Motos and Friends from Ultimate Motorcycle magazine

Welcome to Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly Podcast, Motos and Friends, brought to you by the Yamaha R7 – a new generation of supersport machine.  On paper, the BMW M 1000 R is an absolutely spectacular machine. It’s the upright naked superbike version of the S 1000 R, with the motor from the track-focused S 1000 RR in a comfortable to ride package. In our first segment this week, Nic de Sena takes the M 1000 R on to the street and to the track, and he reports back on what all the fuss is about.    00:39:34. Our snippet this week comes to you from the MV Agusta factory is Varese, Italy. As you may or may not know, KTM’s parent company—The Pierer Mobility Group—late last year acquired a significant stake in the fabled Italian racing brand that produces arguably the most beautiful motorcycles in the world. I spoke to three of the key players (Timur Sardarov, CEO; Luca Martin, COO; and Florian Kecht, CSO for KTM) in that partnership. I managed to get their take on exactly what PMG will bring to MV Agusta, how likely the company is to survive, and whether this is real—or just smoke and mirrors. 01:06:27. Our second segment, brings you Part 2 of Neale Bayly’s fascinating chat with iconic racer and 5-time Daytona 200 Winner, Scott ‘Mr Daytona’ Russell. The native Georgian of course needs no introduction, but in case you missed it, you can hear Part 1 of his interview ‘Scott Russell Unfiltered’ here. Neale and Scott have been friends for many years, and Scott opens up about the challenges he’s faced; the ups and downs of life after racing—after that unfortunate and horrendous crash at Daytona that ended his career. We’re happy to say that Scott is thriving now.     So from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling—we hope you enjoy this episode!   We love your feedback! Please comment or suggest:   @ultimatemotorcycling  @UltimateMotoMag  @UltimateMotorcycling  producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com

Motos and Friends is brought to you by the new Schuberth E2 helmet. The Schuberth E2 is Endless Adventure! This week on Motos & Friends we have something slightly different. Among the questions we get from you, our listeners, is whether rider schools are worth the money and effort, and do we have one we can recommend? Well, the answer to both is a resounding “yes”. So, in response to popular demand, we decided this week to chat with Associate Editor Teejay Adams about her recent experience at the Yamaha Champions Riding School. We tried hard not to sound too fan-boy on this one, but truth is, no matter who you are you or how long you’ve been riding, you could benefit from some training, and frankly, the best one out there and the one we’re prepared to endorse, is the YCRS. We’re even prepared to incentivize a few of you. Please check the notes at the foot of this page and see how we could add an extra cashback reward if you’re booking a class, and this is in addition to the 10% discount you will get if you use our sign up code. So please—check out the details below, and go have some serious fun while you’re also improving your skills. You will be a safer, more complete rider if you do.   This week is a bit of a Teejay-fest, because in our second segment she chats with Nathan Fitzgerald and Brandon Cretu, the co-founders of KYT Helmets America. Brandon is also the exclusive importer of Ohvale in the United States, and he was instrumental in developing the MotoAmerica Mini Cup and is passionate about trying to help young people get into racing. Brandon’s personal racing résumé includes multiple appearances at the Isle of Man TT, the Macau GP, the Northwest 200, Ulster GP, as well as endurance racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the legendary Suzuka 8 Hours. Presumably he knows what it takes to fire up a racing career. As you might imagine, both Nathan and Brandon are hard-core racing fans and were happy to chat with Teejay about the ups and downs of American and global racing, and where they see it going. She did her best to keep them under control. Hold on to your (KYT) helmets! Web:  www.kytamericas.com www.ThailandMototours.com www.risemoto.com   Instagram:  @kytamericas.com @thailandmototours @ohvale_usa @bcretu @nrf_rr Ultimate Motorcycling/YCRS Discount+ Reward Program 1. For the UM 10% discount on all YCRS programs use code UltimateMC10 2. The first 20 students only who book the Champ U New Rider online course will receive a $20 cashback reward. Email producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com with your booking confirmation code and your preferred method for us to send you your reward. 3. The first 3 students only who book the 2-day Champ School course will receive a $200 cashback reward. Email producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com with your booking confirmation code and your preferred method for us to send you your reward.  Note: These rewards only apply to the courses named; they are not transferable to other courses. Offers only available to residents of the United States. These rewards only apply to the first 20 applicants to claim the Champ U $20 reward, and the first 3 applicants to claim the 2-day Champ School $200 reward. Once these rewards are claimed there will be no more. Please claim by email to producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com and include your booking code as proof of purchase. Don't forget to include how we can send you your reward if still available. We love your feedback! Please send us your comments and suggestions at producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com   and if you like Motos & Friends, hit the Subscribe button!

