. 1. 1. Police Gear
      2. Jupiter 4 Gortex  Half Boots
      3. Rolo Bag
      4. Exofficio Give & Go Underwear
      5. Collapsable Duffel Bags

AirTags

1. 1. Passort Airtag Holder
   2. Airtag Peel and Stick for inside your luggage

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Hello everyone and welcome once again to the Ultimate Motorcycling podcast—Motos and Friends. My name is Arthur Coldwells.

Motos and Friends is brought to you by the Yamaha YZF-R7—the comfortable supersport machine that is as capable on the racetrack as it is on the street. Check it out at at your local Yamaha dealer, or of course at YamahaMotorsports.com.

In this week’s first segment, Senior Editor Nic de Sena finally  gets to ride the Aprilia RS 660 at Laguna Seca no less—pretty much the perfect track environment for Aprilia’s brilliant middleweight sport bike.  However, having said that, everyone acknowledges that the RS660 an awesome motorcycle on the road—but it’s not a supersport machine, so could it be just a little out of its depth on the track?

In the second segment, I chat with another one of my good buddies and riding friends from Honda—Mike Snyder. Mike was in the marketing department at Honda for several years before he retired a couple years ago. His insights into a couple of the models and technologies developed during his tenure are interesting to hear. He’s also quite the rider himself—an ex-club racer who although he’s hung up his racing leathers, he’s now a guy who really enjoys his foreign touring exploits too.   

So, from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!

If you're interested to watch a quick video on the Honda RC213V-S on track, click here

Aprilia RS 660 Track Review 

Hello everyone and welcome once again to Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly Podcast -- Motos and Friends.  My name is Arthur Coldwells.

Motos and Friends is brought to you by the 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa. This legendary Sportbike is the quickest, most technologically advanced and aerodynamic Hayabusa ever. Head into your local Suzuki dealer now, or visit suzukicycles.com to learn more.

In this week’s first segment, Associate Editors Kelly Callan and Teejay Adams discuss the new Kawasaki KLX 230 ... but with a slightly different twist. This dual-sport actually comes in 2 other flavors than just the standard, neat trail bike we’ve seen before. Kelly has ridden the KLX230SM (Supermoto version), while Teejay got her first taste of off-road riding on the KLX230S model—that’s the one with the shorter seat height. There’s not much to dislike on these bikes, but the ladies discovered there are some differences that might intrigue you.  

In our second segment, Teejay chats with a good friend—Gary Pattee. This multi-talented father of five, worked as a top-level orthopedic surgeon for around 30 years until he stepped away recently. But there’s waaaay more to him than “just” that.  As if that wasn’t enough, Gary is an artist, a motorcycle aficionado who coaches at the Reg Pridmore Riding School, he's a magician, and even a drummer.

Teejay’s chat with him covers a whole spectrum. It’s a fascinating insight into a truly accomplished man who has seemingly endless drive to excel at everything he turns his hand to. He’s one of the good guys who manages to be modest and fun to be around too. Impressive stuff. 

So from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling and Motos & Friends, we hope you enjoy this episode.

This week brings you a V-twin extravaganza! Well… that’s a bit of an exaggeration of course, but suffice it to say that in the first segment Nic de Sena talks to us about Ducati’s new Streetfighter V2—the one based on the Panigale V-Twin, not the V4. The twin cylinder motor is to some people the very essence of Ducati, and the Streetfighter with the latest generation V-twin motor proves that Ducati is still very much committed to it.

I recorded the second segment on our recent trip to Queensland, Australia. As you may know, the original Brough Superior motorcycles were first manufactured in England in the 15 years or so before the outbreak of the second World War. At the time, the Brough was so exquisitely made that George Brough claimed them to be “the Rolls-Royce of motorcycles” and indeed, they really were. The Brough Superior name was purchased a few years ago, and a French design company developed a new version of the Brough based on the original ethos of innovation and spectacular quality. Serial production in very limited quantities started in 2016.

Fred Drake is the importer and distributor of Brough motorcycles in Australia, and I was fascinated to visit the Brisbane showroom and chat with him about the motorcycles that he has such passion for. I urge you to visit Fred’s website and take a look, you’ll find it at Brough Superior Australia. I promise you won’t be disappointed!  

Nic de Sena talks about the new Triumph Speed Triple, and we chat with Kaming Ko--the man who bought a Ducati GP-11 MotoGP bike!  Here are two videos. The first is starting the Ducati GP-11 with John Ethell at JETT Tuning, Camarillo, Calif. The second is Arthur riding the Ducati GP-11 for three laps at Buttonwillow Raceway, Calif. 

https://youtu.be/ZUMouha8G7w

https://youtu.be/tcyTukguiq0 

Enjoy!

Hello everyone and welcome once again to Motos and Friends, a weekly podcast brought to you by the editorial team at Ultimate Motorcycling. 

In this week’s first segment Editor Don Williams brings us his thoughts on Suzuki’s eagerly awaited GSX-S 1000 GT… that’s the sport touring version of the company’s upright naked sport bike. Don has just returned from a successful two-day, 750-mile round trip on the GT and it seems that overall, he was quite impressed by the bike.

The second segment is the final one in our series from Brisbane, Australia. Associate Editor Teejay Adams and myself chatted with motorcycle adventurer Rusty Mac about his guided outback touring company Australian Backroads Motorcycle Touring. Rusty has been taking all-comers on day-trips for many years, and has now branched out into overnight trips as well. So if you’re perhaps interested in riding some of Australia’s roads less traveled, then Rusty is the guy to show you the best places to visit, and have the best experience.

We hope you enjoy this episode!

Check out the Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ here

Rusty Mac and Australia Backroads Motorcycle Touring company website

Australian Backroads Motorcycle Touring Facebook page

The Motos and Friends Podcast is brought to you by Yamaha.

Have you seen the Yamaha MT-09, the ultimate Hyper Naked experience? Now this is a gift you’re really going to want to give yourself! The MT-09 is ready to dominate the streets with its aggressive styling, powerful CP3 engine, and advanced technology. The 890cc liquid-cooled three-cylinder engine delivers thrilling torque, exceptional fuel efficiency, and with its quick, precise handling and great brakes, the MT-09 absolutely delivers pure performance. The MT-09 comes with a full-color TFT display and intuitive switchgear so you can customize your ride with four different display themes. Make no mistake: The MT-09 is more than just a motorcycle; it's a stunning statement. With its aggressive styling, unmatched performance, and incredible handling, this is a real motorcycle that turns heads. Check out the MT-09 at your local dealer or at YamahaMotorsports.com

In this week’s first segment, Editor Don Williams tells us about the riding the new Honda Shadow Aero. This classic cruiser has been around for a long time, but it’s had a recent upgrade that’s worth mentioning. This uber-cool looking machine is incredible value for money, and yet it also provides that street-cred we all like too.

