Listen, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from – as a man, you have interests and hobbies, and those are going to cost you money no matter which way you swing it. Men’s lifestyle choices can be costly, even if you are on a budget. Still, let’s have a look a some of these things that lots of guys love to do, and determine how you can ensure these hobbies don’t impact your good financial standing.

Car and Motorcycle Collections

If you are a guy who likes fast cars and bikes, then it’s a hobby that is naturally expensive. After all, you’ve got to purchase the vehicle, put fuel in it, put cash out for routine maintenance, and buy lots of fun things to keep it looking pretty. Not to mention the cost of insurance, and you’re sure to go all out and not pinch pennies here when you’re talking about a vehicle that is your baby.

Whether you’re driving your car or motorcycle on the road, on the track, or working on it in your garage, ensure that you stick to a budget in all areas. Routine maintenance may be necessary, but if it pushes your budget, then you don’t need to break the bank to put in a new sound system, or replace the tires when the ones you have on are doing just fine. And, for those things that you do need, you can shop around for better deals.

Sporting Activities

Who doesn’t like to hit the gym, get on the football field for some good old-fashioned downtime, or even just make some informed brackets for March Madness? While these activities may keep you and your boys active and well-socialized (especially when there are drinks available to be had as part of the package), the costs of these activities add up. Take advantage of free activities! Click here for a free March Madness competition that could get you to the Final Four.

If golf is your activity of choice, then you’ve got to pay for your tee time, every single time you hit the course, or you’ve got to invest in a membership. If you’re playing with an organized sports team, then you have a cost of registration.

Then, on top of the basic costs to play, you’ve got all the gear. While men might give women trouble for their love of shopping at the malls, we all know guys enjoy spending cash in other areas – getting the best equipment for hobbies and sports. Of course, the equipment falls in the “necessity” category, so don’t worry, we have your backs there. But, you’ve still got to watch so you don’t go overboard.

When it comes to golfing, look for special deals or offers at courses during the less busy season or less popular times. Or, look for course trying to recruit new members for special introductory prices to play.

Drinking Beer

Well, we aren’t here to judge, and we know that some guys simply like to do just about anything that they can do with a beer in their hand. So go for it, as long as you’re drinking responsibly, there’s really no harm (except, maybe to your liver if you engage a little too often). If you want to drink on the cheap, have your beer at home, during happy hours, or even better, find a way to brew it yourself!

Hopefully you’ve realized that this is Father’s Day and you’ve already picked up some cool gifts. If not, check out our guide for some last minute gift ideas, and you can always go with booze, though in some areas you can’t buy it on Sundays.

Looking back on the week, season two of “Game of Thrones” came to an end, and Nate Kreichman took at look back at the highlights of another excellent season. Tyrion Lannister (played by Emmy Award winning actor Peter Dinklage) is probably our favorite character on TV these days, as his approach to life in many ways mirrors that of our staff.

You might remember the lovely Génesis Rodríguez from her season 7 appearances on Entourage, and Bob Westal caught up with her in connection with her role opposite budding Latin American leading man Will Ferrell (pronounced “Wheel Fer-all”) in the over-the-top Spanish language Mexploitation/telenovela spoof, “Casa de mi Padre.” Check out our 5 questions interview with Génesis.

You can also check out our review of the Entourage Season 8 DVD. It wasn’t the best season for that show, so you might want to check out Season 8 of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” instead.

It’s hard to believe that “Dallas” has been revived with Bobby and J.R. Ewing coming back with a new crop of young soap-opera styled actors and actresses. This naturally inspired Will Harris to take a look back at some other famous and not-so-famous TV revivals.

Joe Gustafson has a great piece on the Triumph Bonneville and how it brings 60s cool to the new millennium. You can find stories on more bikes on our new motorcycle channel.

For our car review last week we had the BMW 335i Sedan, which naturally put a smile on our reviewers face. Also, publisher Gerardo Orlando flew out to Salt Lake City this past week to drive the 2013 Mustang Boss on a race track, so check back next week for that story.

Meanwhile, in theaters, “Rock of Ages” is a dud according to David Medsker.

