Podcast 630: Sportsters Are Cool, No Really

On this week's motorcycle podcast we discuss a bunch of topics including ADV bikes, old Harleys in Jake 2.0's truck, teaching military personnel how to ride and the goings on in the garage. Featuring Naked Jim, Miss Emma, Stumpy John, Neal, Jake 2.0 and Tim. womenridersworldrelay.com/ wima-usa.com/2025-international-rally/ www.motorcyclesandmisfits.com [email protected] www.patreon.com/motorcyclesandmisfits www.zazzle.com/store/recyclegarage www.youtube.com/channel/UC3wKZSP0J9FBGB79169ciew adifferentagenda.com/products/the-lost-tribe-25 motorcyclesandmisfits.com/shop Join our Discord at discord.gg/hpRZcucHCT

Harley Davidson Sportster; the red headed step child of the motorcycle world. Harley people think they are "beginner" or "girl's bikes", and non Harley riders just think it's a Hardley. So where do they belong? In the sports category as HD has them? As an 883cc beginner bike? Here's the thing, they have an interesting history and a race lineage to boot. For a cruiser they are pretty nimble and fun, and as Chris has proven on 4-1/2 Iron Butt Rallies, they can be long distance bikes. In fact, they can be anything you want them to be. Vintage, chopper, flat tracker, tourer or even cafe racer. So why are the older bikes so cheap right now? We find many examples across the country of Sportsters for sale right now, at Honda Shadow prices. So I can't believe I'm saying this, but you need to buy a Sportster, right now. Give a listen and see if we convince you. With Liza, Stumpy John, Miss Emma, Neal and Chris Comly. https://womenridersworldrelay.com/ https://wima-usa.com/2025-international-rally/ www.motorcyclesandmisfits.com [email protected] www.patreon.com/motorcyclesandmisfits www.zazzle.com/store/recyclegarage www.youtube.com/channel/UC3wKZSP0J9FBGB79169ciew adifferentagenda.com/products/the-lost-tribe-25 motorcyclesandmisfits.com/shop Join our Discord at discord.gg/hpRZcucHCT

Ride reports. Boy have we got them. Emma took a trip up to the Avenue of the Giants on her trusty RF800, aka 'Rufus' where she encountered a frightful situation. Scottie rode up to Washington for the Dreamroll rally, where apparently everyone rides topless. Liza took a ride up to SF and on her way back, became trapped for hours in the middle of the night due to a horrific accident up ahead. Fortunately she made it home safely, but it brought up everyone's stories of their own encounters on Hwy 17, aka Blood Alley. Next up we talk about Things We Love, which include Icon gloves, Bombay Gin, a hair sack and other interesting things. And lastly we read a listener email from Matty whose shopping for a new bike that has more RAAAWR. With Liza, Neal, Miss Emma, Scottie and Bagel. www.motorcyclesandmisfits.com [email protected] www.patreon.com/motorcyclesandmisfits www.zazzle.com/store/recyclegarage www.youtube.com/channel/UC3wKZSP0J9FBGB79169ciew adifferentagenda.com/products/the-lost-tribe-25 motorcyclesandmisfits.com/shop Join our Discord at discord.gg/hpRZcucHCT

Cyril Williams was an Isle of Man TT racer, riding his AJS to victory in 1920. The TT is known as one of the most dangerous races in the world, yet this paled in comparison to what he experienced just a couple of years before. During the World War 1, TT racers were brought in with their race bikes to serve as dispatch riders, risking their lives by outrunning bullets to insure critical messages were delivered to and from the front the lines. Sarah Williams, the great granddaughter of Cyril, is a filmmaker who is bringing his and the other riders stories to the big screen. Narrated by Charley Boorman, this film has all the makings of a riveting story that has yet to be told, and you can be a part of it too. Sarah has a kickstarter raising funds to get the film made, and needs your help. Go to https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/acrosstheline/across-the-line-war-heroes-of-the-tt-with-charley-boorman to contribute. Following this, Emma gifts us with a History Hole on AJS motorcycles, which have had many lives in the past 115 years. And lastly, we finish with listener emails. With Liza, Miss Emma, Sparky, Craigzilla and Bagel. www.motorcyclesandmisfits.com [email protected] www.patreon.com/motorcyclesandmisfits www.zazzle.com/store/recyclegarage www.youtube.com/channel/UC3wKZSP0J9FBGB79169ciew adifferentagenda.com/products/the-lost-tribe-25 motorcyclesandmisfits.com/shop Join our Discord at discord.gg/hpRZcucHCT

Welcome to another rousing episode of our show. We got the band back together, and have a lot of catching up to do. Liza is back from England, and went to some really cool places, including the Sidecarcross World Championship and the Bike Shed Show. Meanwhile, Emma and Neil were at the Quail Motorcycle Gathering and have their own stories to tell. Liza introduces a new game called "Read My Mind" where we have to guess the spirit animal of certain bikes. Play along at home. Vinnie joins us for the first time to tell us about his role doing volunteer trail maintenance at Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area. It's hard work, and we all appreciate those that volunteer to keep our trails safe and fun. Lastly, we read some listener emails and answer some questions. With Neil, Liza, Stumpy John, Miss Emma, Vinnie, Cat, Naked Jim and Bagel. www.motorcyclesandmisfits.com [email protected] www.patreon.com/motorcyclesandmisfits www.zazzle.com/store/recyclegarage www.youtube.com/channel/UC3wKZSP0J9FBGB79169ciew adifferentagenda.com/products/the-lost-tribe-25 motorcyclesandmisfits.com/shop Join our Discord at discord.gg/hpRZcucHCT