Hello everyone and welcome once again to Motos and Friends, brought to you by Ultimate Motorcycling.  The Kawasaki Z900 is really good motorcycle—personally, I’m a fan. The Z900 with its inline-4 screamer engine and excellent handling rides extremely well, especially on the street. However, it does have a few shortcomings, especially if you have a penchant to take it to a track day occasionally. That’s not to say you couldn’t have fun on it—of course you could. However, Kawasaki has released the SE version of the Z900, and Senior Editor Nic de Sena gives us his view of whether the fairly significant upgrades are worth it or not.     In our second segment, Editor-at-Large Neale Bayly chats with Ducati aficionado and collector Max Nicholson.  Max has owned and ridded many classic Ducatis, among them his very special Hailwood replica MH900E. This was a hand built, limited edition tribute machine designed by the legendary Pierre Terblanche. In 2002 Playboy magazine cited the MH900E as the “most beautiful motorcycle in the world”. Only 2,000 were built over a two-year period. Max and Neale take time to chat about his various bikes, and some of the interesting additions he’s made to his version of the iconic MH900E . We hope you enjoy this episode!

The Royal Enfield Meteor is a retro-style cruiser with the typical classic cool looks from RE. Kelly Callan gives us her thoughts on the bike.  Stephen Marcus played 'Nick the Greek' in Guy Ritchie's cult-classic Brit-underworld 1998 movie, Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. He recently discovered motorcycling and talks to Teejay Adams about his love of two-wheels. Note: We had a few internet issues with the Zoom call, so apologies for that! Hope you enjoy his chat anyway.  Sons of Royalty  A voluntary committee established 2008 to raise money through motorcycles, live music and other shenanigans for CHILDLINE. Have a Butcher's: The Making of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels The Actor Stephen Marcus  Twitter: @smarticus62.  Instagram : theactorstephenmarcus  

John Cabral and Harry Gunusen chat about America's fastest Pro Street Bagger.  American Turbo Power: https://www.facebook.com/American-turbo-power-511231132290263 Augustine Herrera (rider) https://www.facebook.com/augustine.herrera Herrera Racing https://www.facebook.com/Herrera-Racing-200375816753000  R&R Cycle http://www.rrcycles.com/shop/  Original story: https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2020/02/14/8-second-harley-street-glide-chat-with-builder-harry-gunusen/       

This week Teejay chats to Tyler Poppe. Tyler works on the TV show Mayans MC--and yet he doesn't ride an American V-Twin. Wassup with that?? Also, Arthur finds out from friend Mike Cardillo about his thoughts on the full-size version of the Kawasaki KLX 140R F trail bike. Instagram: @tylerpoppe GT Motocycles Moto Guzzi V7 Stone, Ultimate Motorcycling First Look

Arthur chats with Avery Innis at Suzuki about the amazing new Hayabusa.

Arthur Coldwells chats with Associate Editor David Bober about the new Ducati Multistrada V4, his experience with YCRS, and his use of the Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 safety system. For more info on these items in the Podcast check out these links: Ducati Multistrada V4S Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 System YCRS - Yamaha Champions Riding School To read David's story: 2021 Ducati Multistrada V4 S Review: Style, Sophistication, Performance

This episode is brought to you by Leod Escapes. *  *  *  *  * Have you ever wondered what it would be like to ride a REAL MotoGP track? …or maybe you HAVE ridden one and want more? Well, one of the many Leod Escapes is the incredible Munich to Mugello tour which starts at the end of June. You get to ride the Dolomites, Europe’s most famous motorcycle playground, and then spend three days on Italy’s most famous track. And get this: Leod Escapes is offering an incredible discount if you book before April 17th: for two free nights on a “Track & Tour” use the code ULTIMATETRACK.  Or for one free night on a Trippinar use the code ULTIMATETRIP. Simply add the extras when booking, and then at check out use the code. Places are limited on this bucket list trip, so visit LeodEscapes.com now to book your ride of a lifetime. *  *  *  *  * In our first segment, Don Williams discusses the 2026 Yamaha R7. Four years after its debut, the R7 gets its first major upgrade. Improvements to the R7 range from electronic to mechanical, and ergonomic to cosmetic. There’s a lot to know about this popular Championship-winning supersport bike, and Don lets us in on a few of its secrets. *  *  *  *  * Earlier this year we brought you two guests from the new-on-the-scene Joe Rascal brand. Archie ‘Maddog’ McDonald is one of the riders in the new Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup race series with MotoGP this year, and as it turned out is the Winner of the first race. James Tonna is the Chief Rascal, and with his business partner Barry Fitzpatrick they are the brains and money behind the entire Joe Rascal initiative. We had a chance to catch up with Archie and James at the recent COTA MotoGP round. *  *  *  *  * Most of you will have heard of Keith Code and the California Superbike School. Keith’s legendary teaching has helped thousands of motorcycle riders improve their techniques both on- and off-track. Keith’s son Dylan has now taken the reins at the Superbike school known for his expertise in cornering physics, technical training, and his role in managing the school's global operations. He specializes in training riders from novice street riders to seasoned racers. He is incredibly articulate and this episode Teejay Adams chats with him about not just what happens at the Superbike School but also his journey getting there.  *  *  *  *  * Here’s a quick reminder to leave us your comments on our social media—we’re on all the usual platforms at Ultimate Motorcycling. We love hearing your feedback… so good or bad, please let us know what you think. If there’s something you’d like us to cover, we’d love to hear those ideas too!   @ultimatemotorcycling  @UltimateMotoMag  @UltimateMotorcycling  producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com

