We’re back and unashamedly promoting an upcoming BMW MOA event – Motorrad Fest – which is being held in conjunction with Overland Expo East, October 8-10, 2021, in Arrington, Virginia.
Before we get there, there’s a lot more to Overland Expo than just one event in Virginia. For starters, they have another event – Overland Expo West – coming up THIS WEEKEND in Flagstaff, Arizona, which is where we caught up with Eva Rupert, Overland Expo’s Motorcycle Community Ambassador. If you can make it, get yourself out to OXW, September 24-26, 2021.
Now, Eva herself is passionate about two-wheeled adventures and making awesome events happen. When she’s not working as the Motorcycle Community Ambassador for Overland Expo, she spends her time riding her motorbike and whipping up cocktails for everyone who shares her campfire. Eva loves exploring on two wheels and meets the world with boundless enthusiasm and optimism. Eva lives in Southern Arizona where she runs the Jonquil Motel, a vintage motor lodge with plenty of bike parking out front. Follow her on Instagram (@evarupert). (PS Featured photo of Eva courtesy of The R2 Studio.)
For the sole purpose of posting a self-serving link, Eva’s partner at the Jonquil is Sterling Noren, noted filmmaker and previous guest on Chasing the Horizon – way back in Episode 45!
We’ve got a Harley-free news segment this time around, kicking off with more big news following Kawasaki’s recent announcement they’ll be splitting off their powersports manufacturing and sales into a new, separate company called Kawasaki Motors Ltd. Looks like they’re making quite an investment in North America!
Moto Guzzi is celebrating their 100th birthday with a brand-new platform; the first bike featuring the new 1050CC engine will be the V100 Mandello.
Then we get into some more brand-neutral industry news, such as the huge amount of money taken in during the recent Sturgis motorcycle rally in South Dakota and how Apple says motorcycles are killing its iPhones.
In electric news, Indonesia’s government launched an ambitious plan to convert millions of motorcycles to electric before its ban on gas/diesel-powered vehicles goes into effect in 2050.
New electric motorcycles are available, including a moved-up release of Zero’s 2022 lineup, a hubless (and expensive) bike from Finland’s Verge and a small-scale workhorse from Volcon.
Finally, I’d like to let you know about a new podcast coming soon. It’s called The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes, and it will feature clinical psychologist and motorcycle journalist Mark Barnes delving into the mental, emotional and social aspects of motorcycling.
The Ride Inside will also feature questions from listeners about any aspect of motorcycling, and Mark told me if he can’t answer a question, he’ll find somebody who can, so you can probably expect to hear from some guests in the course of the show. Each episode is guaranteed to get you thinking about your approach to motorcycling. Join us on The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes starting in October 2021 over at BMW Owners News!
By the way – if you are in, near or passing through Reno, Nevada, stop off at the National Automobile Museum between now and December 31, 2021, to visit their exhibit celebrating 90 years of motorcycles in America.
Thanks to webBikeWorld for funneling news our way, and be sure to check out their website for the latest motorcycle news and in-depth product reviews.
Since we don’t have a Patreon page for you to visit, the easiest way to support Chasing the Horizon is by joining the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America. Digital memberships are $39 a year and traditional memberships are $49 a year; each come with a wide range of member benefits, including access (digital or in your mailbox) to BMW Owners News, the MOA’s monthly magazine. You also get access to one of the best roadside assistance programs for motorcycles available (sorry, only applies to the US), become eligible for a $250 motorcycle training scholarship every year, up to $750 off a new BMW motorcycle, discount tickets to great events and much, much more!