Episode 7: What We Ride – Inside the Fuel Moto Garage

A dyno chart is a graph produced by a dynamometer that shows how a vehicle performs under controlled load. For motorcycles and cars, it’s commonly used to read horsepower and torque across the RPM range.

In an automotive context, tuning means adjusting engine and fuel/ignition settings to change how the vehicle runs. On modern bikes, this often involves ECU mapping and calibration to improve power, throttle response, or drivability.

Motorcycles are two-wheeled vehicles with a wide range of styles, from cruisers to sport bikes and performance builds. In this episode, the hosts use the term to frame the garage’s lineup and customer interest.

“Harley’s” refers to Harley-Davidson, the American motorcycle brand known for its cruiser styling and V-twin engines. In the lineup discussion, it signals the shop works on Harley-Davidson bikes alongside sport and performance builds.

“80s and 90s era Japanese bikes” refers to motorcycles from Japan’s major manufacturers during that decade range, which many enthusiasts associate with specific engine designs and parts availability. The host says the shop specializes in buying/selling and building/restoring those older models.

Ducati is an Italian motorcycle brand known for performance-focused engines and distinctive styling. Here it’s mentioned as part of the host’s earlier road-racing mix of Japanese and European bikes.

The Suzuki GSX-R is a long-running sportbike line known for high-revving performance and track-focused engineering. In this segment, the host specifically mentions early GSX-R models from the 1980s into the early 1990s as bikes they’ve owned and restored.

Harley-Davidson is a major American motorcycle brand strongly associated with cruiser-style bikes and a large enthusiast community. The host calls it their “bread and butter” and later discusses riding and building Harley models as part of daily garage life.

CVOST appears to be a specific custom build designation used by the shop for a Harley setup. In this context it’s paired with the “136” and described as part of a street motor build, implying a particular configuration of engine and/or components.

“Dirty Dynah” is a nickname for a particular Harley-Davidson bike in the shop’s lineup. The host calls it their most favorite Harley, suggesting it’s a standout build with a distinctive character or theme.

The Honda RC30 is a 1980s Honda superbike known for its race-bred engineering and collectible status. It’s especially notable because it was built around Honda’s V-twin racing heritage and became a benchmark for track-focused motorcycles.

The Ducati DesmoSedici is a Ducati motorcycle name tied to the brand’s MotoGP-style “desmo” valve-train identity and extreme, race-inspired engineering. It’s discussed here as a dream bike largely because it’s difficult to get and not meant for casual riding.

“Pound-for-pound” is a comparison phrase meaning “per unit of weight.” In motorcycle talk, it’s often used to argue that a bike’s performance or fun factor is unusually high relative to how heavy it is.

“Dollar-for-dollar” is a value comparison meaning “for the same amount of money.” Here it’s used to claim one bike offers better overall appeal or capability relative to its cost than the alternatives mentioned.

Long-distance endurance riding is the practice of covering very large distances over extended periods, usually emphasizing stamina, planning, and consistency rather than short bursts of speed. The host ties this to catching an “endurance riding bug” right after having their second child, which explains why the bikes they mention matter to their routine.

The Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 is a small-displacement V-twin cruiser that’s known for being approachable and easy to customize. In this episode, the host specifically mentions the 883 and that it’s the 100th anniversary edition, which matters for collectors and for how it’s presented in the garage.

The Harley-Davidson Pan America Special is Harley-Davidson’s adventure-touring motorcycle built to handle long-distance riding on mixed roads. The host uses it as their current “main bike,” and also references switching from a previous Pan America, which highlights how the bike fits their endurance-riding lifestyle.

The Harley-Davidson Pan America is the adventure-touring line the host references when they say their 2024 Pan America Special replaced their 2021 Pan Am. Mentioning the earlier Pan America provides context for how their bike progression tracks with their long-distance endurance riding.

A demobike is a motorcycle used for demonstration—often by a dealership or company—before being sold to a customer. The host mentions it as a “corporate employee demobike,” implying it was ridden in a controlled/limited way compared with a typical customer-owned bike, while still accumulating miles.

The Yamaha Seca 400 is a mid-size Yamaha motorcycle that was popular as an accessible, learner-friendly bike. Here it’s mentioned as the speaker’s first motorcycle after getting their license at 16, used to commute back and forth to high school.

