Season 11 kicks off with a discussion about the latest from EICMA 2025, featuring guest Lance Oliver. The hosts cover exciting new models like the Suzuki SV7 GX and BMW F450 GS, while also addressing the impact of AI in marketing. They reflect on the significance of motorcycle shows and the evolving landscape of the industry, including the challenges faced by brands like Harley-Davidson and Indian. The episode wraps up with a fun engine sound guessing game and advice for a listener contemplating their first motorcycle purchase.
Fan-favorite Lance Oliver joins HSLS to break down the biggest news from EICMA 2025: The surprising new Suzuki SV-7GX, BMW's controversial F 450 GS (and its AI photos), Honda's wild V3R 900 E-Compressor concept, and the rise of brands like CFMOTO and Royal Enfield. Plus, they debate the "trickle-down" tech trend and ask: are big motorcycle shows like EICMA even relevant anymore?
But where is Zack Courts? Spurgeon Dunbar explains Zack's absence (get well soon!) as well as the engine-sound guessing game, whether or not you should get a bigger bike, and much more!
"One of the things that struck my fancy was, you know, BMW did finally launch the F 450 GS. Now, for those of you that are saying, well, hey, wait a second, you know, BMW actually announced this last year at EICMA."
The BMW F 450 GS is a new motorcycle that will be available in 2027. It's designed for adventure riding, which means it's good for both on-road and off-road travel.
The BMW F 450 GS is an upcoming adventure motorcycle that BMW has announced, expected to be more production-ready by 2027. It represents BMW's commitment to the adventure motorcycle segment, which is popular among riders who enjoy off-road and touring capabilities.
"...about the adventures that you can find on a motorcycle. And I come to learn years later that Lance actually wrote that article, published it in Rider Magazine..."
The Triumph Speed Triple is a type of motorcycle that is known for being fast and easy to handle. Many people enjoy riding it because it looks cool and performs well.
The Triumph Speed Triple is a naked motorcycle known for its powerful engine and agile handling. It's popular among riders for its performance and distinctive styling.
"Well, I thought I'd start out with a motorcycle that I think personally is very interesting and also was a little bit surprising to me. And that's the Suzuki SV7 GX, which, you know, a few years"
Suzuki is a car and motorcycle manufacturer from Japan. They make various vehicles that are often seen as budget-friendly and dependable.
Suzuki is a Japanese automaker known for producing a range of vehicles, including cars and motorcycles. They have a reputation for reliability and affordability.
"...the writing was on the wall for the SV650, which podcast listeners will remember was one of the iconic motorcycles..."
The Suzuki SV650 is a well-liked motorcycle that many people enjoy riding. It's known for being easy to handle and has a powerful engine that makes it fun to ride.
The Suzuki SV650 is a popular motorcycle known for its versatility and performance. It features a V-twin engine and has been a favorite among riders for its lightweight and agile handling.
"...it's got...a bi-directional quick shifter. They made some changes to the engine..."
A bi-directional quick shifter is a feature on some motorcycles that lets you change gears quickly without using the clutch. This makes riding smoother and faster.
A bi-directional quick shifter allows for seamless gear changes without the need to use the clutch, enabling faster acceleration and smoother riding experience.
"...because they do have that parallel twin right now, which is really playing in the same category..."
A parallel twin engine has two cylinders placed next to each other. It's commonly found in motorcycles and is appreciated for being smooth and compact.
A parallel twin engine is a type of engine configuration with two cylinders arranged side by side. This design is often used in motorcycles and is known for its smooth operation and compact size.
"...just for the nostalgia of people that like the idea of a V-twin still. Yeah. I think some of us..."
A V-twin engine has two cylinders that are shaped like a 'V'. It's often used in motorcycles and is known for its unique sound and power delivery.
A V-twin engine is a type of internal combustion engine with two cylinders arranged in a V configuration. This design is popular in motorcycles for its compact size and distinctive sound.
"...ture world. You know, BMW did finally launch the F450 GS. Now, for those of you that are saying, well, ..."
The Ford F-450 is a big truck made for carrying heavy things and towing trailers. It's built to be really strong and is often used by people who need to do tough jobs or go on big adventures.
The Ford F-450 is a heavy-duty pickup truck designed for towing and hauling large loads. It is part of the Ford Super Duty lineup and is known for its powerful engine options and robust construction, making it a favorite among those who need a reliable work vehicle. Discussions often highlight its capabilities in commercial and recreational applications.
"...this is, you know, using a lot of the technology that BMW has become known for. And it's just in a, it's just in a smaller package at this point..."
BMW is a well-known car brand from Germany that makes sporty and luxury cars. They are famous for using advanced technology in their vehicles.
