CanyonChasers Podcast // The Braking Zone

Enter to win the 2027 MotoGuzzi V85 TT at https://fanathem.com/canyonchasers We start by admitting they’re both Africa Twin nerds, and then the conversation wanders everywhere. A Ducati dealer tells us the Streetfighter V2 outsells the Panigale V2 about 3 to 1, and insurance quotes are a big reason why. We follow up on the Showa big piston fork that feels bottomless under hard braking, and dig int...

Enter to win the 2027 Moto Guzzi V85TT at https://fanathem.com/canyonchasers - MotoGP’s last weekend at Phillip Island ended without the race everyone wanted, so Dave and Brian go over what we did get: the Marquez vs Martin sprint fight, a wet qualifying lap from Marquez that looked like a different sport, Jack Miller’s sendoff, and Martin’s crash heading into Sepang. After that, the conversation...

Enter to win the Moto Guzzi V85TT: https://fanathem.com/canyonchasers - Ducati’s factory team just ran away with the most dominant World Superbike season ever, and we think it exposes a bigger problem. When the Panigale V4 R is basically a GP bike you can buy for $50k, why would Yamaha, Kawasaki, or Honda spend millions to show up and lose? We dig into the tech that makes the Ducati so good (twin...

Enter to win the Moto Guzzi V85 TT at https://fanathem.com/canyonchasers - Dave spent the week at Barber Vintage Motorcycle Days riding Honda's new CB1000F alongside Freddie Spencer, the only rider to win the 250 and 500 world championships in the same season. We get into how Honda deliberately tuned character into this engine (mismatched velocity stacks for a two-tone intake note, offset cam...

Motegi wasn't an exciting weekend, but it was a fascinating one. A brand new track surface, a Michelin rear tire that came apart in the sprint, and a hard-carcass "safety tire" that not one rider mounted until Sunday warm up, which turned out to be the tire they should have been on all weekend. Dave and Brian dig into why that happened, how Marc Marquez played cat and mouse with Jorg...

There's a new bike in the garage: a 2021 Ducati Panigale V2, bought to replace an Aprilia RSV4 Factory as a club race bike. We talk about the first track days on a completely bone stock V2 (slicks only), what the Showa Big Piston Fork does well on the brakes and where it falls apart mid-corner, and why racers ditch BPF internals for cartridges. Then the good part: riding the old 955 V2 and the...

Royal Enfield might be the heritage motorcycle Harley buyers think they're getting, and after 800 miles of Route 66 on a Classic 650, Dave has thoughts. The CanyonChasers Podcast is back. In this episode: riding Route 66 from Tulsa to Albuquerque on the Royal Enfield Classic 650 125th anniversary special edition, why Route 66 towns are fading, and why Royal Enfield is built in India. Then a tr...

Enter to win the Ducati Monster Plus at https://fanathem.com/canyonchasers Are parallel twins taking over on the track, or is there still no replacement for open-class power? In this episode, we compare the street and track-only versions of the rare KTM 990 RC R. We test how its unique 1,481 mm wheelbase and aggressive rake alter cornering stability, contrast the street bike's wide TFT dash with t...

Enter to win this incredible Ducati Monster: https://fanathem.com/canyonchasers In this episode, we break down everything you need to know about motorcycle tires, comparing Pirelli, Dunlop, Bridgestone, and Michelin. We dive into why Pirelli uses soft carcass construction while Dunlop and Bridgestone rely on stiffer carcasses, how altitude changes affect your tire gauge pressure, and how to proper...

Enter for a chance to win our 2024 Ducati Monster Plus: https://fanathem.com/canyonchasers We’re back to talk all things motorcycle racing, tech, and riding culture! We kick off with Dave finally taking his dialed-in bike out for a real ride. Then, we dive into the latest MotoGP silly season rumors surrounding Jack Miller’s potential move to World Superbike. From there, we take a deep dive into th...

We're back from our summer break with a packed show! We start off with a deep dive into an epic riding trip through Iceland aboard the Norton Atlas. Why should you skip expensive Gore-Tex for gear like Alpinestars Drystar? We put waterproof ratings to the ultimate test in soggy North Atlantic weather. Plus, we discuss the brutal reality of dealership floor-space requirements keeping boutique b...

We dive headfirst into the chaotic waters of the MotoGP rider market and question whether upcoming technical rule changes—specifically the banning of front ride-height devices—are going to completely ruin the opening-lap action we all love. But first, Dave is packing his bags for a brutal weather forecast in Iceland, where he’ll be riding the highly anticipated Norton Atlas across black sand beach...

