Episodes

  • Dedicated Episode Page: https://tro.bike/?p=34240
    Music by Otis McDonald (https://otismacmusic.com/)

    It finally happened, folks. Brian Wringer attended his first track day and as one might expect, he thoroughly enjoyed it. Of course, that doesn't stop him from downplaying it with his signature calm.

    Further in, we're joined by TRO cult member Neil Sullivan (a man of mucheth track day glory). Neil makes it clear that as of this episode's publishing date, MotoVid.com (https://www.motovid.com/) has set the bar. He intends to sign up through them regularly in the future.

    Two thirds in, Travatron kicks down the door with a "big" (hav) beer in hand courtesy of Giant Jones (https://giantjones.com/). Liquid bravery and a comfortable chair will always get him talking shop. This being his first track day as well, he has plenty of good things to say.

  • Dedicated Episode Page: https://tro.bike/?p=34169
    Music by Otis McDonald (https://otismacmusic.com/)

    Robin points out the AMA's "right-to-repair" involvement before outlining a less than perfect Alpinestars (https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/alpinestars-air-plus-v2-xcr-gore-tex-boots) warranty claim. This puts small vs. large business customer service under the microscope complete with TRO map purchase confusion. Oh ... Brian bought a parts bike!

    The conversation shifts to motorcycle tires and track day prep. Eventually they find deep meaning in vehicle mileage, power sports dealers, motorcycle colors and ticketing laws. Winter project plans are already finding their way onto the calendar.

    Brian makes light of Wisconsin's strict road laws and that thrill-seeker mentality. He just bought the right gear over at MotorCycleGear.com (https://www.motorcyclegear.com/). His new duds are perfect for any track day but first he'll need to get through the tech team.

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  • Dedicated Episode Page: https://tro.bike/?p=34096
    Music by Otis McDonald (https://otismacmusic.com/)

    The 2024 Trip Sevens group continues to recount their epic motorcycle tour. Picking up where they left off, the story begins with the Old Mill Inn ... but wait! First, the Dragon, where Greg admits his lackluster rider mindset led to a surprising decision.

    They encounter burdensome biker traffic and navigation challenges but also a skilled Miata driver and fresh blacktop. Following this driver is more fun than any Harley parade. At day's end, they dine on Italian, explore bicycle museums and engage in heated debate over tire pressure.

    Come morning, a tire fitting is in order. Mister Wringer, with his Enduro Star trail stand, takes the helm. New rubber in place, they conclude seven intensely action-packed days, the group acknowledging contributions from every participant. In the words of one rider: "It's a perfectly blended, precisely planned, and community-driven group tour that none of us will soon forget".

  • Dedicated Episode Page: https://tro.bike/?p=34071
    Music by Otis McDonald (https://otismacmusic.com/)

    In a previous episode, Brian tells Robin to "see if you can herd those cats" and so it is done! Call it a first, folks. Seven out of eight riders from TRO's 2024 "Trip Sevens" group motorcycle tour are gathered via Zoom to look back on an epic journey.

    Prepare for beautiful morning scenery, spontaneous off-road detours and haunted hotel elegance. This crew has more stories to tell than degrees of speedometry. Day zero alone carries lifestyle alterations before the clientele can even gather.

    Eventually, everyone gets tangled up in Roanoke but smiles remain fixed and why wouldn't they? Riding a motorcycle on remote roads through Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana has that effect. Off-bike activities and lodging serve as a perfect backdrop for each rider to bond.

  • Dedicated Episode Page: https://tro.bike/?p=33743
    Music by Otis McDonald (https://otismacmusic.com/)

    New coding has Robin and Brian ranking road rubber ala wax philosophical. It's yet another deep dive into specifics of motorbike maintenance. Add in the complexity of mounting tires and this should've been called "everyone talk at once".

    The Dunlop Mutants and Continental ContiMotions take center stage. Eager first impressions segue into meticulous planning of future tire changes ahead of the upcoming Wisco Disco tour. Talk turns budgetary when pricing gets dissected down to cost-effectiveness, all in search of more wallet-friendly options.

    Alongside are musings over aging bikes, built-in technology versus third-party add-ons, digital enhancements, user-friendly gadgetry and everyone's favorite: wrench icon woes thanks to proprietary firmware. "Experts" warn against DIY repairs. That is unless you're Robin, who's not so secret solutions are generally drawn from online forums.