Capture the magic of life on two wheels with Insta360 X4, the most popular camera for motorcyclists today! There’s also the Insta360 Ace Pro2 action camera that comes with a Leica lens for a crystal clear picture. With the X4 you can shoot full 360-degree video in 8K resolution, and then choose any angle you want after your ride. It's incredible! From immersive POVs to unique, third-person shots of you and your bike, the X4 does it all. You'll get over 2 hours run time at 5.7K or you can plug it into your bike's USB port and go all day. It even doubles as a dash cam! It's totally waterproof, tough as nails, and incredibly easy to use. By the way, if you’re looking for the perfect gift for the motorcyclist in your life, you should check out the great promotion we’re running just in time for this Holiday Season! The first 30 purchasers that head to store.insta360.com and use the promo code MOTOSANDFRIENDS will bag a free $99 Motorcycle Kit plus a selfie stick.

In our second segment Neale Bayly chats with Jim Calandro. Jim started his motorcycle career when he was stationed in Germany many years ago, and after a number of years on several different bikes (including a Suzuki Gixxer 750) he started racing his RD400 Yamaha. We pick up Jim’s story when he started racing, and then went on to found the Ducati Club in Charlotte North Carolina, which organized track days, weekends away, a magazine, and a website. Jim’s accomplished moto career also included some coaching with Sport Bike Track Time. Neale’s chat with Jim is a fun look at the good times he’s had, thanks to his love of two-wheels.       

Oh and FYI… if you’re on iOS, you can listen to this podcast on the new Faidr App. That’s F-A-I-D-R, and it’s a new concept in podcasting.

We love your feedback! Please comment or suggest:

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Motos and Friends is brought to you by Yamaha and the Yamaha Tenere.

Discover the thrill of the open road with the 2024 Yamaha Tenere 700, the ultimate adventure bike designed to conquer any terrain. Whether you're chasing the next horizon on the highway, or blazing trails through the wilderness, the 2024 Yamaha Tenere 700 is your ticket to adventure. Learn more at Yamaha Motorsports.com and visit your Yamaha dealer to experience the thrill of the Tenere 700 for yourself.

Don Williams and Nic de Sena bring you this week’s first segment on the all new BMW F 900 GS. These new middleweight enduro-style bikes are a departure from the more traditional heavyweight ADV bikes and we’re seeing several of these appear on the market. Don tells us whether BMW goes far enough to compete with the likes of KTM and Husqvarna, or whether the F 900 GS doesn’t quite reach the mark.   

In our second segment this week, Neale Bayly chats with Dustin Nere. A few years ago, Dustin decided he’d had enough. So, he sold his house, quit his job, bought himself a Suzuki DR650, and headed off to South America to discover a life of adventure! Is this is the life we all secretly want… or will hearing Dustin’s take on travel be enough to satisfy our wanderlust for the time being?

We love your feedback! Please comment or suggest:

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In this week’s episode we hear about the Honda CRF300LS from Associate Editor Kelly Callan. It’s a dual-sport bike that is likely to interest entry-level or novice riders. However, it’s also capable enough that it may also appeal to intermediate and even experts who want to have some inexpensive fun.

In our product Snippet this week, Arthur Coldwells introduces you to the recently launched Cortech Lite gloves that have really got riders talking. Essentially, Cortech has utilized a new type of material that is both tough, yet also super-thin, to make 3 variations of a riding glove. He's a big fan of feel and feedback when riding, so he decided to try out a pair of Cortech Lites when on a recent tour round Tuscany with MotoCalifornia.

Our second segment features Mark ‘Thriller’ Miller. Mark’s electrifying 20-year professional racing career saw him race—and finish on the podium—at Macau; 46 starts at the Isle of Man TT; National factory racing during the AMA heyday; and even a stint endurance racing at the Bol d’Or 24 hours. Mark is now a commentator at the IOM event, and his easy style of narrative makes for fascinating listening. It belies his electrifying experiences that include surviving a shockingly fast crash at Ago’s Leap, as well as winning a TT riding the fabled Moto Czysz electric racebike.

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This week Teejay chats to Tyler Poppe. Tyler works on the TV show Mayans MC--and yet he doesn't ride an American V-Twin. Wassup with that?? Also, Arthur finds out from friend Mike Cardillo about his thoughts on the full-size version of the Kawasaki KLX 140R F trail bike.

Instagram: @tylerpoppe

GT Motocycles

Moto Guzzi V7 Stone, Ultimate Motorcycling First Look

Motos and Friends is brought to you by the awesome Yamaha YZF-R7. The comfortable supersport R7 is now available in white for 2022. Check out the gorgeous YZF-R7 at your local Yamaha dealer, or of course at YamahaMotorsports.com. 

In this week’s first segment, Senior Editor Nic de Sena gives us his impressions of the new Suzuki GSX-S1000 GT. Suzuki’s new sport-touring machine is clearly a lot more sport than touring, so I’m curious to hear whether Nic thinks the GT without the saddlebags is an improvement over the plus version with bags.

In the second segment we welcome the astonishing artist, Jack Armstrong. His story is as crazy as it gets,  and his zany stories would defy belief if they weren’t true.

Jack made friends with Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat in the new York art and music scene back in the day, and his work has sold for tens of millions of dollars. Yet Jack is also a hard-core motorcycle guy, and part of his journey inspired him to paint the Harley V-Rod—the so-named “Cosmic Starship” worth over 50 million dollars. A motorcycle as an art canvas; interesting idea.

While Armstrong’s art may take you out of your comfort zone, the energy of his work is apparent; they say the more you look at it, the more you become aware of the power behind the strokes and in the laying down of the paint.

The Cosmic Starship will have a different meaning to everyone. If it speaks to you, has made you think, or spurred you to talk about it, then the artist has tapped into your subconscious successfully. Interpret that as you will.

So whether you’re into art or not; whether you’re into the Harley V-Rod or not, Jack’s astonishing energy comes across in his chat. I found him to be a fascinating and very likable man. So sit back, and have some fun with this one.

https://www.themotorcyclebroker.co.uk/the-motorcycle-as-art/

https://www.thelifeofluxury.com/the-mona-lisa-of-motorcycles-50-million-art-trade-deal/ 

https://www.wikiart.org/en/jack-armstrong 

Hello everyone and welcome to Motos and Friends, brought to you by the Editors at Ultimate Motorcycling.  My name is Arthur Coldwells.

This week’s first segment is the 2024 Yamaha MT-09, one of the highest performing naked upright sportbikes out there. Senior Editor Nic de Sena recently returned from the launch of the all-new three-cylinder Yamaha, and it seems he was impressed.

Motos and Friends is brought to you by Arai helmets. If you’re into Dual-Sport, then you’ll want to check out the new Arai XD-5. It’s a completely redesigned helmet, and as with everything from Arai, every improvement is made with a priority for protection. One of the major changes is the new VAS-A visor system, derived from the one originally developed for the Corsair-X. The new visor is designed to maximize surface area to glance off impact energy whilst at the same time offering easy installation and removal of the visor and peak. 

Arai is obsessed with every detail—even those unseen. There is such a thing as “The Arai Difference”.   For instance, if your experience has been that helmets are hard to get on, then try the Arai Contour-X, designed with a wider bottom opening for easier on/off.  Once on, you will be impressed at the amazing comfort of the Contour-X, especially if you’re into long-distance touring.

So get to your local dealer and try out the full range of Arai helmets. You will be instantly amazed at the fit and all-day comfort of any Arai helmet. You should also check out AraiAmericas.com to learn more.

