Andi Seiler - RoadRUNNER

Northern Colorado

Riding northern Colorado means climbing through the Rockies and cruising past wide-open cattle country. The roaming up and down near the Wyoming border encompasses some of the most thrilling areas for motorcycling we've experienced.It's a perfect day for motorcycling. Fresh pine-scented air blows by and temperatures are comfortable enough,

Jan/Feb '04

BMW K1200LT-E and Honda Gold Wing ABS

There are only a few bikes that can claim to belong in the category defining the best long-distance bikes in the world. We tested two of them, the Honda Gold Wing and the BMW K1200LT-E - both outstanding touring bikes but very different.Honda's introduction of the GL1000 Gold Wing

Jan/Feb '04

Moto Guzzi Breva V750i.e.

Fresh air has been blowing through the Moto Guzzi factory in Mandello del Lario ever since Aprilia took over, and owner Ivano Beggio has made sure the entry class wasn't left behind. The company's 750cc Breva is a lot of fun for beginners and old hands alike.The little beast

Nov/Dec '03 Premium Content

Shamrock Tour® - West Virginia Shamrock

Arriving in the most northern of "southern" cities - Charleston, the capital of West Virginia - we feel right at home. It's just the right size (the population is only 58,000) with more than enough entertainments to satisfy the aimless weekend visitor: great bars and restaurants, striking nineteenth-century architecture,

Nov/Dec '03

Honda VTX1800C & Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Classic

Cruisers are getting bigger, longer, lower and heavier. A distinctly American style of riding, cruising is the manifestation of a major market both here and abroad. And two Japanese companies seem to have learned their lessons very well with the VTX1800 and Vulcan 1600 Classic proving they can convey and

Nov/Dec '03

Honda VTX1800C and Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Classic

Cruisers are getting bigger, longer, lower and heavier. A distinctly American style of riding, cruising is the manifestation of a major market both here and abroad. And two Japanese companies seem to have learned their lessons very well with the VTX1800 and Vulcan 1600 Classic proving they can convey and

Sept/Oct '03 Premium Content

France, Limousin: Saints and Sinners

Empty country roads, cultural treasures, deep green forests and waving meadows were some of the highlights of my tour through Limousin. But on a trip like this, you also have to be prepared for encounters with knights and nobility, saints, and quite a few sinners.The crowd moves back when

Sept/Oct '03

Suzuki SV650S & SV1000S

For 2003, Suzuki has sent some hot V2 irons into the fray for the sport crown. The S models of their SV line, available in 650 and 1000cc configurations, have the looks to win over a lot of happy customers. RR tried them out to see what more there is

Sept/Oct '03

BMW R1150R Rockster

BMW's boxer models are quite popular, and the GS, GS Adventure, RS, RT, and R of the 1150cc range are highly regarded as great touring and all-round bikes. Each of them typifies BMW comfort. This year another thrilling theme was added to the Bavarian brand's boxer lineup. They call it

Sept/Oct '03

Aprilia Tuono & Kawasaki Z1000

For those who demand a comfortable riding position and still expect performance, Aprilia and Kawasaki offer two exciting sport bikes with high-mounted handlebars. We tested the new Tuono and the Z1000 on California back roads and freeways.Concept & TransformationStandards aren't simply standards any more. Using engines and chassis parts

Jul/Aug '03 Premium Content

Germany: Home Run Siegerland-Wittgenstein

Craftsmen, farmers and even princes have always lived a tough and meager life at the edge of the Rothaargebirge (Red-Hair Forest). This bare-bones existence is what supposedly made them a reticent and stubborn lot. On a trip through his former homeland, Andi Seiler tried to find out if these character

Mar/Apr '03

BMW R1150RT, DUCATI ST4s

Motorcycle traveling has changed a lot in the last 20 years. Nowadays pure touring bikes compete with cruisers, standards, and sportbikes, which can be equipped with luggage racks and bags by the factory. In this comparison, the tourer BMW R1150RT met up with a sport-tourer, the Ducati ST4s.Concept &