BMW is a German automotive brand known for its performance-oriented vehicles and advanced engineering. The company has a reputation for integrating innovative technology into their cars.
"...when they introduced the R1300RT. And, you know, nothing, nothing has changed as far as that goes when it comes time..."
The BMW R1300RT is a type of motorcycle designed for long rides. It's comfortable and has features that help make long trips easier and more enjoyable.
The BMW R1300RT is a sport-touring motorcycle known for its comfort and performance, making it popular among long-distance riders. It features advanced technology and a powerful engine, designed for both touring and everyday use.
Car
Yamaha WR 125R
"...some of the smaller and less expensive motorcycles are getting sort of the trickle down technology to give you a few examples. One that I thought was really interesting is Yamaha's come out new for 2026 is a WR 125R, which is a small lightweight dual sport motorcycle. Nothing unusual there so far,..."
The Yamaha WR 125R is a small motorcycle that can be used on both regular roads and dirt paths. It's light and easy to handle, making it a good choice for beginners.
The Yamaha WR 125R is a lightweight dual sport motorcycle designed for both on-road and off-road use. It features a small engine, making it suitable for new riders and those looking for a versatile bike.
"but it actually has variable valve actuation. So I don't know. I was trying to think I'm probably missing something, but I don't know of another motorcycle with a 125 CC engine that's small"
Variable valve actuation helps an engine perform better by changing how the valves open and close. This means the engine can be more powerful at high speeds and more efficient at low speeds.
Variable valve actuation refers to a technology that allows an engine to adjust the timing and lift of the intake and exhaust valves based on engine speed and load. This results in improved performance and efficiency across a wider range of operating conditions.
"and especially also with a 3999 MSRP that has variable valve timing. I think that's a genuine expansion of that technology to more accessible."
MSRP is the price that the car manufacturer thinks you should pay for a vehicle. It's like a starting point, but the actual price you pay can be different depending on where you buy it.
MSRP stands for Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price, which is the price that the manufacturer recommends that retailers sell a product for. It serves as a guideline for pricing but can vary based on market conditions and dealer pricing strategies.
"basically what that means is the engine has two different cam profiles for the intake valves and it can use one at low RPM and another one at high RPM."
Cam profiles are the shapes of the parts in an engine that open and close the valves. Different shapes can help the engine work better at different speeds.
Cam profiles refer to the specific design of the camshaft lobes that control the timing and lift of the engine's valves. Different profiles can optimize engine performance for various RPM ranges, affecting power delivery and efficiency.
"you don't have to choose, well, do we want to make it optimized for high RPM use or do we want to make it optimized for low RPM use? You can have a little bit of both."
RPM tells you how fast the engine is spinning. Higher RPM means the engine is working harder and can produce more power.
RPM stands for Revolutions Per Minute, a measure of how many times the engine's crankshaft makes a full rotation every minute. It is a key indicator of engine speed and performance.
"So you get a broader spread of power, which is obviously more important when you have a small engine like a 125, like in this"
Power spread is how much power an engine can give you at different speeds. A wider power spread means the engine can perform well whether you're going slow or fast.
Power spread refers to the range of engine speeds (RPM) over which an engine can deliver effective power. A broader power spread allows for better performance in various driving conditions.
"...not a surprise to find variable valve timing on a $31,000 motorcycle. It's a little bit of a surprise to me to find it on a $4,000 motorcycle and I'm really happy to see that..."
Variable valve timing is a system in engines that helps control how the engine breathes. It adjusts when the valves open and close, which can make the engine run better and use less fuel.
Variable valve timing is a technology that allows the timing of the opening and closing of the engine's valves to change based on engine speed and load. This improves performance, fuel efficiency, and emissions.
"...the G310 GS looking at this one, it has so many more features that have trickled down from the bigger, more expensive bikes on the in the BMW line, whereas the G310 had ABS and that's about it as far as rider aids..."
The BMW G310 GS is a smaller, more affordable adventure motorcycle that is good for beginners. It has basic safety features like ABS to help prevent wheel lock-up during braking.
The BMW G310 GS is an entry-level adventure motorcycle that features ABS and basic rider aids. It's designed for new riders and those looking for a lightweight bike for urban and light off-road use.
"...this new 450 has a full color six and a half inch TFT display. It's got ride modes. It's got traction control..."
A TFT display is a modern type of screen that shows important information on motorcycles. It's bright and clear, making it easy to read while riding.
A TFT display (Thin Film Transistor) is a type of screen technology used in motorcycles and vehicles for its bright colors and high resolution. It provides clear visibility of information such as speed, navigation, and ride modes.