In our second segment this week, Teejay Adams chats with national-level Moto Trials rider and GasGas engineer Daniel Blancgonnet. Trials is an interesting discipline as although it is without doubt the slowest of all motorcycle sport, it is also arguably the hardest one to be really good at. Daniel gives us his interesting insight into what the sport is about, why he finds it so challenging, and what he really loves about it. Doing that while also working for the Pierer Mobility Group and GasGas at the same time just might be the perfect motorcycle career!     

So, from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode.

We love your feedback! Please comment or suggest:

  @ultimatemotorcycling

 @UltimateMotoMag

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 producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com

Hello everyone and welcome once again to Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly podcast, Motos and Friends. My name is Arthur Coldwells.

The new Kawasaki Z650RS is a retro styled middleweight that uses the company’s awesome mid-size 650 parallel twin motor. The 650RS with its emerald green bodywork and gold wheels is a direct homage to the original KZ650 from the 1970s, and it is one of the prettiest motorcycles available today.  Associate Editor Teejay Adams gives me her impressions of the 650RS having ridden it for a week in South Dakota last month. We were there just after the famous Sturgis rally had finished and enjoyed the incredible local roads and stunning scenery of the Black Hills.

In our second segment, Associate Editor Freeman Wood has just returned from his recent touring vacation from Germany and across the Italian Dolomite mountains, riding the new six-cylinder BMW K1600 GTL.

The Dolomites are arguably one of the most perfect locations in the world to try out one of the very best luxury touring motorcycles available today. Freeman chats with me about the two-up ride with his wife, the places they visited, and of course, how the bike handled the whole thing.  

We hope you ride safe, and enjoy this episode!  

Kawasaki Z650RS Sturgis the After-Party [Riding Uncrowded South Dakota] 

This week, Editors Don Williams and Nic de Sena discuss the latest addition to the Harley Icons Collection, the 2024 Harley-Davidson Hydraglide Revival. This beautiful new softail commemorates the 75th anniversary of the hydraulic telescopic fork debuting on a Harley-Davidson. Don rode the Hydraglide Revival with his usual enthusiasm for all of these Icons Collection bikes, and of course he answers the big question: does the Hydraglide ride as beautifully as it looks?  

Fair warning: The second segment this week is going to be controversial. Were you taught NOT to cover the brakes when riding? Were you taught NOT to brake on entry into a corner? Were you ‘coached out’ of new rider training because you didn’t grasp it quickly enough?

It seems that although new rider training is excellent in many regards, there are certain fundamentals being taught that are just plain wrong. At best, they’re causing recently new riders to leave the sport—and at worst, these incorrect fundamentals are costing lives.

This episode, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with several people who recently attended new rider training to get their take. The main discussion is led by Nick Ienatsch of Yamaha Champions Riding School, one of the several passionate voices trying to get things changed.

Whether you think you’ve been taught correctly or incorrectly, this segment will be of interest to you. We need training groups and indeed, the industry itself to get behind this movement to evolve and improve these significant points. We need those with a passion to ride motorcycles to stick with it, and not get put off and leave the sport. If you agree, please leave a comment on our social media or message us directly. Let’s get the word out and make a positive change!

We love your feedback! Please comment or suggest:

  @ultimatemotorcycling

 @UltimateMotoMag

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Freshly returned from the intro of the Suzuki GSX-S1000GX+, Senior Editor Nic de Sena gives us his thoughts on the new crossover bike from the big S. This is another sport-touring variant on the fantastic inline-four GSX-S1000 upright naked model, and although Suzuki have the really great GT+ in the lineup, this new GX+ now comes with semi-active electronic suspension and a comfortable riding position. So if you’re in the market for a sport-tourer, the GX+ is definitely another one to add to your list of possibles.

In our second segment this week, Editor-at-Large Neale Bayly chats with Laverda engineer, Keith Nairn. Based in Scotland, Keith is a highly specialized engine builder and tuner of these legendary Italian muscle machines. If you have need of Keith’s expertise, you’ll be able to contact him through his website at LaverdaScozia.co.uk.

So, from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling—we hope you enjoy this episode and of course, have a fabulous Holiday season!

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Hello everyone and welcome once again to Motos and Friends, brought to you by the spectacular Yamaha R7 – a new generation of supersport machine.

Harley-Davidson has just announced the latest CVO versions of its Street- and RoadGlide models. To say there have been major changes to these classic machines would be an understatement. Nic de Sena recently rode both motorcycles in Milwaukee and he gives us a run down on what has changed with each one, and his thoughts on whether you need to find around 45 grand to put one of these puppies in your garage.

This week’s snippet features the Alpinestars Tech Air 5 vest. Teejay Adams bumped into Aryan Fakoor at Southern California’s Rock Store who spent his own hard-earned money on the cutting edge technology of this safety under-garment.

In our second feature segment, Teejay Adams talks with Steve Piehl. Steve has had a long and interesting career marketing in the motorcycle industry, and currently works for the Tucker range of brands. 

So from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling—we hope you enjoy this episode!  

The Motos & Friends Podcast is brought to you by the Yamaha YZF-R7. The R7 is a brilliant supersport machine that is also comfortable. Now there’s an idea! Check it out at YamahaMotorsports.com, or you can see it for yourself at your local Yamaha dealer.

This Podcast is also brought to you by the new Schuberth C5 modular helmet. The flip-up C5 is light and it blends safety with amazing quietness. Visit Schuberth.com for more information.

This week, in the first segment Senior Editor Nic de Sena talks to us about the new Ducati Scrambler Icon Dark. This somewhat entry-level machine still comes with all the great Ducati hallmarks of excellent low down torque and impeccable handling. If you like to hear about fun motorcycles, then you’ll enjoy this one.

In the second segment, Editor-at-Large Neale Bayly brings us another of his interviews, this time it’s with Chip Doherty.

Chip’s amazing resume includes motorcycle racer, restorer and collector. Back in the early 2000s he used his engineering background to start motorcycle clothing manufacturer Motophoria.

After selling that company in 2007, Chip’s resume gained him entry to NASA where for 7 years he was responsible for launching the space shuttle!  Since moving on from NASA, Chip expanded his collection of classic British bikes. Eventually Neale persuaded him to ride to Peru and help Neale’s Wellspring Foundation raise money for the orphanage there.

So, from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!

Neale Bayly's Wellspring Foundation always appreciates donations. Just $5 will help feed an orphan. 

2022 Ducati Scrambler Icon Dark Review

Hello everyone and welcome once again to Motos and Friends—the weekly Podcast brought to you by the editorial team at Ultimate Motorcycling.

My name is Arthur Coldwells.

In this week’s first segment, Senior Editor Nic de Sena rides the much anticipated Yamaha MT-10 SP. That’s the model with the Ohlins semi-active suspension. It’s only been available in Europe for the last couple of years, but finally the good news is, that it’s coming to America. The big question is, whether the extra 3k you’re going to have to pony up for the Ohlins is actually worth it, or perhaps there’s just not that much improvement over the stock KYB suspension that has suited the Yamaha MT-10 so well until now?       