American motorcycle legend Harley-Davidson hosted an event for its latest Sportster model, the “Seventy-Two,” and Bullz-Eye.com was invited to ground zero of Latino motorcycle culture in East LA for the press launch and cultural immersion. The “72,” with its stylistic nod to hi metal flake custom paint and chrome so popular with the Latino low riders of Wittier Blvd., has made this one of Harley’s most splashy and eye-catching Sportster models to date.

Our first stop was the Harley-Davidson dealership in Glendale on the outskirts of downtown LA for a review of the Harley family of motorcycles for 2012 and our first glimpse of the new Seventy-Two model. This strikingly flashy Sportster is sure to get attention at any stoplight but is also within the most reasonably priced group of Harleys. The “72” boasts a hugely attention-getting hi metal flake red paint job, in Hard Candy Big Red Flake, the Evo 1200 cc V- twin, mini ape handle bars and a peanut gas tank. Forward foot controls and a low 28” seat height give laid back rider comfort, and the high torque output (73 pd-ft) in the low/mid RPMs lends the bike to impressive acceleration on the low end of the spectrum. The MSRP is $10,499 for the standard paint, and if you want the Hard Candy Big Red Flake, it has an MSRP of $11,199.

Tipping the scales at a modest 545lbs, this bike feels even lighter than it is, with a chopper fork rake, aluminum head and cylinders, skinny white wall wheels and narrow frame. The Sportster family has always been my favorite, with its nimble design and attractive low price, and it was always the most fun to drive. This is a bike either sex can easily operate with ease, the low un-sprung weight and laid back low seat height making it fun to buzz around in on a whim.

Soon after the showroom tour we were given an informative presentation of the Latino and Harley cultural marriage here in East LA. For more than 50 years, Latin American Harley riders have been proudly calling themselves Harlistas, and we were about to go on an enlightening tour of Los Angeles, with all things Latin and Harley mixed in!

Latino culture has profoundly shaped California and LA in particular, and the Latino culture loves the concept of Harley as it symbolizes freedom, individually and a sense of family – the Harley family. We visited several cultural highlights of East LA, including the LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, the Chicano murals of Boyle Heights, Candelas Guitars and a stop at Cities Restaurant, complete with authentic Mexican premium tequila tasting, courtesy of paQui Tequila! The food and subsequent tequila shots were delicious, and we boarded the tour bus for the afternoon stops.

We arrived at some huge, non-descript warehouse to meet famed low rider and motorcycle custom designer Mr. Cartoon. Here we found a world-class show car collection, complete with museum, showcasing some of the best low rider and motorcycle custom body art in the world. East LA is ground zero for this culture, and Mr. Cartoon gave a brief lecture on his personal lifestyle and professional journey. He recounted his rise from poverty and gangster of the street in his youth to success and giving back to the community that has brought him respect from local police and civic groups alike.

He still has his street cred though, and to prove it, he invited all of the invited press on a low rider caravan cruise to LA stadium, for the Los Angeles Dodgers/Washington Nationals baseball game. Several wild custom low riders were waiting for us, complete with functional hydraulics and immaculate in condition, courtesy of his Lifestyle Car Club. Mr. Cartoon, in a fabulously tricked out 1962 Ford Valliant station wagon in electric orange, invited me to ride with him and his family in the lead car. He was an exceptional host! Cruising Sunset Blvd. at low speed and ¾ of an inch off the ground was a blast (Led Zeppelin at full volume). We watched the game in the Harley VIP box suite. Hall of famer Steve Garvey sat in the next booth as we watched the Dodgers win in spectacular fashion, as a home run blast over the center field wall in the 10th inning ended the night. Complimentary tequila was again offered for a victory toast in the motor coach en route back to the hotel!

The following day was Harley’s showcase appearance at Fiesta Broadway, the largest Latino block party in US. Harley had numerous tents and display areas available, and the invited promotional model team impressed many in the huge crowd throughout the day. Even LA’s finest were on hand admiring the Harleys, as the Electra Glides are standard police issue within the nation’s law enforcement motorcycle fleets.

Special thanks go out to all at corporate Harley for a wonderful event. Look for the release of new “Seventy Two” Sportster model at dealerships across the US and Europe this month!

