Riding friends. Everyone’s got ‘em. Sometimes you agree with them completely. Other times they are so completely incorrect you can hardly believe what they are saying is part of the English language. But one thing is for sure, those conversations always make motorcycling better.
That simple truth was the genesis for the RevZilla Highside/Lowside podcast. Thanks to listeners like you, we’ve come a long way from our first episode in February 2019. Now in Season 3, and in conjunction with our new sponsor Motul, we’ve got a new format, new guests, new topics, and all of the same opinions, expertise, and personality that you’ve come to expect from the crew on the couch in the RevZilla studio.
HS/LS S3 E09: Mechanical Motorcycle Mistakes We All Make
Spurgeon, Zack, and Ari debate the merits of working on your bike yourself versus taking it to the pros.
HS/LS S3 E08: Motorcycle Mishaps... and How to Avoid Them
HS/LS S3 E07: Best Motorcycle Tech
What's the best motorcycle technology to appear in the last 20 years? The worst? Spurgeon, Zack, and Ari debate the merits of rider aids, airbag vests, radial tires, TFT dashes, and more.
HS/LS S3 E06: South America to Japan: Dream Trips on Dream Machines
If you could take any trip you wanted, on any bike, anywhere in the world, what would you choose? Spurgeon, Joe, and Zack stave off cabin fever with this hour-plus discussion about their dream trips around the world.
HS/LS S3 E05: Dumbest Weather-Related Riding Mistakes
Spurgeon and Zack take a trip down memory lane.. while it's raining, snowing, freezing, and more! Foul weather can strike at any time, and on a motorcycle, we have no choice but to face the music. Well, maybe not every time. Spurg and Zack also discuss some solutions and strategies that can save the day when dark clouds roll in.
HS/LS S3 E04: The Best (& Worst) Motorcycle News of 2020
Spurgeon, Zack, and Lance review the biggest news of 2020, good and bad, from all corners of the industry. What went wrong? What went right? And how do the developments of 2020 shape our expectations for the next year? The guys leave no stone unturned in this hour-plus analysis.
HS/LS S3 E03: The 150hp/249lb Adventure Bike (Does Not Exist)
Spurg, Zack, and Joe discuss the traits of the perfect ADV bike (and how they would construct it if price was not an issue). From realistic (if not wildly expensive) ‘off-the-shelf’ options, to borderline impossibilities that bend the laws of physics, finding the best setup for an ADV bike ends up saying more about the rider than the ride itself.
HS/LS S3 E02: Likes/Dislikes: Triumph Trident vs. Yamaha MT-09
HS/LS S3 E01: Can A Motorcycle Be Too Cheap?
The guys are BACK and kicking off Season 3 of Highside/Lowside with a new-look, and the same great sound, as they talk about the most interesting topics in the world of motorcycling. In this episode, Spurg welcomes new co-host Zack Courts, as well as Common Tread’s Managing Editor, Lance Oliver, as the three discuss the pros/cons of buying a cheap motorcycle.
HS/LS S2 E12: How Can Motorcycling Make A Comeback? - Season 2 Finale
Is the high tide mark of motorcycling truly behind us? How can motorcycling break through to the next level? Spurg, Joe, Ari, and Zack sit down for a full-length discussion about motorcycling, its past successes, its current situation, and its all-important future.
HS/LS S2 E11: Annoying Things Motorcyclists Do. INTERVIEW: Zach Parham - President & CEO of J&P Cycles
Has a motorcyclist ever annoyed you? Lemmy, Spurgeon, and Joe are back on the couch for another Highside/Lowside to discuss their biggest complaints from around the world of two wheels. But don't worry, they didn't get off easy. The guys must also reveal their own moto sins.
