Behind the Bars, Motorcycles, Memories and Mayhem

This podcast reveals why the 2025 Street Glide Ultra is Harley-Davidson's unexpected game-changer in the touring segment. We dive into how it's an impressive 51 pounds lighter than the 2024 Ultra Limited, yet boasts a significant boost with double the cargo space of the standard Street Glide, offering 4.9 cubic feet of capacity. All of this comes at a surprisingly competitive price, being $1,750 l...

Interviewing Dave Moss of Dave Moss Tuning, how a motorcycle suspension could save your life. In Episode 5, Dave Moss of David Moss Tuning chats with John and Mark about the importance of adjusting your motorcycles suspension to your specific needs.  If you have ever considered trying to improve the handling of your bike, you must listen to what Dave has to say, it could save your life. https...

Discussion with Mike Kennedy, President of Vances and Hines In this edition of Behind the Bars Podcast, John and Mark talk with Mike Kennedy- President of Vance and Hines .  V&H has helped Harley riders achieve better sound, performance and looks for years and is now venturing out into new categories like Side by Sides and even pickup trucks.  They are truly the state of the art when...

Ep 3, S5, Trevor Blouin, 2022 Hoka Hey Rider  John and Mark have an emotional interview with Harley-Davidson Master Technician, Trevor Blouin, and the 2022 Hoka Hey Rider.  Trevor discusses his mental and physical preparations for serious Hoka Hey Endurance Challenge . Riding 10,000 miles in 12 days, Trevor, thoroughly enjoyed the experience.   Sponsored by Wilkins Harley-Davidson ....

Ep 2, S5, Harley-Davidson's new Sportster Nightster, interview with James McClanahan, from the famous Myers-Duren Harley-Davidson  Mark and John interrogate James McClanahan from Myers-Duren Harley-Davidson in Tulsa, Oklahoma to get some information on the new 2022 Harley-Davidson Nightster RH975 which was just released today.   Myers-Duren Harley-Davidson www.h-d.com/ Special thank you...

Ep 1, S5, How did Harley-Davidson clean BMW's clock?  Interview with Executive Editor of Cycle World Magazine, Justin Dawes Cycle World Magazine made some serious waves last month when they released an Article Entitled 2021 Big Bore Adventure Shootout and declared the Harley-Davidson Pan America as the top Adventure Bike, displacing the BMW R1250 GS. In this episode of Behind the Bars, Mark a...

In this edition of Behind the Bars, John and Mark chat with Kelly Quinn, a.k.a Throttle Girl, about her experiences on the Pan America.  “Like riding a dragon” was her description of how she feels on it.  Kelly was an early adopter having first experienced the Pan America when it was just a prototype.  Tune in to learn more about adventure riding!  Throttle Girl Throttle Girl F...

In this episode, Behind the Bars Podcast welcomes Mike (The Wolf) as guest host with Mark.   Mike and Mark chat with Spenser and Eric of MotoVermont, a tour company that leads adventure riders on journeys in Vermont, Quebec, and New Mexico.  They discuss adventure riding and the arrival of the much anticipated Harley-Davidson Pan America.  Without John’s usual babbling, you wil...

Ep 11, S4, Interview with Serial 1 Cycle Company, Aaron Frank and Rich Bunzel John and Mark interview Aaron Frank, Brand Director of Serial 1 Cycle Company, along with Rich Bunzel, Dealer Relations.   We discuss what is an EBike, and how Serial 1's bike differs from Giant and Specialized Ebikes.  The differences, the history and how Harley-Davidson spun this company off so it can be...

Ep 10, S4, Jake Bright, Tech Crunch/Revzilla Writer, on his creation, the KTM, Triple Threat.  TX3 Regular guest Jake Bright, Award winning author, Contributing Writer to Tech Crunch and Common Tread , visits with John and Mark to talk about a new project he is developing called the Triple Threat or Tx3.   This revolutionary concept is really three motorcycles in one.  Tune in...

Ep 9, S4, Interview with Long Way Up, Charley Boorman, Harley-Davidson LiveWire Adventure Rider In this episode, John and Mark revisit with Charley Boorman- LiveWire adventure motorcycle rider and co-star along with Ewan McGregor in the new Apple series Long Way Up.   This fascinating series chronicles their journey riding Harley-Davidson LiveWires from Argentina to Los Angeles.  Ch...

Ep 8, S4, Vera Bloom, Motorcycle Rider, Alternative Rock Artist out of Nashville In this episode, John and Mark visit with Vera Bloom- an Alt Rock performance artist out of Nashville. Vera talks about her new six song EP that is coming out in October. Having grown up in the Seattle area in a family of Harley Riders, Vera talks about how riding her Harley is part of how she finds musical inspiratio...

