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Gsxs was my choice. Love it. Dreamy.

Crafar spinning up the 500 in Donnington around 98 was something to behold. He loved those Dunlops.

Great interview. Dave is my hero.

50:00

Great meeting you at the track!! 🏍️

I've owned 54 bikes over my last 50+ years of riding, my 23 N1K is my favorite bike of all time. The OEM touring windscreen is way better than the puig in my mind and a definite improvement over stock as well. I've lightened the bike by close to 10-12 lbs with a sergeant seat and removing unnecessary crap. Lost the ugly bazooka silencer as well with a nice carbon slip on. You chose wisely in my book for sure. Less vibration in the N1K is nice too. Mine now has 10,000 miles on it and I'm loving it! Just back from a 2000 mile Colorado and Utah trip last week. The OEM saddlebags were great too, haven't had that luxury since my 2001 goldwing and 2008 FJR, but got tired of overweight bikes. Your review is spot on and you hit all the reasons I like this bike. The Michelin Road 5's are a great add as well. The second favorite is my Z900RS cafe with an Akrapovic header and stock silencer with an Ivan's magical flash and michelin road 5's, which I still own. It now weighs in at 445lbs wet. But my ninja is still the fave. Reminds me of my 97 ZX11 that I put 78,000 miles on over many years of ownership. The N1K is just so much more comfortable for a day in the saddle!

WOW, another cool interview with Simon. Does he ever !!! have a rehearsed answer for all the questions that come his way. Like some do. Keep up the great work Simon.

Dave is an amazing person and an amazing resource!! He helped me immensely and I am truly grateful!

Dave is an amazing person and an amazing resource!! He helped me immensely and I am truly grateful!

a wonderful side benefit to everyone donating STUFF to the dog program, is that reducing the stuff in your life is so very freeing of the mind and soul .

Thank you for the opportunity to chat with you and share time together. I do not get to do this very often at all - and it was a really enjoyable experience thatI am very grateful for. I hope it inspires anyone watching this video to ask questions, use the free online resources you provide and start their own personal journey into creating their motorcycle to meet their needs so they are p[ain free, not exhausted and in a crisis, have the bike perform as best it can.

I did very well in my first season of racing in 1977, running Laverda 750 SFC's. I thought I had to be provincial champ, then national champ, the maybe off to the US or better Europe. what I didn't realize is that life isn't long enough for this orderly process, and that it is best to jump in at the deep end and learn FAST.

Will next year be the last year for track records?

I remember Dave from a track day I did in CA ... I think it was Sears Point. I was new to track days, and to be honest have only done enough to dip my toes in (I don't have the cash flow, for one thing). This discussion was really interesting, though. I was really impressed by his ability to analyze the tire wear (on a slick, no less) to determine tire pressure and suspension settings. His commentary about the relationship to psychology was also fascinating ... I didn't know anyone was thinking of that relationship. Lastly, I really appreciate his generosity here, sharing his decades of knowledge in the interview, and apparently online with tutorials and such. Fun discussion, great guy! ✌

Absolutely loved this. Simon is such a class gentleman.

Such a Kiwi

I have been a MotoGP nerd since 1994 and Simon is in my opinion the best journalist/expert that exists. No one else has the same overall knowledge of the riders and the bikes in my opinion. I'm looking forward the new rules which will ban the ride hight device. I was at Assen, it was more spectacular to watch the Moto2 guys fighting the machine when exiting the last corner heading to the straight than it was watching the same corner with the MotoGP bikes. The MotoGP are obviously faster, but undramatic.

I have had a passion for watching 500cc then MotoGP since the first races I went to in the 80s and With Simon on board in. MotoGP I have learned a lot more than a lot of previous years, yes he was shakey at first but now brings a lot extra into the sport for the viewer, so relax Simon I,m sure that secure job will be there for you for many yrs to come. Also how good do we have it now with MotoGP it gets better and better each year, and I find myself looking forward to next season at the end of each season more and more. Next year to see how MM93 goes on the gp25 alongside Pecco , and also how Martin fairs on the Aprilia, thanks for inviting Simon on enjoyed that heaps.

Simon is a top bloke. Would be great to see him in the commentary box, like Sheene back in the day.

Simon's way of sharing his deep knowledge of the sport is unique. We're all lucky to have him explaining both human and technical sides of MotoGP. Love his interviews, tech talks and all round demeanor...