The Harley-Davidson Road King is a touring cruiser built around long-distance comfort and a big, V-twin sound. In this segment, it’s the speaker’s long-term bike that’s been customized and is used as a fun, rideable platform.

A “100-inch kit” refers to a displacement upgrade on a Harley V-twin, where the engine is built to about 100 cubic inches (roughly 1.6 liters). It typically involves larger cylinders and related internal parts to increase torque and overall punch.

“12 to 1 compression” is the engine’s compression ratio, a measure of how much the air-fuel mixture is squeezed before ignition. Higher compression can improve efficiency and power, but it also makes the engine more sensitive to fuel quality and tuning.

A cam (camshaft) controls valve timing—when the intake and exhaust valves open and close. A “big” cam is usually chosen to improve breathing at higher RPM, which can make the bike feel more aggressive, but may reduce low-end smoothness.

The throttle body is the air-control housing between the intake and the engine, regulating how much air the engine can draw. A “big throttle body” is often used to reduce restriction and support higher airflow for modified engines.

“Pump gaps” likely refers to a tuning-related setup for the fuel/air delivery system—often used to describe how the bike’s intake/exhaust and fueling are configured to create a specific sound and throttle response. In this context it’s paired with horsepower, implying the build is tuned for a lively ride.

Horsepower is a unit of power that describes how quickly an engine can do work. When the speaker says it “makes 127 horsepower,” they’re summarizing the bike’s output after the engine upgrades.

A carburetor is a fuel-metering device that mixes fuel with air before it enters the engine. The speaker’s point is that carbureted bikes can require more frequent tinkering (like adjustments) compared with fuel-injected setups.

Fuel Moto is referenced as the workplace and brand identity for the podcast guest’s role in tech and sales. In this context, it signals a motorcycle-focused business rather than a general auto shop.

“100 inch” refers to the engine displacement in cubic inches, a common Harley-Davidson way of describing how large the V-twin is. “Headwork” means modifying the cylinder heads (for example, porting/valves/combustion changes) to improve airflow and combustion, typically to make more power.

“Pro pipe” is slang for an aftermarket exhaust system (“pipe”) aimed at improving performance and sound. On Harley-style builds, exhaust changes often go along with tuning so the engine runs correctly with the new airflow.

The BMW R1200GS Adventure is a dual-sport/adventure motorcycle built for long-distance riding, combining highway comfort with off-road capability. It’s especially known for its upright riding position and ability to handle mixed surfaces like gravel and dirt.

“Off-road” refers to riding on unpaved or uneven surfaces like dirt, gravel, and trails rather than maintained roads. On an adventure bike, it’s a key test of suspension travel, tire choice, and traction.

An odometer is the instrument that records how many miles (or kilometers) a vehicle has traveled. It’s commonly used to gauge wear and how much real-world use a motorcycle has seen.

The Harley-Davidson Ultra is a touring cruiser line focused on long-distance comfort and steady highway performance. The speaker highlights it as a high-mileage bike that’s been “all over,” implying it’s been used extensively rather than kept as a show bike.

The Harley-Davidson Dyna Low Rider is a cruiser-style motorcycle known for its classic V-twin character and a lower, more relaxed riding stance. In this segment, it’s discussed as a long-term project bike that hasn’t been fully reassembled.

A “roller” is a motorcycle or chassis that can roll and move under its own suspension and wheels, but is missing key components like the engine and/or drivetrain. In a project context, it usually means the bike is partway through a rebuild or restoration.

The driveline is the set of components that transmit power from the engine to the rear wheel (or final drive). Saying the driveline is “all in” implies those power-transfer parts are installed and ready, even if the bike isn’t fully finished.

This segment focuses on Lucas answering what bike he’d take for a ride and what his own riding background is. He also compares sportbikes/metric bikes to the Harley-focused work Fuel Moto does.

The BMW S1000 (as Lucas describes his 2017 BMW S1000) is a sportbike platform known for its high-performance inline-four engine and strong street/track capability. In enthusiast circles, the S1000 line is often used as a base for tuning and performance upgrades because the ECU and fueling systems respond well to calibration changes.

The KTM Super Duke is a performance naked bike built around a V-twin engine, which gives it a distinctive character compared with inline-four sportbikes. Lucas specifically calls out a 2020 Super Duke and notes that the V-twin makes it feel closer to the Harley-style riding Fuel Moto builds.