From our listener submissions for our Insta 360 camera contest, it seems as if the critters are out to get us! On this motorcycle podcast we discuss garage happenings and Naked Jim and Stumpy John's recent high desert adventures. Miss Emma gives us a short lesson on anti-lock brakes. We also read the submissions we received from our contest. So many great stories! While all submissions were great, we picked a winner! Featuring Miss Emma, Bagel, Douglas, Naked Jim, Neil and Stumpy John www.motorcyclesandmisfits.com [email protected] www.patreon.com/motorcyclesandmisfits www.zazzle.com/store/recyclegarage www.youtube.com/channel/UC3wKZSP0J9FBGB79169ciew adifferentagenda.com/products/the-lost-tribe-25 motorcyclesandmisfits.com/shop Join our Discord at discord.gg/hpRZcucHCT

Liza is off riding the mountains of Pakistan again, so it's her turn to pick a favorite from the archives, and it doesn't get much better than Debbie Evans Leavitt. She's a 7 time Taurus World Stunt Award winner, she's in the AMA Hall of Fame and the Hollywood Stunt Hall of Fame. She's got almost 400 movie and TV credits to her name, and was also one of the best trials riders in the world. But for us her most notable job has been that of Trinity on the Ducati in Matrix Revolutions which I believe to be the best motorcycle stunt in the movies ever done. Debbie tells us about her dad that got her into riding when she was six, some of the highs and lows of her career, and her whole family that shares in her love of motorcycles and stunts. Enjoy! https://www.debbieevans.com/ www.motorcyclesandmisfits.com [email protected] www.patreon.com/motorcyclesandmisfits motorcyclesandmisfits.com/shop Join our Discord at discord.gg/hpRZcucHCT

Liza is joined by special co-host Wendy Crockett, who has just returned from a Vintage Rides tour of Nepal. The trip was supposed to be an easy tour with 90% paved roads, but due to weather and earthquakes, plans changed. Heather joins us to share her experience as a rider with little off road experience, and how she met the challenges and came back a more confident rider. If only she could've gotten off road training before the trip, which is exactly what Vintage Rides offers. Alex joins us from France to talk about the Vintage Ride Academy tours they offer, one in France and the other in Wales. 1 day of training followed by 1 or 2 days of exploring the nearby dirt roads is the perfect way to better your riding skills, and prepare yourself for an adventure to one of the over 20 locations Vintage Rides offers. Steve from Be Crash Free in Idaho joins us to talk about the partnership with Vintage Rides that brings us to the big news; Academy USA. That's right! You can now book an off road training class, followed by 2 days of exploring the dirt roads in the Boise mountains with none other than Liza and Wendy as your coaches. We are so excited to start this new chapter in our lives, and to give riders the tools needed to enjoy an off road adventure. Book it now at https://www.becrashfree.com/vra With Liza and Wendy https://www.vintagerides.com/gb/ www.motorcyclesandmisfits.com [email protected] www.patreon.com/motorcyclesandmisfits www.zazzle.com/store/recyclegarage www.youtube.com/channel/UC3wKZSP0J9FBGB79169ciew adifferentagenda.com/products/the-lost-tribe-25 motorcyclesandmisfits.com/shop Join our Discord at discord.gg/hpRZcucHCT

The One Moto Show in Portland is one of the best motorcycle shows ever, and we can't wait every year for it to come around. With the perfect blend of bikes, music, art and food, you can spend days here and still find some new interesting thing you somehow missed before. And the bikes are a true testament to the love of all things 2 wheeled (and three, four and maybe six). We got some great interviews with bike builders Carey Hart, Don Neely and Doug McMahon, reps from Gates, Kawasaki and Icon, and painter Theresa Contreras. Check it out and enjoy! With Liza, Bagel, Neal and Stumpy John. www.motorcyclesandmisfits.com [email protected] www.patreon.com/motorcyclesandmisfits www.zazzle.com/store/recyclegarage www.youtube.com/channel/UC3wKZSP0J9FBGB79169ciew adifferentagenda.com/products/the-lost-tribe-25 motorcyclesandmisfits.com/shop Join our Discord at discord.gg/hpRZcucHCT

It's that time of year once again for one of our favorite events, the Quail Motorcycle Gathering. Re-badged as the Quail MotoFest, this will be year 15 for this concours d'elegance style motorcycle show. With everything from vintage bikes to race bikes, customs, scooters, minibikes, dirtbikes and show winning restorations, you'll find it all at the Quail. Gordon McCall joins us to let us know more about the name change, this year's marque's, what to expect, and of course we spring a game on him to test how well he knows his bikes. Find out more at https://www.peninsula.com/en/signature-events/events/motorcycle/2025/event-overview Next up we are joined by Michael Shabun from Insta360, who is here to tell us about the brand new Insta360 X5 camera. In fact, Insta360 was nice enough to give us an X5 with the motorcycle bundle to give away to a listener. To enter, just send us your story about an incident on your motorcycle that you wish you had filmed, because the story is too great to believe without proof. Send it to [email protected], and the winner will be picked by Miss Emma at the end of May. https://www.insta360.com/ With Liza, Stumpy John, Miss Emma, Neal, Naked Jim and Bagel. www.motorcyclesandmisfits.com [email protected] www.patreon.com/motorcyclesandmisfits www.zazzle.com/store/recyclegarage www.youtube.com/channel/UC3wKZSP0J9FBGB79169ciew adifferentagenda.com/products/the-lost-tribe-25 motorcyclesandmisfits.com/shop Join our Discord at discord.gg/hpRZcucHCT