Build-a-Bike Challenge: The all-in-one motorcycle ft. Ari Henning | HSLS S4E8

Build-a-Bike Challenge: The all-in-one motorcycle ft. Ari Henning
Read more on Common Tread: rvz.la/3hGMS1n
See Motul's Full Line on RevZilla: rvz.la/3tK3wSJ
Perfect bike or Frankenbike? Ari Henning joins Spurgeon and Zack to talk about how they’d build the perfect do it all to use for the long haul. Do you agree with them or have they created a monster?
0:00 Intro
3:02 T-Shirt Giveaway
7:30 In The News!
17:10 Build-a-Bike with Ari Henning
1:09:48 Listener Comments

[@RevZilla]

Check out Highside/Lowside on Common Tread here: rvz.la/3kcOYI6

[@pyrocore]

You need to get another voice in here. The loss of Lemmy is profound.

[@michaelornelas9396]

You guys should do an episode on becoming a motorcycle journalist. A getting in the business episode.

[@user-xh9vn3ee5i]

ص

[@jerryjb]

John Deere does make a 3250! We have a similar model, the 3200, here at the orchard I work on

[@samanthabass367]

Your welcome

[@ronaldtartaglia4459]

Zack and Ari Absolute legends.

[@Hasfhuf79]

Chassis comes from the French châssis, which is a general term for a load-bearing frame. The more you know

[@fudge9544]

It would be cool to see you guys pick 2 or 3 motorcycles that you had to live with forever - that way you could select more focused bikes instead of a general do-it-all motorcycle. A supersport for track days, a dual sport/adv for off-road, and a touring bike for long 2 up rides as an example.

[@henrikforsberg683]

Versys 650 for zack? 😁

[@paulherzmann6237]

YESSSS!!!! I love it😇😇 I’m addicted to America’s number one motorcycle podcast

[@Uninfluenceable]

this podcast perfectly illustrates my point; I'd rather have 3 used $8k bikes, than one new $25k bike.... There is no one bike to rule them all, it's always a massive compromise, hence why I'm not a fan of adventure bikes. I'd rather have a track bike, plus a dirt bike, plus a touring bike for the price of a new GSA.

[@coolhandchunk]

My spouse would not agree...! I am held to a single bike (for now).

[@superbarnie]

No, get 4 used $5k bikes.

[@Uninfluenceable]

@@superbarnie pre pandemic I would have agreed with you, but nowadays you get some real roached out crap for 5k, due to crazy used bike prices

[@superbarnie]

@@Uninfluenceable Well, that's my garage right now, and three out of the four were bought post pandemic. I think $5k is still doable now. It stuff like the $2k deals that are out of reach now, i think.

[@justsomedude445]

depends on your lifestyle , how much time you have to ride and where you live and how you prefer to ride ect... id Love to have 12 new bikes and of course the time and money to use them all but that is just not real life for me or anyone else i know , and the last year or so the type of bikes i want and watch the market on seem to be selling used even 10 years old and clapped out for soo damn close to new prices what the hell

[@stoney3398]

Come on Spurg... It's not a Tiger 900 XC. The XC models went away with the 800; the bike you're referring to is a Rally Pro. And they're pretty sweet!

[@justsomedude445]

i do want to ride a new 900 rally pro , read all about it never ridden a 3cyl of any kind before

[@scottk.8494]

My wife and I are kind of living this scenario, sorta. We converted a 71 passenger school bus into a tiny home and extended the rear frame to accommodate two motorcycles for the next two years as our only transportation. They had to be light, fun, economical, and cheap to own. We ended up with a 2018 XT250 and 2020 TW200 with matching paint schemes. They aren't power houses but they are a blast and we love them! The TW gets TONS of attention and questions.

[@oztursen]

Zach: Spurg, tell me three things you would bring to a deserted island... Spurg: A KTM motorcycle, Motorex Oils, and have I already said KTM motorcycle?