A V-twin is an engine configuration where two cylinders are arranged in a “V” shape around a common crankshaft. Compared with other layouts, V-twins often have a different torque delivery and engine feel—something Lucas connects to why the KTM Super Duke feels similar to the Harley-style bikes Fuel Moto works on.

The Beta 300 two-stroke is a trials/enduro-style off-road motorcycle built around a 300cc two-stroke engine. Two-strokes tend to deliver strong, immediate throttle response and a more “on/off” power feel that many woods riders like for climbing and tight trail sections.

The Kawasaki KLX 140 is a small-displacement dirt bike aimed at lighter riders and younger/entry-level off-road use. It’s commonly used for woods riding and trail practice because it’s relatively easy to handle compared with full-size motocross bikes.

Woods riding is a style of off-road motorcycle use where you navigate narrow, obstacle-heavy forest trails. It usually emphasizes low-speed control, traction management, and maneuverability.

The Aprilia RS660 is a modern sportbike built around a compact, high-revving twin-cylinder engine and a track-focused chassis. In this segment, the host says a 2023 Aprilia RS660 is “fully built,” meaning it’s been modified for racing rather than left in stock form.

A trackday is an event where riders take their bikes to a closed circuit for practice, coaching, and timed sessions (depending on the event). It’s different from a race weekend because the primary goal is learning and improving rather than competing for points.

Twins Cup is a racing class/series format that typically emphasizes twin-cylinder motorcycles. The “Cup” structure usually means a defined rule set and competition within that category rather than open-ended racing.

“Fully built” in motorcycle racing usually means the bike has been extensively modified with performance parts and race-oriented setup. It often includes engine work, suspension upgrades, and other changes aimed at reliability and speed under track conditions.

“Superbike” refers to a high-performance class of motorcycles used in top-level road racing, typically featuring powerful engines and track-ready components. When someone says a bike is “pretty much superbike,” they mean it’s been prepared to perform at that level.

A two-stroke engine completes its power cycle in two strokes of the piston, which often gives it a peaky, high-rev character compared with four-strokes. “GP type” implies a Grand Prix-style racing configuration, typically tuned for competition rather than everyday riding.

“Blew up in practice” is racing slang meaning the engine or major component failed during a practice session. It’s a common risk when bikes are pushed hard, especially when they’re heavily modified.

“Stock” means the motorcycle is in factory configuration, without aftermarket modifications. Enthusiasts often compare stock vs upgraded setups because changes to parts like exhaust, intake, or tuning can affect sound and ride feel.

“SandS super carbonit” sounds like an exhaust brand/model or exhaust system nickname, and the “carbon” part suggests a carbon-fiber component. Exhaust upgrades can change sound, heat management, and sometimes power delivery compared with stock.

The Road Glide is a touring motorcycle model line from Harley-Davidson, known for its comfortable long-distance riding setup and fairing/wind protection. In this segment, the rider says they’ve been riding Road Glides since 2003, framing it as their everyday commuter/tourer.

The Road Glide ST is a Harley-Davidson touring variant that’s positioned as a more feature-rich, comfort-focused Road Glide. Here it’s the specific bike the rider is describing, including their exhaust and cam setup.

“Wood 777XE” is a camshaft (cam) upgrade name the rider mentions for their motorcycle. A cam change can significantly affect valve timing, which changes where the engine makes power—often shifting the bike’s “sweet spot” to different RPMs.

An “RTX pipe” refers to an aftermarket exhaust pipe for the motorcycle. Changing the exhaust can alter airflow and exhaust backpressure, which often affects engine sound and how the bike makes power across the RPM range.

RPM (revolutions per minute) is how fast the engine is spinning. The rider emphasizes they use RPM differently than most people, and they cite a “normal” shift RPM of 5,000, which directly affects ride feel and engine response.

“Gen 2” means “second generation,” i.e., a newer version of a product or design compared to the original. Here it describes the touring bike’s touchscreen system, implying there’s a revised interface or hardware generation.

GPS (Global Positioning System) is satellite-based navigation that shows your location and provides route guidance. The speaker says they don’t use GPS, framing it as a personal preference for navigation without turn-by-turn assistance.

In this context, “map” refers to using traditional paper maps or map apps for navigation rather than GPS turn-by-turn guidance. The speaker contrasts being a “map guy” with not using GPS, emphasizing a different approach to route planning and staying oriented.