Glenn Curtiss was one of the great innovators of motorcycling and aircraft in the early days of the combustion engine. His V-8 and V-12 aircraft engines were legendary and record-setting on earth and in the sky. Technical Editor Kevin Cameron rates Curtiss as a hero, and Editor-in-Chief Mark Hoyer agrees. We also have excellent technical information about land speed racing from a engineer/racer Wes Orloff who also rates Curtiss as a hero, and we examine Curtiss' speed record set on a beach in 1907.

Motorcycle frames were just glorified bicycle frames for a long time--spindly, flexible, poorly balanced. That all changed with a pair of clever Irish brothers who designed a motorcycle frame that revolutionized motorcycle handling--and it helped Norton remain a force in GP racing against higher horsepower motorcycles for years. It also changed motorcycling forever and helped us get to the exceptional handling motorcycles we have today.

Would you believe the great success of the Harley-Davidson Softail started in one man's private garage? Technical Editor Kevin Cameron and Editor-in-Chief Mark Hoyer talk about the FX of 1971 and how the Softail was born, plus how Dyna fits into the picture.

https://www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-us/motorcycles/#bagger

This episode of the Cycle World Podcast is brought to you by Indian Motorcycle and its new Liquid-cooled PowerPlus 112 engine.

If you’re looking for the ultimate in American V-twin style and performance, Indian Motorcycle has your next bike. Powered by the new liquid-cooled PowerPlus 112 engine, the PowerPlus family—Chieftain PowerPlus, Indian Challenger, Roadmaster PowerPlus, and Indian Pursuit—are the most advanced and capable baggers and touring bikes Indian Motorcycle has ever offered. They’re built with The Power To Roam—designed for experienced riders who never lost the thrill and adrenaline of going fast on two wheels.

The PowerPlus lineup wears aggressive and chiseled lines that are a visual representation of their high-performance heart and showcases their function, presence, and performance potential. In addition, the new PowerPlus family is available with the most advanced and innovative set of Rider Assist Technologies ever offered by Indian Motorcycle, that put comfort, performance, and safety at your fingertips—all seamlessly integrated into the gorgeous 7-inch touchscreen powered by RIDE COMMAND.

If you’re a rider who demands the most exhilarating riding experience with zero compromises, values Distinctive American Style, and craves unmatched power, capability, and tech, the new PowerPlus family of bikes are for you. And starting at $26,499, now’s the time to experience them for yourself.

"Modern" technology used on motorcycles very often is nearly as old as the motorcycle itself! Technical Editor Kevin Cameron and Editor-in-Chief Mark Hoyer talk about stuff we think is new but actually was first used 50 or 100 years ago. They didn't even get through half the list so, hey, stay tuned for part 2 in the near future!

Indian's 2014 rebirth picked up the brand's story from where it left off, with the Thunderstroke 111 evoking the flat-head engine of yore and complemented by great big swoopy fenders, an image that clicked right into America's V-twin cultural brain. So much has happened since then, up to and including total dominance of American Flat Track racing with the FTR750, and multiple MotoAmerica King of the Baggers championships with the Challenger and its liquid-cooled PowerPlus 112 engine. Technical Editor Kevin Cameron and Editor-in-Chief Mark Hoyer discuss Indian history and their firsthand looks inside Indian engines and development since the brand returned to the motorcycle market in earnest.

Just how much help is enough help from riders aids on a motorcycle? Will rocket blasts help you save the front one day (as in the thumbnail Photo by Bosch)? Technical Editor Kevin Cameron and Editor-in-Chief Mark Hoyer talk about the first rider aids, the electronic revolution, and where we may be headed.

Ducati's rise to dominance in MotoGP has been profound. Many factors are at play, but Ducati has found corner speed and combined that with its dominant power, plus an ability to exploit rear grip to the maximum. Technical Editor Kevin Cameron dives in with Editor-in-Chief Mark Hoyer on how the relatively small Bologna-based manufacturer has found its winning formula.

Overhead cam, inline-four with four carburetors and four tailpipes, the Honda CB750 made previously exotic features into an affordable, reliable production motorcycle with great all-around performance and smoothness the world had never seen. The CB750 was an instant success for Honda and started the modern era of performance motorcycling. Join Technical Editor Kevin Cameron and Editor-in-Chief Mark Hoyer as they discuss the origin of the CB750.

The 500cc V-8 racing engine by Moto Guzzi is one of the most exotic and beautiful Grand Prix powerplants ever made. Never mind that it never won a GP! Eight pipes, eight carburetors and spinning to 14,000 rpm, it revved DOUBLE the rpm of the famous Norton Manx 500cc single racing at the same time. Technical Editor Kevin Cameron and Editor-in-Chief Mark Hoyer talk about the Moto Guzzi V-8's origins, its development, and it untimely demise!

Everybody loves the image of the artisan lovingly hand filing parts to fit and making sure every detail is correct but---we ain't got time for that! Mass production, advances in materials, automation, intelligent design, and rationalization have led us to a wonderful world of (mostly) affordable motorcycles that offer tremendous value, reliability, and fun! Technical Editor Kevin Cameron and Editor-in-Chief Mark Hoyer discuss the making of the modern motorcycle and much more.