"...It's got ride modes. It's got traction control. It's got the centrifugal clutch, but also the manual clutch you can use..."
Traction control is a system that helps keep the wheels of a motorcycle from spinning too much when you accelerate. It helps you stay in control, especially on slippery roads.
Traction control is a safety feature in vehicles that helps prevent wheel spin during acceleration. It adjusts the power delivered to the wheels to maintain grip on slippery surfaces.
"Is the centrifugal clutch their version of the auto, like the automatic? It's not exactly the same, but basically you can come to a stop. It won't stall out."
A centrifugal clutch helps prevent the engine from stalling when you stop, making it easier to ride without having to constantly use the clutch lever.
A centrifugal clutch is a type of automatic clutch that engages and disengages based on engine speed. It allows the engine to idle without stalling when the vehicle comes to a stop, similar to how a scooter operates.
"Another example, the Aprilia RS457 GP replica, which is a new model they're coming out with. It's their RS457 sport bike, but they made it to look like their MotoGP bike, but they fit it in standard with a quick shifter."
The Aprilia RS457 is a new motorcycle that looks like a race bike used in MotoGP, and it has features that help you change gears quickly without using the clutch.
The Aprilia RS457 is a new sport bike model designed to resemble Aprilia's MotoGP racing bike. It features modern technology such as a quick shifter for smoother gear changes.
"...I don't like turbos because turbo lag is still a problem and in the automotive industry we've gotten away from some turbo lag..."
Turbo lag is the wait you feel when you press the gas pedal and the car doesn't respond immediately. It happens because the turbocharger takes a moment to start working and give the car more power.
Turbo lag refers to the delay between the driver pressing the accelerator and the turbocharger delivering increased power. This happens because the turbo needs time to spool up and produce boost, which can affect performance, especially at lower RPMs.
"...they gave us you know recently like an NC 700 that has acclaimed like 70 miles per gallon..."
The Honda NC700 is a motorcycle that is designed to be very fuel-efficient, meaning it can travel a long distance on just a little gas.
The Honda NC700 is a motorcycle known for its fuel efficiency, offering around 70 miles per gallon, making it a popular choice for riders looking for economical options.
Car
Honda That Honda
"...da comes up with this stuff. So like I'm excited that Honda is bringing something like this back and I hope t..."
The Honda That's is a small car that was made in Japan and is designed to be easy to drive and park in the city. It's known for being practical and fuel-efficient, which makes it a good choice for everyday use.
The Honda That's is a compact car that was produced by Honda, primarily for the Japanese market, and is known for its unique design and practicality. It is a kei car, which means it is small and efficient, making it ideal for urban driving. The revival of the That's model is often discussed in the context of Honda's innovation and commitment to compact, efficient vehicles.
"...what this V3R900 E compressor prototype sounds like because Honda did release that with the unveiling of the prototype at Aikmah..."
The V3R900 E compressor is a special part made by Honda that helps engines produce more power. It's still in the testing phase, so it's not available in cars yet.
The V3R900 E compressor is a prototype automotive component developed by Honda, likely aimed at enhancing engine performance through forced induction. It represents Honda's innovation in compressor technology, which can improve power output and efficiency.
"...we can build a 210 horsepower V4 superbike that weighs 400 pounds or whatever it does..."
A V4 engine has four cylinders that are arranged in a V shape. This design helps the engine be smaller and lighter while still producing a lot of power.
A V4 engine is a type of internal combustion engine with four cylinders arranged in a V configuration. This design allows for a compact engine size while still providing a good balance of power and smooth operation.
"...they put the 650 cc twin engine in the bullet..."
The Royal Enfield Bullet is a well-known motorcycle that has been around for a long time. It's famous for its classic look and powerful engine, making it popular among riders.
The Royal Enfield Bullet is a classic motorcycle model known for its retro styling and thumping single-cylinder engine. It's one of the oldest motorcycle designs still in production, and it has a strong following among enthusiasts.
"...to realize like CF Moto has just been you know a brand for so long and while they've you know it's been slow to bring the motorcycle market to North America..."
CF Moto is a company that makes motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles. They have been selling their products in North America for about 25 years and are known for their powerful bikes.
CF Moto is a Chinese manufacturer known for producing motorcycles and ATVs. They have been gradually expanding their presence in North America over the past few decades, offering a range of vehicles that cater to different riding styles.
"...to be able to see them bring a 210 horsepower V4 motorcycle to market..."
A V4 motorcycle has an engine with four cylinders that are arranged in a V shape. This setup helps the bike be powerful and run smoothly, which is great for performance.
