False Neutral

In this continuation of last week's sesson, we talk about what good (and not so good) values are to be found at the high end of the motorcycle market, both new and used. Our picks encompass standard street bikes, adventure (and faux adventure) bikes, sport tourers and even three-wheelers, somewhat unexpectedly nominated not by Spyder owner Pete but by Garrett.

We've previously talked about the bikes we like most, but not every good bike is attractively priced in comparison to its worth or the competition. Everybody wants to get a deal, so this week we explore which bikes are the best value. This week in Part One, we concentrate on the low-end of the market, around $8,000 or less, whether buying new or used.

Dirt bikes and off-road riding is our topic this week. After Garret gives us some MotoGP and Sportster Roadster news, we discuss our dirt bike riding experiences, two-strokes v. four-strokes off-road, having fun on mini-bikes, where to ride, and dirt experiences for everyone from novices to trials wizards.

Our conversation about the bikes we like best in various categories continues. This week in Part Two, each of us names the bike we most dearly love despite not wanting to own, and the best bikes to come on the market in the last couple of years. 

In this two-episode discussion of the bikes we love, we challenge each other to name our favorite bikes in a number of categories. This week, we discuss: 1) The one bike each of us likes best out of those we've owned in the past, and 2) The one bike that we have not ridden that each of us is seriously interested in acquiring in the future, given prevailing prices and availability constraints. Our answers might surprise you. We surprised each other at times.

Eric, Pete and Garrett discuss their project bikes, and commiserate over the difficulty of getting anything accomplished in a home workshop environment. Whether it's fabricating one-off custom bikes in a race shop or just going out to the garage to put an old, neglected bike back on the road, the wrenching skills, money and time available never seem to be quite adequate. But we still love doing it. Well, at least one of us does.

Our guest this week is Richard Varner, CFO and co-founder of the KRAVE Group. KRAVE, aka MotoAmerica, was recently awarded the commercial rights to the AMA's pro roadracing series. Richard discusses the state of pro motorcycle roadracing in America and what we can expect this season and into the future.

Note: Due to the fault of absolutely no one, the sound quality this week leaves a lot to be desired. Unfortunately, this is the sometimes unavoidable result of four open mics and four internet connections of varying quality, all being mixed down "raw" into a single digital track in real time. We processed this episode in post-production to make the source material as listenable as possible. Give it a listen anyway, because if you have even a passing interest in motorcycle roadracing, what Mr. Varner had to share will be well worth hearing.

Popular YouTube vlogger Cager on Two Wheels joins us this week from Lisbon, Portugal. We discuss the differences between the riding environments in Europe and North America — culturally, legally and geographically. Our conversation progresses to how those differences shape which bikes become popular in various markets, and dream riding destinations.

Some links mentioned in the podcast:

Cager On Two Wheels YouTube Channel

Tanshanomi's Kansas Spyder Trip Time Lapse

The Smackdab Summer Soltice Ride website

Schaff's YouTube Channel

Eric and Pete welcome Hooniverse contributor Wayne Moyer. Topics include Erik Buell, entry-level Harley-Davidsons, and the state of the motorcycle industry as a whole.

Eric and Pete are joined by Vince Ma for a discussion of custom bikes, bikes as art, and the tension between form and function on two wheels. For photos of the bikes discussed, visit Hooniverse.com.