Join the editors of Rider magazine for entertaining, behind-the-scenes podcasts with moto-travelers, industry icons, executives, movers, shakers, and assorted ne’er-do-wells. Our informal, unfiltered conversations bring you “Motorcycling at its Best,” wherever and whenever you want! Subscribe to the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast on iTunes, Podbean, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM or Podcasher.
EPISODES:
Ep. 74: Mike Noyes, ALIV Worldwide
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Our guest on Episode 74 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Mike Noyes, the founder and visionary CEO of ALIV Worldwide, which provides curated powersports adventures. ALIV, a “country club for badasses,” helps participants get out of their comfort zone and strive for personal growth and transformation.
LINKS: experience.alivworldwide.com/riders1, ALIV on Instagram
Sponsored by ALIV Worldwide
Ep. 73: Austin Rothbard, Twisted Road
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Episode 73 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is sponsored by Fire Power. Our guest is Austin Rothbard, Founder and CEO of Twisted Road, a peer-to-peer motorcycle rental platform. We learn how the rental process works, from both the owner and renter perspectives. Peer-to-peer rentals are a great way to try out new motorcycles or fly into an area for a motorcycle tour.
LINKS: Twisted Road, FirePowerParts.com
Ep. 72: Hunter Leonard, Leonard Motor Works
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Episode 72 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is sponsored by Fire Power. We talk with Hunter Leonard, the creative force behind Leonard Motor Works. Leonard designed and built a vintage-styled all-electric motorcycle called Starrettania that won Best in Show at the Bring It Bike Show at the 2024 Americade rally.
LINKS: LeonardMotorWorks.com, Bring It Bike Show Winners, FirePowerParts.com
Ep. 71: Americade and Bring It Bike Show
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On Episode 71 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast, which is sponsored by Fly Racing, we talk about the Americade rally, which takes place May 29 to June 1 in Lake George, New York. The world’s largest all-brand rally has scenic rides, demo rides, entertainment, and events. Rider and American Rider sponsor the Bring It Bike Show, with daily winners in multiple categories and a people’s choice Best of Show. Bring your motorcycle and show it off!
LINKS: Americade, Bring It Bike Show registration, FLY Racing, @flyracingUSA on Instagram
Ep. 70: Paul Guillien and Ron West of Backcountry Discover Routes
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Our guests on Episode 70 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast are Paul Guillien and Ron West of the Backcountry Discovery Routes organization, which is a nonprofit that creates off-highway routes for dual-sport and adventure motorcycle travel and recreation. The newest Backcountry Discover Route is in Northern California and covers 940 miles off-pavement from Mammoth Lakes to the high desert of the Modoc Plateau at the Oregon border.
LINKS: RideBDR.com, @ridebdr on Instagram, Backcountry Discover Routes on Facebook
Ep. 69: 2024 Adventure Bikes with Kevin Duke (Part 2)
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Episode 69 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is sponsored by FLY Racing. Host Greg Drevenstedt invites his friend Kevin Duke, a veteran motojournalist who is editor-in-chief of American Rider, to talk about adventure bikes, which represent nearly half of the more than 70 new/updated motorcycles announced for the 2024 model year.
LINKS: FLYracing.com, @flyracingUSA on Instagram
Ep. 68: 2024 Motorcycles with Kevin Duke (Part 1)
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Episode 68 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is sponsored by FLY Racing. Host Greg Drevenstedt talks with his friend Kevin Duke, a longtime motojournalist who is editor-in-chief of American Rider, about new/updated 2024 motorcycles, the popularity of adventure bikes, the rise of high-tech bikes, having big fun on little bikes, dirtbikes from Triumph and Ducati, and more.
LINKS: FLYracing.com, @flyracingUSA on Instagram
Ep. 67: Ellie Cooper, author of Waiting for Mango Season
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Our guest on Episode 67 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Ellie Cooper, who got trapped in India during the Covid lockdown and spent more than 2 years living there and exploring the country by motorcycle. The July 2022 issue of Rider included Cooper’s feature “Himalayan Cliffhanger,” a gripping story about her riding India’s death road 2,000 feet above the Chenab River. The November 2023 issue included “India from Head to Toe,” about riding her Royal Enfield 4,500 miles from the high Himalayan passes to the southernmost tip of India. Check out Cooper’s book “Waiting for Mango Season,” available on Amazon, to read more about her adventures in India.
LINKS: Waiting for Mango Season on Amazon, @elliecooper.author on Instagram
Ep. 66: Jonas Zahn and Brenda Kuhl, Motorcycle Cannonball
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Our guests on Episode 66 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast are Jonas Zahn and Brenda Kuhl, who are competing in the 2023 Motorcycle Cannonball as Team 36 on a 1928 Moto Guzzi Sport 14 sidecar rig named “Renata.” The Motorcycle Cannonball is a coast-to-coast endurance rally for pre-1933 motorcycles that runs Sept. 7-24 and covers more than 3,800 miles. Zahn and Kuhl tell us about their backstory and preparations for the event. Team 36 is supported by Klim, Powersports Company, Beauboy Menswear, Ooga Brewing, Great Harvest Bakery, Stilettos on Steel, and the Partners at Axley Brynelson, LLP. Follow Pegleg Speed Shop on social media for daily updates.
LINKS: PeglegSpeedShop, @peglegspeedshop on Instagram, @peglegspeedshop on Facebook, @peglegspeedshop on YouTube
Ep. 65: Tom Medema, Rally for Rangers
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Our guest on Episode 65 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Tom Medema, co-founder of Rally for Rangers, a nonprofit organization whose mission is “to protect the world’s special places by empowering rangers around the world with new motorcycles and equipment.” Rally for Rangers has provided 160 motorcycles to rangers in 16 parks in Mongolia, Argentina, Nepal, Bhutan, Peru, and Namibia. Visit the website to learn more about the first U.S. event in the Black Hills of South Dakota in September and the sweepstakes fundraiser for an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2024 Mongolia event.
LINKS: RallyForRangers.org, @rallyforrangers on Instagram, rallyforrangers on Facebook
Ep. 64: Quinn Redeker, BMW Authority Brand Ambassador
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Our guest on Episode 64 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Quinn Redeker, who is the BMW Authority Brand Ambassador for North America. Redeker spent nearly two decades in law enforcement and has competed in over 100 police motorcycle competitions, taking top honors in most. He’s an instructor with Total Control Training and owns PoliceMotorTraining.com. Rider magazine published a profile of Redeker in 2016, and two videos of him on Rider’s YouTube channel have a combined 16.8 million views. The September 2023 issue of Rider kicks off a new skills column called “Motor School with Quinn Redeker.”
LINKS: PoliceMotorTraining.com, Profile of Quinn Redeker in Rider, Quinn Redeker on YouTube
Ep. 63: Justin Bradshaw, REVER
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Our guest on Episode 63 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Justin Bradshaw, co-founder and head of business development for REVER, a leading powersports trip planning and routing app with over 2 million users. Bradshaw was also a co-founder of Butler Maps, and the road gradings that make those maps so popular are also found on REVER. In this episode we talk about how REVER got started, how to use the app, and its many features and benefits, including trip planning, turn-by-turn navigation, twisty roads, 3D maps, recommended routes, communities, challenges, and much more. You can find the Android and iOS versions of REVER in your smartphone’s app store, or you can visit REVER.co.