A V4 motorcycle features an engine configuration with four cylinders arranged in a 'V' shape. This design allows for a compact engine size while providing a balance of power and smoothness, making it popular in high-performance bikes.
"...F is a retro model it's based on the Honda CB1000 Hornet which I got a chance to ride earlier this summer..."
The Hudson Hornet is an old car that was made in the early 1950s and is known for being fast and stylish. It was popular in car races back then and is now considered a classic that many people admire.
The Hudson Hornet was a full-size car produced by the Hudson Motor Car Company from 1951 to 1954. It is significant for its innovative design and powerful engine, which made it a dominant force in NASCAR racing during its time. The Hornet is often discussed for its classic status and influence on automotive design.
"...when is Harley Davidson going to come out with their new sprint model which is going to be their new accessible affordable motorcycle..."
Harley Davidson is a famous brand that makes motorcycles, particularly known for their large, powerful bikes that are popular among riders.
Harley Davidson is an iconic American motorcycle manufacturer known for its heavyweight cruiser motorcycles and a strong cultural presence in the motorcycle community.
"...I'm planning to get a scrambler 400x I saw the ctxp episode..."
The Scrambler 400X is a motorcycle made by Ducati that looks vintage but has modern technology. It's good for riding on different types of roads, including rough ones.
The Scrambler 400X is a model from Ducati, known for its retro styling and versatility, designed for both on-road and off-road riding. It combines classic aesthetics with modern performance features.
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Breaking news. Highside, lowside, America's favorite motorcycle podcast is back for season 11.
I am Spurgeon Dunbar. However, I am not joined today by my normal co-host, Zachary Courts,
and that's because Zachary had an accident on a motorcycle. Hey, this podcast is named after
the two different ways you can crash a motorcycle. You have a highside, you have a lowside. Zach had
one of those two and is recovering from an accident. So he will be out for the first couple
episodes of this season. Fear not, he will be returning. He is okay in the long run. But in
the meantime, we put our thinking caps on and we came up with some interesting guests to get the
season started. So Ryan F9 will be on the podcast this season talking about his groundbreaking
new documentary. He will be joined by Spencer Robert, our very own producer for CTXP and other
productions like Shop Manual and Daily Rider. We will also have other regular favorites like
Ari Henning and Patrick Garvin to discuss the motorcycle dating game coming back again,
and we might even have our very first ever interview with a prominent motorcycle CEO.
We got to wait and see. Today, however, we are kicking off the season with a fan favorite,
Lance the Silver Fox Oliver, who joined us despite having a cranky old man cough that was
tickling the back of his throat. He was actually a little bit under the weather, but he pulled through
in support of Zach to sit down and talk about Eichma and everything we saw roll out of Italy
last week. We're also going to be discussing RevZilla's 18th birthday. We can vote and you
can't even smoke at 18 anymore. So what are we doing here? But 18th birthday for RevZilla,
bad motorcycle advice from friends and much, much more. Well, I know that Zach is bummed
that he is not here for all the excitement of kicking off a new season. I know that he wishes
as well. He's excited about some of the special guests that we have sitting in for him, and we
can't wait to have him back. Without any further ado, however, welcome to a new season of High
Side Low Side. We're going to get it all started in just a minute, but first, a word from our sponsor.
So you've just spent hours washing and detailing your motorcycle and you don't want to do that every
time you go out. You want to be able to ride. So you need to check out Motul's E10 Shine and Go
Spray. In between washes, spray a little bit of this onto your motorcycle, keep it looking nice
and neat, and it leaves a protective film, which helps to repel dirt and grime,
so that it's not as hard to wash next time. Check out Motul's E10 Shine and Go Spray,
as well as their entire line of cleaning products over on RevZilla.com slash Motul,
that's RevZilla.com slash M-O-T-U-L. And while you're over there on RevZilla.com,
make sure you check out the airbag save page. RevZilla is dedicated to making sure that you
are informed about all the newest safety technology coming down the pike. And the newest,
most protective safety technology that we've seen in recent years is the evolution of airbag
technology. So to learn about the entire line of airbag products and which one might be right for
you and your ride, check out RevZilla.com slash Airbags. Now, on with the show.
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, cats and dogs,
everyone gathered around the radio, like it's an old time news program from the 1920s. Welcome back
to season 11 of Highside Lowside. I am Spurge, and as you can tell, my co-host today is not
Zach Quartz. It is Lance Oliver who is graciously stepping in. Lance, I want to start by allowing
you to say hello and let the audience know who you are in case they might not be familiar with you.
And then we'll let them know exactly why you're subbing in for Zach Quartz today. So Lance,
welcome to the program. And just a little snippet about who are you, Lance? Why do we have you
here today? Yeah, thanks Spurge. Happy to be back again for my irregular visits to Highside Lowside.
