30 Minute Motorcycling

All motorcycle engines have a cooling system to deal with excessive heat - either through air-cooling or liquid-cooling. Each type has its strengths and weaknesses - which this episode is all about. Tune in to discover: How an air-cooled engine and a liquid-cooled engine works, respectively Some pros and cons of each type Resources: The Dual Wheel Journey Post - "Air-Cooled vs. Liquid-Cooled...

If you're absolutely clueless about what the suspension does, and what terms like "suspension sag" and "unsprung weight" mean, this episode is for you. Tune in to discover: What the suspension actually does, and how it works 6 common terms related to suspension (including 'suspension sag') Resources: RevZilla YouTube Video - "Motorcycle Terminology Explained...

Thought that ABS was complicated enough? How about "cornering ABS?" But don't fret about it anymore - by the end of this episode, both types will be demystified.  Tune in to discover: What ABS is, and how it works What "cornering ABS" is, and how it differs from "regular" ABS Resources: The Dual Wheel Journey blog post - "ABS & Cornering ABS - What is It...

Do you have a scooter? Then you've probably not got a conventional manual gearbox. But you don't have an automatic transmission either - it's a special kind of transmission known as a "CVT." Tune in to find out: - What "CVT" stands for, and how it works - Some advantages of a CVT transmission + 1 disadvantage - How much a CVT belt can cost Resources: - "Scoo...

Most motorized two-wheelers (whether it's a motorcycle, moped, or scooter) use chain drive or belt drive. But what are the differences between the two? And if you've got a chain, you have to think of how much "chain slack" you have. But what is it? Tune in to learn: The differences between chain drive and belt drive What "chain slack" is - and a general guideline for...

I'll give you a hint - it's not just your head. There's a lot of things inside a regular helmet that protects your head from taking a beating. Tune in to learn: The 6 parts of a motorcycle helmet - and what they do Resources: FortNine video - "Why Motorcycle Helmets Use This Ancient Buckle"

In the context of motorcycles, and other two-wheelers that run on petrol or gasoline, "running rich" isn't a good thing.  Tune in to learn: The concept of "Lambda 1" - and what "running rich" really means 4 reasons why "running rich" isn't good for your bike Resources: The Dual Wheel Journey blog post - "What Does It Mean When Your Bike Is &ap...

Does it really matter how fast your bike is if your brakes down work? I thought so. If you've ever been curious about what it is that actually makes your bike stop, this episode is for you. Tune in to learn: - The differences between disc and drum brakes - About something DEADLY that might be in your drum brakes - The differences between DOT 3, DOT 4, DOT 5, DOT 5.1 brake fluids - and the one...

You might not think of them that much, but your motorcycle's wheels and tires play a crucial role in keeping you on the road and out of the ditch.  Therefore, it's good that you know a few things about them.  Tune in to learn: The important job that the wheels have What a "wheelbase" is Some common wheel types - from spoked to composite (and their pros and cons) How to read tir...

If you do, congratulations! Not many people know the difference.  If you don't know, however, - this episode is for you.  Tune in to learn: The definition of a "moped" (and why it's called a "moped" in the first place) The definition of a "scooter" (and about a special class of scooters) Resources: The Dual Wheel Journey blog post - "A Quick History of...

If you listened to episode 14 of this podcast, you'll have a basic understanding of how an internal combustion engine works, and some common engine layouts. But there were a few things that were left unanswered: "What is a 2-stroke?" "What is a 4-stroke?" "What is a 'stroke?'" That's what this episode will dive into.  Tune in to learn: What a &quot...

Isn't it strange that we're only now talking about motorcycle engines - after 14 episodes?  Either way - release your inner mechanic - this weeks' episode is all about internal combustion engines. Tune in to learn: The basics of internal combustion engines 4 common motorcycle engines, and their pros and cons What's in a top and bottom parts of an engine Resources: The Dual Whee...

What springs to mind when you hear the terms "hard-tail" and "soft-tail?" Is it "what's a hard-tail" and "what's a soft-tail," respectively? If that's the case, this episode of the 30 Minute Motorcycling Podcast is for you. Tune in to learn: - The differences between a hard-tail and a soft-tail - The pros and cons of each type - Why a hardtail...

