Motos and Friends from Ultimate Motorcycle magazine

Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition + Joe Begelfer

This week, Senior Editor Nic de Sena has just returned from the sunny South Africa launch of the new Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition. There are a host of upgrades from the standard Norden 901, and Nic gives us his thoughts on those, and how they affect the bike’s overall performance off-road and on. 

  

You must be familiar with the iconic Suzuki Hayabusa, one of the most exciting sportbikes ever made. For 2023, the Hayabusa is even faster, and the most technologically advanced version ever. Visit suzukicycles.com to learn more, or of course get down to your local Suzuki dealer and check it out in person. Pictures do NOT do it justice!

 

In our second segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with Joe Begelfer. Joe was born in the Ukraine back when it was part of the old USSR, and he came to the US with his parents as a small child. Joe’s passion is for vintage and classic BMW boxer-twin motorcycles, and his collection includes some rare birds indeed. Joe is a real rider, and every one of the bikes in his collection is a real rider too. Joe’s prodigious knowledge and infectious enthusiasm about these quirky, older machines is fun to listen to. So from all of us here at Motos and Friends—we hope you enjoy this episode!

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!

Beta Xtrainer + Ashley Lusky of Kickstands Up

This week, Editor Don Williams somewhat reluctantly rides the Beta Xtrainer 300 off-road bike. The Beta is a bit of an odd beast. It’s a not-quite-full-sized 2-stroke dirt bike, designed to be a little less intimidating than a full-sized machine. Previous years’ versions were hampered by less-than-stellar suspension. So a highly skeptical Don rode the 2023 model to see if any of the issues have been addressed.   

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We’re all familiar with the Suzuki Hayabusa—one of the most iconic sportbikes ever. However, the latest 2023 version is now faster, and easily the most technologically advanced Hayabusa ever. Check it out at your local Suzuki dealer now, or visit suzukicycles.com to learn more—you won’t be disappointed!

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In our second segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with Ashley Lusky, co-founder of Kickstands Up, the one place where riders of every style can connect to all the motorcycle rides, races, meetups and rallies in their area. Ashley is a long-time off-road rider, yet she still doesn’t consider herself an expert. She recently returned from a serious ADV trip to Baja, California, and she and Teejay chat about the challenges for young women learning to ride off-road.

So from all of us here at Motos and Friends—we hope you enjoy this episode!

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...

Indian Sport Chief + Steve ”the Sky’s the Limit fixer” Sims

This week, Associate Editor Gary Ilminen gleefully ventured forth from his snow-swamped home in Wisconsin to Austin, Texas, where he had the opportunity to take the all-new Indian Sport Chief for a long ride. The new Sport Chief is a slimmer, cruiser, and as its name implies, it has a definite sporting side to it.

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Have you looked at the 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa yet? One of the most iconic sportbikes ever, it’s faster and the most technologically advanced Hayabusa ever. Check it out in person at your local Suzuki dealer now, or visit suzukicycles.com to learn more.

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In our second segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with Steve Sims. He’s a well known motivational speaker, coach, and author of 'Go for Stupid;  The Art of Achieving Ridiculous Goals'. Steve is best known as the ‘sky’s the limit’ fixer who provided elite concierge services to some of the world’s wealthiest and most influential people. That heady list includes John Travolta, Elon Musk, Steven Tyler, Ricard Branson, and many, many others. He laughingly describes those 25 years as “spending billionaires’ money to give them more interesting cocktail hour stories”. He’s a serious motorcycle rider who has a fascinating set of stories to tell. So sit back, and prepare to be entertained!

For more info on Steve: SteveDSims.com  

Instagram & YouTube: @stevedsims

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!

 

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Triumph 765 RS + Patrick ’Buzz’ Hayes and the ”Iron Lilly” movie

In our first segment, Senior Editor Nic De Sena has just returned from Jerez, Spain, where he was riding the new Triumph Street Triple 765 R and RS models. These bikes have had significant upgrades and Nic got to ride them both on the track and on the surrounding roads.

Have you looked at the 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa yet? One of the most iconic sportbikes ever, it’s faster and the most technologically advanced Hayabusa ever. Check it out in person at your local Suzuki dealer now, or visit suzukicycles.com to learn more.

In our second segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with Patrick ‘Buzz’ Hayes. He’s a life long motorcycle rider and powersports photographer, and he is now involved in the raising of funds and the production of an upcoming documentary movie about Lilly Farrow—the founder of A.D. Farrow, America’s oldest Harley-Davidson dealer.  ‘Iron Lilly’ will bring the incredible story of Lilly to the big screen, highlighting the trials, tribulations, and ultimate amazing success of a lady who overcame such obstacles to take care of her family.

If you’re interested in investing in the movie, check it out at WeFunder

So from all of us at Ultimate Motorcycling—we hope you enjoy this episode of Motos and Friends!

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!

 

New Suzuki V-Strom 800DE + Cat MacLeod of Leod Escapes

In our first segment, Editor Don Williams has just returned from Sardinia, Italy, where he was riding the Suzuki V-Strom 800DE. This is the all new, upper-middleweight ADV machine that features—among many other things—the new Suzuki 775cc parallel-twin motor. This highly anticipated motorcycle from the big S has a lot of depth to talk about, and Don reviews the bike completely, giving us his impressions both off-pavement and on.