In the second segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with Val Collins. Val grew up on motorcycles and learned to love speed, however her real love is Formula 1 tunnel-boat racing. These are the guys and gals that are strapped into a tiny cockpit and then hurtle down the straights at 120 mile per hour and pull 5G in the corners. We attended the recent season finale in Lake Havasu and watched our friend Mike Quindazzi try to take the win. Val chats with Teejay about her love for two-wheels and tunnel-boats. Yeah, it’s crazy stuff.

From all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode and have a great Thanksgiving Holiday!

Lake Havasu F1 heat race

Buckshot Racing Facebook

Valerie's Art Gallery

Hello everyone and welcome to this week’s Motos and Friends—a weekly podcast from Ultimate Motorcycling and brought to you by the all new Suzuki Hayabusa. Widely regarded as the Ultimate Sportbike, the third-generation Hayabusa by Suzuki melds two generations of refinement, resulting in the quickest, most technologically advanced and aerodynamic Hayabusa yet. Head into your local Suzuki dealer now, or visit suzukicycles.com to learn more.

My name is Arthur Coldwells.

This week Associate Editor Kelly Callan talks to Teejay and myself about the brilliant BMW G 310 R. Kelly was commuting on it recently, but found she so enjoyed riding the BMW that she ended up taking it on some fun rides at the weekend too.

In the second segment I chat with Bryan Carroll, the idea and producer of the hit documentary Why We Ride from a few years back. Bryan is a successful TV and film producer, and not surprisingly, he has evolved his much acclaimed Why We Ride project into a much bigger idea—visit it at Motovational.org and you’ll see The annual Ride to the Quail, plus a whole lot more. Motovational recently raised over $20,000 for the Ride for Kids pediatric brain tumor foundation, and as you might assume, Bryan hasn’t stopped there.

I hope you enjoy this episode!     

This week we step it up a bit in the horsepower stakes, taking a look at Aprilia’s new Tuono for 2022. Nic de Sena had a chance to ride both models around the roads of Southern California. They’re a little different from each other for 2022, and the choice to re-focus one of the Tuonos is an interesting one.

In the second segment I chat with an old friend of mine—Dave Donald. He’s been a friend of mine for… yikes… around 20 years—and he’s been riding for way longer than that. Dave has always been good for a laugh, and in this episode he doesn’t disappoint.  

So settle in, check out the chats, and please send us your feedback if you feel like it. I hope you enjoy this episode!   

In this week’s first segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams headed off to Oceanside to try out the all new Kawasaki Eliminator. This cruiser-style motorcycle is perhaps a little more Pro Street than cruiser, and Teejay gives us her take on who this motorcycle is aimed at, and how it performed.  

In the second segment, Teejay chats with Dale Schmidtchen. Dale has been around racing and the motorcycle industry for several decades now, and he has the inside track on some interesting stuff. He recently moved to Thailand for work, but has clearly fallen in love with the country and its people. Sure, we’ve all heard about the bars and nightspots, and the amazing beaches, but there’s a lot more to Thailand than just those. The motorcycle culture and especially racing is absolutely enormous in Thailand, and Dale’s stories about the country and its sights make the place sound very appealing indeed.  

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Motos and Friends is brought to you by the Yamaha R7, your gateway to a new generation of supersport machine.

In our first segment, Senior Editor Nic de Sena rides the new Ducati Monster SP. This is the super-duper very tricked out version of the new Monster—it has all the cool stuff including full Öhlins suspension. It’s a pricey moto for sure and that almost puts it into its own class in the upper-middleweight range.

In our second segment, I chat with film Writer, Producer and Director, Mark Neale. Mark is the guy who wrote and directed the series of movies covering MotoGP from the early 2000s on. The series started with the iconic documentary, ‘Faster’, and ended with ‘Hitting The Apex’ in 2015. Brad Pitt narrated that one, and indeed, he had a vital hand in getting it finished.

[View Official Trailer YouTube]

Interestingly, the movie is still relevant now, some 8 years later, and Mark’s stories of how the movie came to be, and his interactions with the people and riders involved make for some entertaining listening.    

So, from all of us here at Motos and Friends—we hope you enjoy this episode!

If you want to find out more about luxury motorcycle tours around Italy check out MotoCalifornia.com

We love your feedback! Please send us your comments and suggestions at producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com   and if you like Motos & Friends, hit the Subscribe button!

Welcome to Motos and Friends, Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly Podcast brought to you by the spectacular Yamaha R7 – a new generation of supersport machine.

Teejay Adams is not very experienced when it comes to riding off-road, so she was the perfect rider to go try out the new entry-level Honda XR150L, and indeed, she rode it both on the street and in the dirt as well. I was curious as to what she would think, as on the face of it, this incredibly inexpensive machine is very attractive, but let’s be honest here, is it a real motorcycle, or is it just too underpowered and lightweight to be of use in the real world?   

20m:27s

Our Snippet this week comes to you from Alpinestars. The iconic Italian apparel manufacturer has an impressively large range of product, and as great as that is, it also may make it difficult to pick out what you might want.  Recently I wore some A’Stars streetbike gear that impressed me, and Teejay sampled some of the Alpinestars off-road range of items that she liked.

31m:42s

In our second segment, Teejay Adams chats with Somer Hooker, he’s an expert in the world of vintage motorcycles and the chief judge at the Quail Motorcycle Gathering, and many others including the Salon Prive at Blenheim Palace, in the UK. He is the author of many articles which have been published in classic motorcycle magazines, and he has worked in residential therapeutic programs for children and youth, as well as helped establish the first residential program for autistic children in Tennessee.

So from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling—we hope you enjoy this episode!  

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The Yamaha name stands for a heritage of motorcycle performance and classic styling. Visit your local dealer to find the 2023 Yamaha sport heritage bike for you or go to YamahaMotorsports.com to find out more.

This week, Associate Editor Kelly Callan rides the new Honda SCL500. This neo-scrambler is essentially a freshly styled model using Honda’s tried n’ true 471cc parallel twin motor. This is inexpensive motorcycling on a cool-looking bike, and Kelly tells us whether the scrambler is actually worthy of the Honda brand name.

In our second segment, Arthur gets to chat with one of his buddies—“Fast” Frankie Garcia. Riding for the highly professional Saddlemen Bagger racing team, Frankie got his first motorcycle—literally—since before he could walk.  Now he’s racing in the sensational Moto America, Mission King of the Baggers series, and in the first race he finished on the podium. Frankie’s story with its ups and downs, tells the story of what it’s like to try and earn a living from motorcycle racing. If you’re curious as to what it takes to get a racing Bagger on to the grid, what helps make them so fast, and what it’s like to actually ride one, then you’re going to enjoy hearing what Frankie has to say.

Instagram: @frankiegarcia24 

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This week, Senior Editor Nic de Sena has just returned from the sunny South Africa launch of the new Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition. There are a host of upgrades from the standard Norden 901, and Nic gives us his thoughts on those, and how they affect the bike’s overall performance off-road and on. 

You must be familiar with the iconic Suzuki Hayabusa, one of the most exciting sportbikes ever made. For 2023, the Hayabusa is even faster, and the most technologically advanced version ever. Visit suzukicycles.com to learn more, or of course get down to your local Suzuki dealer and check it out in person. Pictures do NOT do it justice!