This episode is brought to you by Leod Escapes. *  *  *  *  * Have you ever wondered what it would be like to ride a REAL MotoGP track? …or maybe you HAVE ridden one and want more? Well one of the most popular Leod Escapes is the ‘Core of Catalunya’ trip, this October. Leod Escapes gets help from local enthusiasts to show you the roads, the cantinas, the views, the food …and most importantly, the curves, that make this a perfect trip. Stay in the towns where locals riders go to escape the busy streets of Barcelona; ride the same mountain and coastal roads that local racers have ridden for generations. This is the ideal trip for couples too… so your better half will fall in love with Barcelona while you’re enjoying a new BMW S1000RR for three full days on the incredible Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya track. And get this: Leod Escapes is offering an incredible discount if you book before April 17th: for two free nights on a “Track & Tour” use the code ULTIMATETRACK.  Or for one free night on a Trippinar use the code ULIMATETRIP. Simply add the extras when booking, and then at check out use the code and the money will be pulled off the total. Visit LeodEscapes.com now to book the ‘Core of Catalunya’ ride of a lifetime. *  *  *  *  * In our first segment, Don Williams and Nic de Sena discuss the new Indian Chief Vintage. This Indian is a heritage-driven cruiser that blends mid-20th-century American design language with the thoroughly modern Chief platform. It’s built around the air-cooled Thunderstroke 116 V-twin that’s wrapped in classic valanced fenders and deeply nostalgic detailing. *  *  *  *  * Have you heard the latest from Insta360 about the new Ace Pro 2 Supercross bundle? The partnership between Insta360 and the Supercross World Championship includes world champion Jett Lawrence and the bundle features the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 action camera. The amazing Ace Pro 2 has 8K, AI-powered video, a large sensor and Leica lens that gives you 4K, 60fps video. There’s a PureVideo Mode for low light conditions; it’s waterproof, has a 180-minute fast charging battery, and it supports 1TB microSD cards. The Supercross Edition bundle includes a Helmet Chin Mount, two Flexible Adhesive Mounts, a Lens Guard, and a 128GB microSD card so that you can get going immediately. Head over to Insta360.com and use the promo code ULTIMATE. *  *  *  *  * BDR or Backcountry Discovery Routes organization, is a non-profit that creates off-highway routes for dual-sport and adventure motorcycle travel. In the second segment this episode, Teejay chats with Inna Thorn, the Executive Director, and Bryce Stevens, the Co-Founder and Routes Development Director. Bryce is heavily involved in scouting, designing, and mapping new routes for BDR. If you’re not familiar with BDR, Inna and Bryce give us some background and what’s new in the world of adventure motorcycling in the US.   BDR website - https://ridebdr.com/ MTBDR Film Tour Dates and Locations -  https://ridebdr.com/news/mtbdr-film-tour/ BDR Routes Overview - https://ridebdr.com/routes-overview/ Support BDR - https://ridebdr.com/become-a-supporter/ *  *  *  *  * Here’s a quick reminder to leave us your comments on our social media—we’re on all the usual platforms at Ultimate Motorcycling. We love hearing your feedback… so good or bad, please let us know what you think. If there’s something you’d like us to cover, we’d love to hear those ideas too!   @ultimatemotorcycling  @UltimateMotoMag  @UltimateMotorcycling  producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com

This episode is brought to you by Leod Escapes. The Triumph Trident 800 is a charismatic highly sporting machine, and Don Williams traveled all the way to the Island of Cyprus to test this latest offering from Triumph.   *  *  *  *  * Have you ever wondered what it would be like to ride a REAL MotoGP track? …or maybe you have ridden one and are salivating for more? Well, one of the many Leod Escapes is the incredible Munich to Mugello tour which starts at the end of June. As the name implies, you get to ride Europe’s most famous motorcycle playground, the Dolomites, and then spend three days on Italy’s most famous circuit. Cat McLeod gives us a few details on what to expect on this tour, and yes, you will definitely want to go!  Special deal for our listeners, use code ULTIMATETRACK gets you two free nights on a "Track & Tour" code; ULTIMATETRIP gets you one free night on a Trippinar! (codes apply up to April 17 2026) Places are limited on this bucket list trip, so visit LeodEscapes.com now to book your ride of a lifetime. *  *  *  *  * Have you heard the latest from Insta360 about the new Ace Pro 2 Supercross bundle? The partnership between Insta360 and the Supercross World Championship includes world champion Jett Lawrence and the bundle features the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 action camera. The amazing Ace Pro 2 has 8K, AI-powered video, a large sensor and Leica lens that gives you 4K, 60fps video. There’s a PureVideo Mode for low light conditions; it’s waterproof, has a 180-minute fast charging battery, and it supports 1TB microSD cards. The Supercross Edition bundle includes a Helmet Chin Mount, two Flexible Adhesive Mounts, a Lens Guard, and a 128GB microSD card so that you can get going immediately. Head over to Insta360.com and use promo code ULTIMATE. *  *  *  *  * In the second segment this episode, Teejay chats with Kira Knebel. Kira is one of the most modest Championship Winners you’ll ever hear from. But don’t be fooled by this super-sweet lady—she turns into a tiger on the track. Part of the Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race crew, in 2025 Kira entered her second year of the program and felt somewhat confident that she could make her mark. And boy, did she ever! The racing was close; she had a spectacular spill at Road America; and yet she wasn’t fazed. It went down to the wire and Kira ended up taking the Championship win at the last round at The Ridge, in Washington state. It was a remarkable testament to her sheer toughness and never-give-up attitude. Here at Motos & Friends we’re proud to be part of her racing journey.   Broitomoto Kira Knebel Instagram  *  *  *  *  * Here’s a quick reminder to leave us your comments on our social media—we’re on all the usual platforms at Ultimate Motorcycling. We love hearing your feedback… so good or bad, please let us know what you think. If there’s something you’d like us to cover, we’d love to hear those ideas too!   @ultimatemotorcycling  @UltimateMotoMag  @UltimateMotorcycling  producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com  

