CanyonChasers Podcast // The Braking Zone

Dave and Brian
  • 5.0 (7)
  • AUTOMOTIVE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Join over a quarter-million subscribers as we bridge the gap between high-level engineering and real-world riding. Brian is a seasoned racer and engineer who dives deep into the technical "why" of motorcycle physics. Dave is a professional rider coach with 25 years of experience, and a moto-journalist, who specializes in simplifying those complex ideas into actionable street and track techniques. From MotoGP analysis to crash recovery, get the honest, expert advice you need to become a better, safer, and faster rider.

  1. 22H AGO

    If You Had to Replace Your Motorcycle Tomorrow, What Would You Buy?

    If you had to replace your motorcycle tomorrow, what would you buy? That question says a lot more about what makes a bike fun than spec sheets ever will. In this clip, we talk about why so many riders end up realizing that bigger, faster, and more expensive motorcycles are not always the most enjoyable ones to own. From KTM supermotos to Ducati Hypermotards to middleweights and big twins, this turns into a bigger conversation about what makes a motorcycle exciting, usable, and worth riding all the time. Sometimes the bike you love most is not the most powerful one. It is the one you actually want to take everywhere. What are you riding now, and what would you replace it with if you had to make that choice tomorrow?

    10 min
  2. Testing the S-R7 Helmet, Riding the Hubless Verge and Fixing Qualifying

    6D AGO

    Testing the S-R7 Helmet, Riding the Hubless Verge and Fixing Qualifying

    Dave returns from a trip to Southern California where he joined Danielle from Alpinestars for the launch of the Supertech R7 helmet. He and Brian discuss the technical details of the S-R7, including how predictive analysis are being used to refine aerodynamics. Learn More about the Supertech R7: https://imp.i104546.net/B50JLB Dave also shares his honest review of the Verge electric motorcycle, which features a hubless rear wheel and a claimed 1,000Nm of torque. While the straight line acceleration is impressive, the bike’s geometry led to stability issues at higher speeds. Finally, the guys propose a solution to the current MotoGP Friday practice format and how to make the sprint races more meaningful for fans and riders. Chapters 00:00 Willow Springs: Running the Track Backwards 01:35 The Snake and a Private Tour of The Rock Store 02:59 Alpinestars Supertech R7 Deep Dive 05:44 AI Design and Cam Tail Aerodynamics 08:22 Real World Benefits: Stability Behind Semi Trucks 14:51 Safety Innovation: Protecting the Collarbone 17:01 Riding the Verge: 1,000Nm Torque and Hubless Wheels 24:11 The Geometry Problem: Stability at High Speed 35:05 Brian's Hybrid Motorcycle Concept: Using KERS 39:25 Fixing MotoGP: A Better Friday and Sprint Format 52:41 California Riding and Lane Splitting Hazards #VergeMotorcycle #AlpinestarsSR7 #MotoGPFix Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/CanyonChasers

    57 min
  3. Why Your Motorcycle is Aerodynamically a Brick: The Secret Physics of MotoGP

    MAR 4

    Why Your Motorcycle is Aerodynamically a Brick: The Secret Physics of MotoGP

    In this episode of The Braking Zone, we break down why most motorcycles are essentially high-speed bricks and how MotoGP teams like Aprilia are using fighter-jet physics to cheat the wind. We dive deep into the chaotic season opener at Buriram, analyzing everything from the "Tuk Tuk" races to the controversial penalty that redefined the limits of racing. We also explore the technical "black magic" behind Aprilia's new elbow-duct aero and the Meredith Effect—a theory that could mean motorcycles are now generating their own thrust. Plus, Dave shares the honest, frustrating truth about his Ducati Multistrada reflash: why chasing fuel efficiency leads to a rabbit hole of global emission standards and "brick-like" performance. 00:00 – MotoGP Round 1: The Race Nobody Predicted  01:11 – The Tuk Tuk Race: Why Thailand is Different  03:03 – The Tire Trap: Extra Hard Rears & 138° Track Temps  05:59 – Rising Stars: Pedro Acosta & Raul Fernandez  07:54 – Yamaha’s Abysmal Weekend (And Why It’s Good for Jack Miller)  10:42 – The Maverick Vinales Struggle: Data vs. Feel  14:46 – Bagnaia’s Botched Qualifying & The Pressure Cooker Format  18:41 – The Marquez vs. Acosta Penalty: Was It Too Heavy-Handed?  26:24 – The MotoGP Flat Tire: Marc’s 200mph Save  35:52 – Giant Killer: How "Tiny" Aprilia Thrashed the Field  40:01 – Elbow Ducts & Ground Effect: The New Aero War  46:57 – The Meredith Effect: Can a Motorcycle Create Thrust?  51:56 – Why Your Motorcycle is Aerodynamically a Brick  54:28 – The Multistrada Reflash: Efficiency vs. Emission Standards  01:01:40 – Final Thoughts: Science, Egos, & Planning Trees