HS/LS S2 E10: Our Favorite Motorcycle Engines. INTERVIEW: Genevieve Schmitt - Founder 'Women Riders Now'
The power plant is what propels us all forward, and some just do the job better than others. In this episode of Highside/Lowside, the guys discuss their favorite motorcycle engines of all-time. Whether it is the acoustics, performance, or overall look and feel, in the end it all comes down to opinion, and the fellas have more than a few on the topic.
HS/LS S2 E9: The best motorcycles under $3,000. INTERVIEW: Robert Pandya - Owner of SpokesPeople LLC
Motorcycling is exhilarating. It can also get pretty expensive, pretty quick. Unfortunately, this keeps a lot of would-be riders from ever taking their first spin. In this episode, the guys discuss cheap ways to get into the game as they cover their favorite bikes under $3,000.
HS/LS: S2 E8 - What makes a motorcycle a Cult CLASSIC? INTERVIEW: Zack Courts - Motorcycle Media Titan
Is it the brand? What about the line and the style? Does a engine make it so? The guys are here in the latest episode to discuss what makes a motorcycle a cult classic. And stay tuned for an interview with Zack Courts!
HS/LS: S2 E7 - Best motorcycle mods for your buck. INTERVIEW: Chris Diaz - Veteran, rider, and future PhD.
No motorcycle is perfect, and every rider is different. That's why we modify. Whether it's suspension or seats, exhausts or hand controls, one of the most common experiences for all motorcyclists is making the bike their own. In this episode, the guys talk about the most important modifications that they like to make on their own rides.
HS/LS: S2 E6 - What to expect on a vintage motorcycle? INTERVIEW: Jeff Kiniery - Dirt Rider & RevZilla's Director of Facilities
Old motorcycles are cool. They look cool. They sound cool. They are the epitome of the word itself. That being said, they can also be a massive annoyance. With old parts and antiquated technology, riding a vintage motorcycle is harder, less comfortable, and often includes far more repairs than a modern bike. On this episode of HS/LS, the guys discuss what to expect from these old machines, and if the upside outmatches the downside of it all.
HS/LS: S2 E5 - Is 2020 the BEST time to buy a used motorcycle? INTERVIEW: Ari Henning - Writer, host, & aficionado.
This year may very well be the best year, ever, to procure a used motorcycle. The guys talk about all the reasons why, and Spug interviews the one-and-only Ari Henning in this edition of Highside/Lowside.
HS/LS: S2 E4 - The BEST & WORST Motorcycles of 2019. INTERVIEW: Yves Assad - Motorcycle photographer.
Whether it's motorcycles or movies (and everything in-between), mid-December is the time to start looking back at the 350-ish days prior and evaluate the good, the bad, and the things we are amped to see in the 370-ish days before we get to do it all again the following year.
HS/LS: S2 E3 - Bad motorcycle, or just bad for YOU? BONUS: Lance Oliver interview!
Everyone's got an opinion, and that's what makes it fun! In this episode, Lemmy, Spurgeon, and Joe take to task the question of bad motorcycles vs. bad matches between motorcycles and riders.
HS/LS: S2 E2 - Do you care where your motorcycle is made? BONUS: Chris Fillmore interview!
Does "Made in..." matter anymore? It's a question that stirs emotion, but perhaps it's just that, emotion. Times and technology have changed a lot about the world, and in this episode, the guys debate whether or not a motorcycle's geography of origin makes a difference. And in this week's interview, Spurgeon sits down with Pikes Peak legend Chris Fillmore to talk about some of the controversial decisions made regarding motorcycles at the event.
HS/LS: S2 E1 - Are you a REAL motorcyclist? And an interview with RyanF9!
The first episode of our second season of Highside/Lowside saw the introduction of a new, extended format, as well as one of the most often debated topics in moto-circles: What makes a motorcyclist a motorcyclist? On the outside, it seems pretty straightforward. “Do they ride a motorcycle?” But, as the guys get into, when you dive a bit deeper, there are plenty of nuances and “what if…” scenarios to consider. Also, big shout out to RyanF9! He’s a rad dude, with a great story, and we were stoked for his interview.
