Journal · Notes

THE BLOG.

Notes on the ride, the bike, the gear, and the sound in between. No fluff — pure sound only.

Guides
Guide

The Complete Motorcycle Exhaust Sound Guide

Why motorcycle exhaust sound is so good, how different engine layouts sound, how to choose an exhaust, and how I recor…

Read
Guide

The Complete YAMAHA R6 Guide — Buying, Sound, Mods & Upkeep

Is the R6 good for beginners, R6 vs R7, specs and top speed, the Akrapovič sound, first mods, common problems and runn…

Read
Guide

The MotoGP Beginner's Guide — How to Watch, the Sound & the Tech

How to watch MotoGP in 2026, MotoGP vs WSBK, race-bike engine sound and decibels, why riders stick a leg out, what hel…

Read
Sound & Exhaust
Behind the Sound

Which Recorder Should You Use for Exhaust Sound?

Want to record your motorcycle's exhaust sound? Drawing on real POV rides with my R6 and an Akrapovič, I explain…

Read
Behind the Sound

How I record a pure exhaust POV, start to finish

The complete workflow I use to record a clean motorcycle exhaust note on my R6 — Zoom H2n placement, mic gain, the…

Read
Behind the Sound

Keep the Exhaust Note from Getting Eaten by Wind

High-speed exhaust recording, and the thing that wrecks it isn't the engine — it's wind. Here's the four-layer…

Read
Behind the Sound

Why My Videos Have No Voice and No Music

Why are my videos pure exhaust sound ASMR with no talking and no music? Because the sound itself is the content…

Read
Behind the Sound

Why Is Exhaust Sound This Relaxing?

I record pure exhaust sound every day, and the question I get most is: why does an engine sound so relaxing? I…

Read
Behind the Sound

Motorcycle Exhaust Decel Pop & Crackle Explained

My R6 runs an Akrapovič full system with a remap, and it crackles like popcorn every time I roll off the throttle. Overrun, unburnt fuel igniting in a hot header, why a full system with a fresh tune makes it louder, and whether it's actually hurting the engine.

Read
Behind the Sound

Motorcycle Engine Sound Which Configuration Wins?

Single-cylinder, parallel twin, V-twin, triple, V4, inline-four — which engine layout actually sounds best? I've…

Read
Behind the Sound

Why Does the R1 Sound So Different from My R6?

Both YAMAHA, both inline-four — so why does the R1 growl with that deep MotoGP pulse while my R6 screams flat-out to redline? It comes down to the crossplane crank and the uneven firing order: the R1 fires almost like a V-twin, the R6 just sings.

Read
POV Filming
Gear

Motorcycle POV Camera — Which One Would I Pick?

Which action camera actually holds up for motorcycle POV? I put the DJI Osmo Action 4, Insta360 X4, and GoPro HERO13 side by side from real footage — image quality, stabilization, battery life, audio, and where I mount each one.

Read
Gear

Helmet Chin Mount: How to Pick & Stick It

How do you pick a GoPro chin mount that won't peel off mid-ride, and stick it on right? My real experience shooting POV off the chin: adhesive vs. strap mounts, picking adhesive for curved shells, cleaning and install steps, and where the rulebook draws the line on track days.

Read
Gear

Choppy POV? You Need an ND Filter, Not a New Camera

Why does your sunny-day POV look choppy and plasticky? It's the shutter. How I choose and use an ND filter for motovlogging…

Read
Riding Gear
Gear

MY GEAR.

The actual gear I ride and film with: AGV Pista GP RR track helmet, Dainese Laguna Seca 5 two-piece race suit…

Read
Gear

Sport Motorcycle Helmet: How Do You Choose?

How do you pick a mid-range sport helmet? I've worn Shoei for years, so this is a real-world comparison of the RF-1400 against the AGV K6 S and Arai Corsair-X — weight, safety ratings, how quiet they are, ventilation, and comfort, three helmets laid side by side.

Read
Gear

AGV Pista GP RR vs Corsa R: Which One Is Right for You?

The lid I ride in now is the AGV Pista GP RR — and I'm on my second one. So what actually separates it from the Corsa R? I lay both top-tier track lids side by side: carbon shell layup, weight, FIM homologation, ventilation, comfort, and price, so the gap is clear.

Read
Gear

Are Carbon Fiber Helmets Actually Worth It?

Are carbon fiber helmets worth the price? For me, yes — mainly because of the weight. My neck barely feels the difference on long rides. This one breaks down carbon shell weight, strength, cost, and comfort so you can decide for yourself once you've read it.

Read
Gear

The best budget helmet that's actually safe

How do you shop for a budget helmet without cutting corners on safety? Straight up: don't buy the cheapest no-name shell out there. This covers how to actually read DOT, ECE, and SNELL ratings, plus solid mid-range picks from HJC, Scorpion, and Bell that keep you safe on a reasonable budget.

Read
Gear

How to Wash a Helmet Liner Without Ruining It: My Shoei and AGV Routine

My Shoei and AGV wash-temp differences, how to troubleshoot a helmet that still smells after washing, and when to just replace the cheek pads instead of fighting it.

