False Neutral

This month Eric and Pete are joined by fellow Hooniverse podcaster Ross Ballot, one of the hosts of Off The Road Again, Hooniverse's newest podcast that focuses on 4x4s and all things off-road. Ross is an avid ATV'er. On this episode, we compare and contrast side-by-sides and ATVs, discuss how they've inherited many of the roles previously held by dune buggies and Jeeps, and try to explain just what makes sitting behind a set of handlebars so magic.

This month there's a lot going on in our workshops. Pete's doing his usual hacking, and Garrett is doing his usual professional-level restoration work. Along the way, our discussion leads to all three of us fawning over how great two-strokes sound, which even incorporates an audio clip [please comment on how you do or don't like this feature].

Despite the Coronavirus lockdown, all three hosts managed to do some cool stuff with and to their bikes this past month. After updating each other on our workshop activities, we discuss how dealerships are surviving the shutdown, what bike bargains are out there that we are not taking advantage of, the fate of this year's Smackdab Run, and what we've been watching on YouTube while we're sequestered at home.

It's just your three hosts this month, and we update you on our projects (and workshop spaces) before we talk about electric bikes, then a couple of new bikes including the BMW R18, Harley Pan-American, and the Indian FTR Rally.

This month, Pete and Eric talk with Bree Poland. Bree has a fascinating personal motorcycle odyssey, from riding dirt bikes as a kid, to umbrella girl, to owning her own supersport road racing team, and finally to her current position as Senior Marketing Manager for Royal Enfield North America. We talk not only about Royal Enfield's remarkable recent renaissance, but how and why people get excited about motorcycles, and how we as a community can tap into those reasons. some of the social programs she has helped instigate: the Build Moto Mentor Program in Milwaukee, the Build Train Race female flat track program, and even commissioning graffiti murals in Colombia. Her enthusiasm not only for Royal Enfields but for connecting people with and through motorcycles is infectious, and definitely makes this month's episode worth listen to.

Our old friend Bradley Brownell is seemingly everywhere on the Internet nowadays, including Jalopnik, Radwood, and a bunch of other media outlets. This month your three hosts talk to him about the Indian FTR1200, the Scout Bobber, Radwood, and his mini-travel-trailer project. It's a great episode; give it a listen!

This month, Garrett has finally started up his sleeper RZ350, but there's yet another unexpected setback! Pete's air compressor also crapped out, but its replacement arrived, as well as some new parts for both his projects. Somewhere along the way, we gush about how much we like the new Triumph Rocket 3 R.

After an update from Garrett on the (nearly done!) RZ, then surprising new project developments from him and Pete, we delve into the new 2020 MY bikes, including some concept bikes from the EICMA show.

arrett's RZ350 is sooo close to complete, Eric broke down and pulled the top end from the sad-trombone XS400, and another project that will never be completed has dropped in my lap.

After our Workshop Update, we talk about new bikes that are here or coming soon, and then discuss recent competition, both off-road and on asphalt.

Making up for our lack of project updates last month, this one's an almost-all-workshop episode.

• Garrett has created a very sophisticated airbox mod for the Kenny Roberts RZ using CAD software and his 3D printer.
• Pete has, at long last, finished his Honda CL125S...aaaaand it's gone. He talks about the nostalgia he felt when he rode it, and why it's already sold.
• Eric delved into the top end on his XS400.

We wrap up with a quick discussion of a couple of bikes we recently checked out at dealers.