    1h 5m

  4. FEB 27

    The Engineering Espionage Behind The Start of MotoGP’s 2026 Season

    MotoGP is back for 2026, and the engineering games have already begun at the season opener in Buriram. In this special edition of The Braking Zone, we dive into the technical espionage currently rocking the paddock, including Aprilia’s ingenious "F-Duct" loophole that is blurring the lines between motorcycles and land-speed racers. We also discuss the shocking news of Peco Bagnaia’s move to Aprilia on a massive four-year deal, Yamaha’s smoke-filled struggles during practice starts, and why the loss of Phillip Island to an Adelaide street circuit has the MotoGP community in an uproar. Special Event: If you are in Salt Lake City, join us for our MotoGP Watch Party this Sunday at T.H.C. Brewing! Check the Utah Superbike Club Facebook page for details. 00:00 Introduction: MotoGP Nerds Friday Morning Session 01:09 The Buriram Wildcard: Extra Hard Rear Tires 01:52 Land Speed Evolution: When a Bike Doesn't Look Like a Bike  03:34 Aprilia’s F-Duct: The Secret Aero Loophole Explained  05:15 Stalling Drag: How the Rider Becomes a Part of the Aero  06:52 Yamaha’s Disaster: Smoke, Burnouts, and Development Pains  08:58 KTM’s "Cheater" Clutch: The Secret to the Perfect Launch? 10:36 Grid Hierarchy: Aprilia vs. Ducati vs. The Rest  11:50 Transfer Shock: Peco’s 4-Year Aprilia Deal  13:39 Ducati’s Stagnation: Why Riders are Reverting to 2024 Aero  15:41 SLC Watch Party: Buriram GP at T.H.C. Brewing  16:38 The Death of Phillip Island: Liberty Media’s Street Circuit Move  21:35 Phillip Island vs. Adelaide: Growth or Selling Out?  22:55 Outro: Enjoy the Race!

    23 min
  5. The Man Who Helped Build the CBR & Risked it All for Your Safety

    FEB 25

    The Man Who Helped Build the CBR & Risked it All for Your Safety

    Mitch Boehm is arguably one of the most influential figures in motorcycling that you’ve never heard of. In this episode of The Braking Zone, we sit down with the man who led the development of the iconic Honda CBR600 F2 and later risked a $200,000 advertising fallout to publish the truth about motorcycle helmet safety standards. Mitch takes us behind the curtain of Honda R&D during the golden era of the 1990s , explaining how a 750cc prototype secretly evolved into the game-changing CBR900RR. We also dive into his legendary career in motorcycle journalism, from the "adrenaline crazed punks" era at Motorcyclist magazine to the high-stakes "Blowing the Lid Off" helmet exposé that forever changed global safety certifications. Malcolm! The Autobiography: https://amzn.to/4tZnaZM 00:00 - Meeting the Last Magazine Editor  01:10 - Why the AMA Still Matters Today  03:55 - The Golden Era of Motorcycle Magazines  08:15 - The $200k Helmet Safety Scandal  10:35 - How One Article Changed Global Standards  14:20 - Integrity vs. Advertisers: The Buell Incident  18:15 - Inside Honda R&D: Developing the CBR600  21:20 - The Secret Origin of the Honda CBR900RR  23:30 - Testing Early ABS at 80mph in the Water  25:50 - The Rise and Fall of Magazine Empires  29:05 - Best Racetracks in the World: Laguna Seca & Suzuka  33:25 - Racing "Venture Royale" Tourers for Fun  35:30 - Close Calls at 125mph on Public Roads  38:45 - The Famous "Drunk Tank" Riding Experiment  47:25 - Capturing the Legend of Malcolm Smith  #MotorcycleHistory #HondaCBR #MotorcycleSafety

    51 min
  6. STOP Buying Flagship Motorcycles & The Death of Race Tracks

    FEB 18

    STOP Buying Flagship Motorcycles & The Death of Race Tracks

    Is the $30,000 flagship motorcycle a lie? In this episode of the CanyonChasers podcast, Dave and Brian discuss why middleweight motorcycles are taking over the market and why the industry focus on halo bikes is failing the next generation of riders. They break down the terrifying statistics regarding the aging rider demographic and the financial barriers preventing younger people from entering the sport. The conversation shifts to the alarming trend of public racetracks like COTA and Willow Springs going private or being sold for real estate. They explain why participating in local track days is the only way to save these facilities from becoming billionaire playthings. They also introduce the Steamroller Theory for choosing your next bike and provide a detailed breakdown of 2027 MotoGP rider market predictions. Whether you are deciding between a base model and an S version or wondering about the future of 850cc racing, this episode provides the honest, critical feedback you need to understand where motorcycling is headed in 2026. 00:00 The Middleweight Revolution  05:35 Is a $30,000 flagship twice as fun?  14:12 The Steamroller Supposition 21:12 The curse of the "irreplaceable" motorcycle  26:12 The Racetrack Ownership Crisis: COTA goes private  33:12 How to save your local track from the Billionaires  39:43 MotoGP 2027 Rider Market Predictions  01:06:44 Should World Superbike switch to naked bikes?