This episode is brought to you by Daytona Bike Week.  The much anticipated KTM 990 is a step up and Matt Ayhan recently attended the launch of both the 990 RC R, and the upright naked version, the Duke R. There is a lot more to both bikes than one would at first imagine, and Matt fills us in on the differences and his impressions of both bikes. *  *  *  *  * Next week is the start of the 85th Annual Daytona Beach Bike Week! Despite the name, it’s actually a 10-day extravaganza that’s suitable for everyone. If you’re in the middle of Winter where you live, it’s time to shrug off the cold and visit sunny Florida! From February 27th to March 8th, the riding season is in full swing in Daytona Beach, Florida. Legendary rides include the historic Main Street to Midtown; the scenic A1A Highway; and the Ormond Beach Scenic Loop. If you want racing then Daytona International Speedway has it all: Supercross; American Flat Track and Short Track; and of course the historic Daytona 200 on Saturday 7th. And don’t forget to visit Teddy Morse's Daytona Harley-Davidson, the U.S. 1 corridors, and the rest of Volusia County. For more information about Daytona Beach Bike Week including lodging, events, vendors, parking and more, go to OfficialBikeWeek.com …and we’ll see you there! *  *  *  *  * Talking of Supercross, have you heard the latest from the folk at Insta360 about the new Ace Pro 2 Supercross bundle? The partnership between Insta360 and the SMX World Championship, includes world champion Jett Lawrence, and the bundle features the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 action camera. The Ace Pro 2 has 8K, AI-powered video, a large sensor and Leica lens that gives you 4K, 60fps video. There’s a PureVideo Mode for low light conditions; it’s waterproof, has a 180-minute fast charging battery, and it supports 1TB microSD cards. The Supercross Edition bundle includes a Helmet Chin Mount, two Flexible Adhesive Mounts, a Lens Guard, and a 128GB microSD card so you can get going immediately. Head over to Insta360.com and use promo code ULTIMATE. *  *  *  *  * In this episode’s snippet, Teejay Adams chats with Marc Vandement of Cycle Cynch. If you ever have to transport your bike on a truck or trailer, you’ll appreciate the Cycle Cynch tie down system that helps secure your bike in place without any damage. *  *  *  *  * In the second segment this episode, Teejay chats with Mikayla “Kay Kay” Nielsen (Instagram: MotoKayKay), one of the up and coming riders in the national Women’s Motocross series sponsored by Synchrony Bank. The WMX Championship is a six-round series that takes place in conjunction with Pro Motocross National Championship events throughout the country, and Mikayla is one of the front-runners already with one win and six podiums to her name. PLUS 👉🏻 Mikayla KayKay on YouTube  *  *  *  *  * Here’s a quick reminder to leave us your comments on our social media—we’re on all the usual platforms at Ultimate Motorcycling. We love hearing your feedback… so good or bad, please let us know what you think. If there’s something you’d like us to cover, we’d love to hear those ideas too!   @ultimatemotorcycling  @UltimateMotoMag  @UltimateMotorcycling  producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com

