Lance Oliver
@theridesofar.com
740 followers 64 following 1K posts
Writer, rider, usually combining the two. Managing Editor at RevZilla's Common Tread. Expect motorcycle stuff, random observations, maybe a cat photo or two. www.revzilla.com/common-tread www.theridesofar.com www.coffeericeandbeans.com
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With more than 100 million sold, the best selling vehicle of all time is the Honda Cub, a small motorcycle with no clutch. And the vast majority of those were sold outside the United States. We sure wouldn't want to do anything successful like in the motorcycle biz. www.revzilla.com/common-tread...
One in 100 million: Me and the Honda Super Cub - RevZilla
Honda announced that production of the Super Cub has reached 100 million, which means my story is just one of many.
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Meanwhile, 80 years ago: "These kids today don't even know how to retard the spark with the left hand grip! They expect the motorcycle to do it for them! They ain't real motorcyclists!"

Yes, let's keep up the gatekeeping and discourage would-be riders because that will make the industry stronger.
Manual transmissions are an obstacle to motorcycling for many young, would-be riders, but the motorcycles without clutches tend to be big, expensive models. Honda addresses that with its E-Clutch on the Rebel 300, a popular beginner bike. www.revzilla.com/common-tread...
Honda equips 2026 Rebel 300 with semi-automatic E-Clutch system - RevZilla
Automatic clutches and transmissions have proliferated recently, but usually on bigger, expensive motorcycles. Here's one for beginners, who need it most.
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That's pretty much what Next Generation Supersport is today. Inflation means what was once the Superbike formula is now the Supersport formula. Roughly.
Sales of sport bikes are up 71% over the past five years in the U.S. as younger riders embrace the new, more accessible and affordable models, most with twin-cylinder engines. The Suzuki GSX-8R is a great example. Zack explains today at Common Tread. #motorcycle news www.revzilla.com/common-tread...
The Suzuki GSX-8R and the new age of sport bikes - RevZilla
Sales of sport motorcycle have grown dramatically in recent years and we have more accessible and affordable bikes like this one to credit for that.
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Polaris is (mostly) getting out of the #motorcycle business. It is selling a majority stake in Indian Motorcycles to a private equity firm. Most current employees will be retained and the sales and service will carry on through existing dealers. www.revzilla.com/common-tread...
Polaris sells majority stake in Indian, making it a separate company - RevZilla
Polaris is ending its involvement in the motorcycle industry, selling a majority stake in Indian Motorcycles to a L.A.-based private equity firm.
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No surprise and well deserved. "The Drixton" won the Best Feature Film award at the Toronto Motorcycle Film Festival. If you haven't yet seen this moving film about honoring a father, bringing a vintage motorcycle back to life, and so much more, now's a good time. www.youtube.com/watch?v=llOf...
The Drixton - Building a Vintage Race Bike in a School Bus | Common Tread XP
YouTube video by RevZilla
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So much to see. A few photos can't even begin to hint at the story.
The Barber Motorsports Park with its amazing museum and beautiful race track is arguably the best #motorcycle destination in North America and the Barber Vintage Festival weekend is maybe the best time to go. Here's our photo gallery of the festival weekend. www.revzilla.com/common-tread...
Photo gallery: Scenes from the Barber Vintage Festival - RevZilla
From vintage racing, to shows, to the swap meet, demo rides, and the fantastic museum, there's more to do at Barber Vintage Festival than fits in a weekend.
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Could I lap COTA within 10 seconds of Toprak Razgatlioglu's time on the same #motorcycle? Hell no. Could I do it while coherently narrating stats and my impressions? Double hell no. But my colleague Zack Courts can and did. See the story and video at Common Tread. www.revzilla.com/common-tread...
How dreams are made: Riding the alpha Racing M 1000 RR - RevZilla
With 218 horsepower and every part chosen for the purpose of going fast, this is a motorcycle purpose-built for racing.
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Another big turnout this year for the Vintage Motorcycle Festival at the beautiful Barber Motorsports Park. I will post a photo gallery at Common Tread in the coming week.
Hillside view of rows of parked motorcycles below, event tents, and part of the race track.
The Honda NX500 is a #motorcycle that does nothing wrong. If that sounds like damning with faint praise, it isn't. It's just that U.S. motorcycle culture wants bikes to be exciting toys, not useful machines. See my review today at Common Tread. www.revzilla.com/common-tread...
2025 Honda NX500 first ride review - RevZilla
The Honda NX500 is the next evolution of the mild-mannered CB500X and its unassuming image means it's often overlooked, despite its competence and accessibility.
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Will we see an off-road #motorcycle from BMW? What about a smaller sport bike? At a BMW event at the Circuit of the Americas, Common Tread's Zack Courts had a chance to ask some questions of BMW Motorrad CEO Markus Flasch. www.revzilla.com/common-tread...
Seven questions with BMW Motorrad CEO Markus Flasch - RevZilla
The head of BMW Motorrad talks about possible future models in both sport and dual-sport categories, the company's direction with electric two-wheelers, and more.
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I hear you. I can't remember many (any?) clashes in the past where I found myself believing Josh's side of the story but in this case I do.
Really I think it was just the shock of losing his life goal at the last minute. Maybe Fong thought Herrin checked up, but I don't think Herrin did anything wrong in this case. They were just running different lines on different bikes. For once I agree with Herrin. Fong took too much risk.
True, but I think it was a heat of the moment thing. He seemed to calm down later. Compare it to Mid-Ohio, when Herrin bumped Fong and sent them both off track. Fong shrugged it off and said yeah, we all make aggressive moves sometimes, no hard feelings.
Champions weekend: Titles are decided in MotoGP and MotoAmerica Superbike. The first was a coronation and the latter was a weekend with a three-man battle and some shocking surprises. #motorcycle news at Common Tread www.revzilla.com/common-tread...
Champions weekend: A coronation in MotoGP and a shocker in MotoAmerica - RevZilla
Both the MotoGP world championship and the MotoAmerica Superbike title are decided. One went according to expectations. The other definitely didn't.
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Always blame the previous owners. It's a time-honored tradition.

(And in this case it's probably even fair.)