LINKS: https://www.rever.co/
Ep. 62: Ed Conde, New England Riders
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Our guest on Episode 62 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Ed Conde, and he was interviewed by contributing editor Scott “Bones” Williams. Both are members of New England Riders, a loosely knit but passionate group of motorcyclists who get together for rides, track days, and other activities. Over the past 20 years, Conde has done extensive research and developed an impressive catalog of excellent motorcycling routes throughout eastern North America, from Newfoundland to Alabama, which are available on NewEnglandRiders.org.
LINKS: NewEnglandRiders.org
Ep. 61: Steven Goode, Great American Scenic Byway Tour
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Our guest on Episode 61 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Steven Goode. On May 9, 2023, Goode embarked on the Great American Scenic Byway Tour to benefit the Parkinson’s Foundation. He’ll ride his Honda Gold Wing Tour through all 48 lower contiguous states, covering more than 15,000 miles over 60 days and riding the best scenic byway in every state. As a Parkinson’s Champion, Goode will spread awareness of Parkinson’s disease and raise funds for the Parkinson’s Foundation. Click the links below to follow Goode’s progress and support his efforts.
LINKS: Follow the GASBT on Facebook, Make a GASBT Donation
Ep. 60: On Lane Splitting with Eric Trow
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Episode 60 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast focuses on the controversial topic of lane splitting, also known as lane sharing. Motorcyclists tend to be strongly in favor of it or adamantly against it. Last year, Arizona became the fourth state to legalize lane sharing, joining California, Utah, and Montana. Contributing editor Eric Trow’s feature about lane sharing in the upcoming June 2023 issue of Rider provides a fair and balanced approach to the topic. Our host Greg Drevenstedt is much more biased in favor of lane sharing, and they have a lively discussion about the pros and cons.
LINKS: Stayin’ Safe
Ep. 59: Nick Ienatsch, Yamaha Champions Riding School
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Our guest on Episode 59 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Nick Ienatsch, CEO and Chief Instructor at the Yamaha Champions Riding School. Ienatsch was a founding editor of Sport Rider magazine, and he’s written extensively for Motorcyclist and Cycle World magazines. Ienatsch competed in various AMA, WERA, and other roadracing series in the late ’80s and ’90s, and he’s the author of the 2003 book Sport Riding Techniques. After serving as lead instructor at the Freddie Spencer Riding School for more than a decade, Ienatsch started the Yamaha Champions Riding School, which provides on-track and street-based training around the U.S. Rider’s associate editor Paul Dail recently completed a two-day YCRS ChampSchool course at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. His review of the school can be found on RiderMagazine.com and in the June 2023 issue of Rider. In this episode, Paul and Nick take a deep dive into ChampSchool. To learn more about Yamaha Champions Riding School, including the Champ U online program, visit RideLikeAChampion.com.
Ep. 58: Backcountry Discovery Routes with Inna Thorn and Tim James
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Our guests on Episode 58 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast are Inna Thorn, executive director of Backcountry Discovery Routes, and Tim James, BDR’s board president. Backcountry Discovery Routes is a nonprofit organization that creates off-highway routes for dual-sport and adventure motorcycle travel. BDR has introduced a new route with free GPS tracks nearly every year since 2010. When we last spoke to Inna and Tim last year on Episode 33, the Wyoming BDR had just been released. In 2023, the Oregon BDR was released, making it the 12th full route, and each one can be completed in about a week. Backcountry Discovery Routes has also released shorter BDR-X routes that are loops that can be done in 2-3 days. Through the tireless work of its staff and many volunteers, Backcountry Discovery Routes maintains existing routes and continues developing new ones. Future BDRs will include Southern California, Montana, and the Southeast. Visit the BDR website to learn more and support their efforts.
LINKS: RideBDR.com, BDR on Instagram, BDR on Facebook
Ep. 57: Tim Card, Visionary of the Year, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
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Our guest on Episode 57 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Tim Card, the Visionary of the Year for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. In 2017, at the age of 40 and in the prime of his life, Card was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Card is a family man with five children, and he was the owner of a CrossFit gym in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. When his cancer proved to be unresponsive to chemotherapy, Card underwent an experimental treatment, and a year after his diagnosis, he was in remission and remains cancer-free. Card worked hard to rebuild his strength and return to normal life, and about a year ago he learned to ride a motorcycle. On March 23, Card embarked on his first-ever cross-country motorcycle ride on a customized BMW R 18 to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Click the links below for updates on Card’s ride and to make a donation.
LINKS: Tim Card’s Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Fundraiser, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube
Ep. 56: Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America
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Our guest on Episode 56 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Kyle Petty, a NASCAR racing icon and founder of the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America. Petty is part of a multi-generational stockcar racing dynasty that included his grandfather Lee, his father Richard, and his son Adam. Petty is known for four wheels, but he’s been riding motorcycles since he was a boy and loves putting on the miles. Since 1995 he has organized the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America, an annual motorcycle ride that raises money to support Victory Junction and other causes for children with chronic illnesses and conditions. The 27th Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America kicks off on April 29 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and runs through May 5. We encourage listeners to visit KylePettyCharityRide.com and make a donation. You can follow the ride on social media, and if you’re in the area, you can meet up with the group at one of their stops.
LINKS: KylePettyCharityRide.com, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
Ep. 55: Guillermo Cornejo, Riders Share peer-to-peer motorcycle rentals
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Our guest on Episode 55 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Guillermo Cornejo, co-founder and CEO of Riders Share, a peer-to-peer motorcycle rental network. Riders Share was founded in 2018, and there are now more than 4,000 different motorcycles available to rent in the U.S. in every street-legal category. Riders Share has grown by more than 75% annually over the past two years and is ranked #1 on Google for “motorcycle rental” searches. We talk to Cornejo about how he started Riders Share, the most popular motorcycles to rent on the network, and the additional income motorcycle owners earn when they rent out their motorcycles – some have even started their own motorcycle rental businesses.
LINKS: Riders-Share.com
Ep. 54: Kevin Duke, American Rider magazine
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Our guest on Episode 54 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Kevin Duke, Editor-in-Chief at American Rider, a V-Twin magazine published by the same company that owns Rider magazine. Duke and host Greg Drevenstedt are long-time friends, and they’ve attended many motorcycle press launches and events together. They talk about their shared history – including bungee jumping off the 700-foot Bloukrans Bridge in South Africa – as well as the unique stories, features, and event coverage in American Rider. If you love American-made motorcycles and the community that surrounds them, then you should check it out at AmericanRider.com.
LINKS: AmericanRider.com
Ep. 53: Killboy, Motorcycle Photographer
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Our guest on Episode 53 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Darryl Cannon, a photographer better known as Killboy. If you’ve ridden the Tail of the Dragon in Tennessee, then you’ve seen Killboy banners along the road where he and his team of photographers capture motorcycles in action. Killboy went from being a factory worker who enjoyed riding his motorcycle on the weekends to teaching himself photography and building a thriving business. Our host, Rider’s Editor-in-Chief Greg Drevenstedt, tells the embarrassing story about his first encounter with Killboy during his first press launch back in 2008.
LINKS: Killboy.com
Ep. 52: Perry Steed, Operation: Purpose
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Our guest on Episode 52 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is former Army paratrooper Perry Steed. He was interviewed by Rider’s associate editor, Paul Dail, who wrote a feature about Steed titled “Riding for Light” for the October 2022 issue of Rider. On April 24, 2012, Steed’s good friend, Sgt. Kristopher Cool, took his own life. In May of last year, Steed departed North Carolina on his BMW R 1200 GS on a 48-state trip covering more than 15,000 miles to pick up Cool’s ashes and take them to Fort Bragg to spread on Sicily Drop Zone as a “rally cry for support” for the epidemic of veteran suicide. In this episode, Steed talks about how he got into motorcycles, his “Ride for Light” mission, and the nonprofit he created to support fellow veterans, Operation: Purpose. We owe a debt of gratitude to all veterans for their service, and we owe it to them to support veteran causes.