This episode is brought to you by Daytona Bike Week and hosted by Arthur Coldwells. *  *  *  *  * Teejay Adams recently rode the latest Honda NC750X DCT with Dual Clutch Transmission. This ADV-styled streetbike with its parallel-twin engine is perhaps easily overlooked, yet as with all Hondas it turned out to be remarkably capable. By the way…at $9,499 it’s also surprisingly inexpensive, especially considering the incredible Honda technology that is packed into this fast and fun motorcycle. PLUS 👉🏻 DCT & E-clutch talk on YouTube. *  *  *  *  * We’re almost upon the 85th Annual Daytona Beach Bike Week, definitely the event that you absolutely must not miss, especially if you’ve weathered the recent Arctic freeze. Yes! It’s time to throw off the cold and visit sunny Florida! From February 27th to March 8th, the riding season starts in Daytona Beach, Florida. Legendary Bike Week rides include historic Main Street to Midtown; the scenic A1A Highway; and the Ormond Beach Scenic Loop. If you love racing then Daytona International Speedway has a jam-packed schedule: The 56th annual  Daytona Supercross; the Progressive American Flat Track; Daytona Short Track; and of course the historic Daytona 200. And while you’re there, don’t forget to visit Teddy Morse's Daytona Harley-Davidson, the U.S. 1 corridors, and the rest of Volusia County. For information about Daytona Beach Bike Week including lodging, events, vendors, parking and more, go to OfficialBikeWeek.com *  *  *  *  * Have you heard the latest news from Insta360 about the new Ace Pro 2 Supercross Edition bundle? It’s an awesome partnership between Insta360 and the SMX World Championship, created with world champion Jett Lawrence. The bundle features the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 action camera. It includes 8K AI-powered video, a large sensor and Leica lens creating 4K 60fps video. It also has a PureVideo Mode for low light conditions. It’s waterproof, has a 180-minute battery that fast-charges, and it supports 1TB microSD cards. As well as the camera, the Supercross Edition bundle includes a Helmet Chin Mount, two Flexible Adhesive Mounts, a Lens Guard, and a 128GB microSD card. So head over to Insta360.com and use promo code ULTIMATE. *  *  *  *  * In this episode’s snippet, I chat with Mike Wells of ‘Old Vintage Cranks’, a Royal Enfield dealer in Ontario, Canada. Old Vintage Cranks recently won the Royal Enfield BTR Build-Off competition in the flat track category. The Royal Enfield Build-Off is a spin-off of the Build.Train.Race program, where dealers across North America created a dream version of either a road race or flat track motorcycle using the Royal Enfield INT650 as the base bike. Winning the flat track Build-Off is quite an accomplishment for Old Vintage Cranks, and Mike gives us some insight into what went into the build. Mike also gives a big shout out to Amanda of Black Widow Custom Paint for doing such an exemplary job, that no doubt helped them in their big win.  PLUS 👉🏻 Old Vintage Cranks on YouTube  *  *  *  *  * In the second segment this episode, Teejay chats with James Tonna of the newly launched Joe Rascal brand. James and his partner Barry Fitzpatrick launched Joe Rascal in August of last year, but they are already making serious headway with the acquisition of three Harley, and one Ducati, dealership in Melbourne, Australia. As if that wasn’t remarkable enough, James has also created Joe Rascal Racing with three riders in the upcoming Baggers race series, during six of the MotoGP rounds this year.  Joe Rascal also now has a Ducati Australian Supercross team, with others soon to follow. It seems their tagline “Go Joe Rascal fast” isn’t just a catchy saying, ‘cos they’re sure not wasting any time. *  *  *  *  * Here’s a quick reminder to leave us your comments on our social media—we’re on all the usual platforms at Ultimate Motorcycling. We love hearing your feedback… so good or bad, please let us know what you think. If there’s something you’d like us to cover, we’d love to hear those ideas too!   @ultimatemotorcycling  @UltimateMotoMag  @UltimateMotorcycling  producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com

Motos&Friends is brought to you by Daytona Bike Week Teejay Adams recently rode three entry- intermediate-level Hondas: the Rebel 300 with e-clutch; the CB650R also with e-clutch, and the NC750X with DCT. In the first segment this episode, Teejay tells us what an e-clutch and DCT are, and also what she thought of these three bikes and how they handle this exciting new technology. Even if you’re a seasoned rider, you will still want to hear all about e-clutches and DCT, it might be exactly what you want even though you don’t know it yet!  Prefer YouTube? 👉🏻 DCT & E-clutch explained. *  *  *  *  * In this episode’s Snippet Janet Kersey and Brain Bentley from the Daytona Beach Visitors Bureau, tell us about this upcoming 85th Annual Daytona Beach Bike Week, one of the world's premier motorcycle events. Here’s a bit of trivia I’ll bet you don’t know—Janet Kersey was the lady who started the Daytona Beach Biketoberfest over 30 years ago! So she knows both Bike Week events incredibly well. Janet and Brian tell us all about what you can expect this upcoming Bike Week. Not just the events and local scenic rides, but also the jam-packed schedule of races including the 56th annual  DAYTONA Supercross and the historic DAYTONA 200. So for more information including lodging availability, events, vendors, parking and more, go to OfficialBikeWeek.com or call the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce at 386-255-0981. We’ll see you there! *  *  *  *  * In the second segment this episode, I chat with Andy Jefferson, from both KTM and Husqvarna. Andy got his first motorcycle in 1970, and after years racing locally on the high desert tracks of Southern California, Andy started riding AMA Nationals and Supercross events on a Husqvarna for Pro Circuit’s Mitch Payton. His teammates included Jeff Jennings and Troy Lee. Sadly, knee injuries eventually ended Andy’s Pro racing career, but as determined as he is, he finally got his chance to work at Husqvarna overseeing the service, aftermarket parts, and customer relations department. In 2013, Andy became Media Relations Manager for all the motorcycle brands including KTM, Husqvarna, and GasGas. His long history as a racer includes an Over 40 World Vet Championship, and in 2024 he was inducted into the Legends and Heroes Moto Museum. *  *  *  *  * Here’s a quick reminder to leave us your comments on our social media—we’re on all the usual platforms at Ultimate Motorcycling. We love hearing your feedback… so good or bad, please let us know what you think. If there’s something you’d like us to cover, we’d love to hear those ideas too!   @ultimatemotorcycling  @UltimateMotoMag  @UltimateMotorcycling  producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com