[@johnharvey5338]

I have had an XR since 2015, 54,000 miles, never had much of an issue with the vibes, does everything I want from an ex sports bike rider. Fast, comfortable good gas mileage and great for touring.

[@abbasahmad1980]

Thank you for adding images of the bikes being discussed.

[@vidster7]

Hope Dirty Joe was here also specially last time he spent so much time researching of his dream parts of his bike ..but oh well

[@gregorysteffensen3279]

If I could throw an electronic cruise control onto my Versys 650 LT (the only thing the aftermarket *can't* easily fix), then get the fueling, seat, and suspension Gucci'd out (which the aftermarket *can* fix), I'd be very happy with that for a very long time.

[@henrikforsberg683]

Sounds like that bike is quite similar to my tracer 700.. 😂

[@gregorysteffensen3279]

@@henrikforsberg683 If we got the Tracer 700 in the USA I'd probably have bought one instead since it's a little more refined, but yes very similar machines

[@henrikforsberg683]

@@gregorysteffensen3279 funny that they share the same “weak spots”, seat, fueling and suspension. Other than that i really like the little tracer! I Have ordered a k-tech shock and cartridge kit for it! 😍

[@jfess1911]

MCCruise has one for that model, I think. A good article is "Aftermarket Motorcycle Cruise Control and Throttle Locks". (I've tried to post this a couple of times, but have been getting error messages).

[@BrunoGesscher]

Ya all are correct! This IS the best Moto podcast anywhere! As far as all those nannys on a motorcycle….I like the bike to be as basic as can be…like bare bones….a la z125 pro bare. Not to say that heated grips aren’t nice though. Keep up the great job and awesome banter gents!

[@tombyrne1142]

Timely for me as I have decided to take a derelict old VS700 Intruder and turn it into an "any-bike". Just about finished having a 17 inch hoop laced to the rear hub. Going to run ADV tires and somewhat taller rear shocks. Just rebuilt the fork. I have installed ADV-style pegs. Looking to install dirt bike bars too. Almost ready to start the reassembly process.

[@joelness]

Can we see some CTXP content where the guys build some of these Frankenbikes? Also a Moto Guzzi centennial challenge where they ride the entire CA-to-WA Pacific Coast on cheap Guzzis? Looking forward to the upcoming Alaska episode! Great content as always from the whole Revzilla crew.

[@MattieXMoto]

Woah. I don't even recognize Spurgeon. Look great! Congrats if you are working hard to stay in shape!

[@FXSTB]

I realize this episode is a few months back now, but as I re-watch it, I'm reminded of the Tucker 48. In 1948, Preston Tucker put headlights in his car that swiveled with the steering wheel. Fun fact... the Tucker Museum is in RevZilla's home state of PA.

[@legendaryawesomeness7220]

I agree with Spurgeon, Ari is easy on the eyes. What will it take to get Ari to do his next guest appearance with no shirt on? Let’s get a petition going!

[@drewg1200]

I’m in, let’s do this.

[@Rocketboy-qg6ts]

Loving the podcast from the UK. Everyone lane splits here, it’s what bikes are for! 🤣

[@chrism5705]

One bike??? Not if I can help it! But if I must, then: 2012 CBR1000RR, café/streetfighter-ish, 9 inch round LED headlight, slight overbore by KWS, Taylormade underslung exhaust, resprung, Brembo MCS & M50s, Gripone aftermarket traction control, slightly lowered pegs, SW motech luggage rack for my hard GIVIs, modified stunt cagr for urban protection, on Michelin intermediate rain tires! Inspired by Jamie Robinson's CBR600rr, Dionysus.

[@billvick7011]

I saw the RS660 in person for the first time at NJMP a couple weeks ago and I'm with Ari. I want one. I like both the color schemes so I'll take either.