In our second segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with Joe Begelfer. Joe was born in the Ukraine back when it was part of the old USSR, and he came to the US with his parents as a small child. Joe’s passion is for vintage and classic BMW boxer-twin motorcycles, and his collection includes some rare birds indeed. Joe is a real rider, and every one of the bikes in his collection is a real rider too. Joe’s prodigious knowledge and infectious enthusiasm about these quirky, older machines is fun to listen to. So from all of us here at Motos and Friends—we hope you enjoy this episode!

We love your feedback! Please send us your comments and suggestions at producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com   and if you like Motos & Friends, hit the Subscribe button!

The Motos and Friends Podcast is brought to you by Yamaha.

Introducing the Yamaha MT-09, the ultimate Hyper Naked experience. With its aggressive styling, powerful CP3 engine, and advanced technology, the MT-09 is ready to dominate the streets. Feel the raw power of the MT-09's 890cc liquid-cooled three-cylinder engine. Delivering thrilling torque and exceptional fuel efficiency, this machine is built for performance. Experience the future of Hyper Naked technology with the MT-09's five-inch full-color TFT display and intuitive switchgear. Customize your ride with four different display themes and navigate effortlessly through the controls. The MT-09 is more than just a motorcycle; it's a statement. With its aggressive styling and unmatched performance, it's ready to turn heads and dominate the streets. Discover the MT-09. Learn more at YamahaMotorsports.com

If you’re on iOS, you can listen to this podcast on the new Faidr App a new concept in podcasting.

In this week’s first segment, Editors Don Williams and Nic de Sena tell us about the 2024 BMW R 12 nineT. With the standard R 12 taking on the job as a sporty cruiser for urban dwellers, this version of the model looks to satisfy more performance-oriented customers. Don put plenty of miles on the new R 12 nineT up and down California and he tells us all about it.

For the Snippet this episode, we’d like you hear more about the amazing action cameras from Insta360.  I asked Adam Stringer from Insta360 to tell us his take on why their cameras are so popular with motorcycle riders, and to let us know what’s new from the company. Oh yes… and don’t forget, the first 30 purchasers who use the promo code MOTOSANDFRIENDS, will bag a free Motorcycle Kit plus selfie stick! Those are worth $99 with any Insta360 X4 purchase. So head to store.insta360.com and get yours now.

In our second segment Teejay Adams has a chat with Ed Milich, a life-long motorcycle rider, and a mechanical engineer for over two decades. He is now a consultant and expert witness supporting legal clients on motorcycle and vehicle-related subjects. Ed is a championship-winning motorcycle racer and fabricator, and has won races at Daytona, Willow Springs, Laguna Seca, Miller Motorsports Park, Barber Motorsports Park, and numerous other venues on motorcycles of his own construction and design. In the good ole print days, Ed was a regular contributor to several magazines including Motorcyclist, American Historic Racing Motorcycle Magazine, and the Moto Guzzi National Owners Magazine.

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Hello everyone and welcome once again to the Ultimate Motorcycling weekly Podcast—Motos and Friends. My name is Arthur Coldwells.

Moto Guzzi just launched the new V100 Mandello S and Senior Editor Nic de Sena went to the event in Italy. The hallowed Italian marque has radically redesigned its flagship motor—while managing to keep its iconic v-twin look. There are some big changes though, and not just to the motor; the new Guzzi looks fast and sporting. Nic gives us his thoughts and tells us whether the new Guzzi actually delivers on its considerable promise.

In our second segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with artist Karl Hoffman. We recently met Karl at his Art Gallery H in the small, historic town of Tubac, Arizona. Karl’s life journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, and of course it has involved motorcycles pretty much all the way.

As a painter and jewelry designer, Karl’s fine art and spectacular jewelry is absolutely spellbinding—as an artist herself, Teejay spent a long time talking to him and admiring the fruit of his considerable talents. His life story was so compelling she decided on the spot that she’d like to share it with you. This is the first part of two.

So from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!

Art Gallery H in Tubac, AZ (video)

Artist Karl Hoffman with Teejay Adams

Moto Guzzi Mandello S

This week, is big mileage themed. Ultimate Motorcycling magazine Editor Don Williams chats to us about the 2021 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT. This is Yamaha’s sport-touring take on the brilliant, much loved three-cylinder MT-09. Don gets to ride a lot of motorcycles, and he’s not short of an opinion on this bike.

In the second segment, Associate Editor Teejay talks to custom builder and filmmaker, John Tagley about his custom build style, and a new venture he’s taking on next week. We’ll bring him back in a few weeks to see how he got on!

Anyway, we hope you enjoy this episode!   

MODS TO MODERNIZE A CHOLO SOFTAIL

John Tagley J.E.T.Film Instagram 

John Tagley Facebook 

2021 Yamaha 9 GT Tacer Fast Facts

In this week’s first segment, Senior Editor Nic de Sena tells all about the Aprilia RS 660 Trofeo. The fabled Italian racing marque has produced a track-only version of its excellent streetbike, and Nic gave it a good thrashing around Laguna Seca recently. Even if you’re not a track junkie, you’ll find this to be an interesting take on an already really good machine.   

In the second segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with teen racing sensation Kayla Yaakov.  Kayla made a name for herself in the smaller classes as she was growing up, but having just turned 16 a few weeks ago, she was able to move up a class and race 600 Supersport for Tytler’s Racing at the last Moto America race of this year. In case you’re thinking this may be hype—she finished on the podium in 3rd place, having started the race 13th on the grid. That’s a heck of an accomplishment for a first race in the most competitive class of them all. Teejay chats with Kayla about growing up and where it all started.     

From all of us here at Motos & Friends… we hope you enjoy this episode!

Kayla Yaakov Facebook

Kayla Yaakov Instagram 

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Hello everyone and welcome once again to Motos and Friends—Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly Podcast… My name is Arthur Coldwells.

In this week’s first segment, Associate Editor Kelly Callan tells about her take on BMW’s upper middleweight ADV-style bike, the BMW F 900 XR with Premium package. The smaller, much less expensive sibling to the awesome 1000 XR could easily be overlooked on the showroom floor, so Kelly gives us her take on whether it would be worth your time, if you’re in the market for this type of moto. 

In the second segment I chat with Ricki Marenghi.  He’s the service manager at Wheels in Motion, a dealership in Chatsworth California. Of course he’s crazy busy, but he still manages to ride his various motorcycles 24/7, on the street, the track and off-road too. Ricki’s an absolute hoot to talk to. He’s an energetic young guy with a truly positive vibe, and a magic sense of humor, so we had a good time and laughed a lot. I’m sure you’ll enjoy hearing his stories.   

So, from all of us here at Motos & Friends… we hope you enjoy this episode!

BMW F 900 XR Kelly Callan Review

This week’s first segment is brought to you by Editor Don Williams who recently rode the new 2024 Yamaha Tenere 700. Although the Tenere has been around for some time now, unusually, Don never quite managed to get the chance to ride one. So he looks at the Tenere and it’s updates for 2024 from a fresh perspective. The big question is whether the Tenere is getting too long in the tooth to maintain its place in the market, or is it a really good, mature motorcycle that absolutely deserves to be on your shopping list?   

