Motorcycles

Nov/Dec '17

Review: 2017 Suzuki V-Strom 650 & 2018 Suzuki V-Strom 1000

> It’s not every day that a motorcycle manufacturer holds a press launch for two motorcycles of different model years. Yet, that’s exactly what Suzuki did recently, high up in California’s lovely San Bernardino Mountains. Both 650 V-Stroms—the standard and XT versions—are listed as 2017

Sep/Oct '17

2017 BMW R nineT Pure and Racer: Sibling Rivalry

> The Racer has a half-fairing with a small windshield, clip-on handlebar, and a solo saddle. It is intended to recall the superbike era of the 1970s and ‘80s, which featured models such as the R90S, and its engine is reminiscent of the powerplants used in the BMW Motorrad Boxer

Sep/Oct '17

2017 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 ABS: Better Than Ever

> Kawasaki’s Ninja 1000 ABS sport-touring model was first introduced in 2014. For 2017, the model has been revamped and updated in a number of significant ways. The bodywork and gas tank have been redesigned with a sharper cowl, more closely resembling Kawi’s supersport models, along with updated

Sep/Oct '17

2018 Kymco New Model Lineup: Smaller Displacement, Still as Fun!

> Now in its 54th year of manufacturing, Kymco continues to be a global leader in producing scooters and small motorcycles under its own name, and engines for the likes of BMW and Kawasaki. The last few years, the Taiwanese company has sold many side-by-sides and ATVs and has even

Jul/Aug '17

Review: 2017 KTM 1090 Adventure R

> It’s the most off-road-capable model bearing the Adventure name. The 1190 is no longer, having been replaced by the 1290 Super Adventure R with an increase in displacement. Visually, the Super looks similar to the 1190. The lighter, more agile 1090 Adventure R is more enduro than travel

Jul/Aug '17

Comparison: 2017 Honda CMX300 & CMX500H

> Back in the 1960s and ‘70s, Honda introduced America to the fun of smaller-displacement motorcycles. With its “You meet the nicest people on a Honda” advertising campaign—and a slew of low-cost and lightweight machines—the company put the Baby Boomer generation on two wheels and made lifetime enthusiasts

May/Jun '17

Review: 2017 Ducati Multistrada 950

> It’s a great time to be an adventure motorcyclist. The options are nearly endless, with every OEM offering an iteration of the do-everything, go-anywhere motorcycle. Lately, however, there has been a push for smaller displacement ADV bikes, with manufacturers like Honda, Kawasaki, and BMW offering sub-500cc styles. In

May/Jun '17

Review: 2016 Suzuki Boulevard C90T

> Suzuki’s top-of-the-line touring V-twin hasn’t changed much in the past few years, but it’s a solid platform for effortless roaming of backroads, with plenty of opportunity for customization. This model has been tested over the past year, mainly in the Southeast, with plenty of curves in

Mar/Apr '17

Review: 2017 Yamaha FZ-10

Activate Your Fazer > Yamaha’s FZ1 has had a good run since 2001, but it has been replaced by the FZ-10 this year. Still, with a YZF-R1-based engine at the center, the most notable change is a visual one. This doesn’t look like your dad’s FZ1. Welcome

Mar/Apr '17

2016 Zero DSR: Riding Toward the Future

> In the hills above Santa Cruz, the yellow diamond sign with the thick, curved black arrow pointing left says “20 MPH.” I roll off the throttle and the 2016 Zero DSR washes off speed like it’s a big V-twin, but instead of the bark of an engine under

Jan/Feb '17

Review: 2017 Moto Guzzi MGX-21 Flying Fortress

> The name begs explanation, and the PR folks explained the rather unusual MGX-21 moniker as Moto Guzzi Experimental, with 21 referring to the front wheel diameter and the year the company was started (1921). The nickname Flying Fortress came from early viewers’ comments about the hulking appearance of the

Jan/Feb '17

2017 Harley-Davidson Touring Rollout: The Motor Company Does a Heart Transplant!

> Harley’s Twin Cam engines have been around since the last century—heck, the last millennium—so it was time for a change. Change has come in the form of a new powerplant dubbed the Milwaukee-Eight, for its eight valves (four per cylinder, up from the prior two) and,