  • Dedicated Episode Page: https://tro.bike/?p=33613
    Music by Otis McDonald (https://otismacmusic.com/)

    Robin won't let go of the mic this round, folks. It's time to summarize the 2024 "Trip Sevens" group motorcycle tour. Not surprisingly, major maintenance one day before this crazy undertaking didn't go as smoothly as planned.

    As for the tour itself, a whirlwind of forgotten truths (day 1 is *designed* to be a warm up) and never to be mentioned route deviations (screaming into the wilderness helps) are par for the course. Brian showed up to play guest ride leader and, well ... Indiana needs to finish road construction. No matter, though as TRO customers had an epic experience.

    Post tour, Robin stuck around Indianapolis, visiting with his brother and Brian and eventually meandering to Bedford, Indiana for a vintage Suzuki rally. Things happened, most of them good. For all reasons listenership, we'll focus on the good.

  • Dedicated Episode Page: https://tro.bike/?p=33609
    Music by Otis McDonald (https://otismacmusic.com/)

    Robin's ready to lead another 777 tour, meaning seven riders, through seven states, in seven days. That means breaking one of his own hard learned rules regarding "big" maintenance the night before the event. All of this while the customers are getting fidgety.

    This blends nicely into group tour planning and more specifically, lodging. Previous tours have seen both support and sabotage where hotels are concerned. We're lookin' at you, Parkersburg, WV.

    To lighten things up, though ... Brian has a lot of great ideas for our newly revamped "Wisco Disco" tour. While the bulk of it will indeed be anchored in Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota have a few tricks up their sleeve as well. TLDR: always ride the double D's.

  • Dedicated Episode Page: https://tro.bike/?p=33568
    Music by Otis McDonald (https://otismacmusic.com/)

    Robin and Maggie Dean are in Wisconsin. The trip from New Mexico was easy, although their truck now has a slow coolant leak. Big thanks to the beautiful Fireside Campground (https://firesidecampground.com/) for helping them get settled in!

    Listener questions this round fall directly on the overcooked topic of tires. We all ride different. Why any sport touring bike should be treated with kid gloves to the point where the tread is intact for 10k+ miles is beyond us.

    Reflecting our episode title, Brian introduces a new off-the-cuff segment that is spontaneous bike purchases. The rules are simple ... link your friends to a list and give everyone sixty seconds or less to make a choice.

  • Dedicated Episode Page: https://tro.bike/?p=33489
    Music by Otis McDonald (https://otismacmusic.com/)

    We've all been in the position where we get a portion of some major task done only to return and realize it's not finished. In the case of a sport touring getaway, we might want to know more about the route than the destination. For 777, that means fuel and lunch stops need to be itemized.

    Onto listener questions! We'll bleed brakes on an R1200RT, calm riders who are reaching for bigger miles and visit concerns over the bounty of a barn fine. Game on.

    Brian asks that riders everywhere take time to find out where their fuse boxes and spares are located. Most year/make/models have a few spare fuses holstered. Whether they're stashed behind some quirky afterthought of a solution or not, we all stand to benefit from at least knowing.

  • Dedicated Episode Page: https://tro.bike/?p=33460
    Music by Otis McDonald (https://otismacmusic.com/)

    Robin returns from his memorial trek to California, with minimal twisties logged, an hour late for an iron butt placard. Mama nature made herself known every step of the way, be it through unplowed snow, landslides or cold rain. Fortunately, AirBnB kept him warm every night.

    Meanwhile, Brian's reminiscing about New Mexico's bizarrely tenacious red clay, which somehow holds a tire's grip so long as you can see tarmac underneath. There's also the matter of polite cagers kindly pulling over before waving motorcyclists by. Riding the road that shall not be named, what planet is this?

    Eventually, the duo philosophise about personal time management. You know ... guilt free and steadfast self actualization. Because in the grandiose theater of existential self-actualization, where the metaphysical intertwines with the corporeal, it is within the unencumbered expanses of our discretionary leisure time that we, as sentient beings, find ourselves straddling the chromed-out, two-wheeled mechanical steeds of liberation, their engines throbbing with the rhythm of freedom, as we traverse the labyrinthine highways of life, each twist and turn of the throttle serving as a tangible manifestation of our relentless pursuit towards the zenith of our individualistic potential.