[@kuhndj67]

One bike depends on use mix. My typical mix is primarily sporty focused country road touring and for that I'd go with a Multistrada 1200s (I DID go with a Multistrada back in 2015 for that mix - she's at 70k miles today). That bike is perfect for that mix pretty much off the showroom floor (though I did farkle it up anyway). Having said that... I DO like the S1000XR - the ONLY reason it's not my go-to instead of the Multi is the buzziness which kills it for touring. I hear a rumor that's sorted this year so I think it may be what I'd get today (the newer Multi's have gotten too big and heavy). This year and next year we have been doing more dirt (Colorado passes and BDR's this year, TAT next year... moderate offroad I'd call it), and for that I'd go with a modified KTM 690/Husky 701 (I did that too early this year). Modifications required were lower gearing, rally tower, shock adjuster, stabilizer, springs front and back, comfort seat, exhaust, better hand guards and bags. I was actually planning to get a Tenere 700 but couldn't find one - and after the first day in Colorado I'm glad I did... >400lbs is too heavy for that sort of riding (watched big bikes struggle). The 690 is not super light compared to dirt bikes but is light enough to do pretty well on Imogene - and when set up properly it's tourable without needing a chiropractor on call.

[@KakuiKujira]

I don't know about this being the most popular motorcycle podcast in America, but it's the most popular motorcycle podcast in Yachiyo Cho, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, Japan...

[@mahinrishad4303]

Not actually a build a bike challenge, more of a Top Gear style adventure in Africa. Starting in Cape Town, hitting historic sites such as the Cradle of Humanity and ending in Tripoli all the while tackling challenges such as carrying medicines from city to city, rough track rounds, herd some cows maybe, etc. What bikes would you choose if you had a budget of $6k (can include mods) that you can buy in the US ?

[@oramac7237]

"What makes a fanboy?" This is what I hope the next Highside/Lowside is. Seriously, everyone who's ever been on the show has THEIR preference of brand. Why? What makes someone choose that brand over others that (arguably) do things better?

[@SiopaoSauc3]

Just listened to Zack and Ari on the Outside Magazine podcast. Excellent as always.

[@ramiropupo8034]

Could you guys tell us what are your thoughts on discontinued bikes. I am looking into the Vitpilen 701, but, is being discontinued, how should be owning something like this in this situation?

[@irishrider7324]

Love your podcasts!

[@jcl3j]

I've been looking at the S1000XR for so long now... Now that it has been mentioned several times in this video, when are we going to get a daily rider for it?

[@ferociousfrankie]

I'm surprised Zack already doesn't have one given how much it seems to match his riding profile.

[@A_Ride_To]

On the topic of those noise radars: Be careful what you wish for guy’s n girl’s Just take a look towards Austria that already got a few roads where bikes with a standing noise level of above 95db in their papers, (this is measured while standing and reving up to a certain %of max rpm) are NOT ALLOWED to enter. (some beautiful roads outside of big cities). Many bikes, especially from Italy, come with a noise level above 95db even with OEM exhausts. (An MT10 just passes with a stock exhaust at exactly 95db) I have to look at you Zac, because a person that isn’t interested in Motorcycles or cars does not know the difference between a nice racing exhaust or slip-on like your Akras and an straight pipe. In those peoples mind loud is just loud no matter where it comes from and most of the time you would not even need to Rev up to annoy those people. For one moment you think your bike is silent enough, until you are the noisiest vehicle on the road and they come after you. You think legislature is slow but when it comes to stuff like this, then all of a sudden, it happens really fast.

[@BMWHP2]

Throw in Buell front rim brakes. Many brake companies dont want it due to the cost of the change. But they worked great. And for a "do it all bike" probably an enhanced FTR1200S, old version with the 19" front wheel 18" rear. Lose some weight with a different exhaust system (no cat)

[@John_Ridley]

First steerable headlight that I know of was on the 1948 Tucker

[@HoosierBearcat25]

Zack's stock pick isn't much of a surprise since he basically "built" one with a cross plane crank shaft for his custom pick. Good episode, always enjoy it when Ari comes on.