I am the managing editor of Common Tread, which is the editorial brand for all the Komodo companies,
RevZilla, JMP Cycle, Cycle Gear. And so you should check out all of our daily articles
on Common Tread on all three of those websites. All three of the websites. Now, we are officially
publishing on Cycle Gear, which is really cool, which happened, I believe, in between
season 10 and season 11 here for Highside Lowside. The other thing that happened in between season
10 and season 11 is Zach Quartz had a little motorcycle crash. And it's something he and I
talked about. He's like, you know, you should bring it up on the podcast. I mean, the podcast,
after all, is named Highside Lowside, which is two different ways that you could crash a motorcycle.
And I think it was also Zach's desire to bring awareness to the fact that what we do
comes with risk. And Zach was wearing the appropriate motorcycle gear he was wearing,
an airbag he was wearing, a helmet and an array suit and gloves and boots. And he walked away from
the crash ultimately, but he did not walk away completely unscathed. And he, at the time of
recording this, is getting surgery on his ankle. But he is back safe and sound with his family.
We are wishing him a speedy recovery. But in the meantime, a lot of Zach's friends
and co-workers are going to fill in for some different podcast topics. Anyway, Lance,
so we're here to talk about Aikma ultimately. But as you are familiar with, we like to do a little
pre-show warm up for the audience. And I thought a fun one for us to hit on today,
because the entire episode is going to be kind of like motorcycle news is breaking out of Aikma.
It's the 18th birthday of RevZilla.com at the day that this is going live. So
Friday, I believe it's November 14th. Does that sound correct to you?
It sounds so not right.
I don't have a calendar in front of me, but I guess I should know this. But I believe it's
November 14th, which is a Friday when you are potentially listening to this episode.
It's the 18th birthday of RevZilla. And Lance, you have been with the company now for
11 years. Common thread is going into its 11th year. Is that correct?
Yeah, this is the 11th year. We're going to the 12th year.
We're the 11th year. It will hit 12 years in February.
Yeah. I just hit my 12-year anniversary at RevZilla personally earlier this week. So it's
very exciting. So what I wanted to ask you was, in your tenure at the company,
what were some of your fondest memories of working? You don't have to say working with me.
If you wanted to, I'd be happy to hear it. You could flatter. I want you to give me a little
bit of the love back that I like to give you. But if you don't want to say it out loud in front
of all the people, I can understand that too.
No, I got to say that it has been really interesting rewarding watching Spurgeon's
meteoric rise through the ranks at RevZilla since he started out as a gear geek answering phones.
And now he's this high-placed executive with busy schedule meetings and stuff. But for me,
it's just been a lot of fun over the last 11 years doing what I pretty much would do anyway.
People say, are you thinking about retiring? If I retired, I'd probably just ride some motorcycles
and write some stuff about it. The only difference is I wouldn't get paid for it.
So there's not a lot of incentive for me to retire really. Probably wouldn't look much
different from my day now. But the most gratifying thing for me is that when I came back in those
days of RevZilla, when it was moving from its original scrappy little startup stage into a more
established bigger company, and people then thought, oh man, the change around here is just so huge
and rapid. It's changed so much. And now if you look back at it, that's not even a fraction of the
change that's happened over the last 18 years. But the most gratifying thing for me was being able
to walk in the door and being told, here's, look, we want to create basically an online magazine.
We want to create content. We need somebody who's done it before. Tell us how to do it. And I took
over and it was so rewarding to be able to build something from scratch and to be able to do things
the way I thought was the right way to do things. And it was to my benefit that nobody else in the
company at that time really had that particular experience. So nobody ever said, well, we can't
do it that way because that's not the way we've always done it here at RevZilla because nobody's
ever done it there. So it was actually very gratifying to build something from scratch and see
that it's been successful. And I never imagined I'd still be doing it 11 years later because I've
never done anything else for 11 years. But here we are.
Yeah, I think it's funny. We were talking about this today internally in a meeting,
but this is the longest I've ever been at a company before. I've been here for 12 years
almost to the day. And it's been just an incredible ride. I know that some of the fun
moments for me, and I'm not sure if we shared this story publicly, but I would just say in
general, the people that I've gotten to work with, yourself included. So before I started at
RevZilla, I was an avid reader of Motorcycle magazines, and I read stories from Ari Henning and
Zach Quartz and yourself. And the story I always thought was really interesting was I,
as a younger man, read this story about a guy that went motorcycle camping in, I believe,
West Virginia on his Triumph Speed Triple and woke up in a snowstorm. And I thought to myself,
and it was just this crazy story, and it was just a simple little piece. And it really stuck with
me about the adventures that you can find on a motorcycle. And I come to learn years later
that Lance actually wrote that article, published it in Rider Magazine. I read the article before
it, any idea who Lance Oliver was. And then fast forward to working with Lance for the last 11
years. And it's just been moments like that where it's always really, really fun to experience the
fact that I get to work with people now that I used to really look up to in the pages of their work.