If you or someone you know is in danger because of suicidal thoughts or actions, seek help immediately by calling 911 for an emergency or 988 for the nationwide suicide hotline, which has counselors available 24/7.
LINKS: OperationPurpose.net, “Riding for Light” feature about Perry Steed
Ep. 51: Forrest Hobbs, TransAmerica Trail Finisher
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Our guest on Episode 51 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Forrest Hobbs, who took a “purist” approach to completing the TransAmerica Trail. Hobbs lives in Denver, Colorado, and he bought a 1,200cc Yamaha Super Ténéré adventure bike, rode it 2,000 miles to Nags Head, North Carolina, rode the entire 6,200 miles of Sam Correro’s TransAmerica Trail, added a couple thousand miles along the way to visit friends and family, and then rode from Port Ord, Oregon back home. Over 73 days, he logged over 12,000 miles. Hobbs used only roll charts for navigation and didn’t even have a GPS as a backup, and he camped on the trail nearly every night. Hobbs is a passionate off-road rider. He didn’t start riding motorcycles until he was 30, and he has competed in the Baja 1000, the Red Bull Romaniacs hard enduro, and the Idaho City 100 ISDE qualifier – and he’s done each race twice. Hobbs’ plan was to make the TransAmerica Trail as challenging as possible to test himself, to break himself down mentally and physically, and he prevailed.
LINKS: Forrest Hobbs on Instagram, TransAmerica Trail
Ep. 50: Dave Scott, TransAmerica Trail Part 3
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Our guest on Episode 50 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Dave Scott, who completed a solo journey on the TransAmerica Trail. This is Part 3 of a three-part interview. We spoke to Scott in Episodes 46 and 48, where he told us about the challenges of riding the TAT during the Covid-19 pandemic, dealing with hurricanes and Mississippi mud, and then crashing on Imogene Pass in Colorado, where he broke his leg. Scott spent the winter and spring healing up, and in the summer of 2021, he returned to the TransAmerica Trail. After conquering Imogene Pass, he rode through Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Oregon, where he finally made it to the end of the trail and dipped his tires in the Pacific Ocean. This is another unfiltered, uncensored conversation about the trials and tribulations of riding solo across America on a dirtbike. Look for Part 1 of Scott’s story in the adventure-themed November 2022 issue of Rider, with Part 2 coming soon in 2023.
LINKS: TransAmTrail.com
Ep. 49: Gina “Brooklyn” Neumann, Leather and Lace MC
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Our guest on Episode 49 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Gina “Brooklyn” Neumann, a member of the Leather and Lace MC, an international women’s motorcycle club founded in 1983. Although Leather and Lace MC is a patch club, it is by no means an outlaw club. It’s a family-oriented MC whose mission is to promote sisterhood among its members, to ride together, and to work as a club to raise funds for charitable organizations that support children and families. Neumann is a member of Leather and Lace MC’s Midway Crue, which includes members in Virginia and Maryland. In October, the Midway Crue hosted a poker run. The proceeds went to Bethany House of Northern Virginia, which provides a safe haven for victims of domestic violence. In this episode, we discuss the history of Leather and Lace MC, which celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2023, and we talk about the stigma that faces patch clubs, the profiling of motorcyclists, and the importance of sharing knowledge about protective gear, riding etiquette, and safety to new riders.
LINKS: LeatherAndLaceMC.com, LeatherAndLaceMC on Instagram, LeatherAndLaceMC on Facebook
Ep. 48: Dave Scott, TransAmerica Trail Part 2
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Our guest on Episode 48 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Dave Scott, who made a solo journey on the TransAmerica Trail. This is Part 2 of a three-part interview. We spoke to Scott in Episode 46, where he told us about the logistical challenges of just starting the TAT – dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, having his KTM shipped from Louisiana to North Carolina, and riding his luggage-laden KTM through a hurricane and on wet, mud-slick trails. In Episode 46, Scott had gotten as far as the Mississippi River. In this episode, we pick up where we left off, and Scott shares his adventures in the Ozarks, the Great Plains, and the Rocky Mountains, where he faced his biggest challenge of the trip. This is another freewheeling, uncensored conversation full of humor, tangents, side stories, and insightful observations about what it’s like to ride solo across America on a dirtbike. Stay tuned for Part 3, where we hope Scott will finish telling us his epic tale of adventure! And look for Scott’s story in the adventure-themed November 2022 issue of Rider.
LINKS: TransAmTrail.com
Ep. 47: Neale Bayly, motorcycle journalist and philanthropist
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Our guest on Episode 47of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Neale Bayly, a motorcycle journalist and TV host who has documented his adventures and travels around the world. We recorded this interview while Bayly was at the Barber Advanced Design Center at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, where he serves as a media liaison and content producer. During this episode, we took a trip down memory lane: Bayly was at Greg Drevenstedt’s first motorcycle press launch in 2008, an event that will forever live in infamy. We talk to Bayly about his work as a journalist and Wellspring International Outreach, a nonprofit he founded to bring aid and attention to the abandoned and at-risk children throughout the world.
Earlier this year, Bayly and photographer Kiran Ridley rode motorcycles through Ukraine to document the human toll of the war, particularly the effects on women and children. Their photos and story are available on RiderMagazine.com and they’ll be featured in the January 2023 issue of Rider. We encourage listeners to donate to Wellspring, which is providing support to a children’s hospital in Ukraine.
LINKS: Neale Bayly Rides on Instagram, Neale Bayly Rides on Facebook, Wellspring International Outreach, “Nowhere Is Safe” by Neale Bayly on RiderMagazine.com
Ep. 46: Dave Scott, TransAmerica Trail finisher
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Our guest on Episode 46 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Dave Scott, an old friend of host Greg Drevenstedt. This episode was recorded while Rider’s editorial team was in the final week of production for the November 2022 issue – our first-ever adventure-themed issue. Scott was the inspiration for the issue. In the summer of 2020, during a record-breaking hurricane season that drenched the Southeast in rain and when we were still in the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, Scott took a solo journey on the TransAmerica Trail, a mostly off-road route that extends from coast to coast. He wrote a story about his adventure, and it goes well with other features in the November issue about the Trans Canada Adventure Trail, the Trans Euro Trail, and the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands National Park. Scott has a way with words, which is why we wanted to interview him on the podcast as a companion to his story. We had a freewheeling, uncensored conversation for nearly an hour, but we only made it as far as the Mississippi River on Scott’s east-to-west journey. Enjoy this episode, and stay tuned for a follow-up episode where we’ll hear more about riding across America on a dirtbike.
LINKS: TransAmTrail.com
Ep. 45: C. Jane Taylor, author of Spirit Traffic
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Our guest on Episode 45 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is C. Jane Taylor. We talked to Jane back in April on Episode 32. Her book, Spirit Traffic: A Mother’s Journey of Self-Discovery and Letting Go, had just been released, and we published an excerpt in the April 2022 issue of Rider. During our previous interview, Jane was down in Costa Rica on a yoga retreat with her husband, John. In May, Jane and John embarked on a motorcycle tour to promote Spirit Traffic. They packed gear on their BMW F 650 GS motorcycles and hit the road for 97 days. They rode 15,000 miles, and Jane gave more than 50 readings in bookstores, bars, coffee shops, motorcycle events, and people’s homes. We talk with Jane about her and John’s cross-country tour to promote her book about a cross-country tour they did with their son, Emmett, in 2015. Spirit Traffic is a thoroughly enjoyable book that’s honest, funny, poignant, and original – we highly recommend it.