Ep 7, S4, Grading Harley-Davidson's Electric Motorcycle, TechCrunch Contributing Writer, Jake Bright talks about how he grades LiveWire In this podcast, John and Mark revisit with Jake Bright, Contributing Writer to Tech Crunch and electric motorcycle enthusiast.   Jake offers his grading policy for the new Harley-Davidson LiveWire.  This is a provocative conversation that calls int...

Ep 6, S4, Interview with Diego Cardenas, Creator of Influential LiveWire Group Curious about the how the Livewire is faring out in the wild?   Tune into this podcast to get the lowdown. John and Mark chat with Diego Cardenas, an early adopter of the LiveWire, about his experiences, motorcycle culture shifts, and how the LiveWire is fairing with 5000 miles under his belt.  Diego gets...

Ep 5, S4, Interview with Harley-Davidson Go to Market Manager, Michael Spaeth We received special permission for this interview.  Super cool discussion here on Behind the Bars with Michael Spaeth of the Harley-Davidson.  His title is mysterious but make no mistake he is a Harley insider who contributes significantly to all aspects of the Harley brand.  Discussion focused on all sort...

Ep 4, S4, Interview with Author, Debi Tolbert Duggar, Author of Riding Soul-O In this edition of Behind the Bars, John and Mark chat with Debi Tolbert Duggar- rider and author of the book Riding Soul-O.   Debbie is an awesome story teller with many fascinating experiences on a motorcycle that have led to her discovering her true self.   Tune in to hear how riding helped transform her fro...

Ep 3, S4, Interview with Jamie Elvidge, Motorcycle Journalist, on Ewan Mcgregor and Charley Boorman’s Harley-Davidson LiveWire ride from Argentina to Los Angeles With the Harley-Davidson Livewire due in showrooms all across the country in the next few weeks, John and Mark chat with motorcycle journalist Jamie Elvidge about Livewire and Pan America.   Jamie wrote a fascinating article rec...

Ep 2, S4, Bruce Motta, Harley Owners Group (HOG) Czar In this edition of Behind the Bars, John and Mark talk with Bruce Motta, Regional Manager for HOG Harley-Davidson Owners Group.  Bruce is a fascinating guy who has gone from designing nuclear subs for the Navy to making connections with motorcycle riders across the globe.   His harrowing account of his first time on a motorcycle...

S4, Ep1, Craig Ripley, Living off the Slab, Dual Adventure Motorcyclist, thoughts on Harley-Davidson Pan America In this episode, John goes solo since Mark is off hugging trees (only for this episode).   John talks with Craig Ripley who has a popular Youtube Channel and does adventure touring riding all over the country.  While we are still learning many of the specs of the Pan America,...

Ep 14, S3, Interview with Joe Pennington, of THE Evel Knievel Museum Evel Knievel has to be the interesting character to ever sit in the saddle of a motorcycle.  John and Mark were fascinated to learn that there is a museum in Topeka, Kansas dedicated to Evel.  In this podcast Joe Pennington of THE Evel Knievel Museum talks with John and Mark about the museum’s exhibits and attractions.&...

Interview with Alisa Clickenger, Women's Motorcycle Tours In this Behind the Bars Podcast, John and Mark chat with Alisa Clickenger. Alisa is an inspirational writer, blogger, and global motorcycle tour leader who called motorcycles “the lens through which I view the world”.  Her passion for bikes was inspired by a dream and has allowed her to discover her true self. She speaks about many int...

Mark and John interview Valerie Thompson, who is the Fastest Woman on 2 Wheels (328 MPH), on her friendship with Jessi Combs who was tragically killed trying to achieve a world record on four wheels today. Valerie Thompson, is the “World’s Fastest Female Motorcycle Racer ” and an eight-time land speed record holder with membership in the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame , seven 200 MPH Clubs and on...

Ep 11, S3, Interview with 5 Time NHRA Champion, Andrew Hines Ever traveled 200 MPH on a motorcycle?  On this edition of Behind the Bars, John and Mark talk with 5 time NHRA Champion Andrew Hines about what it feels like drag race a motorcycle for Vance and Hines/Harley-Davidson Race Team.  Andrew is a classy guy with three (3) little ones at home watching on NHRA.Com as he tears up the t...

Ep 10, S3, Jake Bright, Contributor to TechCrunch on the 2020 LiveWire and Zero SRF  In this edition of Behind the Bars, John and Mark talk with Jake Bright for the second time.  Jake is a contributing writer for Tech Crunch .  All together they dig further into some of the details of the new LiveWire including the haptic experience and future versions of Harley E-Bikes/motorcycles....

Ep 9, S3, Is Harley-Davidson really an American made motorcycle?   International Business Professor, Frank Dubois, PHD gives insight on this complex issue. What is American Made mean?  Does it need to be manufactured in the USA?  Can it have products made outside the United States?  What about if the products were made in the US and shipped overseas to be finished? Very few thi...