Research and development for a new motorcycle takes several years. OEMs usually give us a few months’, maybe even a year’s heads-up about a new model. Yamaha went against the grain and announced the Ténéré 700, or T7, four years ago, right around the same time when they decided to build it! Needless to say, […]

Presence. It’s a nebulous term not easily or objectively defined, but the new Rocket 3 definitely has it. The motorcycle’s imposing size is only part of what gives it presence. Its rich finish detailing draws eyes closer and makes them linger.

The Ninja 1000 has been one of the best values in the high-performance sport-touring class since it was introduced in 2014. But what it wasn’t, especially relative to the latest offerings from Europe, was sophisticated. Revisions for 2017 included monoblock brake calipers and an inertial measurement unit for uprated traction and braking safety controls, bringing […]

I was predisposed to like this bike, as I fondly remember the edgy original Katana, a groundbreaking design that stunned the moto world in 1982. That first model is one of the most memorable motorcycles of the last four decades. There’s a reborn Katana for 2020, and there’s much to appreciate about this new one.

Motorcycles have improved by leaps and bounds in the last 50-plus years, with electronic fuel injection, anti-lock braking systems, adjustable suspension, disk brakes, and more. Technology doesn’t come cheap, however. Fast-forward to the present and every coffee-sniffing, pant-rolling, pipe-smoking hipster is scouring Craigslist for a used twin to complete their look. Yet only with luck […]

When Ducati introduced the Diavel (the name translates to “Devil”) in 2010, the Italian manufacturer broke new ground, entering the somewhat unlikely realm of cruisers. The Diavel was an impressive audition in a world where one manufacturer has enjoyed a virtual stranglehold for some time. The Ducati’s persona and performance helped contribute to the evolution […]

Ducati’s aptly named Multistrada (“many roads”) has significantly upped the definition of the word sport in sport touring. Imbued with the leading-edge performance and sensual styling that has always been the vanguard of the Italian manufacturer, the new 950 S is a highly consummate and sophisticated motorcycle married to practicality. The 950 Multistrada is available […]

BMW’s approach to updating its middle-class machine is an interesting one—they’ve introduced two models very close in displacement, yet quite different in terms of temperament. The all-new F 750 GS and F 850 GS bikes possess the essential rugged good looks and dual-purpose functionality of the established GS machines, while each manages to retain a […]

Both of these adventurers suffer from an enviable identity crisis. Either one can roam into the other’s terrain and feel quite at home. The crossover gap between the two machines widens in direct proportion to the difficulty of the terrain. The KTM 1090 Adventure R Wants to be a Dirt Bike.

The allure of escape has always been synonymous with motorcycles. The appointed destination of any trip often holds less importance than the act of traveling the roads between points A and B. A motorcycle will do that to you. If your own particular escape entails long-haul touring—especially that which falls under the heading “transcontinental”—Yamaha has […]

  Fans of Ducati’s Multistrada will be pleased with the refinements the Italian manufacturer incorporated on the 2018 incarnation, specifically the 1260S, which combines a satisfying mix of rider aids and creature comforts with the soul of a superbike.

In motorcycling, there are a number of inexplicable cliques specific to brands and models that have spawned subcultures unto themselves. Harley-Davidson enjoys a stranglehold on cool; Moto Guzzi riders exude obsessive emotions; and BMW’s illustrious GS attracts global legions of adventure-seeking cohorts. But perhaps the most devout and diehard fans of a single motorcycle are […]

You (or your grandad) may have had a UJM—Universal Japanese Motorcycle—in the ’70s or ’80s. It could do it all, and there are plenty of good standard models out there today, but what if you want something with a dollop of Italian panache? Aprilia has offered a middleweight standard in the U.S. market for years, […]