LINKS: C. Jane Taylor’s website
Ep. 44: Moshe K. Levy (Moto Mouth Moshe), motorcycle journalist
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Our guest on Episode 44 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Moshe K. Levy, a motorcycle journalist also known as Moto Mouth Moshe. Moshe is a renaissance man in the motorcycle world. He’s written hundreds of articles and columns for motorcycle magazines, including Rider, American Rider, Motorcycle Consumer News, BMW Owner’s News, On the Level, American Iron, Backroads, and others. Moshe owns and rides all kinds of bikes, everything from mopeds to BMWs to Harley-Davidsons. He restores old mopeds and motorcycles, he tests products, he’s a marketing executive at a technology company, and he’s a family man. We talk to Moshe about his protracted struggle with symptoms of long Covid, which prevented him from riding motorcycles. He found his way back from the abyss on a Honda Trail 125, which he wrote about in the February 2022 issue of Rider (link below). We also talk about how he got started writing for motorcycle magazines, the bikes he has in his garage, and what he loves most about motorcycles.
LINKS: Moto Mouth Moshe website, Moto Mouth Moshe on YouTube, You Meet the Healthiest People on a Honda
Ep. 43: Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach.com
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Our guest on Episode 43 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Can Akkaya, the founder and lead instructor at Superbike-Coach, a motorcycle training company based near Sacramento, California. Can hails from Germany, and in the 1980s and ‘90s he raced in the German Track Trophy, German IDM, Dutch Open, and European Championship. After retiring from racing, he was a test rider for a Ducati team in Germany and worked as a track instructor. Can and his family moved to the United States in 2008, and he started the Superbike-Coach school in 2009. Superbike-Coach teaches a wide range of classes on cornering, body positioning, getting your knee down, riding with a passenger, supermoto, how to race, and even how to wheelie. We talk to Can about his racing background, his teaching philosophy, why his on-track training classes make students better street riders, and which of his classes are most popular.
LINKS: Superbike-Coach.com
Ep. 42: Andre LaPlante, MotoVentures Off-road Training
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Our guest on Episode 42 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Andre LaPlante, who runs MotoVentures, an off-road training school started in 1998 by his father, Gary LaPlante. Andre has worked in the motorcycle industry for 20 years in various sales, marketing, and advertising roles, including 16 years at Cobra Engineering. He has raced motocross and competed in trials for 30 years, and he took 3rd place at the 2022 BMW GS Trophy Qualifier West. Andre is also a U.S. Motorcycle Coaching Association (USMCA) certified instructor. During this episode, we talk about MotoVenture’s “dirt first” philosophy and the value of off-road training for motorcyclists of all ages. Even if you are a street rider, you can learn valuable skills that will help you ride more confidently. We also talk about Andre’s father, Gary LaPlante, a long-time motorcycle industry veteran who started and ran MotoVentures for many years and wrote the book, “How to Ride Off-Road Motorcycles.” Gary is battling brain cancer, and we encourage listeners to show their support by signing up for training with MotoVentures, buying Gary’s book, or visiting his GoFundMe page (link below) and making a donation to help defray his significant medical expenses. Andre is a down-to-earth motorcycle enthusiast who is carrying on his father’s legacy of training people how to be better riders. That’s an effort we applaud and fully support.
LINKS: MotoVentures.com, GoFundMe Riders for Gary LaPlante
Ep. 41: Scott A. Williams, Rider Magazine Contributor
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Our guest on Episode 41 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Scott A. Williams, who has been a regular contributor to Rider for two decades. A life-long New Englander, Scott is a storyteller. His writing reflects the insights of a regular guy with a keen sense of observation and a passion for exploring on two wheels. Scott’s motorcycle touring features are less about “turn here, then turn there” and more about the culture of the regions he rides through and the people he meets along the way. His columns consider the rider’s experience, viewed through the lens of his personal encounters. Known as “Bones” since he was a little kid, Scott had been a Rider magazine subscriber for years when it occurred to him, “I’m a writer and a rider, I should write for Rider.” Twenty years ago, he made a story pitch to then-editor Mark Tuttle, and since then he has written nearly one hundred pieces for what he will tell you is still his favorite magazine.
LINKS: Dead Reckoning, Muriel’s Last Ride, Perceptions, Cages
Ep. 40: Chris Peterman, CFMOTO USA Director of Motorcycles
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Our guest for Episode 40 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Chris Peterman, Director of Motorcycles for CFMOTO USA, which manufactures and sells motorcycles, ATVs, and side-by-sides. For 2022, CFMOTO has introduced a seven-model lineup of motorcycles to the U.S. They include the Papio minibike ($2,999), the 300NK naked bike ($3,999) and 300SS sportbike ($4,299), the naked 650NK ($6,499) and 650ADVentura adventure bike ($6,799), and the neo-retro 700CL-X ($6,499) and 700CLX Sport ($6,999). (For more details, read our first look review.) We had a chance to test ride all seven bikes the week before this interview was recorded. We talk to Chris about the history of the CFMOTO brand, review the details and pricing of each model, and share our riding impressions.
LINKS: CFMOTOUSA.com, CFMOTO USA on Facebook, CFMOTO on Instagram
Ep. 39: Hayley Bell, Women Riders World Relay
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Our guest for Episode 39 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Hayley Bell, Founder and President of Global Business Development for Women Riders World Relay. The mission of Women Riders World Relay is to bring fun, experience, confidence, and a sense of unity to female riders globally. Between February 2019 and February 2020, more than 3,500 women from 79 countries on six continents circumnavigated the globe on two wheels, passing a baton from woman to woman and logging 63,000 miles. For her efforts with WRWR, Bell was named 2019 Motorcyclist of the Year by the American Motorcyclist Association. We talk to Bell about how she started WRWR, how the movement grew exponentially within a matter of weeks, and how hundreds of women around the world volunteered their time and effort to plan, organize, and complete the global relay. We also talk about the impact WRWR is having on the motorcycle industry, and her role as a spokesperson and advocate.
LINKS: WomenRidersWorldRelay.com, WRWR Facebook Group, @WomenRidersWorldRelay on Instagram
Ep. 38: Eric Trow, Rider Magazine Contributing Editor and Stayin’ Safe Principal
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Our guest for Episode 38 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Eric Trow, a life-long motorcyclist, a renowned motorcycling proficiency expert, and a recipient of the AMA Outstanding Road Rider Award. Trow is a Contributing Editor at Rider Magazine, where he writes the popular “Riding Well” column as well as special features. Trow developed the modern Stayin’ Safe method of advanced rider training, and Stayin’ Safe Training Tours are available through MotoMark1. In this episode, we talk with Trow about his background in motorcycle skills training and how he got involved with Rider Magazine. We get the backstory on two of Trow’s popular features published in Rider, “Chasing Gene and Washie” (Feb. 2022 issue) and “Parker Discovers America” (Aug. 2021 issue). And we learn what motorcycles Trow has in his garage, from his grandfather’s 1953 Indian Chief (one of the last ones built) to his newly acquired Honda Trail 90.