Hello and welcome again to the Motos and Friends Podcast. This episode is brought to you by Daytona Bike Week *  *  *  *  * In the first segment this episode Don Williams gives us a scrambler history lesson while telling us all about one of Honda’s best kept secrets: the SCL500.  This mid-size scrambler-style Honda is a lifestyle statement that’s also very functional. The mildly off-road aesthetic resonates with those who grew up on the original scramblers, as well as a new generation of riders who are drawn to the relaxed vibe of a bygone era; an incredibly easy to ride motorcycle that works incredibly well.  It’s all about torquey fun at a very affordable price. Prefer YouTube? 👉🏻 Exploring the Honda SCL Scrambler *  *  *  *  * Now here’s a really cool event coming up in just a few weeks that you absolutely must not miss! It’s the 85th Annual Daytona Beach Bike Week, one of the world's premier motorcycle events. For 10 days from February 27 to March 8, we will kick off the new riding season in Daytona Beach, Florida where you can enjoy Bike Week events and scenic rides along historic Main Street to Midtown, the Scenic A1A Highway, and through the best of old Florida: the Ormond Beach Scenic Loop. If you love racing you have to be at Daytona International Speedway which has a jam-packed schedule of races: the 56th annual  DAYTONA Supercross, the Progressive American Flat Track, DAYTONA Short Track, and of course the historic DAYTONA 200. And don’t forget to visit Teddy Morse's Daytona Harley-Davidson, the U.S. 1 corridors, and the rest of Volusia County. For information about Daytona Beach Bike Week including lodging availability, events, vendors, parking and more, go to the website OfficialBikeWeek.com or call the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce at 386-255-0981. We’ll see you there! *  *  *  *  * Have you heard the latest news from Insta360 about the new Ace Pro 2 SuperMotocross Edition bundle? It’s a cool partnership between Insta360 and the SMX World Championship, and created with world champion Jett Lawrence. The bundle features the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 action camera, which includes 8K AI-powered video, a large sensor, and Leica lens creating 4K 60fps video, with a PureVideo Mode for low light. It’s waterproof, has a long-life 180-minute battery that fast-charges, and it supports 1TB microSD cards. The SuperMotocross Edition bundle includes the camera, a Helmet Chin Mount 2.0, two Flexible Adhesive Mounts, a Lens Guard, and a 128GB microSD card. So head over to Insta360.com and use promo code ULTIMATE. *  *  *  *  * In the second segment this episode, Teejay Adams chats with MotoAmerica LIVE+ presenter, Michael Hill. Mike is an established commentator and co-ordinator and host of the WorldSBK Paddock Show. If you subscribe to MotoAmerica’s live streaming on-demand service, then you know who Michael Hill is. He can talk all day long about what’s happening on-track and when there’s nothing on-track, he ventures out to find fans to chat with on his live and very entertaining ‘Mike on The Mic’ segments during Moto America race weekends. Mike and Teejay cover topics including the Isle of Man TT, and superstar Peter Hickman, World Superbike and Nicky Hayden, his charity work for Two Wheels for Life, and his thoughts on the new Baggers racing class in MotoGP. Michael also recently published his book ‘Superbikes, The Stage, and Me’, that is available in all the usual places including Amazon, and Kindle. Prefer YouTube ? 👉🏻 Michael Hill Interview  *  *  *  *  * Here’s a quick reminder to leave us your comments on our social media—we’re on all the usual platforms at Ultimate Motorcycling. We love hearing your feedback… so good or bad, please let us know what you think. If there’s something you’d like us to cover, we’d love to hear those ideas too!   @ultimatemotorcycling  @UltimateMotoMag  @UltimateMotorcycling  producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com