In our second segment this week, I chat with my friend Heath Cofran, the US Communications Lead for Alpinestars, the innovative safety company that we’re all so familiar with. Heath chats about some of the upcoming ideas from the company; the Tech-Air safety system and its development; and the really interesting new Supertech R10 helmet that was just launched last year and worn for the first time by Jorge Martin and Jack Miller in MotoGP.

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Associate Editor Teejay Adams recently attended the Yamaha Champions Riding School in Las Vegas, and she took with her the Yamaha XSR900 that she’s been riding for a while. This is the retro-style version of the MT-09, and Teejay gives us her impressions of the bike, including her thoughts versus the XSR700 that she rode previously.

The guest segment of Motos and Friends is brought to you by the faster and most technologically advanced, 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa—one of the most iconic sportbikes ever. Check it out in person at your local Suzuki dealer now, or visit suzukicycles.com to learn more.

In our second segment, Teejay chats with Cait Maher, a contributing journalist at motorcycle.com and owner of a Yamaha TW200. The two ladies met at the recent launch of Kawasaki’s dual sport KLX230s. Teejay is a total novice off-road. Cait however, although quite experienced in the dirt including her recent venture on the District 37 Barstow to Las Vegas dual-sport ride, still doesn’t consider herself an expert. Both of these girls have a positive, upbeat attitude, and their fun, energetic outlook shines through. Cait is definitely a give-it-a-go type of personality. Her take on the various challenges, experiences and adventures that she’s had make for fun listening.

In the first segment this week, Associate Editor Jess McKinley—freshly returned from the launch in Spain—gives us the low down on BMW’s all-new 1300 GS. This highly anticipated new version of the quintessential ADV bike that arguably invented the category, has now been radically changed. Jess tells us what the remarkable new GS is like to actually ride, both on- and off-road.

This week’s Snippet features the Moto-Girl Lara Cargo pants that TeeJay has been wearing recently. Regular listeners will know that Teejay is a big fan of the UK company MotoGirl gear, and so she talks with distributor Amanda Phoenix of Peak Moto Gear, about the new Lara Cargo pants, and why they might work for you.

In our second segment this week, Associate Editor Jonathan Handler talks to us about his latest acquisition—the all-new Schuberth S3 helmet. Schuberth have a reputation for stellar quality, and of course the S3 exemplifies that. However Jonathan brings us up to speed on the rest of the standout features of the S3, and why you should definitely consider one as your next helmet.   

So from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling—we hope you enjoy this episode! 

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Have you seen the Sport Heritage range of Yamahas? They are the classically styled performance motorcycles taking the US by storm. I’ve been riding the gorgeous-looking Yamaha XSR900 and its great looks are more than backed up by its phenomenal performance. Visit YamahaMotorsports.com to find out more about the exciting Heritage line, or check it out for yourself at your local dealer today.

Editor Don Williams is a dirt-bike nut. He rode competitive Trials for over 30 years, and he and his wife ride every weekend—and sometimes more—on every type of off-road machine they can lay their hands on. Interestingly, he’s never had the chance to ride a Grand National Cross Country off-road race course, but recently he finally had the chance to do so. As a guest of KTM, Don was able to sample the range of KTM Cross Country XC models, and in this first segment he tells us about the differences he found, as well as the thrill of riding a full GNCC course for the first time.      

In our second segment, Teejay Adams chats with a couple of adventure-seeking Aussies. Stu and Janell and their three dogs, have been riding all over the world for the last ten years—and visited 108 countries—aboard their two BMW 650 GS adventure motorcycles. Calling themselves “The Pack Track” their adventures are chronicled on their blog. Teejay gets the lowdown on some of their experiences—good and bad—and the challenge of crossing borders with canines along for the ride. Actually, they will be touring the USA from June to October this year, starting in Sacramento, California, before making their way across to the North East part of the US, and then finishing back in Dallas, Texas where they first started. On the tour they will be giving free presentations at a number of motorcycle dealerships, so check out their schedule and hopefully get along to meet them in person.   

So, from everyone here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode.

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Motos and Friends is powered by the Yamaha R7. The R7 part of Yamaha’s R World, and the R7 is your gateway to a new generation of supersport machine.

In our first segment, Editor Don Williams takes to the urban streets on Royal Enfield’s new Hunter 350. This is not an ADV bike as the name might imply, it’s targeted at the city rider and powered by the company’s single-cylinder 350 motor that also powers a couple of other models too. Don gives us his impressions on whether the Hunter’s modest price is reflected in the quality of this new bike.  

In our second segment, Editor-at-Large Neale Bayly chats with Drew Alexander. Drew has spent his career as parts manager for both Bob’s BMW and Battley’s BMW dealerships in Maryland, and indeed he’s now returned to Bob’s famous dealership. But Drew is a lot more than that. He’s President of his local BMW club; on the board of the national BMW Riders Association, and he's hosting the upcoming rally in West Virginia in September.

So, from all of us here at Motos and Friends—we hope you enjoy this episode!

We love your feedback! Please send us your comments and suggestions at producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com   and if you like Motos & Friends, hit the Subscribe button!

This week, Editors Don Williams and Nic de Sena discuss the 2025 Triumph Daytona 660. The all-new middleweight triple stands out amongst the well-established parallel twins in the class—and it does it for an exceptional price. 

In the second segment this week I chat with the three founders of Moto-Cyco Touring Adventures. Pat Campbell, Greg Mason, and Scott Urwick want to share their passion for themed guided tours throughout what they believe is the best place in the United States to ride—New England.  

All three guys (and their wives!) are serious motorcycle enthusiasts with more than three-and-a-half decades of combined riding experience. They have led safe, organized group rides for over 10 years and collectively, they average more than 50,000 miles of riding every year.

The themed rides sound spectacular, and after hearing their story I believe you will feel the same. I hope you will consider joining them on one of their rides.   

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Welcome to Motos and Friends, Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly Podcast brought to you by the spectacular Yamaha R7 – a new generation of supersport machine. 

MV Agusta is one of the truly storied names in motorcycling, and the heritage of the Italian brand is evident in every one of its spectacular machines. Recently I had the opportunity to ride the Brutale 1000RR in Italy, and I was able to chat with Teejay Adams about the machine. As it happens, she is the owner of an MV Agusta herself. Her ride is a 2019 Brutale 800 RC. That’s the Limited Edition super-sporting version of the Brutale 800 that comes with an SC Project full titanium pipe and separate ECU. These incredible machines are billed by MV Agusta as ‘Motorcycle Art”. Teejay and I pass our thoughts on and whether we agree with that sentiment.   

00h:17m:07s

Associate Editor Neil Wyenn brings us our Snippet this week. Lately he’s been trying out the Sena Impulse modular helmet with the built-in comms system, and he gives us his thoughts on that.  

00h:27m:15s 

In our second feature segment, Editor-at-Large Neale Bayly chats with legendary moto-journalist Mat Oxley. Mat’s incredible MotoGP reporting resume is made even more credible by own seriously accomplished racing pedigree. He’s won at the Club and Endurance levels, and he’s competed and won at the Isle of Man TT as well. During his long journalism career, he’s got to know the legends incredibly well. Guys like Mick Doohan, Kenny Roberts, Valentino Rossi, and even older riders like Gary Nixon, have all been written about by Mat. So if you’re interested in what it’s like to be a moto-journalist and a career MotoGP guy, the Mat will fill in the blanks. For those of you with a sensitive disposition, I should warn you that there’s some salty language in this chat.    