LINKS: MotoMark1, StayinSafe.com
Ep. 37: Bill Dragoo, Dragoo Adventure Rider Training (DART)
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Our guest on Episode 37 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Bill Dragoo of Dragoo Adventure Rider Training (DART). Bill has led an interesting and varied life as a pilot, a sky diver, a scuba diver, and as a competitor on dirtbikes, adventure bikes, mountain bikes, and sailboats. He has been a winner or podium finisher in three RawHyde Adventure Challenges, and he was a member of the BMW GS Trophy team that represented the U.S. in South Africa in 2010. Bill is a certified BMW factory-trained off-road instructor, and a certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation Rider Coach. Through Dragoo Adventure Rider Training (DART), he trains motorcyclists of all ages to ride adventure bikes with more confidence. We talk about how Bill got into riding and racing motorcycles, his challenges and successes in competition, and his philosophy for training riders how to handle big adventure bikes. Visit the DART website for Bill’s upcoming training and immersion tour schedule as well as links to DART tips, publications, podcasts, videos, and more.
LINKS: BillDragoo.com
Ep. 36: Gordon McCall, The Quail Motorcycle Gathering
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Our guest on Episode 36 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Gordon McCall, who is CEO of McCall Events and Director of Motorsports at Quail Lodge and Golf Club in Carmel Valley, California. The 12th annual Quail Motorcycle Gathering presented by GEICO takes place Saturday, May 14. The sold-out Quail Ride, a 100-mile ride for 100 motorcycles that includes parade laps at Laguna Seca Raceway and a gala dinner, is on Friday, May 13. The Quail Motorcycle Gathering features more than 350 motorcycles displayed on the golf course at the Quail Lodge. Traditional classes include American, British, Italian, Other European, Japanese, Competition On Road, Competition Off Road, Antique, Custom/Modified, Choppers, and Extraordinary Bicycles and Scooters Class. Featured classes at the 2022 Quail include Harley-Davidson XR750, BMW /5 Series, Two-Stroke “Braaaps,” and mini bikes | BIG FUN. This year’s Legend of the Sport Guest is Roland Sands.
We talk with Gordon about the history of the Quail, what makes the Monterey Peninsula such as special place for motorcycle and car events, and what attendees can expect. The Quail was on hiatus for two years due to the pandemic, so Gordon and The Quail team are excited to welcome motorcycle enthusiasts back this year. Tickets for The Quail Motorcycle Gathering are available online or at the gate.
LINKS: The Quail Motorcycle Gathering
Ep. 35: Rennie Scaysbrook, Pikes Peak record holder, motorcycle journalist and racer
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Our guest for Episode 35 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Rennie Scaysbrook. Rennie is one of the hardest working motorcycle journalists in the business. He’s Road Test Editor at Cycle News, which cranks out a new issue every week. Rennie travels the world testing motorcycles, and he writes race coverage, news, and features for the magazine. Rennie is also a motorcycle racer who has competed several times in the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb, where he set the motorcycle record in 2019. Rennie competes in several race series. He campaigns a Pirelli-sponsored Suzuki GSX-R600 in the Chuckwalla Valley Motorcycle Association series. He races the Roland Sands Design Indian Chief in the Super Hooligan National Championship series. And in June he’ll get his first opportunity to race in the prestigious Isle of Man TT.
If that weren’t enough, Rennie is a husband and a father, and his son Harvey was the inspiration for him to write and publish a children’s book called “The Big Book of Motorbikes,” which is available through Amazon. Rennie and I had fun recording this episode after riding more than 300 miles at the Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ press launch and having a few drinks at dinner. We have an unfiltered, uncensored conversation about Rennie growing up in a prominent racing family in Australia, how he became a motojournalist, and what prompted him to move to America. We also take a deep dive into his experiences racing motorcycles at Pikes Peak – the good, the bad, and the ugly – as well as his preparations for the 2022 Isle of Man TT.
LINKS: CycleNews.com, Big Book of Motorbikes, @renski33
Ep. 34: Cat MacLeod, Leod Escapes Motorcycle Track and Tour
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Episode 34 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is brought to you by Fly Racing. Our guest today is Cat MacLeod, the man behind Leod Escapes “Track and Tour” motorcycle tours, which combine track days at MotoGP circuits with multi-day scenic sport tours in Italy, Spain, Germany, Australia, and other destinations. Leod Escapes is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2022. We talk about what makes Track and Tours unique, what makes for a successful tour, and what tours are available this year. Cat’s an interesting guy who has turned his passions for track riding and foreign travel into a business. Other than professional racers, not many people can say they’ve ridden on 10 MotoGP tracks like Cat has. You can find Leod Escapes’ 2022 Track and Tour calendar at leodescapes.com. Click the link below to read our review of a Leod Escapes tour in Italy that included a track day at Mugello.
LINKS: leodescapes.com, Tour Review: Leod Motorcycle Escapes’ Mugello and Italian Backroads
Ep. 33: Backcountry Discovery Routes with Inna Thorn and Tim James
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Episode 33 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is brought to you by Fly Racing. Our guests are Inna Thorn, executive director of Backcountry Discovery Routes, and Tim James, BDR’s board president and creative director. Backcountry Discovery Routes is a non-profit advocacy organization that creates off-highway routes for dual-sport and adventure motorcycle travel. Started in 2010, BDR has created 11 routes, many of them south-to-north routes that cover individual states in the West, along with two multi-state routes in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. The Wyoming BDR was released in 2022. We talk with Inna and Tim about BDR’s mission, the resources it provides for ADV riders, including free GPS tracks and route information, and what it takes to complete a BDR successfully.
LINKS: ridebdr.com, flyracing.com
Ep. 32: C. Jane Taylor, motorcyclist and author of Spirit Traffic
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Our guest on Episode 32 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is C. Jane Taylor, who describes herself as a writer, a biker, a mom, a wife, a warrior, and sometimes a bit of a chicken. But at age 50, when she received an invitation to join the AARP, she ripped up the letter and bought a motorcycle. On April 19, Jane is releasing a new book called Spirit Traffic: A Mother’s Journey of Self-Discovery and Letting Go, about a 10,000-mile cross-country motorcycle trip she took with her husband and son. You can read an excerpt from Jane’s book in the April 2022 issue of Rider. You can buy Spirit Traffic online or at bookstores, and it’s available as an audiobook.
Links: cjanetaylor.com
Ep. 31: Alan Wilzig, motorcycle collector and owner of Wilzig Racing Manor
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Our guest on Episode 31 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Alan Wilzig. Alan is an automotive and motorcycle enthusiast who has been a semi-professional racecar driver and race team owner. He owns Wilzig Racing Manor, the largest private racetrack in the U.S., located in upstate New York. Alan has amassed an impressive collection of race cars, sports cars, and motorcycles. His collection of more than 100 motorcycles includes many Bimotas, Ducatis, KTMs, sportbikes, and racebikes. He was also an early investor in Brammo electric motorcycles. Retired from a career in banking, Alan is active in many charitable and philanthropic endeavors. He serves on the boards of the Wilzig Hospital and the Wilzig Family Foundation, and provides financial support for the Rainforest Alliance, JCP Downtown, High & Mighty, Cars for a Cause, and many other organizations.
Links: Wilzig Racing, WRM Gives, High & Mighty, Cars for a Cause
Ep. 30: Scott Moreno, owner and founder of IMTBIKE Motorcycle Tours and Rentals
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Our guest on Episode 30 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Scott Moreno, owner of IMTBIKE Motorcycle Tours and Rentals. Scott was born in New York City, raised in northern New Jersey, and has lived in Spain for the past 30 years. Scott founded IMTBIKE 25 years ago in Madrid when he purchased 8 BMW motorcycles and ran the company from his 5th story walk-up apartment in the old section of the city. IMTBIKE has since grown to include five touring and rental centers in Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid, Málaga, and Lisbon, and it now has a fleet of over 200 new BMW motorcycles and 30 employees. IMTBIKE rents motorcycles, designs and provides self-guided and guided tours, and will even store your personal motorcycle at one of its centers. IMTBIKE has earned a reputation as one of the world’s best motorcycle touring operations on the planet. IMTBIKE has an 85% repeat rate among tour clients, and in 2021 it received a Travelers Choice Best of the Best award from TripAdvisor.