Mar/Apr '03

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R/RR

Team Green wants to recapture the crown for the best 600 Supersport bike. In our opinion, the totally new ZX-6R and ZX-6RR bikes greatly enhance the likelihood of meeting that goal, once RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Cruising & Touring jumped at the chance to ride them at their introduction on the GP-racetrack

Mar/Apr '03

Ducati 999

It had to supercede the other bikes in design, technology, and in performance characteristics on the track and on the street. And now, coming on the heels of its famous 916/996/998-line, Ducati's new 999 is destined to become a great bike that's known for kicking butt and taking

Winter '02

Moto Guzzi California Stone

In model year 2002, Moto Guzzi debuted the California Stone to succeed the Jackal. Now with several improvements from Aprilia, the new owner, the bike is better - easier to ride and much more user-friendly.Concept & TranformationIt's a common marketing practice for European manufacturers to offer a less-expensive, entry-level

Winter '02

Honda 919

To compete with Yamaha's FZ1 and Kawasaki's ZRX1200R, Honda brought out the 919 this year. Big Red's nimble, naked bike comes with a fuel-injected engine and a design concept crammed with high-tech goodies.Concept & TranformationAfter reaping a great deal of success with a standard 600 called the Hornet in

Winter '02

MZ Baghira Street Moto

Concept & TranformationAfter the German Reunification in 1990, the nationalized companies in the eastern part of the country (formerly the German Democratic Republic) were no longer sheltered and suddenly acquired new perspectives of good and bad. 'Live or die' was the motto. MZ, the brand from Zschopau, tried to move

Fall '02 Premium Content

Germany: Sauerland Heartbeat Tour

A journey through the countryside on low mountain-range roads, past massive bales of hay, picturesque little villages, and along beautiful expanses of water - this is the tour through Sauerland, in the heart of Germany."Sauerland, my heart beats for Sauer

Fall '02

The Moto Morini Story

After a long snowy winter and six busy months of restoration it's time to face the truth. Did I do a good job and will the Italian primadonna finally sing?Alfonso Morini, the owner of the little Italian manufacturer from Bologna, started out in the motorcycle business in 1924. Together

Fall '02

Moto Guzzi V11 Le Mans

With the revival of the "mythic" Le Mans, Moto Guzzi has added an appealing sport-tourer to the line. And continuing a long-held tradition, the new Le Mans incorporates many elements commonly featured in the brand's other models.Concept & TransformationThe name Le Mans harks back to the brand's seventies sport

Fall '02

KTM 640 LC4 Adventure R

There are a lot of enduro bikes out there but nothing compares to KTM's 640 LC4 Adventure R. Finally, there's a bike capable of carrying you to the ends of the world. And the quality of the road, whether smooth or cratered, makes little difference.Concept & TranformationBy now every

Fall '02

Honda Interceptor

For the model year 2002, Honda's successful Interceptor was totally revised. As well as sporting a brand-new look, the engine underwent a good deal of transformation. VTEC technology, well known from the brand's automobiles, is now also used in a Honda motorcycle.Concept & TranformationFrom its introduction in 1986, the

Spring '02

Aprilia: SL1000 Falco vs RST1000 Futura

Italy's young motorcycle manufacturer Aprilia is conquering the American market with exciting motorcycles. Their sport touring machines SL1000 Falco and RST1000 Futura are excellent examples of the company's great development.The roaring of the engine's intake tract makes my stomach feel like a bucket of butterflies. The deep growl of

Fall '01 Premium Content

France, Provence: A Great Escape

For centuries, Provence in Southern France has served as a refuge for victims of persecution and for people who are just plain tired of modern civilization.Alone with my thoughts, I sit on the summit of Mont Ventoux surrounded by a large landscape of rocks and boulders. If you have

Fall '01

The Indestructibles

Dual-purpose bikes are becoming more and more popular. No wonder, this type of motorcycle offers a great riding position, a comfortable suspension setup, good power and a tough chassis that handles well on bumpy asphalt streets and gravel roads.My leathers are soaked, my skin underneath, is wet. The little