So from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling—we hope you enjoy this episode!  

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Hello everyone and welcome to Motos and Friends, a Podcast brought to you by the editorial team at Ultimate Motorcycling. My name is Arthur Coldwells.

Motos and Friends is brought to you by the Yamaha YZF-R7—the amazing supersport machine that is comfortable too. Check it out at at your local Yamaha dealer, or of course at YamahaMotorsports.com.

In this week’s first segment, Senior Editor Nic de Sena rides the gorgeous new MV Agusta F3 RR on the track, and in the canyons. The MV Agusta is an exotic machine with a rarified price tag—is it art, or does it actually deliver the goods? Hmm… Nic gives us his thoughts.

The second part of this Podcast is brought to you by Editor-at-Large Neale Bayly who is reporting from the Ukraine war zone.

In this segment, Neale introduces us to world motorcycle traveler, Anna Grechishkina. Anna is herself Ukranian, and somewhat naturally, felt the need to curtail her travels and head back to her homeland—and into the war zone—to help with the horrendous humanitarian crisis that has developed.

Please follow Anna on her social media, either Anna Grechishkina on Facebook or @anna_grechishkina on Instagram.

From all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!

Ukraine Aid - want to donate ?

MV Augusta F3 RR (16 Fast Facts)

Hello everyone and welcome once again to Motos and Friends, the weekly Podcast brought to you by the editorial team at Ultimate Motorcycling. My name is Arthur Coldwells.

Motos and Friends is brought to you by the 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa. Head into your local Suzuki dealer now, or visit suzukicycles.com to learn more.

The new 120th Anniversary Harleys have been announced today, and in this week’s first segment Editor Don Williams takes us through the exciting updates to four models. The hero is probably the latest RoadGlide CVO with its spectacular 120th livery and badging.  

In our second segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with celebrated artist and philanthropist, Andrew Hewkin.

Andrew chats about his life of unusual coincidences which have taken him on an unexpected and entertaining journey. Traveling through more than one hundred countries, Andrew captured the flavor and essence of the world. He takes us through a few of his hair-raising stories of travel and intrigue that he has expressed visually through over fifty years of his art.

He is a regular contributor to Childline Rocks in his capacity as Cultural Attaché for the Sons of Royalty annual motorcycle ride, and paintings of Cuba, Marrakech, Mexico, and most recently Kerala in Southern India, have been auctioned off for the charity. His work has also contributed to ‘The Princes Trust’, ‘Heart on my Sleeve’, ‘Fight for Sight’, ‘Cancer Trusts’ and many others.

Andrew is a supremely talented, kind, and fascinating man.

So, from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!

Andrew’s biography “Before the Paint Dries…” is available on his website AndrewHewkin.com

Facebook Andrew Hewkin

Instagram @andrew_hewkin

Motos and Friends is brought to you by the new Schuberth E2 helmet. The Schuberth E2 is endless adventure!

In the first segment this week, Editor Don Williams brings you his impressions on the Kawasaki Ninja 650. The middleweight Ninja is a nice machine with a peppy motor; it’s super-easy to handle. The new Ninja now comes with Traction Control as well as ABS, making this bike even more suited to novice riders.

In the second segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with Michael Battaglia. Michael owned a Ducati dealership in Arizona until he sold it just before the pandemic hit. He now works for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation's Ride for Kids, the longest running national motorcycle charity program, with many events across the country. For over 30 years, the motorcycling community has helped families facing the deadliest childhood disease.”

Learn more about Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation…curethekids.org Donate or Get involved and Ride for Kids For more info on upcoming events and to get involved email:

Michael Battaglia Facebook.com/rideforkids Instagram: @rideforkids

We love your feedback! Please send us your comments and suggestions at producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com   and if you like Motos & Friends, hit the Subscribe button!

Hello everyone and welcome to Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly Podcast—Motos and Friends. My name is Arthur Coldwells.

We really appreciate you listening to our sponsors’ ads—this podcast would not exist without their—and of course your—support.  

This week’s Podcast is brought to you by Yamaha motorcycles. Filling the gap between the entry-level R3, and the flagship superbike R1, Yamaha’s YZF-R7 is a brilliant supersport machine that provides real performance—perfectly balanced with rider comfort. Check it out at YamahaMotorsports.com, or of course you can see it for yourself at your local Yamaha dealer.

This Podcast is also brought to you by the new, state-of-the-art Schuberth C5. The modular C5 is a flip up design that blends safety with amazing quietness within its compact, light weight design. Visit Schuberth.com for more information.

This week, Editor Don Williams tells us all about the new Indian Pursuit. This high performance full-dresser features Indian’s powerful liquid-cooled v-twin engine that spools up quickly and smoothly. If you’re a performance rider who likes full-dresser luxury—then you’re probably going to want to hear what Don has to say.    

In the second segment Associate Editor and Podcast producer Teejay Adams chats to Loren Turnbull. She’s one of the moderators at the respected East Coast Female Riders group in Australia—you can find it on Facebook—and has just started her own digital Motorcycle magazine for ladies, called Girl Moto Media.

Loren chats with Teejay about her experience riding in Thailand’s northwest corner. The famed Mae Hong Son loop is an unbelievably spectacular, ride through mist-covered mountain passes and steamy jungles. Loren and her partner rented a couple of Yamahas and rode the nearly two thousand corners that make up the almost 400-mile long, 4-day ride.

From all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!

Welcome the Motos and Friends Podcast from Ultimate Motorcycling, brought to you by Yamaha.

Introducing the Yamaha MT-09, the ultimate Hyper Naked experience. With its aggressive styling, powerful CP3 engine, and advanced technology, the MT-09 is ready to dominate the streets. Feel the raw power of the MT-09's 890cc liquid-cooled three-cylinder engine. Delivering thrilling torque and exceptional fuel efficiency, this machine is built for performance. Experience the future of Hyper Naked technology with the MT-09's five-inch full-color TFT display and intuitive switchgear. Customize your ride with four different display themes and navigate effortlessly through the controls. The MT-09 is more than just a motorcycle; it's a statement. With its aggressive styling and unmatched performance, it's ready to turn heads and dominate the streets. Discover the MT-09. Learn more at YamahaMotorsports.com

In this week’s first segment, Editors Don Williams and Nic de Sena tell us about the incredibly versatile KTM 890 SMT. Could this bike be an all-rounder? Every rider will see its strengths differently. The SM part stands for Supermoto, however the T actually means touring—and you’re not touring when you’re riding supermoto …or can you? There are even more uses for the SMT that aren’t revealed in the three-letter designation, so Don and Nic push the starter button, and bring the LC8c parallel twin to life.

