Albert “Shrimp” Burns rose from a teenage mechanic in Oakland to become one of the most feared and beloved racers of the 1910s. Competing on the dangerous wooden motordromes —nicknamed “murderdromes” for their lethal design—he raced in front of crowds of 20,000 spectators at a time when board-track racing was one of America’s most popular sports. B…

16 days and 23 hrs. This is how long it takes to ride around the world, and Ryan has the film to prove it. Departing from the classic Fortnine style videos, Ryan and his team set off to make a world record and a feature length film at the same time. Setting a record like this is not easy. It takes lots of planning, luck and determination. And takin…

We are digging back into the past to two of our favorite episodes, and presenting them back to back. In Oct 2017 Jocelin Snow joined us to talk about her experience trying out for the GS Trophy for the first time. We learn about her past as a racer, and all the things that brought her to this point in life where she had become an amazing ADV rider.…

Verge Motorcycles are the newest electric motorcycle brand bringing true innovation to the market. They've got a hubless rear wheel motor with 737 ft lbs of torque, and a range of up to 217 miles that will recharge up to 80% in less than 35 minutes. Is the perfect electric bike finally here? Not exactly, but this could be the closest thing so far. …

Louisa Swaden is back! You may remember her as a land speed racer and an author, but did you know she's also a Blood Bike Rider? These are volunteers who shuttle blood and other supplies between hospitals when it's needed fast. Using their bikes to weave through traffic, they deliver the supplies faster than any car or ambulance can. This leads us …

Kawasaki announced a new model, the KLE500, which slots perfectly into the same spot as the CFMoto Ibex 450. Both bikes fit a previously empty niche in the small adventure bike market, have solid motors, and are great bikes for the price (under $7k). So which one would you buy? We compare some of the stats and figures, coupled with Liza's assessmen…

Alex built a bio diesel Harley Davidson, and it seemed like a good idea at the time. He then decided to ride it from Vancouver, Canada to San Diego, California, and that seemed like a good idea at the time too. Many lessons were learned along the way, from the engine choice, matching the engine to the transmission, and so much more. Fortunately for…

145,000 miles in 145 days. Wow, just wow. Patrick 'Old Man' Cornell just set a new long distance riding record, not just by beating the old record of 100,000 miles, but adding in the previous record of 45,000 miles. When I heard this, I wondered what kind of superhuman could achieve this? How much planning did he do? How much luck did he have? But …

To share your passion of motorcycles with friends is fun, but sharing your passion of motorcycle racing with your daughter is even better. Annie grew up watching her dad John race, and at a very early age asked when she could get her own bike. Through him she discovered the same passion for racing motorcycles as her dad, starting out on smaller bik…

Charlotte Kainz was just a kid, and even though we never met her, we have a lot in common with her. Like us, she was obsessed with bikes since she was little. She got her first bike, a PW50 at the age of four, and with her family's support, starting racing flat track at a young age. It was a family affair, and they could be found most weekends at t…

This episode takes a more philosophical twist. We are joined by The Existential Biker, Louisa Swaden, whose new book The Stoic Rider: Philosophy in Motion has just been published. After decades away from motorcycling Louisa returned in her 50s as a nervous novice with a fear of speed. Which makes her story all the more extraordinary because within …

On this podcast we are joined by Bagel's friend Bud, who discussed their recent trip to the Heinkel rally. He also gushes about his new electric motorcycle; the Ryvid. Big Head Todd updates us on his basket case Ducati 996 he's rebuilding, and we end with some great listener emails. With Miss Emma, Stumpy John, Big Head Todd, Naked Jim, Scottie, Ba…

Attending the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials has been a bucket list event for us, so when an opportunity came up we took it. Now you might think Bonneville is all about speed, and for the most part it is, but what was most amazing was the community (or the salt family as we came to learn). You'll find everything from 50cc antique bikes to 3000c…

Wendy Crockett joins the Misfits for a weekend of dirt instruction, wrenching and podcasting. In this episode Jim and Liza give a small recap on the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials, and Jim tells a story about trying to fix a flat tire in the middle of nowhere, and ultimately running out of f**ks. Wendy and Liza taught a basic dirt bike class, a…

Here's another one of Liza's favorites from the archives, daredevil Debbie Lawler. When Debbie beat Even Knievel's jumping record in February 1974 at the age if 21, the American press was riveted. While there had been a handful of women who raced motorcycles there hadn't been any female daredevils professionally jumping them - much-less upstaging t…

We all dream about the perfect garage. What would be in yours? All the best tools? Couches? A cigar bar and big screen TV? What about a clean checkerboard floor to display all of your bikes? Now take it bigger; what would your dream parcel be? Would your land have a track and a giant barn size shop? Maybe a bike wash station? Now dream even bigger.…

We all love new technology; ABS brakes, fuel injection, traction control, etc. But when is it too much? Sometimes it's nice to have a simple bike that is all mechanical, and everything can be taken apart and fixed. Advancing or retarding the timing, changing the jets and being able to easily access the spark plugs. These are things that we like hav…