Triumph knows a thing or two about comebacks. The British motorcycle manufacturer is one steeped in history, but not tied to tradition. They are well known for their historic bikes such as the Bonneville. However, after falling on hard times, they were reborn in the early ‘90s as a full-fledged modern manufacturer. Now, they offer a comprehensive line of bikes that both harken back to their past and compete with the best of the present.

Comebacks are more important than ever since the great recession. There’s an even greater effort now to draw new customers and younger riders onto a company’s bikes since the poor economy wiped out many repeat motorcycle customers. The reason for this is because many of those customers heavily financed their bike loans through their houses. I don’t think I need to tell you how that story ends after 2008. To cope, there are a few ways motorcycle companies are attempting to draw attention to their products in a continually shrinking marketplace. Some are offering new bikes at a cheaper price point. Others are making their new and existing products more visible through more aggressive marketing campaigns. However, the few and the brave are actually putting their bikes in the hands of these riders through riding events. One such company is Triumph with their Factory Demo Tour events.

Here’s how it works. First, go to the event’s website. Then, find a dealership using the tool on the site. The website will show you which dealers are holding the event and when. You can also choose which bikes you would like to ride. The best part is that it is all completely free. Don’t feel like registering beforehand? You can show up to the event as well with no prior reservation. However, the event fills up fast, so you may want to register beforehand and get there early to get the bikes you want. This specific event ran from 8a.m.-4p.m., and you can stay or go at any time. However, get there early if you are motivated to ride a specific bike.

There are some requirements to attend, but no more than what is common sense. First, you must have a valid motorcycle license. Second, you must wear the proper gear. Leave the flip-flops and shorts at home, squids. Proper gear means a DOT certified helmet, long pants, long-sleeved shirt, closed-toed shoes and motorcycle gloves. The shirt and long pants do not have to be motorcycle specific gear, but it is highly recommended. Plus, if you call ahead to the dealer you’re going to, you may be able to rent an item or two. Finally, there is no reckless riding. You ride in a group around 10-15 strong while being escorted by staff. If you get separated from the group (cough, like me, cough), there are plenty of escorts to take you through the full route and bring you back to the starting point. But is the event any fun? That’s what I set to find out when I went to Motoworks in Chicago.

I am not a morning person in the slightest, but even I was up and ready the morning of the event. I arrived at the event greeted by the best part, the Demo Tour truck they cart around with all the bikes in it. You can’t help but get excited by having a whole buffet of bikes laid out before you.

The dealer I took my ride at was Motoworks; located on the lower west side of Chicago at 1901 S Western Ave. This is their main store and offers 20,000 square feet to both sell and service motorcycles. Motoworks sells Triumph and Aprilia motorcycles, as well as Piaggio and Vespa scooters. The best part has to be the atmosphere of the place. You would never know the place is a dealer by how the staff treats you. They never come with the hard sell, but are more than helpful to answer any questions. In fact, owner John Scheff prefers to call his place a shop, instead of a dealer. If you’re in Chicago or the Chicagoland area, I highly suggest going through these guys. You can reach them through their website or at (312) 738-4269.

The first ride out was at 9 a.m. Since I arrived early, I had the pick of the litter and chose a Triumph Thruxton. The Thruxton is one of three bikes in the retro modern line, which includes the base Bonneville, the Scrambler (vintage dirt bike design). The retro modern line showcases the designs of the past with modern mechanicals. The Thruxton shares mechanicals with the other two bikes with an 865cc, 68 horsepower parallel twin-cylinder motor. The Thruxton, being styled like a café racer, is arguably the most attractive of the triplets with its single passenger bullet seat, lower handlebars, bar-end mirrors, and more aggressive riding position. Going into the day, it was the bike I was most looking forward to riding.

It is important to note that a motorcycle is very similar to a dance partner since your bike should be of similar size, skill set, and speed as you. Reason being, if you are not a perfect match, you will find yourself on the ground in a hurry and in a lot of pain. I became quickly aware of the problems of not listening to this line of thought upon starting my ride on the Thruxton. For one, the pegs were too far back for my legs. I have thicker thighs so I was not able to comfortably crouch up on the footrests. As I would find out later, this caused me to continually ride the rear brake as my right leg hunted for the rear peg. Second, the riding boot I was wearing was slightly too thick to slide between the left rear peg and the gear lever. These two slight variables had a profound effect on the experience I would have on the bike.