Capture the magic of life on two wheels with Insta360 X4, the most popular camera for motorcyclists today! Shoot full 360-degree video in 8K resolution, then choose any angle you want after your ride. It's incredible! From immersive POVs to unique, third-person shots of you and your bike, Insta360 X4 does it all. You'll get over 2 hours run time at 5.7K or plug it into your bike's USB port and go all day. It's totally waterproof, tough as nails, and incredibly easy to use. It even doubles as a dash cam! To bag a free Motorcycle Kit plus selfie stick worth $99 with any Insta360 X4 purchase, head to store.insta360.com and use the promo code MOTOANDFRIENDS, available for the first 30 purchases only.

In our second segment Teejay Adams chats with lady-racer Holly Varey. You may know that Holly was one of the competitors in Royal Enfield’s brilliant BTR racing series in 2022 and 2023, and in the final race she finished on the podium. But there’s a lot more to Holly’s racing and she also wrenches and competes in several different AHRMA historic racing classes on a variety of machinery. Teejay caught up with Holly after the recent Barber Vintage Festival at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL. Holly is very articulate and descriptive, so it’s fascinating to hear her talk about how she got started, what motivates her, and about some of the awesome motorcycles she’s ridden along the way.

Holly Varey: Instagram | Facebook 

Royal Enfield BTR: Instagram | website 

Vintage Road Racing Association: Instagram | website

AHRMA: Instagram  | website

We love your feedback! Please comment or suggest:

  @ultimatemotorcycling

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Hello everyone and welcome to the Motos and Friends Podcast, brought to you by Yamaha.

Discover the thrill of the open road with the 2024 Yamaha Tenere 700, the ultimate adventure bike designed to conquer any terrain. The Tenere 700 has a powerful 689cc liquid-cooled, inline twin-cylinder engine, delivering adrenaline-pumping performance for both on-road cruising and off-road exploration. It's built for the bold; ready to tackle gravel, dirt, or pavement with equal confidence. With a lightweight chassis and long-travel suspension, every ride feels effortless, offering agility and stability in every twist and turn. Plus, adjustable suspension means you can tailor the ride to suit your adventure style. Learn more at YamahaMotorsports.com and visit your Yamaha dealer to experience the thrill of the Tenere 700 for yourself.  

Honda’s legendary engineering prowess has led to many innovations over the years. Not least, Honda was the first company to come up with a seamless transmission in MotoGP, and of course we’re now seeing the incredible Dual Clutch Transmission on several models, the favorite of mine being the outstanding Gold Wing touring bike. Well now we’re seeing something very different again. The new Honda CBR- and CB650R models are now equipped with Honda’s all-new E-clutch technology. This automates the clutch operation with computer-controlled electronic assistance—while still allowing the rider to use the clutch manually if they want to! This amazing innovation will especially appeal to new riders, but clearly it could be fitted to just about any of the Honda range too. Nic de Sena has ridden using the new e-clutch, and he and Don discuss the pros and cons.

In our second segment this week, Teejay Adams chats with Mark Long of the relatively new Driven to Ride podcast that shares the stories of motorcyclists from all walks of life. Mark came to podcasting via radio, so he’s a genuine professional in the audio world, and as an avid motorcycle rider, it seems like a natural fit to have him around in the motorcycle audio business. Mark explores his life-changing experiences on two wheels, with one of his first ventures to the iconic Sturgis motorcycle rally in the Black Hills of South Dakota. If you haven’t listened to Driven to Ride, then you really should. Anything we can all do to help bring more enthusiasts to motorcycling has to be a good thing!

By the way, if you’re into Dual-Sport riding, then should check out the new Arai XD-5. It’s completely redesigned, and typical Arai, every improvement is made with a priority for protection. For example, the new visor system is designed to maximize vision and surface area to glance off impact energy whilst at the same time offering easy installation and removal. 

Arai is obsessed with every detail; there is such a thing as “The Arai Difference”. A helmet is not only about safety, it’s also about comfort. The incredible fit and plush interior of any of the Arai helmets is immediately noticeable.

So get to your local dealer and try out the full range of Arai helmets. You will be instantly amazed at the fit and all-day comfort of any Arai helmet. You should also check out AraiAmericas.com to learn more.

We love your feedback! Please comment or suggest:

  @ultimatemotorcycling

 @UltimateMotoMag

 @UltimateMotorcycling

 producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com

Hello everyone and welcome to the Motos and Friends Podcast, brought to you by Yamaha.

Discover the thrill of the open road with the 2024 Yamaha Tenere 700, the ultimate adventure bike designed to conquer any terrain. The Tenere 700 has a powerful 689cc liquid-cooled, inline twin-cylinder engine, delivering adrenaline-pumping performance for both on-road cruising and off-road exploration. It's built for the bold; ready to tackle gravel, dirt, or pavement with equal confidence. With a lightweight chassis and long-travel suspension, every ride feels effortless, offering agility and stability in every twist and turn. Plus, adjustable suspension means you can tailor the ride to suit your adventure style. Learn more at YamahaMotorsports.com and visit your Yamaha dealer to experience the thrill of the Tenere 700 for yourself.  

There’s nothing quite like massive amounts of torque to make a motorcycle accelerate in a real hurry, and that is one of the allures of an electric motorcycle. In this week’s first segment, Don Williams talks about riding the new Verge TS Pro. There are several areas where this bike is unusual, not least its looks. But its claimed torque output of 738 ft/lbs is such a ludicrous-sounding number it raises a bunch of questions. Having ridden it briefly around Malibu, Don fills us in on whether this very different motorcycle is actually worth a real look.   

In our second segment this week, Teejay Adams chats with Rick Glover and his son Cooper. Cooper is only just a teenager, but he’s shown real promise on the racetrack, and indeed, he won the SFLMiniGP series Championship in 2023. Truth is, America needs these youngsters to progress in the sport so that we can have real competitors once more at the MotoGP level. Cooper’s Dad Rick fills us in on the effort and commitment needed to bring his son to the forefront of motorcycle racing with the ultimate goal of reaching the world stage.

So, from all of us here at Motos and Friends, we hope you enjoy this episode!   

By the way, if you’re into Dual-Sport riding, then should check out the new Arai XD-5. It’s completely redesigned, and typical Arai, every improvement is made with a priority for protection. For example, the new visor system is designed to maximize vision and surface area to glance off impact energy whilst at the same time offering easy installation and removal. 

Arai is obsessed with every detail; there is such a thing as “The Arai Difference”. A helmet is not only about safety, it’s also about comfort. The incredible fit and plush interior of any of the Arai helmets is immediately noticeable.

So get to your local dealer and try out the full range of Arai helmets. You will be instantly amazed at the fit and all-day comfort of any Arai helmet. You should also check out AraiAmericas.com to learn more.

We love your feedback! Please comment or suggest:

Instagram links:

Cooper Glover Racing

SFLMiniGP

Facebook Links:

Cooper Glover Racing

SFLMiniGP

  @ultimatemotorcycling

 @UltimateMotoMag

 @UltimateMotorcycling

 producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com

Yamaha's mighty TW200 has been around since the '80s, yet the magic little machine still endures. What it lacks in displacement it makes up for in fun and rideability. Editor Don Williams chats about his impressions of this great bike. 

In the second segment, Contributor Marc Rittner talks to us about his various bike building projects. This is a guy who knows how to create a competitive or highly rideable machine on a budget. He's fun to listen to!