Nov/Dec '16

Review: 2016 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin

> With enduros enjoying a continued rise in popularity for not only their off-road capabilities but long distance comfort, many riders are already familiar with what’s on the market. But Honda’s long-awaited big adventure bike spells trouble for the competition. Carefully planned and expertly engineered, the Africa Twin

Nov/Dec '16

Review: 2016 Yamaha XSR900

> With its latest XSR900 model, Yamaha has spawned an exciting sibling from the FZ-09, one with a neo-retro look that’ll make you nostalgic for the ‘70s. Two Wheels, Three Cylinders, High Fives! The reason for the XSR900’s styling is to appeal to young—and young at heart—

Sep/Oct '16

Review: 2016 Ducati Multistrada 1200 Enduro

> Somebody said something about a revolution. But revolutions change things radically; Ducati just put a bigger front wheel and a larger tank onto the Multistrada and called it the Multistrada 1200 Enduro. At least that’s what I thought when I heard about the new bike. My expectations were

Sep/Oct '16

2017 Victory Octane: Modern Muscle

> While sharing the Indian Scout’s basic platform, the Octane has a considerable number of components specially made for it. To give it a unique look, the new model is styled with sharper lines and a more pronounced center spine, along with other touches that give it a leaner,

Jul/Aug '16

Review: 2017 KTM 1290 Super Duke GT

> In German, there’s a word that describes an animal that lays eggs, has the meat of a pig, and provides milk and wool. In short: something that’s good for everything. Nature knows that this is difficult to achieve. That’s why she created such a wide variety

Jul/Aug '16

Review: 2016 Yamaha FJR1300A and ES

> Sport Touring Just Got More Refined! With the introduction of the new 2016 FJR1300A and FJR1300ES models, Yamaha’s flagship sport-touring line has again been upgraded. Let’s start with a little history review. The FJR1300 series was originally introduced in Europe in 2001, but wasn’t imported to

May/Jun '16

Review: 2016 Indian Springfield

> Named after the birthplace of Indian Motorcycle—Springfield, MA, back in 1901—the new 2016 Springfield combines nostalgic styling cues with modern touring amenities like a tall windscreen, cruise control, and remote-locking hard saddlebags. Merging Old-School Looks with New Technology At a casual glance, the Springfield may appear to

May/Jun '16

2014 EBR 1190SX: The Superfighter

> Mention Erik Buell’s name and it’s instant street cred. When Harley-Davidson shut down Buell’s line during the financial crisis, the entrepreneur found a backer in India’s Hero Motorcycles, and Erik Buell Racing (EBR) was born. But after declaring bankruptcy and restructuring, the company, now owned

May/Jun '16

Review: 2015 Triumph Trophy

> All it takes is a quick glance at the Triumph Trophy to know who and what its designers were targeting when they built it. If you squint a little, the bike is hard to distinguish from its rival, the BMW R 1200 RT. Yet, the Trophy is its own

Mar/Apr '16

Comparison: 1997, 1999, and 2016 Honda Africa Twin

> Looming nearly 6,300 feet above the French countryside, the brilliantly lit peak of Mont Ventoux draws closer. Rather than follow the incessantly curvy pavement towards the top, our small band of riders elects to veer off the famed Tour de France route onto unpaved roads. Steep drops, threatening

Mar/Apr '16

2016 Yamaha and Star Anniversary Lineup

> In October of last year, Yamaha Motor Company unveiled more of its 2016 offerings at the Marconi Automotive Museum in Tustin, CA. Having already released a few models months prior—60th anniversary edition dirt bikes, the YZ250F, and YZ450F—it was high time to get the news out about

Mar/Apr '16

Review: 2016 Indian Scout Sixty

> In a bid to widen its market and bring in new riders to the brand, Indian has introduced the Sixty—a slightly revamped Scout—and dropped the price by an impressive ,300 compared to the 1,133cc model. A Liter of Affordable Fun! So what’s different about it?

Jan/Feb '16

2016 BMW R 1200 RS: Sport-Touring With Grunt

> “We’ll take it slow,” they said. “Keep it at a reasonable speed,” they warned. I guess words have a different meaning depending on when and where they’re spoken. Their definition suits me just fine. This thing is a blast to ride. In the December issue we featured