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Wednesday Nov 23, 2022
Wednesday Nov 23, 2022
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!
Wednesday Nov 16, 2022
Wednesday Nov 16, 2022
Hello everyone and welcome once again to Motos and Friends—the weekly Podcast brought to you by the editorial team at Ultimate Motorcycling.
This week’s we only have the one segment… But if you’re interested in a tasting of what’s to come in 2023, then you’ll want to listen to Don Williams’ roundup from the very recent EICMA show in Milan, Italy.
Don tells us about new machines coming from some of the major manufacturers, including the Honda XL750 Transalp, the CL500 scambler styled machine, and Honda’s light-touring machine derived from the Honda Rebel 1100—and it comes in the DCT version.
From Suzuki of course we have the main models featuring that all-new parallel 800 motor we talked about last week. News of the all-new V-Strom 800 DE ADV bike, and the naked upright GSX-8S, are eagerly anticipated, especially by our staff here at Ultimate Motorcycling!
Indian have done some interesting things with its lineup of various versions of the awesome FTR 1200, and Royal Enfield have produced a cruiser—the Super Meteor 650—that features its 650 twin motor that powers the Interceptor.
From Italy, Aprilia has gone to extremes with the 660 Extrema—basically a track ready version of the well-acclaimed machine. Yamaha interestingly, has revamped the Niken GT—one of the most interesting motorcycles I’ve ever ridden.
Lastly, Don tells us about Kawasaki’s newly announced Electric Hybrids Hydrogen fuel cell machines—those are a peek into the near future for sure; love ‘em or hate ‘em, you’d better get used to them as they’re just around the corner.
EICMA is arguably the most important show in the world for motorcycling, so from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy Don’s round-up this episode!
Wednesday Nov 09, 2022
Wednesday Nov 09, 2022
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.
This week’s two show segments highlight two very cool engines. There’s much more to a vehicle than just the engine of course, but for motorcycles, the engine is of course, the heart of the machine.
The first of the two motors is explained by Editor Don Williams, who tells us about a brand new powerplant from Suzuki, just announced at this week’s EICMA show in Milan.
The second motor is the Indian Chief inside an ex-Max Bubeck Indian 101 Scout from 1928. It's entered in next year’s Cannonball Run.
Both of these engines hold some surprises. The Suzuki motor is an exciting departure for the brand. It's an upper-middleweight parallel twin, set to power several exciting new models from Suzuki.
The Indian Chief motor’s story, is told by new owner and vintage bike enthusiast Mark Leiss. He tells us all about not just this bike, but it’s late owner: land speed record holder and AMA Hall of Famer, the legendary Max Bubeck.
Bubeck held land speed records for several decades, and is considered one of the more important figures in Indian Motorcycle history. Mark has drafted in the Sturgis Hall of Fame builder Micah McClosky to ride the bike in the Cannonball. This is no easy feat for either the rider, or the support crew. Mark explains the superhuman effort it takes to finish, let alone win, a Cannonball Run.
So from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!
Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
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!
Wednesday Oct 26, 2022
Wednesday Oct 26, 2022
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 his work. 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
Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
Hello everyone and welcome once again to Motos and Friends, brought to you by Ultimate Motorcycling.
The Kawasaki Z900 is really good motorcycle—personally, I’m a fan. The Z900 with its inline-4 screamer engine and excellent handling rides extremely well, especially on the street. However, it does have a few shortcomings, especially if you have a penchant to take it to a track day occasionally. That’s not to say you couldn’t have fun on it—of course you could. However, Kawasaki has released the SE version of the Z900, and Senior Editor Nic de Sena gives us his view of whether the fairly significant upgrades are worth it or not.
In our second segment, Editor-at-Large Neale Bayly chats with Ducati aficionado and collector Max Nicholson. Max has owned and ridded many classic Ducatis, among them his very special Hailwood replica MH900E. This was a hand built, limited edition tribute machine designed by the legendary Massimo Tamburini.
In 2002 Playboy magazine cited the MH900E as the “most beautiful motorcycle in the world”. Only 2,000 were built over a two-year period. Max and Neale take time to chat about his various bikes, and some of the interesting additions he’s made to his version of the iconic MH900E .
We hope you enjoy this episode!
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Royal Enfield have been doing rather well in the last few years. Their retro-styled bikes are cool looking, work well, and as it happens, they’re priced right. Associate Editor Gary Ilminen went to the launch of the new Royal Enfield Scram 411, and gives us his impression of the bike. It’s a modestly powered, single cylinder machine, with urban-cool styling and a slight ADV leaning. So is the Scram 411 a decent open-road bike, or is it really only capable of being a city bike?