Everyone is wrong according to Miss Emma. What is often referred to as a retro bike, is in fact a nostalgia bike. In some cases, it might be a vintage, or a modern retro, or even a modern retro vintage. So what is the difference? And what category do "retro" bikes really belong in? Sit back and listen to the Misfits get into the minutiae of it. And…

AMA Vintage Days does not disappoint. Bigger than ever with an attendance estimated at more than 70,000 and heavy rain storms in the forecast, it still was an amazing weekend. In fact, the mud seemed to add to the list of things to experience and brought us all together sharing our stories. But fortunately the rain came in spurts, leaving plenty of…

Can a Chinese brand bike survive the Iron Butt Rally? 11,000 in 11 days. This is a question that will remain unanswered for now. Our friend and sometimes stunt Misfit Wendy Crockett attempted to prove that it is possible, but things did not go her way. And when we say it didn't go her way, the dead bike on the side of the road quickly because the s…

There's so much going on this week so we packed it all into one episode. First up, Neal and Stumpy John took an adventure ride up to the Lost Coast in N. Cali. Everything up there is either ocean, redwoods, pot farms or vineyards, so you know the ride was epic.Next up, we spent the weekend down at Laguna Seca for the MotoAmerica races. For some of …

Peter Egan is a legend in the world motorcycle journalism. He is best known for his work as an automotive and motorcycle writer. He gained prominence through his long-running columns and features in Road & Track and Cycle World magazines, where his storytelling combined mechanical insight with a nostalgic, often humorous style. Egan began writing f…

On this week's motorcycle podcast we discuss a bunch of topics including ADV bikes, old Harleys in Jake 2.0's truck, teaching military personnel how to ride and the goings on in the garage. Featuring Naked Jim, Miss Emma, Stumpy John, Neal, Jake 2.0 and Tim.womenridersworldrelay.com/wima-usa.com/2025-international-rally/www.motorcyclesandmisfits.co…

Harley Davidson Sportster; the red headed step child of the motorcycle world. Harley people think they are "beginner" or "girl's bikes", and non Harley riders just think it's a Hardley. So where do they belong? In the sports category as HD has them? As an 883cc beginner bike? Here's the thing, they have an interesting history and a race lineage to …

Ride reports. Boy have we got them. Emma took a trip up to the Avenue of the Giants on her trusty RF800, aka 'Rufus' where she encountered a frightful situation. Scottie rode up to Washington for the Dreamroll rally, where apparently everyone rides topless. Liza took a ride up to SF and on her way back, became trapped for hours in the middle of the…

Cyril Williams was an Isle of Man TT racer, riding his AJS to victory in 1920. The TT is known as one of the most dangerous races in the world, yet this paled in comparison to what he experienced just a couple of years before. During the World War 1, TT racers were brought in with their race bikes to serve as dispatch riders, risking their lives by…

Welcome to another rousing episode of our show. We got the band back together, and have a lot of catching up to do. Liza is back from England, and went to some really cool places, including the Sidecarcross World Championship and the Bike Shed Show. Meanwhile, Emma and Neil were at the Quail Motorcycle Gathering and have their own stories to tell. …

From our listener submissions for our Insta 360 camera contest, it seems as if the critters are out to get us! On this motorcycle podcast we discuss garage happenings and Naked Jim and Stumpy John's recent high desert adventures. Miss Emma gives us a short lesson on anti-lock brakes. We also read the submissions we received from our contest. So man…

Liza is off riding the mountains of Pakistan again, so it's her turn to pick a favorite from the archives, and it doesn't get much better than Debbie Evans Leavitt. She's a 7 time Taurus World Stunt Award winner, she's in the AMA Hall of Fame and the Hollywood Stunt Hall of Fame. She's got almost 400 movie and TV credits to her name, and was also o…

Liza is joined by special co-host Wendy Crockett, who has just returned from a Vintage Rides tour of Nepal. The trip was supposed to be an easy tour with 90% paved roads, but due to weather and earthquakes, plans changed. Heather joins us to share her experience as a rider with little off road experience, and how she met the challenges and came bac…

The One Moto Show in Portland is one of the best motorcycle shows ever, and we can't wait every year for it to come around. With the perfect blend of bikes, music, art and food, you can spend days here and still find some new interesting thing you somehow missed before. And the bikes are a true testament to the love of all things 2 wheeled (and thr…

It's that time of year once again for one of our favorite events, the Quail Motorcycle Gathering. Re-badged as the Quail MotoFest, this will be year 15 for this concours d'elegance style motorcycle show. With everything from vintage bikes to race bikes, customs, scooters, minibikes, dirtbikes and show winning restorations, you'll find it all at the…

Evolutionary neuroscientist and acclaimed author Mark Changizi joins us to talk about his new book, Motorcycle Mind, that reveals the science behind why motorcycling feels so exhilarating. From the dynamics of human perception and emotion to the physical symbiosis between rider and machine, Motorcycle Mind uncovers how the ride transforms us into s…

We are back from the Misfits Rally, and have more stories to tell. There were animal encounters, friendships forged, mud tackled and tacos consumed. This brings us to talk about moto camping, what must have's to bring, and which bike is the perfect vehicle for moto camping. Liza has a tale from a recent trip to the DMV, and we read listener emails.…