During the ride, since I was riding the rear brake, the bike would slow down too fast when rolling off the throttle to start to change gear. On top of that, I had to hunt for the gear lever with my left foot. The resulting lurch and lunge of me hunting for the gears and struggling to get back in position did not make for an enjoyable ride. To navigate a bike effectively, all of your physical movements must be in harmony with the bike. With the Thruxton, I was not participating in a symphony but in a musical procession of 3 year-olds pounding on buckets with sticks. My dancing partner had transformed into a wrestling partner.

Let it be known that my experience with the Thruxton is of no fault of the bike itself, but of my own physical build and equipment choice. Neither was incorrect, just wrong for the application. You can’t get mad at a pair of pants that don’t fit; you just look for a different size. For a brief moment, I did start to get the hang of it; it was a wonderful bike. I might not have been able to fit on it, but hopefully you can.

However, the true benefits of the demo event would soon show through. Even though I had fallen back from the pack, an escort guided me through the rest of the course and brought me back to the shop. I got back dreading a verbal lashing, but was greeted instead with a few tips on my next selection, and sent on my way to find the next bike to ride.

If this were a traditional test ride, it would have played out much different. On a test ride at a dealer, the focus is usually on the one product you are looking at. If I took the Thruxton for a spin on a test ride, I probably would have walked out of the dealer out of disappointment. However, on the demo ride, you can just move on to the next bike. There is no pressure to latch onto one bike because a salesman isn’t breathing down your neck. At the demo event, you can truly focus on the bike itself.

After the Thruxton, I changed course and decided to ride a different bike than I originally planned. My new choice was the Scrambler, another bike out of the retro modern line. One advantage Triumph really shows during times like this is their full line of bikes. Instead of being tied to sportbikes or cruisers, they offer both, and everything in between such as touring bikes, adventure bikes, and the retro modern line. Because of this, if something doesn’t fit your tastes or riding style, Triumph has other bikes that will.

The Scrambler is mechanically identical to the Thruxton – same engine, transmission, brakes and frame. However, the ergonomics and styling are tweaked to fit the vintage dirt bike theme. These changes include the handlebars being raised, the suspension being raised and retuned for a softer ride, knobbier tires being fitted, the exhaust changed to a mid-pipe design, and the foot controls being brought forward.

On paper, these changes look negligible. However, in real life, it makes a universe of difference. Unlike the Thruxton, you sit more upright, helping you look farther ahead. Also, with the gear lever and rear brake brought forward, you don’t need to hunt for them as much since they are located right under your feet instead of behind them.

After my performance on the Thruxton, I was still a little nervous of a repeat. However, on the road with the Scrambler, I immediately felt more at ease and in control because of the ergonomics and different ride position. Now able to operate the essential functions of the bike properly, I could really enjoy the bike. One part of the bike I could take in was the sound of the optional Arrow exhaust. The sound is aggressively smooth – loud and throaty enough to be heard, but not obnoxious. Also, the raised and softened suspension was much better suited for the potted Chicago roads. The bike became more of an extension of me instead of a hindrance. The 9-mile journey that seemed to take forever on the Thruxton was done in a flash on the Scrambler.

The most shocking point to remember is that the Scrambler and Thruxton are nearly identical. All it took was a couple inches here and there on the controls, and some new parts, to create a whole new bike and experience.

The best part is, if it were not for the Demo Day, I wouldn’t have even given a second thought to the Scrambler. Compared to the stock Bonneville and Thruxton, I found it too clunky and aggressive. In person, however, the bike looks stronger and more fitting for the urban environment. I also thought I would hate the more upright riding position, but I was proven wrong on that count as well.

That is the point of the Demo Day, changing opinions about Triumph and its motorcycles for those both familiar and unfamiliar with the brand. Combine the helpful, relaxed atmosphere, with a bevy of motorcycle choices, and you will definitely find something that suits your taste and style. It also goes to show that putting product in the hands of customers goes farther than any convoluted marketing campaign about the “lifestyle” of the brand or motorcycles in general.

