Bore & Stoke

In this episode of The Bore & Stoke Podcast, we sit down with Shiv Pathak—an expert in motorcycle ECU tuning—to unpack how modern regulations are shaping the way your bike rides, often in ways you’d never expect. From Ducati’s locked-down throttle maps to BMW’s confusing gear-based restrictions, Shiv explains how Euro 5 emissions and U.S. sound regulations force manufacturers to make compromises that directly affect performance and rideability.

We dig into why the U.S. versions of popular European bikes are often significantly down on power, how aftermarket tuning restores (and often improves) what was lost, and why track testing isn’t always the best benchmark for a great road tune. Shiv also shares insights on tuning cars vs bikes, the myth of the dyno chart, and how social media has skewed the perception of what good tuning actually is. If you've ever wondered why your motorcycle doesn’t ride the way it should—this is the episode for you.

Episode five of the Bore and Stoke podcast is coming at you, and this week sees the band getting back together to talk about all the happenings in the moto world — and we even get a visit from an old cast member! 

In case you aren’t aware, odd-numbered episodes feature the MO crew chatting about the latest news and reviews. From events that have hit the headlines to the latest bikes we’re testing, odd-numbered episodes are our chance to talk about them. In this case, we’re starting off with some big news in the MotoGP world as Liberty Media has finally been given the green light to complete its purchase of MotoGP. We get into the details and the implications, and why we think it’s ultimately a positive for the sport. 

We move on from there to talk about the comeback of Norton — or so we hope. We’ve been teased with Norton comebacks before, but now that Indian manufacturer TVS has taken ownership, there’s real reason to believe it’s for real this time. Dennis Chung fills us in on what he knows. 

Jumping across the puddle from Norton, we give a shout out to the Isle of Man TT. Yes, we realize we’re a little late in our IOM TT news, but we had to acknowledge that it happened, history was set, and as always, there was some good racing! And while the Senior TT was canceled due to weather, we’re happy to report that nobody died this year. 

Going from one big event to another, Nic de Sena fills us in on his time attending the Aprilia All Stars in Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. A big party and fan fest for Aprilia lovers, Nic tells us what he saw, how the event went, and why you’ll want to make it a destination in the future.

After that, we pivot and talk bikes, starting with the potential new touring bike from Suzuki, the GSX-8T. We then jump price tags quite a bit and chat about the MV Agusta Superveloce 1000 Ago. While beautiful and eye-catching, you might be surprised to learn its most interesting feature… is its key. Then we close out the new bike segment going all the way back down the price scale and talk about Kawasaki’s new KLX230 DF and Sherpa.

We wrap up the episode talking about the bikes we’ve ridden. Former MOron Tom Roderick joins us to talk about not one, but two new Hondas — the long-awaited CB750 Hornet and CB1000 SP. Senior Editor Nic de Sena catches up with the high-powered Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1100, and E-i-C Ryan Adams is positively electric about the Stark Varg EX.

As always, it’s a fun episode, and one you don’t want to miss!

This week, we're joined by legendary riding and racing coach Ken Hill for a deep dive into what it takes to become a truly great motorcycle rider. From essential fundamentals to the impact of modern rider aids, Ken shares knowledge that applies to everyone from street riders to pro racers.

In episode 3 of the Bore & Stoke podcast, we question what’s going on in the world today. With the latest news that Bajaj has saved KTM and basically owns it now, to Baggers joining MotoGP, there are a lot of big things to talk about. 

After diving into the weeds with our discussion about KTM and Baggers, we continue the conversation talking about BMW’s new concept bike and what it means going forward. Then we get into the meat of the conversation, as Ryan and Troy talk Next Gen Supersports. Specifically, the latest test we did with the 2025 Ducati Panigale V2, Suzuki GSX-R750, and Yamaha YZF-R9. We had a lot to say about them, and so did you, as evidenced by the reactions on our Youtube video. So, naturally, we talk about it some more!

Finally, we cap things off discussing some of the new bikes we’ve ridden recently, like the Ducati Streetfighter V4, Suzuki DRZ-4S, Kawasaki Z900SE, KTM 450SMR, and one more Ducati, the XDiavel V4. 

We cover a lot in this hour – you won’t want to miss it!

In this episode, we sit down with legendary motorcycle designer Miguel Galluzzi. While he's best known as being the man behind the iconic Ducati Monster, he's also responsible for the design of many other bikes, like the Aprilia RSV4, Moto Guzzi V7 Racer, and the MGX21, aka the Flying Fortress, among others. In this episode we dive into his design philosophy, the story behind the Monster, and how motorcycle design has evolved over the decades. From his time at Ducati, to heading up the Piaggio Design Center, to the future of two-wheel design, Miguel shares insights, stories, and advice for the next generation of creators. A must-listen for anyone who loves motorcycles, design, or just a great origin story.

In case our written reviews and videos weren’t enough, the Motorcycle.com crew has now entered the world of podcasts! Say hello to Bore & Stoke, Motorcycle.com’s new podcast. In this first episode, we’ll tell you what Bore & Stoke is, how often it’ll come at you, and why you’ll want to keep tuning in. 

Once you learn about the podcast, you’ll get to meet the four MO staffers and maybe even learn a little something about us – including Dennis Chung!

We’ll then get right into the meat of the conversation with some exciting new model news from Kawasaki and BMW, before we wrap things up with a discussion about the new Yamaha YZF-R9 and the emerging Next Gen Supersport category as a whole. There might even be a teaser for an upcoming test we’re working on.

We’d like to extend a special thank you to our podcast sponsor, the Honda Gold Wing. If you’re gonna ride, ride something legendary. Learn more about the 50th anniversary of the Honda Gold Wing here.