For our second segment, I chat with movie writer, Producer, and Director, Mark Neale. Of all the motorcycle documentary-style movies made, Mark’s 2003 racing-epic “Faster” has stood the test of time.
Faster was quickly followed by a sequel, Faster & Faster in 2004, and The Doctor, the Tornado and the Kentucky Kid in 2006. For 2011, Mark premiered Charge, Zero Emissions/Maximum Speed; as well as Fastest. Finally, in 2015 Mark came out with Hitting The Apex, narrated by Brad Pitt.
Mark’s exceptional story-telling shows the human side of racing, and several of the stories behind the ecstasy of victory—and the agony of defeat. In catching up with Mark we hear his story. How Faster and its sequels came to be, and of course, what Mark is up to now.
Whether you have watched any of these movies or not, I urge you to do so, either for the first time, or once again. Even if you’re not much into motorcycle racing—they’re well worth your time. You can find the whole set on Amazon.
Here's a sample episode of Motor Valley Stories from Mark Neale
So sit back, and hopefully you enjoy this episode!
Wednesday Oct 05, 2022
Wednesday Oct 05, 2022
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.
Yamaha’s Tenere 700 is an excellent foray into the middleweight ADV world. Associate Editor Neil Wyenn owns a 2021 model, and has spent the last year adding and improving various aspects of his bike. Some add-ons are more vital others, and he lets us into his secrets for getting the most out of the Yamaha Tenere. His total enthusiasm for ADV riding and the Yamaha Tenere in particular were pretty obvious to me—I’m sure you’ll feel the same. Links to all the items he mentions are below.
In our second segment, I chat with Court Rand of Freedom Bike Rental in Ecuador. It was approaching ten years ago that Associate Editor Jess McKinley did their High Andes and Deep Amazon Tour, and ever since reading his story, I’ve always wanted to go myself. Maybe the time is now! Court talks to me about the myriad of options his company offers—not just bike rentals of course, but even side-by-side and jeeps too, on guided and self-guided tours. Court’s telling of Ecuador makes it sound mystical, magical and of course very tempting. Hey—we’ll see you there!
Project Yamaha Tenere : Let the Fun Begin
Product reviews:
- AltRider Highway pegs
- Atlas throttle lock
- Camel Anti-Bobble-Head
- Camel short kickstand
- Camel one finger clutch
- Kisan headlight modulator and the tail blazer
- Crampbuster
- Cyclops headlight
- Galfer brake pads
- Giant Loop Panniers
- Giant Loop magnetic click on tank bag and tail mount
- Happy Trails universal Highway pegs
- Healtech thunder box
- Heli bars risers
- MSC Moto RM3 steering damper
- Pirelli MT-21 tires
- Seat Concepts comfort seat
- Twalcom Slitta Side instrument mount
- Shinko E-804 and E-805 tires
- SW Motech center stand
- SW Motech Crash Bars
- Touratech windscreen adjuster
- Touratech RallyeForm skid plate
- Touratech Extreme rear shock
- Touratech Defensa hand guards
- Twin Pegs of Norway
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
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!
Wednesday Sep 21, 2022
Wednesday Sep 21, 2022
Hello everyone and welcome once again to Motos and Friends, a weekly Podcast brought to you by the editorial team at Ultimate Motorcycling.
My name is Arthur Coldwells.
The new Suzuki V-Strom DE has just been announced, and Avery Innis, Training and Publications Manager from Suzuki Motor USA, is just the expert to explain its nuances to us. The V-Strom has always been a superb, yet inexpensive platform, and the new DE variant gets more serious about ADV riding. I find out from Avery whether the new upgrades are worthwhile; and the place that the new V-Strom has in the current market.
Our second segment covers a subject that’s a little more serious than usual.
Many veterans and first responders suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, aka PTSD.
Scott Casey—himself a sufferer—decided to try and help his fellow vets, and started a cross-Canada charity ride in 2016 called the ‘Rolling Barrage’. It was—and is—incredibly successful.
It’s not just a tremendous ride. The Rolling Barrage is a place for like-minded sufferers and their supporters to ride together. They get some serious “wind therapy” whether it’s on just a stop, or a leg of the ride, one day, a weekend, or even the whole ride. Scott opens up with Associate Editor Teejay Adams about his personal history, and how he came to create such a brilliant and worthy real-world event that truly helps.
The Rolling Barrage is a supportive network of brothers and sisters. To quote Scott Casey: “this is the family you never knew you had”.
Comments or suggestions? Message producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com