Links: IMTBIKE.com, tours@imtbike.com
Ep. 29: Greg Rice, long-distance rider and Iron Butt Rally competitor
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Our guest on Episode 29 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Greg Rice, a long-distance rider who has logged more than 783,000 miles on motorcycles. He’s a member of the Iron Butt Association and has completed nearly 200,000 miles on IBA-certified rides. Greg has ridden nearly 50,000 miles in Iron Butt Rallies, and he has completed 70 Bun Burner Gold rides – on each BBG he rode more than 1,500 miles in 24 hours. We talk about how he got into long-distance riding, how he plans and prepares for each ride, what motorcycles he has ridden, what modifications he makes to his bikes, and what gear and apparel he uses. If you’ve ever wanted to do an Iron Butt ride, listen to Greg’s advice on how to do so safely and successfully. Visit his website for useful tips and to find out “where’s Greg?” using his SpotWalla tracker.
Links: gregrice.com
Ep. 28: Brian Case, Director of the Barber Advanced Design Center
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Our guest on Episode 28 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Brian Case. Brian is an industrial designer is the former Chief Designer for Confederate Motorcycles. From 2008 to 2018, he was Co-Founder and Design Director for Motus Motorcycles, where he led the design and development of the MST V-4 sport-tourer. Brian joined the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in 2019, and last year he became the Director of the new Barber Advanced Design Center. He and his team are working with Pierre Terblanche on the Mono Project, a reimagining of Terblanche’s iconic, ’90s-era Ducati Supermono racebike using state-of-the-art techniques such as 3D printing.
Links: Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Barber Museum YouTube Channel
Ep. 27: Steven Goode, long-distance motorcyclist who completed the Great American Deli Schlep
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Our guest is Steven Goode, a lifelong motorcyclist who has completed impressive long-distance motorcycle tours. In recent years, Steven rode 14,000 miles to the four corners of the U.S., 11,500 miles to visit all the lower 48 states, and 17,000 miles to visit nearly every national park America (read his story “One Ride, 47 National Parks” in the July 2021 issue of Rider, or on ridermagazine.com). This past summer, Steven embarked on a 75-day, 15,000-mile ride around the country to visit the best Jewish deli in nearly every state. His journey became known as the “Great American Deli Schlep” and he raised nearly $20,000 for MAZON, a nonprofit organization that fights hunger. You can read about Steven’s deli tour in the December 2021 issue of Rider (click here to subscribe) and on his blog (greatamericandelischlep.medium.com). Even though Steven’s trip is over, MAZON’s mission is not. Please consider making a donation at: mazon.org/delischlep.
Ep. 26: Nancy Gerloff and Mark Augustyn, creators of Mimi and Moto: The Motorcycle Monkeys
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Our guests are Nancy Gerloff and Mark Augustyn, the husband-and-wife team behind Mimi and Moto: The Motorcycle Monkeys, the children’s book series that introduces little kids to the world of motorcycles. Their first book, “The Adventures of Mimi and Moto: The Motorcycle Monkeys,” was published in 2016. In 2019, Nancy and Mark released their second book, “Mimi and Moto Ride the Alphabet.” That same year, Mimi and Moto took First Place at the Motorcycle Industry Council’s “Gas Tank” competition at AIMExpo in Columbus, Ohio. This year they have made available a pre-release, text-only version of their latest book in a new series, “Mimi and Moto’s Magical Meteors: First Gear,” and plan to release the hardcover early in 2022. All of the Mimi and Moto books, as well as T-shirts, Snuggle Monkeys, Christmas ornaments, and stickers, are available at mimiandmoto.com.
Links: mimiandmoto.com
Ep. 25: Jess Stone, designer of the K9 Moto Cockpit and founder of Ruffly
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Our guest is Jess Stone, founder of Ruffly, a company that offers ethically made outdoor dog gear, such as collars, leashes, harnesses, and beds. Jess and her husband, Greg, started Ruffly after developing the K9 Moto Cockpit to carry their German Shepard, Moxie, on the back of Jess’ BMW G 650 GS. The K9 Moto Cockpit allowed Jess, Greg, and Moxie to enjoy motorcycle adventures throughout Mexico and Central America, and it is available through the Ruffly website. In 2022, Jess, Greg, and Moxie will travel around the world by motorcycle to raise funds for Girl Up, an organization that provides leadership development programs for girls in 130 countries and all 50 states. Their goal is to raise at least $100,000 to support girls’ empowerment. You can find out more and donate through the link below.
Links: goruffly.com/world-adventure, girlup.org
Episode 24: Eddie Braun, Hollywood stuntman who completed Evel Knievel’s Snake River Canyon jump
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Our guest is Eddie Braun, a Hollywood stuntman who has worked on hundreds of TV shows and feature films, including The Avengers, Transformers, and the Rush Hour trilogy. In 2016, Braun successfully flew a steam-powered rocket over Snake River Canyon, completing the ultimate stunt that defeated legendary daredevil Evel Knievel in 1974. Braun did the stunt in “Evel Spirit,” a rocket rebuilt using engineer Bob Truax’s original design for Knievel’s SkyCycle, with the only change being a modification to the parachute. Braun’s 10,000-horsepower rocket reached 439 mph in 3 seconds and hit 8 Gs, soaring 3,000 feet across the canyon. Braun’s epic journey was chronicled in “Stuntman,” a documentary executive produced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Dany Garcia, featuring a never-before released clip of rock guitarist Slash playing “Rocket Man” in support of Eddie. “Stuntman” is available on Disney+.
Links: Stuntman on Disney+, Eddie Braun on IMDb
Episode 23: Ryan McFarland, founder and CEO of Strider Bikes and All Kids Bike advocate
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Our guest is Ryan McFarland, the founder and CEO of Strider Bikes, a company whose mission is to build lightweight, efficient, all-terrain bikes that develop two-wheeled balance, coordination, and confidence in children. McFarland built the first Strider Bike in his garage for his son, Bode. The company was founded in Rapid City, South Dakota, in 2007, and since then has sold more than 3 million bikes to families around the world. In 2014, the company established the Strider Rider Fund, which commits 1% of gross revenue to benevolence. In 2018, the Strider Education Foundation launched All Kids Bike, a nonprofit whose mission is to teach every child in America how to ride a bike in kindergarten PE class. As we all know, when you learn to ride a bike when you’re young, you’re more likely to graduate to a motorcycle when you get older!
Links: StriderBikes.com, AllKidsBike.org
Episode 22: Americade live interview with rally leaders Bill, Gini, and Christian Dutcher
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We conducted our latest podcast interview with a live audience at the Americade rally, held September 20-25, 2021, in Lake George, New York. Rider’s Editor-in-Chief Greg Drevenstedt interviewed the founders Bill and Gini Dutcher, and their son Christian, who is the Director of Americade, the Touratech DirtDaze Adventure Bike Rally, and Rolling Thru America. The first Americade rally, then called Aspencade East, was held in 1983 on the scenic shores of Lake George, nestled in the Adirondacks of upstate New York. The first event was a runaway success, and the event has grown steadily over the years to become the world’s largest touring rally. The Dutcher family talks about what the rally was like in the early days, and why motorcyclists from around the country return to Americade year after year. This is a special episode you don’t want to miss!
