TLDR: MotoAmerica 26’ schedule | SV650 | Boots you can walk in | Stoyan of Ride65North
Hey riders,
You know a good used bike when you see one, and I was motivated by a local garage sale trying to unload an SV650 to talk about the bike that everyone seems to have owned at one point.
Upcoming schedule drop…MotoAmerican 2026
Reviews for Riders: The 2003 Suzuki SV650
If you spend time around enough riders, you will bump into someone who owns a SV650. Or learned on one. Or sold theirs and regretted it forever. The bike has woven itself into motorcycling culture in a way few budget machines ever do. You don’t just ride an SV650, you join the unofficial clubs of riders who appreciate honest engineering and approachable performance.
So let’s break down the 2003 SV650: not just “a good starter motorcycle,” but a machine worthy of genuine respect from veterans and rookies alike. Read more….
Track & Racing: Diogo Moreira’s First Encounter with MotoGP
There are moments in motorcycling that feel like waking up in another universe, every input from your hands, feet, and body demands a new kind of respect. For Brazilian rider Diogo Moreira, that moment came when he first climbed aboard a MotoGP bike: Honda’s fearsome RC213V during the post-season Valencia test.
If you're newer to the sport, MotoGP is the top tier of motorcycle road racing, a world apart from street bikes or amateur track machines. These are purpose-built race prototypes, with carbon brakes, massive horsepower, and wings that push the limits of grip and downforce. What happens when you go from a “regular” race bike (like those in Moto2) to this kind of machine is not just a step up, it's a leap.
Fresh from winning the 2025 Moto2 World Championship, Moreira headed to Valencia for a one-day test with LCR Honda, riding the RC213V that he’ll campaign in 2026. Unlike some rookies who get private track days to prepare, Moreira’s debut was very much first real contact. Read more…
Safety and Performance: For those who want protection but walkability…
…the Indie Ridge Comanche Waterproof Motorcycle Boot delivers with serious build quality. These boots are certified to CE Level 2 under EN 13634:2017, meaning they offer excellent abrasion resistance, puncture resistance, and transverse rigidity.
As someone currently enjoying these (I am not sponsored) I can confirm they are comfortable for walking all day. I took them to Bikertoberfest for 8 hours and came home with no complaints.
Plus, Indie Ridge stands behind their boots with what they call the Live Free Guarantee® (Indie Ridge USA)
If you call me a month down the road and say, "Steve, these boots (or gloves or all the new cool stuff coming out) just aren't for me." I'll say: "Hey brother-man, don't sweat it! Thanks for giving us a shot. Go here, get yourself a full refund."
Community Spotlight: Stoyan of Ride65North, a broken leg, a remote canyon, and the reality of riding alone.
My interview with Stoyan was supposed to be a simple debrief about his broken leg in Mexico. Instead, it turned into a reminder of the realities riders face in the places we dream about.
And the messenger? - A man who lives in Alaska, someone I assumed would be more prepared than me, yet still found himself caught off guard. Maybe that’s why it hit so hard. Whether you’ve been riding 30 years or 30 days, the road has a way of levelling everyone. Read more…
We’re always down to talk bikes. And if you know someone who lives for throttle therapy, send this newsletter their way; their readership helps keep the newsletter going.
Keep the shiny side up.
– The American Moto Co. Team