[@scottk.8494]

The front brakes on a 2014 to current VStrom 1000 are very good. Strong bite but easy to modulate. The headlight is really good also, better than some cars I've driven.

[@ThatNoblegunnerNL]

Did I miss something? He didn't pick a stock bike right?

[@Levish01]

Franken FJR900 or Concours900 - powerplant from MT09/Z900, keep shaft drive, bring over minimal electronics from MT-09/Z900 while keeping seats / handlebars from FJR1300/Concours1400, use components from MT-09/Z900 as much as possible to reduce weight/cost. I guess more for manufacturers than DIY since the trans will possibly not directly mate up.

[@back-woods]

It would be super cool if you had actually both bought bikes and upgraded/customized on camera instead of just talking about it

[@ashten92]

I really need that Motul gift, I'm very poor and my Ducati Penigale V-4 deserves only the best. Love the show, keep up the great work my friends!

[@arjenbootsma6881]

1:19:23 Spurg brought up the cliché rather nicely, that one finds the BMW GSA at a coffeeshop!

[@davidcarr5718]

Excellent content. Thanks.

[@otter7467]

You need to swing by Corvette guys house when you are reviewing a cruiser and ask his opinion.

[@filiptrifunovic7763]

Almost 1M subs!

[@wlaad100]

Tracer 700 size, Versys 1000 engine, BMW XR suspension and brakes, ABS and Cruise control, nothing else needed

[@MrDrifterdevin]

John deere has a 3520 but not a 3250

[@mikemerrill175]

And a 3020

[@henrikforsberg683]

Haha, he was really close then.

[@cosef4491]

Wow BMW content from moto journalist and it doesn’t contain a lot of typical BMW hater aide. It was actually good content concerning BMW. Wow I am actually somewhat impressed. I have what I believe is technically the best motorcycle ever produced and that is a BMW k1600. Their is nothing on two wheels with an ICE engine smoother, with more torque, more horsepower, with shaft drive, an actual cornering light that works, with infinite electronically adjustable windshield, with electronic hard locking bags that can fit a large helmet or motorcycle jacket, with custom factory forged wheels, sat nav, TFT screen, heated grips, heated seat for passenger and rider (because I actually care about my passenger’s comfort), excellent wind and rain protection, 7 gallon fuel tank, self arming alarm system that can also be turned off, auxiliary lights, with brushed aluminum satin finishes, center stand, with an electronic reverse gear (really comes in hand with a passenger), with keyless ignition, with great handling characteristics for its size, with traction control, with dynamic ESA front and rear, with great front and rear brakes, and that only weight 740 lbs. All of that still doesn’t scratch the surface of all the k1600 is and what it can do and beside all that and it being a touring bike it can also go 0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds. The in-line 6 is the best engine to be put in a motorcycle. It’s butter and quiet. It is has power everywhere. It is very fuel efficient if you are not trying to go to jail. There is no engine ever produced for a motorcycle that is better than the BMW’s k1600 inline 6. I’ve owned mine for going on 4 years and I am still in awe of great the k1600 and it’s inline 6 engine is. The K1600 is my pick and has been for the last 4 years. Don’t need any imagined bike either. Just more time ride what I already have

[@itsallabouttheridekeepingi4449]

I obviously don’t have the funds to do what you guys are planning, I will look at putting a Tracer 900 into a Benelli 1130 frame- as that’s the BEST handling motorcycle I have EVER owned. Italian Suspesion, brakes and handling with Yamaha reliability 👍

[@urbanstrencan]

Are you guys coming to EICMA this year and maybe do some riding here in Slovenia and Italy 👍👍😀😀

[@THEelduderino]

Yeah, what a great escape from my work day, a hour & 21 minute Zoom meeting, can’t get enough of those

[@coolhandchunk]

Here is a discussion point....2021 Africa Twin Adventure Sports....with a 2021 Goldwing engine!