Read
Gear

Track & Sport Riding Gloves: How to Choose

Which crash-rated gloves actually hold up on the track or a canyon road? Mostly Dainese for me — knuckle protection, palm sliders, and gauntlet-style wrist support, plus how the Full Metal 7 and Carbon 4 stack up against Alpinestars, laid out piece by piece.

Read
Gear

Sport & Track Motorcycle Boots: How Do You Actually Choose?

Which boots for canyon runs and track days? I put the Dainese Torque 3 Out, Alpinestars SMX-6 V2, and TCX RT-Race Pro Air through real miles — ankle protection, torsion control, toe sliders, sole stiffness, and CE rating, three pairs compared point by point.

Read
Gear

Best Mesh Motorcycle Jacket breathable and still protective?

Too hot to wear a jacket in summer but don't want to ride without one? From real miles in the saddle, here's what to look for in a mesh jacket that still protects: CE armor, mesh airflow, how the fit should sit, plus Joe Rocket, Alpinestars, and Scorpion compared for the balance between airflow and protection.

Read
Gear

Motorcycle Bluetooth Intercom: Cardo or Sena?

Cardo or Sena for a motorcycle intercom? Running the Packtalk Edge against the Sena 50S, here's what actually separates them: Mesh vs. Bluetooth, JBL versus Harman Kardon audio, range, group calls, and water resistance, the two big names laid out head to head.

Read
Yamaha R6
Yamaha R6

My R6 + Akrapovič How I Set Up the Sound

My own YAMAHA R6 track-day machine paired with an Akrapovič Racing Line full system — I break down why I chose this…

Read
Yamaha R6

R6 Exhaust: Six Brands, Which One?

Which exhaust actually sounds best on the R6? As an R6 owner running Akrapovič myself, I put six brands — Akrapovič, Yoshimura, SC-Project and more — side by side on sound, build material, and weight. SC-Project comes out the most aggressive, and the pickiest about where you can actually ride it.

Read
Yamaha R6

R6 First Mods: where do you start?

Not sure what to mod first on your R6? I'm a real R6 owner and I rank the best beginner mods in order: slip-on…

Read
Yamaha R6

Is the R6 Good for Beginners?

Is the R6 a good first bike? I own one, and my answer is no — not as your first. The aggressive riding position, an engine that needs high revs to make power, and how unforgiving it is at low speed all play into why, and I lay out a step-by-step path to grow into one.

Read
Yamaha R6

Yamaha R6 vs R7 — I Owned Both

Yamaha R6 vs R7: which supersport should you buy? I owned both at the same time — the R7 was my commuter back then, and the R6 is the one I kept…

Read
Yamaha R6

Yamaha R6 Best Year to Buy: 1999–2020 Generation Guide

Which year Yamaha R6 should you buy used? An owner's take on all six generations, 1999–2020: what 2C0, 13S, and BN6 actually mean, why 2008–2009 is the sweet spot, whether the 2017+ electronics are worth the extra money, plus what to check on track bikes and modified bikes before you buy.

Read
R6

R6, R7 & R9 Fuel Economy Real MPG From Owning Both

Yamaha R6 vs R7 vs R9 fuel economy: how far apart are they really? I owned the R6 and R7 at the same time — one…

Read
Yamaha R6

How Fast Is a Yamaha R6? Specs in Plain English

I ride the final-generation 2020 R6 as my weekend and track bike. Here is what those numbers feel like from the…

Read
Yamaha R6

Yamaha R6 Common Problems & What to Watch

I own an R6 — here's my owner's take on its known issues: the 06/07 con-rod bearing clearance problem…

Read
Yamaha R6

R6 Maintenance Schedule & Cost Street vs Track Day

My R6 is a track and weekend toy, not a commuter. How often does the R6 need service and what does it really cost?…

Read
MotoGP
MotoGP

What Helmets Do MotoGP Riders Wear?

I ride with an AGV Pista GP RR — and I'm on my second one. In this guide I break down which MotoGP riders wear…

Read
MotoGP

The Secret Behind MotoGP SoundWhy it sounds so good

I record exhaust sound for a living and ride an Akrapovič-equipped R6. That combination has made me obsessed with…

Read
MotoGP

How Loud Is a MotoGP Bike?

MotoGP bikes hit a static noise limit of 130 dB/A. Real trackside levels land between 115–130 dB — louder than a…

Read
MotoGP

MotoGP vs WSBK: What's the Difference?

I ride an R6 and follow both series. Here's everything that separates MotoGP from WSBK: prototype vs production…

Read
MotoGP

Why Do MotoGP Riders Stick Their Leg Out?

I ride an R6, I've done track days, and I've been a hardcore MotoGP fan for years. Here's what leg dangle actually…

Read
MotoGP

How to Watch MotoGP 2026 — Every Option

I follow every round of MotoGP without missing a single race. Here's the complete 2026 guide: official VideoPass…

Read
MotoGP

MotoGP Tires Explained

I've seen riders crash with zero warning once graining or blistering sets in. Here's how to read the color stripes, the 1.80 bar pressure rule, and what to set on your own track day…

Read