The Motos and Friends Podcast is brought to you by Insta360 and the all new Ace Pro 2 SMX Edition bundle. *  *  *  *  * In the first segment this episode Don Williams tells us all about the 2026 Triumph Scrambler 900. The Scrambler is an incredibly cool, retro-looking machine with distinctive character and all-round versatility. This latest evolution refines every aspect of the riding experience by focusing on intuitive handling, enhanced ergonomics, and premium build quality. *  *  *  *  * In this episode’s Snippet, I chat with professional motocross racer and YouTuber Jeff Walker about the Insta360 X5 and Ace Pro 2 cameras. Jeff has competed in AMA Pro Motocross since 2014 as a privateer, and started his YouTube channel in 2018—initially so that his dad could watch his practice sessions. Jeff loves the Insta360 X5 and the Ace Pro 2 cameras for capturing immersive onboard, helmet, and chest cam footage during intense pro races, and he uses them extensively in videos for their durability and quality in rugged moto conditions. Don’t forget, the incredible new Ace Pro 2 Supercross Edition bundle includes the camera, a Helmet Chin Mount 2.0, two Flexible Adhesive Mounts, a Lens Guard, and a 128GB microSD card. It is available now for a holiday sale price of US$419.99 that’s a whopping $90 off the standard retail price! So head over to Insta360.com and use promo code ULTIMATE. *  *  *  *  * Ever since the inaugural King of the Baggers exhibition race at Laguna Seca in 2020, the series in MotoAmerica has really caught the public’s imagination. Now for 2026 the thundering sound of massive v-twins is going to happen at six select MotoGP rounds in Europe. In the second segment this episode, Teejay Adams chats with Archie McDonald Facebook Instagram a 19-year-old rising Australian motorcycle star from Albury, NSW. Archie has rapidly climbed the ranks through flat track, Australian Supersport, and European JuniorGP competitions. He has now made a major international leap by signing with the Joe Rascal team to compete in the 2026 Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup (the global evolution of the King of the Baggers series), racing high-spec Harley-Davidson machines at selected MotoGP events. Check out Archie Merch! *  *  *  *  * Here’s a quick reminder to leave us your comments on our social media—we’re on all the usual platforms at Ultimate Motorcycling. We love hearing your feedback… so good or bad, please let us know what you think. If there’s something you’d like us to cover, we’d love to hear those ideas too!   @ultimatemotorcycling  @UltimateMotoMag  @UltimateMotorcycling  producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com  

This episode is brought to you by Insta360 and the all new Ace Pro 2 SMX Edition bundle. In the first segment this episode Don Williams brings us the latest in BMW’s R 12 retro lineup. This one, the R 12 S, is a luxury sport bike that delivers the looks, and a powerful, smooth ride that makes it easy to go fast. It’s a modern roadster capable of impressive performance while comfortably looking the part. *  *  *  *  * Have you heard the latest news from Insta360 about the new Ace Pro 2 SuperMotocross Edition bundle? It’s a cool partnership between Insta360 and the SMX World Championship, and created with world champion Jett Lawrence. The bundle features the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 action camera, which includes 8K AI-powered video, a large sensor, and Leica lens creating 4K 60fps video, with a PureVideo Mode for low light. It’s waterproof, has a long-life 180-minute battery that fast-charges, and it supports 1TB microSD cards. The SuperMotocross Edition bundle includes the camera, a Helmet Chin Mount 2.0, two Flexible Adhesive Mounts, a Lens Guard, and a 128GB microSD card. It is available now for a holiday sale price of US$419.99 that’s a whopping $90 off the standard retail price! So head over to Insta360.com and use promo code ULTIMATE. *  *  *  *  * In the second segment this episode, Teejay Adams chats with Johnny Lewis, a prominent American flat track racer and owner of Moto Anatomy, who won three championships in flat track racing. These are all from his highly successful AMA career in premier dirt track classes. Johnny also owns and runs the Royal Enfield based Slide School from his large property in Florida, and is now planning ice-racing this year on a tuned and adapted Royal Enfield Himalayan. He makes a pretty compelling case for rider improvement, so if you’ve got three hundred bucks and fancy a trip to sunny Florida, maybe now’s the time to learn how to safely slide a motorcycle and make that two-wheeler grin of yours even wider.     *  *  *  *  * Here’s a quick reminder to leave us your comments on our social media—we’re on all the usual platforms at Ultimate Motorcycling. We love hearing your feedback… so good or bad, please let us know what you think. If there’s something you’d like us to cover, we’d love to hear those ideas too!   @ultimatemotorcycling  @UltimateMotoMag  @UltimateMotorcycling  producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com  