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Have you looked at the 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa yet? One of the most iconic sportbikes ever, it’s faster and the most technologically advanced Hayabusa ever. Check it out in person at your local Suzuki dealer now, or visit suzukicycles.com to learn more.

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Cat MacLeod, owner of Leod Escapes, gets to chat with Associate Editor Teejay Adams in our second segment. If you Google ‘hedonism’, it doesn’t actually mention Leod Escapes, but judging by Cat’s description of some of his magical MotoGP track-riding tours and associated antics, Google really should include it. Can you think of any better way to spend two weeks than three days of riding a legendary MotoGP circuit, while being coached by World Superbike legend Troy Corser—and then getting to tour the local spectacular area, all the while, staying in upscale hotels and eating the best food?

Cat is a great story-teller and he doesn’t hold back. Fair warning: you probably should not have kids under 13 listening to this segment, so please be aware of that.

As motorcycle people we’re often accused of being ‘crazy’. I say: fair enough, we probably are. So have a listen to Cat Macleod, and go book yourself the trip of a lifetime. And no, we don’t get paid anything to say that.   

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!

Leod Escapes Italian Dream to Mugello Track & Tour

Triumph Speed Twin 900 + Mark ’The Biker’ Illuminati

Associate Editor Kelly Callan has been commuting recently on the new Triumph Speed Twin 900. It’s probably not anyone’s first choice for a commuter bike, nor is it really a canyon sportbike either. So what’s the point, and where does it fit?  Kelly gives us her thoughts and impressions of riding this retro-styled machine.

Have you looked at the 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa yet? One of the most iconic sportbikes ever, it’s faster and the most technologically advanced Hayabusa ever. Check it out in person at your local Suzuki dealer now, or visit suzukicycles.com to learn more.

In our second segment Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with Mark ‘The Biker’ Sloper—aka Mark Illuminati. This laughingly self-described ‘bionic neon sign-maker’ who keeps accidentally electrocuting himself, is a successful artist recently named as art ambassador for the cabinet office, Great Britain. His punk-inspired pieces are held by both the late Queen Elizabeth and now US President Joe Biden.

For us motorcycle peeps, ‘Biker Mark’ is possibly better known as a motorcycle documentary movie Director and Producer. Projects such as ‘I, Superbiker’ and ‘Speed is my Need’ are now include a new movie: NW200 The Real Road Race. This one follows American force-of-nature ‘Lady Racer’, Patrica Fernandez, as she attempts the bone-chilling Irish road race—the North West 200. These movies are all available on Netflix; check your local region for availability.

Self-styled “I’m just a hooligan”, Biker Mark’s creative energy and zest for living dangerously, comes across with each new revelation.  

So, from everyone here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode.

Check out NW200—The Real Road Race trailer here.

Instagram: @mark_illuminati

Book Review:  “Feel” by ‘Fast’ Freddie Spencer

If you’d like to be entered to win a signed copy of ‘Feel’ leave us a review of this Podcast in the comment section and send an email to: producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com

Kawasaki KX250X + Allan Karl author of ”Forks”

Hello everyone and welcome once again to Motos and Friends, a weekly podcast brought to you by the editors of Ultimate Motorcycling. My name is Arthur Coldwells.

I’m not sure if it’s his first love on two wheels, but it is safe to say that Editor Don Williams is a dirt-bike nut. He rode competitive Trials for over 30 years, and he and his wife ride every weekend—and sometimes more on every type of off-road machine they can lay their hands on. He now tells us of his recent experiences on the Kawasaki KX250X—a cross country dirt bike that seems to work well.     

The guest segment of Motos and Friends is brought to you by the faster and most technologically advanced, 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa—one of the most iconic sportbikes ever. Check it out in person at your local Suzuki dealer now, or visit suzukicycles.com to learn more.

In our second segment, Editor-at-Large Neale Bayly chats with Allan Karl, author of the book “Forks—A Quest for Culture, Cuisine, and Connection”.  Allan went on a 3 year-long ride around the world, across 5 Continents and 35 Countries. Actually, that number is now up to 83 Countries. In this first part of the story, Neale and Allan chat about his motivations, and a few of the adventures—and mis-adventures—on his epic journey.

So, from everyone here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode.

Buy Allan's book on Amazon here

 

Yamaha XSR900 vs XSR700 + Cait Maher

Associate Editor Teejay Adams recently attended the Yamaha Champions Riding School in Las Vegas, and she took with her the Yamaha XSR900 that she’s been riding for a while. This is the retro-style version of the MT-09, and Teejay gives us her impressions of the bike, including her thoughts versus the XSR700 that she rode previously.

The guest segment of Motos and Friends is brought to you by the faster and most technologically advanced, 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa—one of the most iconic sportbikes ever. Check it out in person at your local Suzuki dealer now, or visit suzukicycles.com to learn more.

In our second segment, Teejay chats with Cait Maher, a contributing journalist at motorcycle.com and owner of a Yamaha TW200. The two ladies met at the recent launch of Kawasaki’s dual sport KLX230s. Teejay is a total novice off-road. Cait however, although quite experienced in the dirt including her recent venture on the District 37 Barstow to Las Vegas dual-sport ride, still doesn’t consider herself an expert. Both of these girls have a positive, upbeat attitude, and their fun, energetic outlook shines through. Cait is definitely a give-it-a-go type of personality. Her take on the various challenges, experiences and adventures that she’s had make for fun listening.