Misfits Rally Vol 3 was a success! We had the most amazing group of people come together for adventure, fun, food, games and campfire stories. We talked to some individuals about their experiences at the rally, interviewed Bill Edgar from ADV Moto Pros and gave away some awards. Give a listen and join us next year!www.motorcyclesandmisfits.commotor…

Join us for another rousing episode where we talk about all things motorcycles. Jim shares a story about an amazing military rescue, and then we play a game called Will It Dirt? Next up we share some things we love, talk about how insurance companies are hurting the motorcycle community, and then we read listener emails. With Liza, Stumpy John, Nei…

The International Six Days Enduro race is considered the Olympics of dirt biking, and Jeff has completed 33 of them with 11 gold medals, 20 silvers and two bronze. It was his 34th and last year that he was not able to complete it, and being too old was not the reason. So how does this AMA Hall of Famer compete at this top level for decades, setting…

What do bowling pins and Italian 2 strokes have to do with Harley Davidson? That would be the HD ownership of Aermacchi and the AMF ownership of Harley Davidson during the 60s and 70s. At this time, HD sold scooters, dirtbikes, minibikes and even a moped alongside the big cruisers they are still known for today. Why did they all go away, and will w…

Misti Hurst is a masterclass columnist for Motorcycle Mojo Magazine (Canada) and Adventure Bike Rider Magazine (UK), where she has built a long-standing reputation for insightful, in-depth writing on motorcycle technique, travel, and adventure. Over two decades, she has written more than 250 articles, curating a vast body of work that now forms the…

Liza took the beginner riding class and had to unlearn how to ride, and then relearn the basic building blocks of controlling a bike. It's a lot harder as an adult, which is why teaching kids proper riding technique is the best was to go. In fact, Mike has been teaching his daughter Freya to ride, and found it best to get professional instruction, …

Spring has sprung, at least it felt like it today with the beautiful weather. Breaking Away Matt joins us to talk about the upcoming Misfits Rally April 3-6. https://breakingawayadventures.com/misfits-rally-vol-3. Jim ventured out on some dirt roads on the back side of Big Sur, and shares his ride report. And of course riding on dirt roads can leav…

Want to go on a motorcycle tour? Then Emma and Cat have got a trip for you. The Dolomites, Tuscany, Pyrenees or the Julian Alps are all going to be good bets for great roads and great food. And to sweeten the pot, a coach from Yamaha Champions Riding School will be on the trip to give you tips and feedback on your riding skills. Keith from YCRS joi…

It's that time of year where we head to Vegas for the AimExpo. This is an industry expo where you can see new bikes, parts, products, manufacturers, organizations and anything else you can think of that is involved in the motorcycle industry. Its a place to network, see old friends, and talk to industry experts all under one roof. We love it especi…

So many things to discuss, and so little time. Here's a menu of our topics this week:Naked ride report, free gear for natural disaster survivors, KTM is alive, Ebikes are doomed, Mecum auction is a sign of the recession, 2 strokes are back, choosing the right Evel Knievel outfit, Misfits Rally 2025, Scotty is crazy not crazy and more. Join us for t…

On this week's motorcycle podcast we get an update from the 2nd Annual Misfits Desert Hare rally in the Mojave. From paint balls in the Adam's apple to broken radiators fun was had by all. Then, Donovan Corbett from Big Sur Motorcycle Adventures, along with Jeromy and Holli, regale us with stories of their motorcycle exploits in Vietnam. We also di…

The One Motorcycle Show in Portland is one of our favorite events that we attend every year. So when they announced they were heading to Vegas and coinciding with the AimExpo, we were all types of excited. Thor and Tori Drake join us to talk about the past 15 years of One Shows, how the Vegas Show came to be, and what we can expect in the future. J…

We are digging into our back log to one of Bagel's favorites. This week we have two special guests, Aaron and Jeanette, who went on another one of the Barfistan trips to Pakistan and share their stories from this epic adventure. We also talk about the Dirtbag Challenge, what we did today, and Bagel's new wheels.Join our Discord at discord.gg/hpRZcu…

On this week's motorcycle podcast we start the new year off with a potpourri of topics including a brief visit to Emma's History Hole to discuss the similarities between the Suzuki GS 750 and the Kawasaki Z1. Did Suzuki copy Kawasaki? Also we give reports on our recent holiday rides to Hollister Hills SVRA and other trips. Also, Bagel gets another …

This week on our motorcycle podcast we don't discuss Liza's Jeep (much). Clay from Firstrides.org and his guests Dave, Michelle and Hayden tell us about this outstanding organization and the work their doing to train the next generation of riders. Featuring Miss Emma, Stumpy John, Naked Jim and Bagel.Join our Discord at discord.gg/hpRZcucHCTwww.mot…

We are joined by three special guests this week: Michael Petrosini of TBEXUSA, Joseph Ford of Ride Again, and one armed racer extraordinaire Jason Griffin. They all have different stories, but they all found each other through one common thing; their disabilities. Michael discovered the The Bike Experience while in the UK, and as someone who recent…