Hello and welcome again to the Motos and Friends Podcast. This episode is brought to you by Insta360 and the superb new X5 camera.  In the first segment this episode Don Williams brings us the 2025 Yamaha Ténéré 700 which gets a wide range of updates. Rather than completely rethinking a truly winning design, Yamaha nudged a variety of aspects of the Ténéré 700 around, and the collective results are impressive while keeping the price below $11k. But, by any standard, the Yamaha Ténéré 700 is an adventure bike that has captured the hearts and minds of a broad range of ADV enthusiasts, ranging from street-bound adventure tourists who love its lightweight agility, to riders as talented as hard enduro ace and rally pioneer Pol Tarrés. *  *  *  *  * In this episode’s Snippet, Adam Stringer from Insta360 brings us info on the new X5 360-degree camera that includes 8K30 resolution where you can capture every angle of the ride. No need to choose between the road ahead or the scenery behind you. And the X5 has rugged and replaceable lenses, where a drop doesn't mean buying a new camera. Also tech like FlowState Stabilization where even on rough roads, your footage stays buttery smooth; and an AI-powered App that automatically finds the best moments and creates ready-to-share clips. But for right now, we’ve reached Black Friday 2025, and some truly great Insta360 deals! X5 is at a historic low 15% off X4 & X3 prices are slashed 50% You can also save up to 16% on Ace Pro 2 bundles On top of that for our listeners Insta360 has a special offer: the first 30 orders get a free Mic Air worth $50. It's perfect for adding voiceovers to your ride footage. Needless to say, if you’ve been waiting to take the plunge on one of these amazing 360 action cameras, or add some of Insta360’s great accessories, the time to act is now. Head over to Insta360.com and use promo code ULTIMATE. *  *  *  *  * In the second segment this episode, Teejay Adams chats with Miranda Cain, who finished second in this year’s highly competitive Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. program. Her first taste of the track came in 2021, thanks to a friend, a kart track, and her spontaneous “why not?” attitude. She showed up not knowing what to expect… and left completely hooked. Miranda got her start on a Suzuki SV650, but today she’s lapping on an Aprilia Tuono 660—equal parts power and personality.⁠ Unapologetically feminine, Miranda’s Bison Track leathers are all pink. “When I pass the boys,” she says, “they know it’s me.” ⁠Miranda’s great uncle, motojournalist Peter Jones (author of The Bad Editor) raced motorcycles in the ‘90s, and now the two are planning to team up for an endurance race in 2026. ⁠ *  *  *  *  * Here’s a quick reminder to leave us your comments on our social media—we’re on all the usual platforms at Ultimate Motorcycling. We love hearing your feedback… so good or bad, please let us know what you think. If there’s something you’d like us to cover, we’d love to hear those ideas too!   @ultimatemotorcycling  @UltimateMotoMag  @UltimateMotorcycling  producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com  

This episode is brought to you by Insta360 and the superb new X5 camera.  In the first segment this episode Don Williams brings us the 2026 Kawasaki KLX230 Sherpa S.  This is a motorcycle with a couple of 1960s historical touchstones. On one hand, it recalls the days of the boondocker motorcycles, which were inexpensive, high-reliability, low-performance, easy-to-ride and lightweight, off-road motorcycles. Sportsmen used them to access the outdoors when traveling by foot was impractical. The new Kawasaki KLX230 Sherpa S is a modern take on the boondocker motorcycle. It is beginner-friendly with a low seat height, yet fully capable off-road, inexpensive, and good-looking. *  *  *  *  * In this episode’s Snippet, Arthur Coldwells chats with Daniel Riff from Insta360 about the new X5 camera. Daniel is one of the product experts at Insta360, and as well as a professional videographer, he’s also a passionate motorcycle rider who's been testing 360 cameras on two wheels for years. Daniel and I have both extensively tested the X5, and so he breaks down for us why the X5 is such a game-changer for capturing your rides. For our listeners who want to level up their ride content, Insta360 has a special offer: the first 30 orders get a free Mic Air worth $50. That's perfect for adding voiceovers to your ride footage. Head to Insta360 to grab yours before they're gone! *  *  *  *  * In the second segment this episode, Arthur Coldwells chats with his friend Armen Manougian. Although Armen owns a car service workshop, his first love is clearly motorcycles. His excellent mechanical background and incredible eye for detail helped him restore the most beautiful Yamaha RD400 I’ve ever seen. He has some incredible other motorcycles too, some classics including an incredible Kawasaki KZ900 tribute to Pops Yoshimura and Wes Cooley, and others that he rides regularly on track. These include a couple of real Yoshimura Suzuki Gixxer racebikes, and a Ducati Superleggera. Don’t be fooled by Armen’s very modest style of chatting; he’s as skilled a rider as he is a mechanic, and his uncompromising, take-no-prisoners attitude has served him well when riding a motorcycle, just as much as when he’s working on one.     *  *  *  *  * Here’s a quick reminder to leave us your comments on our social media—we’re on all the usual platforms at Ultimate Motorcycling. We love hearing your feedback… so good or bad, please let us know what you think. If there’s something you’d like us to cover, we’d love to hear those ideas too!   @ultimatemotorcycling  @UltimateMotoMag  @UltimateMotorcycling  producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com

In the first segment this episode Don Williams takes us on a ride with the Indian Sport Scout. Indian has stood firm with its Scout platform since its introduction in 2015, and since then, although we were treated to many iterations, no fundamental changes have been made. However, for 2025, Indian brings us a major overhaul, including a new motor and frame, though many aspects of the Scout remain familiar. In the second segment this episode, we introduce you to a new tire manufacturer making an entrance into the US market. You may or may not have heard of Eurogrip tires, however the Indian company has been around since 1982 and manufactures over 3 million tires a month. Blending Italian design expertise with Indian manufacturing prowess, they are available worldwide in 85+ countries. Arthur Coldwells chats with Tim Calhoun and Ajay Shukla, and they tell me why we should be excited about a new tire manufacturer coming into the US market. *  *  *  *  * Here’s a quick reminder to leave us your comments on our social media—we’re on all the usual platforms at Ultimate Motorcycling. We love hearing your feedback… so good or bad, please let us know what you think. If there’s something you’d like us to cover, we’d love to hear those ideas too!   @ultimatemotorcycling  @UltimateMotoMag  @UltimateMotorcycling  producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com