[@clayman1980]

Did Zack actually give us his pick of bone-stock bike at the end of the episode? Was it the Tuono 660, or was it just a comment on Ari's pick? 🤔

[@thetwowheeledintrovert3367]

Yamaha Niken GT with Ducati Streetfighter V4 S engine, electronics from BMW 1000RR, and Ohlins semi active suspension.

[@theprodigalstranger5259]

Slander, in print its libel.

[@HecktorPampelmuse]

Motorcycle for 2 years.... hmmm... Well, as a guy living in Berlin riding 99% in Town. It would be a 300cc, 2 Zylinder, Inline but V Cranked, 30HP on the Weel Gromish Thingie with DCT and Stoppie Control. Oh... and heated Grips and something we "Kraut´s" call "Muschie Toaster". sweet Dreams!

[@Nicoya]

I'd love to hear the reverse of this idea: What's the motorcycle where if you were stuck with it for two years and could ride nothing else, you'd just stop riding motorcycles. There's a lot of motorcycles out there that are "bad" motorcycles, but at the end of the day they're still two wheels and an engine that'll put a grin on your face when you dork around on it. But maybe there's a particular make and model out there where riding it would be worse than just sitting on the couch or driving a car or whatever else you could do with that time. And the Dumb and Dumber mini bike doesn't count.

[@JK-tu1xx]

I just want a KTM 1290 Superduke GT with the Kawasaki H2 engine in it and skyhook suspension, the ultimate daily rider/ tourer.

[@MrKillervincent]

2 bikes that does everything: Tracer 700 and Vstrom🤘😂 such slept on bikes

[@robertadams4415]

I believe Tucker had the first steering adaptive headlight

[@maxzimmermann6605]

i feel like the RS660 is like a supersharp SV650S. I will definetely have one sooner or later.

[@Mark-ou8nu]

890 adventure with a T7 headlight and colors. So a Norden...

[@henrikforsberg683]

Ohh, the norden! A ktm that is beautiful instead of fugly! 😁 seems like a good idea to build that one!

[@justsomedude445]

890 rally r but reliable ! dont care how pretty it is

[@MDKellogg1836]

I will try this one last time. The one with the least amount of miles for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation Ride-Off should shave all hair from the neck up (excluding eyebrows, I'm not that mean).

[@erfunmir2345]

Zack, You actually pronounced it right, on 18:05 you talk about chassis And just like Farsi you said shassi 👏🏻 or شاسی

[@TheDacane]

just going to throw this out, but i believe the duke/vitpilien and 701/690 enduro are more or less the same frame. Which makes it a heck of a choice for for something you can easily live with onroad and off.

[@otter7467]

I had the 701e, if you keep an extra set of street wheel/tires then you could do some distance riding with it. As is, it’s a terrible for anything longer than 45 miles on pavement, could be just me but anything longish distance wasn’t fun.

[@Ryan.......]

$900 ticket...that is exorbitant. I would argue that, in the US, a ticket that large should run into issues with the constitution's mention of excessive fines.

[@ebhainom1]

I wish bikes were this price in Ireland in dollars a tracer is probably 18k in Ireland love the show

[@northeastpsychos]

Since the release of the multistrada V4 I’ve been saying Yamaha should redo the super tenere with the CP4 motor to go head to head with it. It’s Funny that zack pretty chose to build that bike as well.

[@hokogan]

I’d be really curious about a Tenere 900. The Tracer 900 is about a hundred pounds lighter than the existing Super Ten.

[@PRodent]

Easy. KTM 690 Enduro, with two sets of wheels (normal, super moto). A T7 is my second choice.

[@justsomedude445]

hmm 2 very different machines but if i were to go back to a 1cyl bike it'd likely be the Husky701/ktm690 dont see anything else even close to its performance vs weight

[@Racer57]

Id love to hear Joe back on the show as a guest again sometime.