  • Dedicated Episode Page: https://tro.bike/?p=33411
    Music by Otis McDonald (https://otismacmusic.com/)

    Robin is still prepping for big miles between Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, and Monterey Beach, California. With 100k approaching on the odometer, his valve clearance paranoia carries momentum. Fortunately, they're within spec, even if a little on the high side.

    Brian asks: who should we invite to guest host? Conclusions may be astronomically out of reach but hey, it never hurts to try. Robin just needs an email address for Ghost Rider, Lisbeth Salander, and Akira.

    There's a new segment in the mix, titled "septically" by Mr. Wringer and focusing on unacceptably cheap rides that are worth their weight in fake gold. This, of course, leads into why buying a modern first bike might be better for some. Our hosts then cite common vintage traps in the universe of unobtainable motorcycle parts.

  • Dedicated Episode Page: https://tro.bike/?p=33356
    Music by Otis McDonald (https://otismacmusic.com/)

    Mutual respect can conjure strangely entertaining discussion points. With Anders Carlson, that might require being both brand agnostic and model eccentric. Knowing not how things might go, TRO welcomes the introduction of his new podcast, titled to embrace his admiration for Buell's CR 1125 and the frustrations that come with owning a vintage Honda CB360.

    Anders joins the effort to fine tune Robin's route to California. The 1500 mile jaunt flirts with 10k elevations, garden variety must-sees and a dedicated purpose. How it'll play out depends on whether Mr. Dean remembers anything about the Southwest.

    We can't introduce a peer's podcast without testing the waters, though. Anders employs Robin's OpenAI developer key to beep-boop-borp-burp an "opinion" of Carlson's beloved Buell. First there were hallucinations, then a grip on non-reality, then Mandarin Chinese.

  • Dedicated Episode Page: https://tro.bike/?p=33347
    Music by Otis McDonald (https://otismacmusic.com/)

    It's not often that a guest host answers our "did you ride today?" question with a polite, "Yes, I just toured Thailand." However, in the case of Dylan Code, it makes perfect sense. He describes riding through different seasons in one day due to changes in elevation and shares his observations about enjoying local wildlife without disturbing it.

    Moving beyond small talk, the group delves into "simple" topics like dynamic traction control kHz sample rates and percentage triggers. Things then lighten up with a casual discussion on the cognitive science of human attention limits, focusing on in-ride problem-solving under specific conditions. Here's a hint: we answer questions about why track days can be beneficial to street riding.

    Listener questions ask Robin if he'd buy another used R1200RS. His answer, clear as mud, revisits that to-be-expected "yes and no". If he did, he'd be more than happy to own it ... but he wouldn't because there are newer, more interesting options on the market.

  • Dedicated Episode Page: https://tro.bike/?p=33343
    Music by Otis McDonald (https://otismacmusic.com/)

    As contractually obligated by our guest, Brian and Robin completed One Man Caravan (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0760352674/?tag=theridiobse-20) by Robert Edison Fulton, Jr. Their reward? The fact that it's an excellent read (more than enough).

    But having motorcyclist and author Melissa Holbrook Pierson suggest it ... icing on the cake. As bottomless topics go, the trio dives into a meandering conversation before making mention of it. Once they do, more of Fulton's back story comes to light.

    Literature, world travel and unmentionable close calls, this ride's got it all. The song remains the same, though in that the community will always be there for us. Pour a pinch of whiskey, kick back and warm up to all things "why".

  • Dedicated Episode Page: https://tro.bike/?p=33196
    Music by Otis McDonald (https://otismacmusic.com/)

    Riders Share now offers experiences (https://www.riders-share.com/experiences) on their website. Members can sign up, meet with ride leaders and explore various pre-planned routes. Radio TRO dives into our signature array of questions but all in all, it reads to be pretty cool.

    Then there's the 2024 Suzuki flock. While Brian prefers naked bikes and Robin loves a fairing, both agree that the GSX8 series embodies music in motion. Whether it's a samba or shuffle depends on what 270° means to you but either way, she grooves through the curves.

    On another note ... when it rains, it pours. How can a rider protect their electronics? We've yet to really solve the wet phone issue and would love to read your solutions via our contact form (https://email.tro.bike/).

