Jim McDermott

Welcome to the Motos and Friends Podcast. This week’s episode is brought to you byYamaha. 

Are you ready to experience the motorcycle that is redefining the Supersport class? The new Yamaha YZF-R9 with its 890cc CP3 engine delivers incredible power and torque. Its lightweight aluminum frame, carefully developed rider’s ergonomics, and adjustable KYB suspension, provide spectacular agility and control. Ride MotoGP-inspired aerodynamics with the R9’s winglets, designed to enhance handling and agility. The R9 is more than just a machine; it’s an experience. With its aggressive R-Series bodywork, LED lighting, and Brembo Stylema front brake calipers, every detail is impressive. The YZF-R9: Accessible Supersport performance starting at $12,499. Visit YamahaMotorsports.com to learn more.

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In this first segment, I chat with Editor Matt Ayhan about two closely related all new bikes from Honda: the CB750 Hornet, and its larger sibling, the CB1000 Hornet SP. These are similar—but also very different upright naked sportbikes from the Big Red. The 750 is a parallel twin, and the 1000 is an inline-4. It might seem obvious which bike has the greater appeal, but I guarantee you there are some real surprises from Matt on how both of these bikes performed, and where they excel.  

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Have you checked out Insta360, the leader in 360-degree action camera technology? Their latest camera, the Insta360 X5, shoots in all directions at once in incredible 8K30 resolution. Just hit record, focus on your ride, and then find the best angles in the edit with Insta360’s mobile app—it’s easy, smooth, and packed with AI tools to make it easy and super-fast. The X5’s huge sensors, triple AI chip, and dedicated low-light shooting mode deliver unmatched detail and image quality—even at night. The X5 is waterproof, reliable, and features Insta360’s toughest-ever replaceable lenses and lens guards. And as if that wasn’t enough, now the Summer Update brings together a series of innovations that make X5 even more powerful, versatile, and intuitive than ever before. New features like AdaptiveTone, gives smart exposure in complex lighting situations; and with the latest firmware update, the standard battery now offers an even longer runtime. But if you need even more, some incredible accessories are available including the Ultra Battery with 17% more battery capacity that delivers more runtime, and when charging, it reaches 80% in just 20 minutes. Other accessories include ND Filters, specially designed for 360 cameras that give you complete control in any lighting condition, they’re ideal for conveying speed in motorcycle footage or achieving pro-looking motion effects. There is also the GPS Preview Remote with its built-In mic: it’s an all-in-one creative tool for smoother, smarter shooting. So, to bag a free invisible selfie stick worth US$24.99 with your X5 purchase, head to store.insta360.com and use the promo code “ULTIMATE”, (available for the first 30 purchases only). Or click here

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Now here’s a really cool event coming up this October that you should not miss! It’s the 33rd annual Biketoberfest® rally that takes place in the Daytona Beach and Volusia County areas; this year it’s on Oct. 16-19. The four-day motorcycle event attracts riding enthusiasts to the destination for the beautiful Florida weather, live music, the industry’s top vendors, bike shows, motorcycle racing at Daytona International Speedway. There are miles of scenic rides along the famous A1A, historic Main Street and the Ormond Beach Scenic Loop. For more information andto book your plans for Biketoberfest® 2025, visit www.biketoberfest.org

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Our guest this episode is Associate Editor Freeman Wood. As you might know, Freeman is a big fan of motorcycle travel, and there’s nothing he likes more than to take off with a few of his buddies and take a road less traveled. Teejay chats with him about his latest adventure through the mountains of Colorado and ultimately to Moab, Utah. He rode a KTM 890 Adventure, with several modifications to help survive the adventure. The group definitely got into some scrapes, but (spoiler alert) they did actually survive to fight again another day. The route is actually listed as the Colorado BDR (Backcountry Discovery Route) and you can check it for yourself either at Butler Maps or at RideBDR.com.  

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