[@MrKillervincent]

Ps here on a bike we call the "chassis" the frame, only time we call it a chassis is on a car 😉

[@martini7454]

Spurgeon, have you lost some weight? You're looking great, my guy!! 😌

[@joelness]

Must be that fantastic The Motorcycle Shop shirt!

[@yiannishayabusaofficial]

Brilliant superb marvelous magic

[@jnault6441]

BMW S1000XR is such a good pick. If you want to be able to road tour aaaaaannnnnnddddd light your hair on fire..."track days".

[@j4zzx297]

Zack was right about the speed triple rr. It's not a fully faired sport bike, it more of a style statement. All the videos I've seen of it , it seems a bit ugly like mv's

[@johnpagejr.7628]

Hay Guys how about Dual Sport bike build using bikes from the 80s and 90s. Just for the hell of it. Like maybe some 500 or600 cc bikes..

[@desertfresh3740]

A 3250 would be a non-current generation 30-series tractor with 50hp. So a utility tractor, not an agricultural (farming) tractor. A 3250 is not currently in production.

[@lovelessissimo]

The new versys 1000 se has skyhook suspension.

[@4tech69]

So the guns come out halfway in. The 1290.

[@ADVRaiderKTM]

Spurg, you need to include some weight loss tips in this podcast!

[@LTVoyager]

Eat less.

[@curiousgeorgeadv]

I love how the automated response to emails sent still tells you to leave a review on iTunes...Grandpa Spurg needs to get with the times...

[@anthonyrosa5006]

Too bad Aprilia wont make a bike that is a sport adventure bike with that V4 engine for those of us who have no track aspirations but want long really comfortable miles and allows the occasional hooligan to come out as well. I don't think this 58 year old body can get with the ergos on their bikes. 10 years ago when I had a litre bike I hated the ergos though it was insane fun when you wanted it.

[@elijahbrooks8589]

Easy answer DR650

[@rzu7120]

It’s the one bike I’ll probably never get rid of.

[@21broadway]

Awe yeah

[@justsomedude445]

ktm1290sar some weight loss rotty in/ex smog&cat delete but biggest fantasy mod = RELIABLE. - OR - for me i think the 890 Rally 'R; w/applicable Rotty parts maybe spring rates and valving specific for me but mostly make it RELIABLE and no need for all the ride modes and computer nanny nonsense just abs i can easily turn off

[@dmaxcustom]

Dunno if being surprised that all the picks were euro bikes.

[@kenudo89]

I would love to see the bikes with photoshop

[@MachoMadness69420]

Perfect bike is a Versys with the H2 engine 😜

[@ronaldtartaglia4459]

Multistrada 950. Conversation over.

[@somedude1129]

Ok so yall arenactually going to make these things... right?

[@LTVoyager]

The KLR only has 5 speeds. Who can’t count to 5? 😂

[@erniepike3902]

KLR with a Versys motor

[@plmotoring]

yeah frunks every where every bike !

[@zoomjoo]

does spurg even work in moto industry? lol.. i'm just a rider and i know what IMU means and about the daymaker headlight.. dang i'm in the wrong field of work.

[@Perweeka]

I would love to see a build a bike which You would not want to ride :D

[@Megs125]

Jackles?! Have you been watching Seth Meyers?!

[@comfortablyunknown700]

A Tiger 660? I might have to sell my T7.

[@chrishart8548]

Looks like yamaha should make a T9 after watching this!

[@mal-wx6tu]

I've said this myself, it would be so easy for them to do.

[@chrishart8548]

@@mal-wx6tu probably best if it's more sports touring than sports bike. Think kawasaki z1000sx

[@kenudo89]

Perhaps spurgeon coule try husqvarna : P

[@seanbirtwistle649]

"the cheapest thing on a klr is the rider"

[@ivanbabun9171]

BMW 1000xr

[@thumpertorque_]

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