Links: Americade.com
Episode 21: Peter Starr, motorcycle filmmaker, author, and MotoStarr podcast host
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Our guest is Peter Starr, who is an international ambassador for motorcycling. He’s an award-winning filmmaker who has made motorcycle documentaries, TV shows, and commercials, and his 1979 film “Take It to the Limit” is a classic documentary about motorcycle racing. Peter has published articles in most major motorcycle magazines, and he’s the author of two books, including “Motorcycle Traveler,” about his experiences riding motorcycles in 12 countries as part of living a purposeful life. Peter also hosts the MotoStarr video podcast series, and he has interviewed legendary motorcycle racers such as Freddie Spencer, Eddie Lawson, Kenny Roberts, and many others. Peter has been recognized for his achievements with numerous awards as well as being inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame and Trailblazers Hall of Fame.
Links: MotoStarr.com
Episode 20: Jon DelVecchio, founder of Street Skills and author of “Cornering Confidence”
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Our guest is Jon DelVecchio, founder of Street Skills and author of “Cornering Confidence: The Formula for 100% Control in Curves.” By applying Jon’s techniques, motorcyclists gain more confidence and enjoyment in the curves. He’s a real-world rider who started riding motorcycles after starting a family and got hooked on sport riding. His need for self-preservation fueled skill development, and he served as an MSF RiderCoach for a decade and studied more advanced riding techniques. Jon shares his experience with fellow riders in his in-person and online Street Skills riding improvement courses and in his book, which is available in paperback and on Kindle. Jon’s Trail Braking Camp solves the mystery of this “secret weapon” technique.
Links: CorneringConfidence.com
Episode 19: Lauren Trantham, founder of Ride My Road
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Our guest is Lauren Trantham, founder of Ride My Road. In 2016, Lauren set out on a 10,000-mile solo motorcycle journey across the United States to photograph American survivors of human trafficking. She founded Ride My Road to reach as many people as possible about the realities of human trafficking in America. The organization has raised over $160,000 for survivor-led organizations, hosted dozens of events across the country, and educated thousands of motorcyclists. Ride My Road hosts F.A.S.T. (Fight Against Sex Trafficking) Ride charity events and the #Survivorbike™ Series (volunteer builders restore old bikes and donate them for fundraising giveaways), and it recently launched Disruptors University.
Links: RideMyRoad.org
Episode 18: Keith Code, founder and director of California Superbike School
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Our guest is Keith Code, founder and director of California Superbike School, which has trained more than 150,000 students over the past 40 years, with track schools throughout the U.S., the U.K. and Australia. Sixty-five world and national championships have been won by racers trained by Keith Code or his coaches, and champions such as Wayne Rainey and James Toseland have used Code’s methodology. Code has been a regular columnist in Motorcyclist magazine, and he’s the author of several books including “A Twist of the Wrist” and “The Soft Science of Road Racing Motorcycles.” California Superbike School holds training from February through November at tracks throughout the U.S.
Links: SuperbikeSchool.com
Episode 17: Valerie Thompson, World’s Fastest Female Motorcycle Racer
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Our guest is Valerie Thompson, a professional drag racer and land-speed racer who holds the title of “World’s Fastest Female Motorcycle Racer.” She holds eight land-speed records and is a member of the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame, seven 200 MPH clubs, and one 300 MPH club. In 2018, she piloted the BUB 7 Streamliner to a record speed of 328.467 mph and is the only female rider featured on the “World’s Top 10 Fastest Motorcycle Riders” list. At the 2021 Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials in August she will attempt to break the motorcycle land speed record of 376.363 mph. Valerie’s quest to become the world’s fastest motorcycle racer is the subject of the upcoming film documentary, “Rockets and Titans.”
Links: ValerieThompsonRacing.com
Episode 16: Wayne Rainey, president of MotoAmerica and motorcycle racing legend
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Our guest is Wayne Rainey, president of MotoAmerica and a motorcycle racing legend. Rainey is a 2-time AMA Superbike champion (1983, 1987) and 3-time Grand Prix World Champion (1990-1992) in the premier 500cc class. In 1999 he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, and in 2000 FIM named Rainey a Grand Prix Legend. Rainey is the president of MotoAmerica, which has managed and promoted the AMA Superbike series since 2015. We discuss Rainey’s racing career, MotoAmerica’s efforts to grow U.S. motorcycle racing, and MotoAmerica’s different classes, including Honos Superbike and Mission King of the Baggers. The GEICO MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest will be July 9-11 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. Tickets are available online, and racing coverage can be streamed on MotoAmerica Live+ or watched on Fox Sports FS2 and MAVTV. Check out the MotoAmerica website for details.
Episode 15: Longhaulpaul, Chasing the Cure: a million-mile motorcycle journey for MS
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Our guest is Longhaulpaul (Paul Pelland), a long-distance motorcyclist who is Chasing the Cure: riding one million miles to raise money and awareness for multiple sclerosis (MS). Paul is a two-time Iron Butt Rally finisher (2001 and 2003). In 2005 he was diagnosed with MS, and in 2012 he began his mission to document riding one million miles. In the past eight years he has ridden 450,000 miles, raised $200,000 for charity, set three world records, and shared his story at over 250 events across the U.S. In July he will embark on his Nut on a Bolt ride: riding coast to coast in 50 hours on a custom Yamaha Star Bolt chopper. You can meet Longhaulpaul at all nine Progressive IMS Outdoors events in 2021. You can follow, donate, or support him via his website.
Links: Longhaulpaul.com, NutOnABolt.com, MotorcycleShows.com
Episode 14: Andy Goldfine, Aerostich founder and Ride to Work Day advocate
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Our guest is Andy Goldfine, founder of Aerostich and inventor of the iconic Roadcrafter textile motorcycle suit. Andy is also event organizer for the International Motorcycle and Scooter Ride to Work Day, which takes place each year on the third Monday in June. The 30th annual event is scheduled for June 21, 2021. We talk about how Andy became a motorcyclist, what motivated him to invent the Roadcrafter, how products are selected for the Aerostich catalog, why motorcycling is a social good, the advantages of lane splitting/sharing, and other topics.
Links: Aerostich, Ride to Work Day
Episode 13: Dr. Gregory W. Frazier, America’s #1 extreme motorcycle adventurer
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Our guest is Dr. Gregory W. Frazier, who has traveled around the world six times on a motorcycle, including once with a passenger. He has ridden motorcycles on six continents, with well over 1,000,000 miles on his personal odometer. Dr. Frazier is a prolific author, photographer, and filmmaker, with 16 books, hundreds of articles, and 10 films to his credit. We talk about his new book, “Adventure Motorcyclist: Frazier Shrugged” (available through Sound Rider!), his circumnavigations of the globe, his pick for adventure motorcycle of the year, and other topics.
Links: Sound Rider!
Episode 12: Daniel Calderon, Curator of Exhibitions at SFO Museum
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Our guest is Daniel Calderon, Curator of Exhibitions at SFO Museum in the San Francisco International Airport. The museum’s “Early American Motorcycles” exhibit features 14 vintage motorcycles built before 1916, with examples from Harley-Davidson, Indian, Flying Merkel, Curtiss, Pierce and more. We discuss the inspiration for the exhibit, how Calderon and his team sourced the motorcycles, artifacts and memorabilia, and the photos and history documented in the exhibit’s catalog, which is available on the SFO Museum website. The exhibit runs through September 2021.
