CanyonChasers Podcast // The Braking Zone

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

MotoGP teams never reveal anything by accident. In this episode of The Braking Zone, we break down the hidden signals behind the 2026 MotoGP liveries, Ducati’s iconic Marlboro stripe, and how aero, bodywork, and timing are used as strategy. We also cover World Superbike tire changes, the future of Pecco Bagnaia and Fabio Quartararo, and what really happens behind the scenes at a MotoGP press event from a YouTube creator’s perspective.

We sit down with Danielle from Alpinestars to talk real world motorcycle safety gear. We cover Tech Air airbag vests and suits, how the crash detection algorithm works, street versus race versus off road modes, and what ownership is really like, including battery life, firmware updates, and self service canister replacement.
We also break down armor and CE ratings, how abrasion ratings like AA and AAA fit into the bigger picture, and why impact protection is often the part riders underestimate. Danielle explains waterproofing ratings and what 5K, 15K, and 20K actually mean, plus how membranes balance waterproofing and breathability for adventure riding. We finish with helmets, including why standards like ECE and FIM matter, what Alpinestars learned building the SR10, and what riders should prioritize when choosing a helmet. #alpinestars #alpinestarsprotects #airbag

MotoGP 2026 looks simple until you zoom in. It is the last year of this rule set, the last year on Michelin, and the year before the biggest rider shuffle in a decade. So we are making our 2026 predictions now, fully expecting to be wrong. In this episode, we break down what matters and what is noise. 00:00 Why 2026 matters and why 2027 changes everything 01:59 Ducati’s advantage and what they can still develop 14:03 KTM, Yamaha, Honda, and Aprilia: who is climbing, who is stuck 30:04 Toprak arrives: what it changes, what it does not 48:24 Tech corner: rear grip, understeer, and why more grip can hurt

Most riders blame the wrong thing when a bike feels vague, harsh, or unstable. The truth is often simpler. Their suspension is wrong.
In this episode of The Braking Zone, we sit down with Mike Castro of FuziMoto, one of the most respected motorcycle suspension tuners in the United States. Mike has spent decades setting up championship winning race bikes, street bikes, track bikes, cruisers and ADV machines, and he’s seen the same mistakes over and over again.
We talk about what suspension actually does, why common setup advice fails riders, how preload, damping, and spring rates really interact, and how to tell the difference between a setup problem and a riding problem. This is real world suspension knowledge from someone who tunes bikes for a living. If your motorcycle doesn’t feel planted, predictable, or confidence inspiring, this conversation will change how you think about setup forever.
https://www.instagram.com/mtfuzzy17/