Cruisers, Choppers, Baggers

May/Jun '08

2008 Honda VTX 1300T vs. 2008 Yahama V-Star 1300 Tourer

> At first blush, we expected these machines to ride and feel nearly the same, but after hundreds of test miles, their separate identities began to emerge more clearly. A multi-day trip up the California coast to scenic Morro Bay, with a diversion inland on snow-lined mountain roads, steep, twisty

Jan/Feb '08

2007 Harley-Davidson VRSCD Night Rod

> The term "power cruiser" seems an odd, oxymoronic descriptive. Cruising, by its general nature, implies taking one's time and embracing a heightened level of relaxation that allows for an in-depth exploration of the aesthetics of the ride, or a quick trip down to the local

Jan/Feb '08

Triumph Rocket III Touring

> Back in 2004, Triumph rocked the motorcycle world with the christening of the shockingly large Rocket III. Even in a cruiser arena crowded with machines flexing motor muscles measuring 1600, 1800, and even 2000cc, this big bad Brit crashed the V-twin party with a titanic triple kegger that emphatically

Nov/Dec '07

2007 Victory Jackpot

> I've had the privilege of riding some of the finest creations the motorcycle industry has to offer. Everything from low-slung American customs, the fastest Japanese sportbikes, and exotic European models have all left their own indelible marks. But of all the machines I've ridden, none

Jul/Aug '07

Star Motorcycles V Star 1300

> Western North Carolina has some of the finest motorcycle roads in the United States, many of which just happen to be a stone's throw from the palatial confines of the RoadRUNNER offices. So when we got an offer to visit beautiful Asheville and spend a very unconfined

Jul/Aug '07

Honda Shadow Spirit 750 C2

> The quiet back roads north of San Diego inspire a lazy, humming rhythm as we zigzag toward our planned coffee stop. The guys from Honda are leading the way and I'm sure the other journalists in the bunch are, like myself, kicking back, relaxing, and enjoying the

May/Jun '07

Kawasaki Vulcan® 900 Custom

> Just mention Austin, Texas, and I'm ready to head that way. A vibrant, college-town atmosphere, great food, innumerable live music venues, and some great riding make the Lone Star State's capital one of the coolest towns around. So when I recently received an invite to

May/Jun '07

Harley-Davidson FXDCI Dyna Super Glide® Custom

> There's no telling what tomorrow's assignments will bring. We might be exploring a great new road up in the mountains, riding off to a rally or charity event, or leaving at sunrise on another tour that's likely to eat up a thousand miles

Mar/Apr '07

Harley-Davidson's Custom Vehicle Operations

> Tucked away at Harley-Davidson facilities is a small team of engineers and stylists that works as a separate unit under the acronym, CVO (Custom Vehicle Operations). Responsible for producing limited numbers of highly customized motorcycles since 1999, the group has four individual models to choose from in the lineup

Sep/Oct '06

Suzuki M109R

> Shaping up for a "Battle of the Titans" in the heavyweight cruiser class, Suzuki entered the arena this year with their new M109R Boulevard. Going toe to toe with Kawasaki's Vulcan 2000 and Yamaha's 1854cc Roadliner, the pre-fight buzz has Suzuki claiming the

Jul/Aug '06

Yamaha Stratoliner XV1900

> Recently released to the American motorcycle marketplace, the all new Roadliner embraces an era of significant change for the tuning fork company. Yamaha has placed their whole cruiser range of motorcycles under the new Star banner, and the top dog in this exciting lineup for 2006 is the Stratoliner.

Jul/Aug '06

Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Nomad - Long-Term Evaluation

> Oddly enough, it's on a four-lane highway somewhere outside of Danville, Virginia, that it dawns on me. This bike's moniker really fits. A nomad is one who doesn't stay in the same place very long, a wanderer if you will. And while the

Mar/Apr '06

Victory Hammer

> Riding a motorcycle is cool. We all know that to be true. But riding a motorcycle that truly turns heads, that adds a whole new dimension to the feeling. Blasting down the highway somewhere outside of Minneapolis on Victory's '06 Hammer, I'm noticing the

Mar/Apr '06

Harley-Davidson FLHTCUI Ultra Classic Electra Glide - Long-term Evaluation

> My first ride on the 2005 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic was one of those dreaded, droning highway runs on I-95/85  -  from the H-D factory in York, Pennsylvania, to the RoadRUNNER offices in North Carolina  -  and although the plush seat and excellent sound system certainly eased the boredom

Nov/Dec '05

Victory Kingpin Deluxe

> The appeal of a big, American-made motorcycle is undeniable. Anybody who's thrown a leg over of one of these iron horses will attest to the thrill derived from that intoxicating staccato of the pistons doing their thing. There's also that throb coming through the handlebars,

Sep/Oct '05

2006 Harley-Davidson VRSCR

The whispers began almost immediately. No sooner had the motojournalists finished wiping their lips after their first taste of the V-Rod at its introduction in 2001, than they began licking their chops at the prospect of a Revolution-powered, pure performance bike. Oh sure, the V-Rod was one heck of a

Sep/Oct '05

Honda VTX1800R

> All right, all of you cruiser guys can line up to give me a moto-wedgie for what I'm about to say, but I'll say it anyway. Seven-hundred-and-fifty pounds of dry mass on a two-wheeled chassis is heavy. Yeah, yeah, sure...I can hear all you

Jul/Aug '05

Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Nomad

As so often happens, I'm sitting in this huge plane getting ready to fly between Charlotte and L.A., and I'm wondering: When did they build the first of these Jumbos? More then 30 years ago. It's 2005 and this bird looks the same.

Jan/Feb '05

Suzuki's Boulevard Showdown

> The Suzuki Marauder and Volusia are both 800cc cruisers. The similarity pretty much stops there. They share the same V-twin heart, yet these brothers in wheels have chosen to travel down different lanes of the cruiser boulevard. A quick glance at the spec sheet might lead one to believe

Nov/Dec '04

"Carry Me Back to Old Virginny"

> "Wow, this bike is big." That's my first thought on seeing the 2005 Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe, and I felt a bit intimidated by the sheer bulk of the machine I'd be cruising around the back roads of Charlottesville, Virginia, the next

Sep/Oct '04

Victory Vegas / Triumph Speedmaster Comparison

> Parallel twin versus V-twin in a no-holds-barred contest of cruisers. We grabbed two contemporary powerhouses in the muscle bike market to see which one holds the edge: Is it the parallel Brit style or American know-how in the tangent? When the powers that be at RoadRUNNER suggested the assignment

Jul/Aug '04

Kawasaki Vulcan 2000

> In the country that invented "super-sized" servings, the Kawasaki Vulcan is King and boldly going where no Kawasaki has gone before  -  over 2,000cc. Computer controlled and fuel-injected, this mega-cruiser puts out 116 horses and a mind-blowing 141 ft/lbs of torque. Simply stated, this is

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

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

Nov/Dec '03

YAMAHA ROAD STAR

> Looking out of the window I can only see a grey curtain hanging over Morro Bay, CA. There is only one bright spot on the horizon today  -  the prospect of riding one of the 15 brand-new 2004 Yamaha Road Stars that Brad Banister's Yamaha Team presents