  • Dedicated Episode Page: https://tro.bike/?p=33140
    Music by Otis McDonald (https://otismacmusic.com/)

    Brian's feelin' the effects of aluminum siding efforts but looks forward to visiting New Mexico for a TRO tour. This means he and Robin will be in the same place at the same time! It's probably best we get a lot of photos and update the podcast promo images.

    Friend and listener Seth Leader hipped us to a tidy, though perhaps bulky piece of kit. There is in fact a lithium ion jump pack (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09B73SX6S/?tag=theridiobse-20) out there with a fully integrated tire inflator and it's juuuuust small enough that it might be suitable for motorcycle travel. Maybe it's time we revisit our go-to roadside remedies.

    Of course, no episode is complete without the obscure, so Brian has this idea. You order a shell that's similar to a motorcycle helmet, inject it with spray cheese (hardening foam) and mail it back to whatever company is willing to build your helmet from the cast. Genius, we say (perhaps to ourselves alone) but ... genius!

  • Dedicated Episode Page: https://tro.bike/?p=33113
    Music by Otis McDonald (https://otismacmusic.com/)

    Run watcha brung, says Jason Herheim on the matter of track days. He's in the mix with Brian and Robin to discuss what Brian can preload before attending his first. Brian, of course is all ears though Robin did detect, filter and omit certain under-his-breath grumbly mumbles.

    Then it's onto the uniquely stressful but positive activity that is renting a motorcycle. Brian's meeting Robin in New Mexico for the NM3 tour. With a handful of options, one in specific might require he activate beast mode.

    Lastly, it would seem Garmin's continued development of their GroupTrack feature has piqued everyone's interest. It's not perfect but we'll keep an eye on it. With a number of TRO tours on the docket, it might prove useful.

  • Dedicated Episode Page: https://tro.bike/?p=33106
    Music by Otis McDonald (https://otismacmusic.com/)

    Robin and Brian confirm Google's inaccuracy on the topic of lodging costs. Brian thinks crash bars might help. Robin counters with explorations in cheap road rubber.

    One listener asks what it takes to qualify for TRO tours. The answer depends on what you're after. Either way, nobody (not even a molasses slow rider) has ever held things up, so don't worry because you won't either.

    The duo tackles a couple new-ish segments to boot. The first is "somebody should invent a thing" and the other "two wheeled pilot". Both philosophize over solutions from opposite ends of the handlebars.

  • Dedicated Episode Page: https://tro.bike/?p=33100
    Music by Otis McDonald (https://otismacmusic.com/)

    In this episode, we have the pleasure of sitting down with Eric Shropshire from Quadrant Motors (https://www.quadrantmotors.com/). Eric tells listeners about his roller coaster ride through the motorcycle industry, pulling back the curtains on why motorcycles prices can be as volatile as a teenager's mood. Some might even call it a crapshoot but he repackages it into valuable nuggets, enlightening less-than-informed customers about bizarre bike models while advising them to look before they leap into buying that twitchy showpiece.

    It's a wild spin, like a suspiciously inexpensive house listing with a sinkhole hiding in the basement. From obscure motorbike background checks to sketchy Harley mods, only a test ride will unveil unexpected gear transitions. Don't forget to peek under the plastics!

    The sport touring conversation isn't complete without testing our tolerance with 15 hours on a Goldwing. Should we all have one or is it another hype train destined for disappointment town? This and other inexplicably cryptic announcements within.

  • Dedicated Episode Page: https://tro.bike/?p=33093
    Music by Otis McDonald (https://otismacmusic.com/)

    Maggie is getting closer to isolating issues with her 2016 Triumph 675 Street Triple R (https://www.google.com/search?q=2016+triumph+675+street+triple+r&tbm=isch). Whatever the start routine culprit is, she's managing to get it running for a ride regularly. Brian, on the other hand, is stuck in the snow.

    Far from the northern freeze, Robin interviews Shawn Haley (https://www.google.com/search?q=encore+trim+san+antonio) about his customization and repair skills. Shawn owns and operates Encore Trim out of San Antonio, Texas. His jack-of-all-trades approach to keeping our motorcycles beautiful has built quite the resume.

    One question we visit this round is: once you get your aesthetically enhanced bike back from Shawn, what happens if you get a little too zoned out mid-ride by its refurbished beauty? Maggie and Brian have different but similar things to say on the matter. Bottom line, maybe that's the right time for an intermission.