And now we're friends and colleagues, and it's been one thing after another of it's a lot of
hard work, but there's also a lot of moments like that where you get to pinch yourself and be like,
this is cool, I get to do this for a living. Yeah, it's been quite a ride.
Quite a ride. I feel like we should probably do some kind of a long term producer chase. If you're
listening, you should probably think about something as we're going into the 20th anniversary,
two years from now, we'll build out a runway of like most memorable things that have happened.
And we can kind of highlight it because it's like, I was trying to think about the list of
events and like, I've shot a video with producer Chase on a beach in Morocco in front of an
abandoned palace. And I got to go to India with Zach and ride to the highest road in the world.
I just got back from riding dirt bikes in Utah with Ari Henning for a work event where we just
got to go out and ride dirt bikes with Wilderness Collective. And like, I think about this stuff
and in the moment, you're not really appreciating it maybe as fully. And when you look back on
what you've done over the past 11 or 12 years, it's like, man, it's just been so much fun.
And we're really, really, really lucky. And we're lucky because we have audience members like you
that allow us to do this stuff and come along for the ride. And so Lance, let's get into...
Okay. Yeah, let's talk motorcycles.
With the audience that might not know, Lance, what is Aikma and why should they care? Why is
this groundbreaking news? So this is a big show every year. It's actually, there's bicycle stuff too.
I mean, motorcycle is probably the biggest now, biggest show in the world. And it's where a lot
of the manufacturers, not only in motorcycles themselves, but also gear and other accessories
and parts and things, will sort of introduce their new stuff to the industry. So it's always
a busy time of year for us because we have a lot of announcements coming out all in one week of new
things that are hitting the market. So it's always a busy and exciting time. Yeah, it's interesting
because as we're recording this, it's the last official day of the press day. You and Dustin
have been kind of finger on the pulse, Dustin Wheeling, our colleague over at Common Tread.
And we have a Slack channel going at the moment with like, if there's any last minute news popping
through, he's kind of sending us messages. But I feel like we have a pretty good look.
One of the things that we didn't want to do with this episode was focus on other bikes that have
been announced recently. We have another episode coming later in the season where we'll talk a
bit more about new models we're excited for for 26. But like, for example, we're not going to go
heavy on the Triumph models that are rolling out because those are technically not really tied
to AICMA. We want to really focus on what are we seeing roll out from AICMA and what are we excited
about? First and foremost, things that stood out to us is the first umbrella topic. And Lance,
I'm going to give you guest honors because I know you're my co-host today, but you're also
one of my favorite guests. So guest honors, what was one of the things that stood out to you
from AICMA this year that you want to kick off the conversation with?
Well, I thought I'd start out with a motorcycle that I think personally is very interesting and
also was a little bit surprising to me. And that's the Suzuki SV7 GX, which, you know, a few years
ago when Suzuki started bringing in their 800 cc parallel twin engines and bringing out those models
a lot of people just assumed that the writing was on the wall for the SV650, which
podcast listeners will remember was one of the iconic motorcycles that was chosen for
treated with its own special podcast. So it's been around for a quarter of a century. It's a
beloved motorcycle. But a lot of us thought, well, maybe, you know, we're in the last days of the
old SV650. But instead, Suzuki keeps coming up with new ways to keep it alive. And this year,
we saw the SV7 GX, which is the same 645 ccv twin engine, the same kind of trellis frame,
which I personally love. But they've upgraded it considerably. It's got, you know, new electronics,
ride modes, traction control, a bi-directional quick shifter. They made some changes to the
engine to allow it to be compliant with the European emissions regulations. It's upgraded with, you
know, a full color display. So it's really come into the modern, modern time. And if you're,
I'm sure we'll put a photo up. But for those who are listening to the podcast, think of
sort of a half faring, upright, what Suzuki calls a crossover. I'm not sure I love that word. But,
you know, sort of a sport touring bike. But is this going to be, this isn't going to be replacing
the SV650, is it? Well, I'm not 100% sure. We did confirm with Suzuki that it is coming to the
United States. I don't expect it to be a replacement. I expect it to be an addition. But then, you know,
every year, we're never sure. But we did confirm that it is coming to the US market and it will
be here in the middle of next year. So I think it's just a really interesting model. And I'm
happily surprised that Suzuki is still sticking with that tried and true and much beloved
between engine and coming out with something new. And I'm really interested in getting to see it.
