Norton's Export Twin was designed in 1947 by Bert Hopwood and powered most of the company's motorcycles until the end in 1975. It grew from 500cc to 828cc and features one of the great combustion chamber designs, along with smart cooling and many other features that kept it on the road. Kevin and Mark talk about how the engine came to be and its key design elements that gave it success for so long.

King Kenny Roberts had a lot to say about the Yamaha TZ750: One, "It had too much of everything." And two, "They don't pay me enough to ride that thing." The legendary and fearsome four-cylinder two-stroke democratized racing by being available and affordable to anyone who brought money to a Yamaha dealer--no secret handshakes or "knowing the right people." The TZ750 transformed road racing, dominated Daytona, and had so much power it forced tire and chassis technology to keep up. Join Kevin Cameron and Mark Hoyer as they take a deep dive into one of the greatest racing motorcycles ever made.motorcycle racing, Yamaha TZ750, chassis development, two-stroke engines, racing technology, motorcycle engineering, racing history, motorcycle industry, racing strategies, motorcycle modifications

Carburetor tuning is often referred to as one of the dark arts, but a little study and some methodical work can yield great results. Kevin and Mark explore the intricacies of carburetor tuning while tracing the carburetor's evolution from early days of surface carburetors to spray carburetors, round slides, flat-slides and on to modern electronic fuel injection systems, sharing practical tips for enthusiasts.

Piston aircraft engine development during World War II was vigorous (and goverment funded!) and the supercharged V-12 Two-Stroke V-12 Rolls-Royce Crecy was the next step. Single-cylinder and Twin test engines suggested as much as 5000 hp potential. Why didn't the Crecy ever power an aircraft? Join us!

Find Kevin and Mark on Patreon to support their work directly and get episodes commercial-free: https://patreon.com/TopDeadCenter_BottomDeadCenterTurbos and superchargers have a mixed history on motorcycles but Honda's new electric supercharger promises some amazing performance enhancement. Join Kevin Cameron and Mark Hoyer as they talk about turbos, conventional engine-driven superchargers and Honda's new electric supercharger. CAN YOU TAKE THE PRESSURE?!

Find Kevin and Mark on Patreon to support their work directly and get episodes commercial-free: https://patreon.com/TopDeadCenter_BottomDeadCenterFrom 2004 to 2022, Harley-Davidson sold more than 1 million air-cooled Sportsters. In its biggest single sales year, the sportster sold an unbelievable 72,000 units. All this on essentially no technical merit vs. its competitors. Great bike and fun to ride? YES. Lighter, faster, better handling? Not really, and yet it is one of the great motorcycles of all time. From its introduction in 1957 to the last air-cooled versions sold in 2022, Sportsters were burned into the American motorcycle rider's collective brain. And H-D is bringing it back in 2027! Kevin and Mark talk Sportster origins, history, and cultural impact.

Find Kevin and Mark on Patreon to support their work directly and get video and audie episodes commercial-free, plus member-exclusive content: https://patreon.com/TopDeadCenter_BottomDeadCenterHonda's vigorous technical exploration has resulted in magnificent designs and ideas that have become commonplace in motorcycling. But this experimental work has also resulted in some big misses. Join Kevin and Mark as they discuss some of Honda's big hits and misses.