30 Minute Motorcycling

All motorcycle engines have a cooling system to deal with excessive heat - either through air-cooling or liquid-cooling.

Each type has its strengths and weaknesses - which this episode is all about.

Tune in to discover:

• How an air-cooled engine and a liquid-cooled engine works, respectively
• Some pros and cons of each type

Resources:

• The Dual Wheel Journey Post - "Air-Cooled vs. Liquid-Cooled Engines & Coolant"

If you're absolutely clueless about what the suspension does, and what terms like "suspension sag" and "unsprung weight" mean, this episode is for you.

Tune in to discover:

• What the suspension actually does, and how it works
• 6 common terms related to suspension (including 'suspension sag')
  
  

Resources:

• RevZilla YouTube Video - "Motorcycle Terminology Explained"
• That Girl on a Bike YouTube video - "The importance of suspension broken down so even the non-mechanically minded can understand"

Thought that ABS was complicated enough? How about "cornering ABS?"

But don't fret about it anymore - by the end of this episode, both types will be demystified. 

Tune in to discover:

• What ABS is, and how it works
• What "cornering ABS" is, and how it differs from "regular" ABS

Resources:

• The Dual Wheel Journey blog post - "ABS & Cornering ABS - What is It?"
• VicRoads YouTube video - "Motorcycle ABS - Improving Rider Safety"
• ADI YouTube video - "KTM - ABS and Cornering ABS Explained"

Do you have a scooter? Then you've probably not got a conventional manual gearbox. But you don't have an automatic transmission either - it's a special kind of transmission known as a "CVT."

Tune in to find out:
- What "CVT" stands for, and how it works
- Some advantages of a CVT transmission + 1 disadvantage
- How much a CVT belt can cost

Resources:
- "Scooter CVT Transmission Explained" video
- "Inside a scooter CVT transmission" video

Most motorized two-wheelers (whether it's a motorcycle, moped, or scooter) use chain drive or belt drive. But what are the differences between the two?

And if you've got a chain, you have to think of how much "chain slack" you have. But what is it?

Tune in to learn:

• The differences between chain drive and belt drive
• What "chain slack" is - and a general guideline for what your bike's chain slack should be 

Resources:

• Alex Simmonds - "Motorcycle Chain VS Belt Vs Shaft Drive Which Is Better" YouTube Video
• MC Garage | "Motorcycle Chain Vs. Belt Vs. Shaft—Which Drivetrain Is Best?" YouTube Video
• "How To Adjust A Motorcycle Chain and Sprockets at RevZilla.com"

I'll give you a hint - it's not just your head. There's a lot of things inside a regular helmet that protects your head from taking a beating.

Tune in to learn:

• The 6 parts of a motorcycle helmet - and what they do

Resources:

• FortNine video - "Why Motorcycle Helmets Use This Ancient Buckle"

In the context of motorcycles, and other two-wheelers that run on petrol or gasoline, "running rich" isn't a good thing. 

Tune in to learn:

• The concept of "Lambda 1" - and what "running rich" really means
• 4 reasons why "running rich" isn't good for your bike

Resources:

• The Dual Wheel Journey blog post - "What Does It Mean When Your Bike Is 'Running Rich?'" 

Does it really matter how fast your bike is if your brakes down work? I thought so.

If you've ever been curious about what it is that actually makes your bike stop, this episode is for you.

Tune in to learn:
- The differences between disc and drum brakes
- About something DEADLY that might be in your drum brakes
- The differences between DOT 3, DOT 4, DOT 5, DOT 5.1 brake fluids - and the one type suitable for modern motorcycles

Resources:
- The Dual Wheel Journey blog post "How Do Motorcycle Brakes Work & Brake Fluid Basics"

You might not think of them that much, but your motorcycle's wheels and tires play a crucial role in keeping you on the road and out of the ditch. 

Therefore, it's good that you know a few things about them. 

Tune in to learn:

• The important job that the wheels have
• What a "wheelbase" is
• Some common wheel types - from spoked to composite (and their pros and cons)
• How to read tire dimensions and test your tire tread depth - with just a coin
• The differences between bias-ply and radial tires

Resources:

• Chaparral Motorsport video - "Motorcycle Tires 101." 
• Motorcyclist Magazine video "Bias-Ply Motorcycle Tires vs.  Radial Motorcycle Tires."

If you do, congratulations! Not many people know the difference. 

If you don't know, however, - this episode is for you. 

Tune in to learn:

• The definition of a "moped" (and why it's called a "moped" in the first place)
• The definition of a "scooter" (and about a special class of scooters)

Resources:

• The Dual Wheel Journey blog post - "A Quick History of the Vespa - A Cultural Transport Giant"