Yeah. So I think from an aesthetic standpoint, it looks really cool. It's kind of a, it's much more
unique than I think sometimes you would see from, you know, an updated product line like that.
I am really interested to see how they continue to differentiate their lineup,
right? Because they do have that parallel twin right now, which is really playing in the same
category. So they're creating two separate power plants. And you have to wonder how much of that
is just for the nostalgia of people that like the idea of a V-twin still.
Yeah. I think some of us, I think some people are going to want to buy this because of the engine.
I also think that there is at least, say, a little bit of differentiation between this and
something like the smaller V-Strom because the SV has the 17-inch wheels. It's more fully street
focused. It's not really trying to lean into that adventure direction. Yeah. So I like this
as a pick. I also like this because, you know, one of the things that you had talked about was the
fact that this is coming to the United States. And I think as we are two individuals that reside
in the U.S., you know, a lot of what you can sometimes see at EICMA, you know, doesn't necessarily
pan out for us. And we'll get into a little bit more of that later on. One of the things that
struck my fancy was, you know, kind of talking about the adventure world.
You know, BMW did finally launch the F450 GS. Now, for those of you that are saying, well,
hey, wait a second, you know, BMW actually announced this last year at EICMA. You wouldn't be wrong.
But we're actually looking at what is, you know, a more production ready model. But
we're also not going to be getting this bike until 2027, apparently. So like,
what is your take on like this, you know, just iterative tease? Like, why is it taking BMW
so long to get this F450 GS to market? And, you know, I will say this, if you're not familiar
with what this bike is, there's a lot of excitement around the small displacement, you know, adventure
category right now. You know, we saw Kawasaki introduce a KLE 500, which we're not going to
really get into because it was announced before EICMA. But like, this is a bike that's going to be,
you know, just around, you know, claimed 48 horsepower, sub 400 pounds, you know, and it's
just like a small shrunk down version of a GS. And it's kind of the update to the 310 that
everybody's been waiting for a bike that Lance, I know you are a you are a fan of the outgoing 310.
Yeah, but this is such a jump ahead from the 310. It's, you know, got so many features that the
the G310 just doesn't have. So it's really quite a change. It's got, you know, the ride modes and
centrifugal clutch. So it's really quite a different bike.
So I would say if we're looking at this, you know, one of the things that I know you and I talked
about was like the, you know, the trickle down technology of this. And like, you know, I'm looking
at pictures right now, it really does seem like this is, you know, using a lot of the technology
that BMW has become known for. And it's just in a, it's just in a smaller package at this point
in time. So like, you know, again, because so much of this technology already exists, like,
is there like, why, why is this taking so long to come to market? Like, that's my only, that's my
only issue here. Like that's not my only, I have another issue too, but we'll get to that in a
second. No, that I don't know. Honestly, I wouldn't even, I couldn't even give you an intelligent
speculation on why they're dragging this out for years. But that's what it's like.
Do you want one? Do you want, now, if I, if you could have a brand new 450 GS or a brand new SV,
SV7 GX, which ones, which ones Lance Oliver are going to pick?
Well, I mean, the Suzuki is more suitable to my particular riding profile.
I know, you just sold your, you sold your VFR and you need something to replace it with.
Exactly. You bought it, you bought a Kawasaki 300 SM. I don't know if the audience is aware
of that, but that's your, that's your most recent purchase. So, you know, maybe you don't,
maybe you don't need the, the F450 anymore, and you're going to go with this Suzuki. I'm trying
to see if you're going to buy any of these bikes Lance. Come on, let us know.
No, we'll see. We'll see. I got it. I got to check them out first.