I noticed Simon didn't really give his opinion on the racing schools when you mentioned them is there a reason for it ? Specifically YRCS you brought them up a few times but he didn't get into it. Regardless grea interview always enjoy hearing Simon talk 💯

Top man

Awesome interview, Simon never fails to impress with his knowledge and humility. The MotoGP world is enriched with his participation. and extremely fortunate to have him.

Amazing interview, Simon Crafar is an absolute 5⭐️ legend, surely he's got more stories for a second interview? ❤ 👏🍻

Simon - He's a gateway drug!! to enthusiasm, love for learning and life in general - hell I even love dogs now

Thanks for this interview,Camped and rode dirt bikes with Simon and his mates in the 90’s early on his career and was a down to earth bloke,didn’t know much about him then but knew straight up he was one of us. Great to see him as he is.🇦🇺👍

Simon Crafer. Top man

This was annoyingly edited. Just show the full interview.

Hey Simon, didn't you also ride for Lucky Strike Kawasaki (with Aaron Slight) in Malaysia?

....probably the only person who could take mother Theresa's crown for being a bloody brilliant person. If your going to have a man crush Simon 'Yoda' is your man

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Simon at the last two races in Malaysia. You won’t meet a more approachable and affable person, his on screen persona is exactly how he is in the flesh. Fantastic guy!

22:22 I lol'd :D . awesome interview. so proud of what kayla is doing in MA. I mean, this is just a "learning" year, but she is progressing fast. Hopefully we get to see some more standup wheelies this year :)

Awesome stuff. You know it's good content when it doesn't feel like an interview. Just a couple of kiwi lads having a yarn.

From a previous vid with Simon where Mick Doohan said to Simon, "damn you, l had to risk everything". Talking about Micks quali lap at Assen to get pole. Simon has immense knowledge and is wonderful to listen to and learn from. Thanks to you all.

Loved the interview, your commentaries and work you have contributed over the years. I remeber you and Andrew Stroud in the early 90's at Timaru levels having an awesome battle. It was the first time I saw proper talent live which reset my expectations on what you can do on a bike. FYI, :) I bought a tyre from you for $60 during the meet which you forgot to send me as it was still on your bike at the time... I am sure you have comletely forgoten by now 30 years later 😆. This is a shameless plug for anything signed in compensation. 🤣

Top bloke!!!

Legend! Video chopped to bits but I’ll go through that to watch Crafar!

+1, I love having Simon on the MotoGP commentary team. So much knowledge and such an eagle eye for detail. Only just learned of his ADHD. My son has it and he’s got some serious mind talent. Capacity to notice and absorb detail… hyper focus. It’s a gift. Thanks Simon. You’ve been a legend for decades, on and off the bike. Maximum respect.

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Cheers! Good interview and some great insight to some of his evolution. Glad he survived the MotoGP commentary introduction. Best thing on the commentary, great technical and racing brain and no runaway gob. Keep doing it Simon.🚲

What a fantastic interview!! Simon is an absolute gem!!

ADHD gets a bad rap from normies. That's too bad because we have a lot of deapth to the way we live our lives. It makes me SO happy to see Simon being himself and how much he's loved. We are definitely more than our diagnosis but its refreshing to see ADHD in a positive light.

Simon's insight/commentating in MotoGP is invaluable. I've learned so much from him. The way he can break down information for us fans is unmatched by anyone past or present.

love u simon. from far east.

Such a legend! I can never get tired of listening to Simon, he’s so down to earth and personal with near no ego. I absolutely love his Tech Talks for MotoGP, the way he explains the technology and the workings of a race bike is just ear candy. Hope he continues for a very long time. Thanks for this podcast and cheers from Sydney 🙌🏻

What happened to Aaron Slight??

Please put simon in the box,

Its so great that we have him in MotoGP commentary now. No bullshits, just a lot of knowledge and love for those sport and technlogy. I always watching all sessions and enjoying listening him. Really great. And he is getting better every season. I remember when I heard him for first time in the MotoGP paddock, it was I think Qatar winter test, when he was still pretty shy and didnt speak loud enough, but now he is really professional commentator. Together with Matt Birt its really great and I hope that they will stay there together for many years.

What a legend ❤

Who was / had the world's fastest Indian? From the 1960's I think 🤔