    1h 13m
  7. The 20 MPH Brain: MotoGP Aero Evolution and the Science of Recovery

    FEB 11

    The 20 MPH Brain: MotoGP Aero Evolution and the Science of Recovery

    In this episode, Dave and Brian analyze the drama of the Sepang tests, covering everything from Ducati's sophisticated aero packages to Yamaha's alarming engine reliability problems. They also explore the psychology of riding, specifically how to rebuild confidence after a crash by understanding our evolutionary limits. 00:00 - Sepang Test Drama & Aero Evolution An overview of a non-boring test session filled with pain, drama, and unexpected outcomes.  04:09 - Why Motorcycle Aero is More Complex Than F1 Comparing motorcycle fluid dynamics to Formula One, highlighting how the rider's dynamic movement makes motorcycle aero vastly more complicated.  07:01 - Aprilia’s "Hedgehog" Tail Section Analyzing the multiple wing surfaces designed to clean up turbulent air behind the rider for better stability and reduced drag.  11:11 - KTM’s Minimalist Fairing Strategy Why KTM is reducing the upper fairing to let the rider's body posture have a more direct impact on aerodynamic performance.  15:47 - Honda’s Progress & Yamaha’s Engine Crisis Honda shows improved turning and top speed, while Yamaha struggles with sensor failures, emergency stops, and detuned maps.  22:44 - Toprak Razgatlıoğlu’s Transition Challenges A look at why the WorldSBK star is struggling to wrap his head around MotoGP tires and the high-downforce Yamaha V4.  28:04 - The 2027 Rider Market & The Marquez Domino Speculation on Peco Bagnaia's future, rider contracts, and how Marc Marquez remains the key domino for the entire grid.  39:11 - Analyzing the GP26 "Frankenstein" How Ducati combined the best parts of the 2024 and 2025 bikes to create the GP26, featuring an extreme new ride height device.  43:37 - Pirelli Tires & the Performance Window The shift toward developing tires that prioritize performance within a safety window without needing minimum pressure limits.  48:07 - Recovery Psychology & The 20 MPH Brain A deep dive into regaining confidence after a crash, acknowledging our biological limit of 20 mph, and the mental discipline required to override survival instincts.  #MotoGP2026 #SepangTest #AeroWars #DucatiCorse #YamahaV4 #GroundEffect

    1h 7m
  8. What is Yamaha Hiding Under This Cover?

    FEB 4

    What is Yamaha Hiding Under This Cover?

    In this episode of The Braking Zone, Dave and Brian dive into the chaos of the 2026 MotoGP silly season and the controversial "stormtrooper" bike taking over the garage. From secret Yamaha swingarm covers to the €12 million gamble on Fabio Quartararo, we’re breaking down everything happening in the paddock and on the street. 00:00 — The "Stormtrooper" Backdrop 01:14 — NC750X: Real Motorcycle or Super-Scooter? 05:36 — MotoGP Tech for Commuters: How DCT Works 07:22 — Why "Real Riders" Hate the DCT 10:44 — Do Pro Racers Even Use Clutches? 12:13 — The Edge of Control vs. Boring Speed 14:40 — Is a Liter-Bike Actually Holding You Back? 16:11 — The 120HP "Sausage Creature" Sweet Spot 17:27 — 2026 MotoGP Silly Season Explodes 20:43 — Honda’s Livery Disaster: The "Crashed Fairing" Look 26:58 — Quartararo’s €12M Honda Bet 29:38 — Acosta to Ducati: Psychological Warfare 36:20 — Jorge Martin’s "Damaged Brand" Crisis 43:54 — Yamaha's V4 History: The Best Worst Bike 48:53 — Predicting the 2026/2027 Grid Holes 54:08 — Ducati’s "Hammerhead" Aero Leak 1:02:30 — Yamaha's Secret "Tinfoil" Swingarm 1:07:38 — The Toprak vs. Jack Miller Stoppie War 1:09:11 — Suspensions, Alpinestars, and Future Guests

    1h 10m
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Join over a quarter-million subscribers as we bridge the gap between high-level engineering and real-world riding. Brian is a seasoned racer and engineer who dives deep into the technical "why" of motorcycle physics. Dave is a professional rider coach with 25 years of experience, and a moto-journalist, who specializes in simplifying those complex ideas into actionable street and track techniques. From MotoGP analysis to crash recovery, get the honest, expert advice you need to become a better, safer, and faster rider.

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