Did you listen to Episode 10 and Episode 11 of this podcast? If you did, by now, you're probably wearing a helmet and a good jacket, gloves, and some study armor. Things are looking good.  But that's still not enough - there are two more pieces to complete the proverbial ATGATT puzzle - trousers and footwear. Tune in to learn: - What every good pair of motorcycle trousers will have - The...

Did you listen to Episode 10 of this podcast? If you did, by now, you're probably wearing a helmet. But that's not enough - you'll also need a proper motorcycle jacket, gloves, and armor. Tune in to learn: - The two main different types of motorcycle jackets and their pros and cons - Why you must wear gloves (yes, even in the summer) - The armor ratings you should keep an eye out fo...

At the end of every episode of this podcast, I say, "keep your helmet on and your eyes on the road." But how can you keep your helmet on if you're unsure about whether it fits? In this special 10-episode anniversary of the 30 Minute Motorcycling Podcast, we're talking all about motorcycle helmets and how you can make sure you get one that fits you. Tune in to learn: The main di...

Love playing poker? Have you ever wanted to combine a poker night with a bike night?  Then, how about doing a "poker run?" Tune in to learn: What a poker run is and how you play it About poker runs done for charity - and how to find ones in your local area Resources: The Dual Wheel Journey blog post - How to Do a Poker Run  Largest Poker Run (Guinness Book of Records) "How to Play P...

When you work on your bike, there's always the risk that you might injure yourself. Fortunately, that risk can be managed and avoided if you follow these 6 good workshop habits. Not only that, but they'll also make the maintenance or repair process much easier - whether you're replacing your oil or rebuilding your transmission. Tune in to learn: The 6 good workshop habits you MUST f...

Do you break out into a cold sweat when someone asks you what your total reaction distance at X km/h is? Then I've got bad news - you're most likely going to get this question when you take your theory test. But the good news is that you don't have to memorize the result for every single speed limit - you can figure out your reaction, braking, and stopping distance by doing some mat...

In Sweden, not all mopeds are created equal. A class system exists that separates mopeds and scooters into two classes. Those classes are Class 1 and Class 2. But what are the differences between the two? What is the top speed of each class? Where do you park a Class 1 or Class 2 moped, respectively? And perhaps most importantly of all - what license do you need? Tune in to learn: The differences...

Do you live in the UK? Then you should know that getting an MOT is easy - at least if you're a cager. Most of the information about how to book an MOT is cage-centric - a simple search for "how to get an MOT" on Google, and you have a seemingly infinite supply of knowledge. But what are you supposed to do if the vehicle that's due for its MOT is a motorcycle?  Not every garage...

Do you want to get a licence so bad that it hurts?  Are you just sitting around waiting for the day when you can finally start taking motorcycle lessons? If that's you - stop. There's plenty of things you can do right now to prepare for your licence test, even if you can't take lessons right now. Tune in to learn: - The 3 things you can do RIGHT NOW to prepare for your motorcycle ex...

If there’s one thing you’ll learn about the European motorcycle licenses, it’s that there’s a lot of As - - you’ve got the AM, A1, A2, and the A license.  But what are the differences between them, and more importantly - how big of a bike do you get to ride on each license class? Tune in to learn: The four different European license classes - the AM, A1, A2, and the A. How much bike you get for ea...

If you’ve read the MSF Basic Rider Course handbook, or if you’ve watched a lot of motorcycle-related videos on YouTube, you’ve probably heard of T-CLOCS. Out of all the pre-ride inspections, this is one of the most common ones and easiest to memorize. Tune in to learn: What T-CLOCS stands for How to do a complete T-CLOCS inspection - one letter at a time Resources: Free Interactive T-CLOCS checkli...

In this inaugural episode of the 30 Minute Motorcycling podcast, I talk about: - The types of motorcycles - from standards to touring bikes (even mopeds and scooters) - The pros and cons of each class - The 3 things you MUST consider when you're shopping for your next bike (whether it's your first or your 21st) Resources: - Cycle-Ergo.com