One of the things, speaking of checking them out, if you have not been paying attention,
the internet is really coming down on BMW for this one because they're using AI generated images
for the launch of this, which isn't anything new for BMW, but they decided to basically stage
a bunch of riders in what looks to be like an abandoned amusement park. And some of the photos
are showing the bike doing some really ridiculous stuff. And, you know, I think AI is one of those
conversations that we're thinking about. Ikema is all about new things. AI is, is technology
that's really kind of taken the world by storm. And there's a lot of people out there that feel
that it's very polarizing. And I think one of the issues with the artwork here is that it's
one thing to use AI as a tool. We use AI as a tool, right? You're going to see a holiday video come
out with Pat McHugh and myself and our newest host, Ewan dressed as an elf for a Christmas
story remake. But like, we're not, we're not staging it in a way that's like,
supposed to feel real. We're using it to be goofy and silly and weird, which is kind of like,
you know, an acceptable use of AI as far as I'm concerned. But I think a lot of the critiques
here are you're taking jobs away from actual riders and photographers. And not only that,
like if people want to see what the bike can actually do, and that's my biggest problem,
like these are AI generated images. This doesn't actually tell me if the new F450GS can jump off
a flight of stairs in an amusement park. Yeah, there's, it's certainly been a hot
topic on common thread as people weigh in on the use of AI. And I'll be interested to see if BMW
decides to stick with it or if they're going to maybe reconsider. I don't know. It's, it's,
definitely a hot topic. Yeah, I think, I mean, I get that they're, they're probably saving a few
dollars from photo shoots and stuff. But like, it just seems like part of, part of what you need
from launch photos is legitimately showing the public what your bike can do. And by, by putting
these through AI, it just seems like it's a bit, a bit of a reach, if you will. Yeah. Well, I mean,
I was just on a BMW press intro for, you know, one of their organized events when they introduced
the R1300RT. And, you know, nothing, nothing has changed as far as that goes when it comes time
to actually provide the motorcycles for us, the motorcycle media to test. And, you know, we still
have good old human photographer like Kevin Wing out there taking pictures of us and, and doing video
and that sort of thing. So it's really these materials that are prepared in advance before
the motorcycles actually come to market that are the, are the topic. I don't think, and I do hope
that we're not going to get to the point where, I mean, I hope I'm not going to be replaced by AI
just yet, but we'll see. Well, I can promise you that as long as I am, you know, running the content
side of things here, as we go into our, as we head into our 19th year, I am not planning on
replacing you with a robot because you're just, you're too darn cute in a robot. It just doesn't
bring that kind of, you know, warm and fuzzies to our, to our weekly conversations over on Common
Tread. Speaking of warm and fuzzies Lance, what's your second pick? Well, so it's kind of a broader
topic that I've seen from the small examples of it. I think about this year that I wanted to
sort of pull together because I think it's an interesting trend. One of the things that a lot
of our readers over at Common Tread complained about now and then is that they, they may want
certain features, certain, you know, new technology or higher level of components and things like that.
And what usually happens is you don't get those if you buy a smaller or inexpensive motorcycle,
just because you want, you know, top level traction control or ABS or whatever, doesn't mean
you necessarily want to buy a big motorcycle or an expensive motorcycle. Lance, tell the, tell you,
you want cruise control on a Transalp, don't you? I, you know, I'm not, I'm not the cruise control
fanatic that a lot of our readers are. Hang on, you took, you, you were doing like 500 mile days
on a Transalp. 600 mile a day on the Transalp. Yeah. And you didn't find yourself being like, man,
I wish that I had, for those of you that are listening, I'm flopping my right, my right
wrist around. Like you don't, you didn't want cruise control at all. It would have been nice.
It would have been nice. I'm not as absolutist on the issue as some of our readers are, but anyway,
what I, what I've seen this year at ICMA that I think is really great is some of the smaller
and less expensive motorcycles are getting sort of the trickle down technology to give you a few
examples. One that I thought was really interesting is Yamaha's come out new for 2026 is a WR 125R,
which is a small lightweight dual sport motorcycle. Nothing unusual there so far,
but it actually has variable valve actuation. So I don't know. I was trying to think I'm
probably missing something, but I don't know of another motorcycle with a 125 CC engine that's small
and especially also with a 3999 MSRP that has variable valve timing. I think that's
a genuine expansion of that technology to more accessible. What's the benefit there?
Okay. So yeah, for people who are wondering what it's all about, basically what that means is
the engine has two different cam profiles for the intake valves and it can use one at low RPM
and another one at high RPM. So you don't have to choose when you're tuning an engine, you don't
have to choose, well, do we want to make it optimized for high RPM use or do we want to
make it optimized for low RPM use? You can have a little bit of both. So you get a broader spread
of power, which is obviously more important when you have a small engine like a 125, like in this
particular Yamaha. It's pretty much the same approach that was on the BMW R1300RT I just wrote
a couple thousand miles on, but that's a $31,000 motorcycle. It's not a surprise to find variable
valve timing on a $31,000 motorcycle. It's a little bit of a surprise to me to find it on a $4,000
motorcycle and I'm really happy to see that. Another example, you were talking about the
the BMW 450 F450 GS and again, having spent time recently on the G310 GS looking at this one,
it has so many more features that have trickled down from the bigger, more expensive bikes on the
in the BMW line, whereas the G310 had ABS and that's about it as far as rider aids.
It had an LCD screen, nothing fancy. This new 450 has a full color six and a half inch TFT display.
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