All too often you hear people complaining about the state of motorsports. They state that it’s too expensive, there’s no fan community left, the racing is too safe, too boring, etc., wishing for a “simpler time.” They can never nail down the exact “simpler time,” but it existed at some point. Some say it was the ‘20s , or the ‘60s, or ‘80s, and then some just pick one year randomly and stick with that, say 1996. However, if you want to enjoy motorsports at its best from a racing and social angle, there is no better place than the MotoGP at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

MotoGP is the major league of motorcycle racing. Here, a who’s who of manufacturers and riders compete with some of the most technologically advanced motorcycles on the planet. However, unlike F1, NASCAR or Indy racing, the bikes are closely related to what you can buy at a dealership. They may not be identical, or the same models, but there is much more similarity than say a Fusion NASCAR car than a stock Fusion on the showroom floor.

But MotoGP is not only about the bikes, but the riders and the community as well. The race brought in bikers from all across the country to Indianapolis. For two days, the main road was closed down to allow motorcyclists to park and socialize. Here you could see large cruisers next to the fastest of superbikes while their owners traded stories. It got a bit rowdy at times, and there was a healthy amount of obnoxious engine revving, but for the most part it was a big party.

Come race day, everybody suits up (albeit with little to no safety gear for some ridiculous reason), and heads to Indianapolis Motor Speedway. You may be familiar with this the track from its most popular event, the Indy 500, but it has a road course as well. Plus, since MotoGP isn’t incredibly popular, you have more freedom to move around and see the various attractions available. It feels much less constricting than an event like the Indy 500, where you are shoulder to shoulder to someone while breathing in the smell of cheap beer and perspiration.

Not to mention, tickets are also much cheaper as well, so you can view multiple races during the weekend. MotoGP is the main event, but there are other motorcycle races as well, like the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 event. This race features nearly identical, Vance and Hines-modified Harley XR1200s. It’s much cheaper to field a team, so there are more participants, and some of them even have a job on the side to be able to go racing. Just like the good old days. Plus, because the bikes are nearly the same, the racing is close and fierce. It’s all up to the rider to bring their bike to the front, so there is a lot of passing and bumping. The upside is that you can’t buy a win. For example, the winner of the first race was Tyler O’Hara, a 23-year-old with no formal sponsors who funded his bike with his own money and the help of his friends.

This is just the type of racing that many believe has gone away, but lo and behold it’s still here (and on Harley Davidsons), but the racing in MotoGP is just as authentic as well. First you hear the GP bikes as they come hurtling down the stretch on their way into the corners sounding like demonic chainsaws. Then you see the riders on top of the bikes like jockeys on a horse moving their bikes down the track as fast as possible. You see these racers moving and hustling these bikes into the corner as they slide knees to get through as cleanly as possible. You see them crouch behind the windscreen to pick up that extra mile per hour on the straight. And you see moments of frustration as riders get cut off or the bike isn’t performing up to spec. The result is that the riders become more personable since you see and almost feel the effort they need to put in to extract that extra little bit of speed.

The racing is also fierce. In most corners, riders are mere inches away from each other while nearly flat on the asphalt at ludicrous speeds. Here, even with highly questionable asphalt a condition, racing in the midfield was incredibly exciting. For instance, American Ben Spies was able to get back from nearly being pushed off the track on the second lap to 10th place, all the way up to a 3rd place finish, on his Yamaha bike. However, the race was absolutely dominated by the two Honda bikes, with the win going to championship leader Casey Stoner.

Race series of old were categorized by people racing each other not for the meager purses, but large amounts of pride. They sacrificed their bodies and their own funds in order to get just a small taste of winning. Their efforts were rewarded by a fanatic fan base that, although small, followed them to event after event. The MotoGP weekend exemplifies this past spirit today, especially in some of the minor races like the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 event. Don’t go to YouTube and look up old motorcycle races. Get to any motorcycle event that you can.

The Harley-Davidson XR1200X breaks from contemporary Harley design and embraces the company’s racing roots. The bike is all black, including a blacked-out powertrain and exhaust and black wheels, leaving nothing to polish after a hard day’s ride. The XR1200X is aggressive enough to attract Bubba Blackwell and Seth Enslow, two extreme riders that both pulled off full flips on an early edition of the new Harley.

The XR1200X is being unveiled tonight at 6:30 PM CT in Harley-Davidson’s hometown, Milwaukee. The bike will be available at dealerships later this summer for $11,799.