We are completely all over the map in today’s episode, balancing heavy dose ADHD energy with some deep-dive motorcycle nerdery! First, we unpack the absolute chaos shaking up the MotoGP paddock. From Ai Ogura’s historic, emotional victory as the first Japanese rider to win in the dry in over 20 years , to the mind-boggling news that Pecco Bagnaia turned down a massive $10 million contract with Yam...

The Triumph Trident 660 giveaway ends on June 26, 2026. Watch now to secure your entry before the clock runs out at midnight. https://fanathem.com/canyonchasers Ever wonder why a seemingly "easy" corner causes the most dramatic lowsides? In this episode, we break down the exact riding mistake that causes riders to run out of road, why "lazy" corner entries might be ruining your...

Mastering motorcycle design requires prioritizing the human element. Learn why integrating ergonomics and vehicle dynamics early changes everything. Building a world-class motorcycle from a blank sheet of paper is an audacious goal, mostly because nobody has successfully attempted to do it from scratch in a very long time. Why? Because the engineering isn't just difficult; it’s a high-stakes g...

Is MotoGP rider behavior costing the team? We start with 2026 Balaton Park MotoGP race, dissecting Jorge Martín's explosive Turn 1 "bowling ball" crash and the track design flaws that caused it. We celebrate Marc Marquez’s historic 100th Grand Prix win and marvel at Pedro Acosta's heroic flat-tracking style on the KTM. Ultimately, this analysis focuses on the reality of professio...

Why is Pecco Bagnaia completely destroying his rear tire grip while the Aprilia RS-GP handles corners like a dream? In this episode, we break down the engineering war tearing up the MotoGP championship, from the ruthless Marc Marquez vs Pedro Acosta track battle to the hidden physics of motorcycle chassis design. Topics Covered: Ducati Rear Tire Wear: Why Bagnaia's point-and-shoot riding style...

Enter to win the Triumph Triton 660! https://www.fanathem.com/canyonchasers/ Norton Motorcycles V4 Deep Dive: Built for the Road, Imagined at the Isle of Man TT! Looking for the ultimate Norton V4 review? In this episode of the CanyonChasers Podcast, we sit down for an exclusive technical deep dive into the stunning new Norton V4 superbike. Fresh off the exclusive press launch in Spain, we break d...

Was the 2026 Catalunya MotoGP the most chaotic, stressful, and controversial race of the season? In this episode, we break down the insane emotional toll of the Catalan GP, a race overshadowed by two massive red flags, horror crashes, and high-stakes garage drama. We dive straight into the terrifying Alex Marquez crash after Pedro Acosta's KTM suffered a sudden power loss, and the disturbing T...

Marc Marquez retirement rumors, MotoGP injury updates, and the return of the legendary Norton V4 headline this episode. We dive deep into Marc Marquez’s latest crash, his struggle with radial nerve damage, and whether the "King of COTA" is finally finished. Plus, Dave reveals his "dream gig" traveling to Spain to test the ultra-exclusive Norton Manx. We also discuss motorcycle...

Master trail braking, understand motorcycle physics, and learn advanced riding techniques to stay safe when the "edge of grip" finds you. In this episode of The Braking Zone, Dave sits down with Chip, CEO of Yamaha Champions Riding School (YCRS), to challenge the dangerous "just slow down" safety myth. We break down the motorcycle control secrets of World Championship racers, i...

Motorcycle Geometry, Anti-Squat Physics, and Handling High Winds Motorcycle Track Day success isn't just about speed; it’s about mastering the physics of your machine. In this episode, we break down why Motorcycle Geometry changes, like dropping your forks just 4mm, can solve front-end vagueness in fast sweepers. We also dive into Suspension Tuning, explaining how Anti-Squat forces prevent you...

Is the MotoGP paddock about to explode, or is everyone just waiting for a bigger paycheck? In this clip, we’re taking a detour into the messy world of MotoGP contracts. While the rumors are flying—Jorge Martin to Yamaha, Fabio Quartararo to Honda, and Pecco Bagnaia’s "2+2" deal—there’s a massive reason why nothing is "official" yet. We dive into the "Concord Agreement" style gridlock between the m...

The Physics of Traction Management: Why Your Tire Grip is Dynamic. Motorcycle traction management ,  tire physics , and  MotoGP race analysis  take center stage in this deep-dive episode. We break down the  friction equation  (F=μ⋅N) to explain why  contact patch  is dynamic and how  trail braking  and  load transfer  actually create grip. We also dissect the chaotic  Jerez Grand Prix  weekend, in...

We explore the evolving landscape of motorcycle culture, from new legislation protecting our racetracks to the technical mastery required to stay safe and fast on two wheels. We discuss the growing movement to shield motorsport facilities from urban sprawl, the rise of Chinese "gateway" motorcycles, and Honda's decision to open their HRC parts catalog to US consumers. The technical s...