HS/LS: S1 E12 - Motorcycle Sales Suck... Do You Even Care?
It’s no secret, the American market for motorcycles has seen more lucrative days. Is it due to a more safety-focused citizenry? Are there more engrossing digital alternatives in 2019? What’s the deal with it all, and just as importantly, do you care? The guys discuss it all, and question how much it could impact those of us who make our way on two wheels.
HS/LS: S1 E11 - Will Electric Motorcycles End An Industry?
Everyone has been so concerned with the question of whether electric motorcycles will be “good enough” that they haven’t asked the bigger question of “will they be too good?” It’s a legitimate possibility. And if technology has taught us anything so far it is that we should never cease to be amazed at just how relentless it is in its progress. In this episode, the guys discuss what an electric revolution might mean for today’s motorcycles.
HS/LS: S1 E10 - Are there too many types of motorcycles?
Having options is generally thought of as being a good thing. But is it always and without exception? The past few years have seen a proliferation of motorcycle types as manufacturers try to maximize their sales across all markets. It’s a pretty good reason, but the guys are left to wonder what it might mean for the industry as a whole.
HS/LS: S1 E9 - Should riders be required to wear motorcycle gear?
If you ride a lot, you’ve undoubtedly heard it: ATGATT (All The Gear, All The Time). You also probably have a strong preference for either side of the equation. Though gear is a great safety measure, is it really the government’s job to require riders to wear it when they swing a leg over their machines?
HS/LS: S1 E8 - Is technology ruining motorcycles?
Technology touches every facet of our lives. For the most part, it’s been a really cool thing. But has it gone too far in motorcycles? We can go faster, farther, with more comfort, and more safely than ever before, but in doing so have we lost at least a little bit of what it is to ride a motorcycle in the first place? Maybe, but then again, maybe not.
HS/LS: S1 E7 - Do Motorcycles Have Soul?
How is it that we can care about something so much that is made of basically the same materials as our kitchen toaster? Lemmy, Spurg, and Joe discuss whether or not character is inherent in a motorcycle from the moment it is manufactured, or if that tug on your heartstrings that you feel upon ignition is only cultivated with time in the saddle.
HS/LS: S1 E6 - Is motorcycle racing dying?
Racing motorcycles is an expensive, time-consuming, and effort-exuding hobby. But it is also an absolutely enlivening experience. In a modern world saturated with copious amounts of dopamine-inducing screen time, is there still a place for the visceral, adrenaline-pumping experience of racing a motorcycle in reality?
HS/LS: S1 E5 - Small Motorcycles: Does size matter?
It’s an age-old question; binary, yes or no? But it’s really not that simple. When it comes to the size of a motorcycle, it all comes down to what exactly a rider intends to get out of it. In this episode Lemmy, Spurg, and Joe tackle the topic and look to dispel common misconceptions about small bikes.
HS/LS: S1 E4 - Cruisers: Love 'em / Hate 'em
They are still the most popular style of motorcycles on the road in the United States, for better, or for worse. Everyone has an opinion on cruisers, and the Highside/Lowside guys are no different.
HS/LS: S1 E3 - The Best in Motorcycles for 2018
2018 was gone in a blink. But that doesn’t mean the moto-ongoings won’t have an impact on the industry for years to come.
HS/LS: S1 E2 - EICMA 2018: Best Bikes and Big Takeaways
When it comes to motorcycle news, there are few places where it drops like on the EICMA floor. As one of the most important motorcycle shows of the year, the 2018 version provided Lemmy, Spurg, and Joe plenty to talk about in this episode.
HS/LS: S1 E1 - Why Scramblers Aren't Scramblers Anymore
The Triumph Scrambler 1200 has gotten a lot of love since it was announced, and all the talk made Lemmy and Joe ruminate on the history, style, and future of the “scrambler” classification as a whole.
Highside/Lowside Podcasts
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