Links: SFOMuseum.org
Episode 11: Peter Jones, motojournalist and author of The Bad Editor
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Our guest is Peter Jones, a veteran motojournalist who writes “The Moto Life” column in Rider magazine. Peter recently published “The Bad Editor: Collected Columns and Untold Tales of Bad Behavior,” a book that tells the inside story of a journalist’s life in the U.S. motorcycle industry through 30 collected columns and 19 new tales of revealing bad behavior. We discuss embarrassing moments at motorcycle press launches, what it feels like to go 200 mph on a motorcycle, and much more.
Links: TheBadEditor.com
Episode 10: Christian Dutcher, Director of Americade and Touratech DirtDaze Rally
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Our guest is Christian Dutcher, Director of Americade, the Touratech DirtDaze Adventure Bike Rally and Rolling Thru America, a motorcycle tour company focusing on the Eastern U.S. Americade is the World’s Largest Touring Rally and takes place each year in Lake George, New York. Due to the pandemic, Americade was cancelled in 2020 and will move from June to September in 2021. We discuss what makes Americade such a special event, from the scenic rides and huge vendor area to the entertainment and family-friendly atmosphere.
Links: Americade, Touratech DirtDaze Rally, Rolling Thru America
Episode 9: Melissa Holbrook Pierson, author of The Perfect Vehicle
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Our guest is Melissa Holbrook Pierson, author of “The Perfect Vehicle: What It Is About Motorcycles,” widely considered one of the best motorcycle books ever written. Pierson is also the author of “The Man Who Would Stop at Nothing: Long-Distance Motorcycling’s Endless Road,” and she recently published an edited anthology, “Motorcycles Are Magic.” We discuss Pierson’s books, her love of Moto Guzzis, what it’s like to complete a SaddleSore 1000 and other topics.
Links: Melissa Holbrook Pierson
Episode 8: Rainer Buck, Edelweiss Bike Travel
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Our guest is Rainer Buck, Managing Director of Edelweiss Bike Travel, a global motorcycle tour operator based in Mieming, Austria. We discuss what organized motorcycle tours are all about, from destinations to motorcycle selection to preparation to ensure you have the trip of a lifetime. Rider magazine has partnered with Edelweiss for a special “Best of Greece” tour, October 10-23, 2021, and Rainer gives us the inside scoop on riding in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. What better way to shake off any lingering pandemic blues than a bucket-list motorcycle adventure?
Links: Edelweiss Bike Travel, Best of Greece Tour Page, Rider Magazine Tour Booking Link
Episode 7: Michael Lock, CEO of AMA Pro Racing
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Our guest is Michael Lock, CEO of AMA Pro Racing, which includes Progressive American Flat Track as well as national hillclimb, motocross and ATV race series. Flat track racing is America’s original extreme sport, with more than a century of adrenaline-fueled history. We discuss manufacturer rivalries, legendary motorcycles and racers, and iconic tracks like the Springfield Mile. Michael gives us the low-down on Mission SuperTwins, AFT Production Twins and AFT Singles, as well as Mile, Half-Mile, Short Track and TT track formats. And he gives us a preview of the 2021 AFT season, which kicks off with a doubleheader on March 12-13 at Volusia Speedway Park during Daytona Bike Week.
Links: American Flat Track, NBC Sports Track Pass, AFT on NBCSN, AMA Pro Racing
Episode 6: Alonzo Bodden, comedian and motorcycle enthusiast
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Our guest is Alonzo Bodden, who has been a comedian for more than 20 years and rode his first motorcycle at age 7. Bodden’s stand-up special “Heavy Lightweight” is available on Amazon Prime Video, and he’s a regular panelist on NPR’s “Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me.” He has done stand-up at clubs, festivals and events around the world, including motorcycle rallies such as Americade and BMWMOA. Bodden has been a guest on late-night talk shows and had roles in numerous TV shows and movies. A car and motorcycle aficionado, Bodden hosted Speed Channel’s “101 Cars You Must Drive” and Travel Channel’s “America’s Worst Driver,” and he has joined Jay Leno for several trips on his CNBC series “Leno’s Garage.”
Links: AlonzoBodden.com, @zofunny on Instagram, Alonzo Bodden: Heavy Lightweight on Amazon Prime
Episode 5: Paul D’Orléans, motorcycle historian, curator and publisher of TheVintagent.com
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Our guest is Paul D’Orléans, a globally recognized expert on the history of motorcycles and motorcycle culture. He curated “Silver Shotgun: Italian Motorcycle Design of the 1960s and 1970s,” an exhibit currently on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum, and Paul’s feature about the exhibit is in the February 2021 issue of Rider. He curated two other motorcycle exhibits for the Petersen, “Custom Revolution” in 2018 and “Electric Revolution” in 2019, and a new exhibit called “ADV:Overland” will open in 2021. Paul is publisher of TheVintagent.com, president of the Motorcycle Arts Foundation, an NBCSN commentator during the annual Mecum Las Vegas motorcycle auctions and host of events like the Quail Motorcycle Gathering and Wheels & Waves. Paul has written, edited or contributed to more than a dozen books, including “Ton Up! A Century of Café Racer Speed and Style,” “The Chopper; the Real Story,” “The Ride” and “The Impossible Collection of Motorcycles,” and he has been a contributor to numerous motorcycle and lifestyle magazines. A renaissance man in every sense of the word, Paul is also an avid motorcycle collector, a past participant in Motorcycle Cannonball, an artist, photographer and filmmaker.
Links: TheVintagent.com, Petersen Automotive Museum, “Silver Shotgun” feature in Rider
Episode 4: Interview with Eric Trow, author of Riding Well and owner, Stayin’ Safe Motorcycle Training
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Join the editors of Rider magazine for Episode 4 of our podcast. It kicks off with some news about the motorcycle industry, the fate of the Progressive International Motorcycle Shows during the pandemic this year and new bikes here and on the way, like the BMW R 18 and Triumph Trident. Then longtime Rider contributor Eric Trow joins the show to discuss his Stayin’ Safe Motorcycle Training program, several vital aspects of keeping safe while you’re out on the road and, of course, what and where he enjoys riding from home in Pennsylvania. Enjoy the show!
Episode 3: Interview with Clement Salvadori, traveling motorcyclist and Rider magazine contributor
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Join the editors of Rider magazine for Episode 3 of our podcast. We kick it off with some news about Triumph’s very limited Scrambler 1200 James Bond Edition and the availability of Android Auto for 2018 and newer Honda Gold Wing GL1800s. Kawasaki will also manufacture cylinder heads for certain vintage Z1, Z900, and Z1000 models from the 1970s. After the news we talk with Clement Salvadori about his amazing life and background as a ’round-the-world traveling motojournalist and contributor to Rider magazine since the late 1980s. Check it out!
Episode 2: Interview with Kevin Wing, motorsports and Rider magazine photographer
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We kick off Episode 2 with some news about Covid-19’s effect on the motorcycle industry, and a short report on BMW’s new R 18 cruiser with the Big Boxer engine. Rolling on, photographer Kevin Wing shares a few interesting stories, tips, and secrets from his 30-year career as a motorsports photographer for the motorcycle, automotive, and aviation industries, including shooting for Rider magazine for nearly 25 years.
Episode 1: Discover the Ride at the Progressive International Motorcycle Shows
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The first Rider Magazine Insider podcast kicks off with a lively discussion among the editors about some of the new-for-2020 bikes coming our way, including the Triumph Tiger 900s, Suzuki V-Strom 1050 and controversial Suzuki Katana. Then we jump into an interesting and informative interview with Robert Pandya, the Manager of the Discover the Ride program at this season’s Progressive International Motorcycle Shows. Check it out!
