Motorcycles

May/Jun '13

2013 Honda Gold Wing F6B: Power Cruiser

Honda has been churning out a slew of exciting new models lately. The new F6B makes a cruiser out of the flagship Gold Wing GL1800 by removing the trunk, trimming the windshield, and reshaping the seat and rear section. Jon Seidel, Honda’s PR guy, told me that the moniker

May/Jun '13

Review: 2013 KTM 1190 Adventure

> The fact that KTM has been dominating the off-road circuit for years is evident by a sea of orange commonly seen along motocross tracks and trails across the country. With the all-new and versatile 1190 Adventure, the Austrian manufacturer brings the soul and character that defines its “Ready to

May/Jun '13

2012 BMW C600 Sport & C650GT: Two Ways to Scoot

> Last season we attended a press event in Spain to give us a first impression of BMW’s two new maxi-scooters—the C 650 GT and the C 600 Sport (July/August ‘12 issue). We finally got an opportunity to test these scooters in the U.S., and our

Mar/Apr '13

2013 Yamaha FJR1300A: A Sportbike for Grownups!

> Yamaha has launched its FJR1300A model for 2013 with some notable improvements that dyed-in-the-ballistic-nylon aficionados of sport touring should appreciate. It’s been a whole decade since this Yamaha model first appeared on our shores, and the bike’s capabilities, reliability, and comfort have made it a popular choice

Mar/Apr '13

2013 Honda Lineup

> At a time when consumers are pinching every penny, some companies respond by doing the same, a few focus on bringing in repeat business, and others ramp up advertising. A brave handful will put all their chips on the table by offering a variety of original products. Honda has

Mar/Apr '13

Review: 2012 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited

Three Wheels Across America > Bombardier Recreational Products recently loaned us two of their top-of-the-line Can-Am touring models 
and a trailer for an exhaustive cross-country test. 
Starting in St. Louis, MO, we followed the Lewis and Clark Trail more than 3,000 miles to Oregon’s Pacific Coast. In addition

Jan/Feb '13

2012 Honda NC700X and NC700XD: Affordable Fun

> One of Honda’s latest offspring, the NC700X, was designed to appeal to new and re-entry riders as well as folks who want a lot of bang for their buck. You can choose one of two NC700 iterations. There’s the base model, NC700X, with a regular six-speed transmission

Jan/Feb '13

2013 Harley-Davidson Lineup Limited-Edition Bikes

Limited-Edition Bikes, Candy Coats, & Blessings from the Pope The Motor Company is celebrating its 110th anniversary by throwing a dozen parties around the world and offering jazzed-up limited editions of select models. Harley also is launching a styling movement dubbed the Hard Candy Custom and has two new releases

Jan/Feb '13

2013 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Touring: Italian Dominatrix

> It’s difficult to talk about something Italian without passion. Italy is known for delicious wine, rich cuisine, hand-crafted loafers, “bella figura,” super fast cars, and temperamental motorcycles. Whatever it is, a sense of passion comes standard. The 2013 Multistrada is no different—it attacks all the senses! The

Nov/Dec '12

Long-term Evaluation – 2012 BMW R 1200 RT: Jack of All Rides

> I don’t want to like this bike. BMW touring bikes, after all, typically appeal to people of a certain age, and liking the 2012 R 1200 RT is tantamount to admitting that I’m not as young as I used to be. That’s the stereotype at least,

Nov/Dec '12

2013 Honda Metropolitan NCH50: Nifty and Thrifty!

After a multi-year hiatus, Honda’s 50cc Metropolitan scooter returns completely revamped with fresh styling and a new fuel-injected engine. Appearance changes include updated bodywork, a new headlamp and gauge setup, plus a different handlebar and taillight, all of which give the diminutive machine a clean modern look. We had

Nov/Dec '12

2013 Honda PCX150: City Slicker

Scooters are great for urban rides, so I borrowed Honda’s 2013 PCX150 for a day. Starting at California’s Huntington Beach Honda, I take the long way to the Lyon Air Museum near John Wayne Airport, stop for lunch at Memphis Soul Café in Costa Mesa, and then take

Sep/Oct '12

Review: 2012 Triumph Explorer

One year after introducing the popular and acclaimed Tiger 800, Triumph has added its new flagship entry to the growing adventure-touring market—the 1215cc Tiger Explorer. Designed to go head-to-head with BMW’s R 1200 GS and Yamaha’s 1200cc Super Ténéré, the Explorer offers modern styling and a potent

Sep/Oct '12

2012 Honda CB1000R: Matte Black Belt

> Martial arts competition, like sport motorcycle riding, stylishly blends power and finesse with razor-sharp wits and the ability to quickly and effectively compensate for any move the opposition, or the road, throws your way. While Honda’s CB1000R certainly delivers black belt performance on the open road, it also

Jul/Aug '12

2012 Star Cruiser Lineup: Something for Everybody

> Star Motorcycles offers 14 different models that beat to the tune of seven different engine configurations, making it the broadest range to choose from in the cruiser segment. With so many choices, there’s an option for every type rider, from beginner to long-distance warrior. Star offers a V-twin

Jul/Aug '12

2013 BMW C 600 Sport and BMW C 650 GT: Versatile Meets Fun

> With a design philosophy to create a machine that has the functionality of a scooter and the riding pleasure of a motorcycle, BMW introduced their two new “Maxi-Scooters” recently in Madrid, Spain. Centered on the same frame architecture and sharing a common power plant, the C 600 Sport and

May/Jun '12

2013 Victory Judge: Here Come de Judge!

> Victory Motorcycles’ PR department says its latest cruiser model, the Judge, “has a powerful silhouette and details that evoke visions of classic American muscle cars.” It’s no coincidence, then, that in 1969 Pontiac launched a new GTO muscle car model called “The Judge.” The name came from a

May/Jun '12

2012 BMW G 650 GS Sertão: A New Adventure Bike Joins the Fray!

Named after an arid savanna region in northeastern Brazil, the Sertão is designed for the growing adventure motorcycle market and essentially replaces the Dakar version of the F 650 GS, which was discontinued in 2008. (BMW changed its model designations beginning with the introduction of the F 800 series; single-cylinder

Mar/Apr '12

Review: 2012 Suzuki V-Strom ABS & ABS Adventure

Combining spirited V-twin performance with excellent comfort and good handling at a reasonable price, Suzuki’s versatile V-Strom models have created a near cult following over the years. We got to test ride the new 2012 V-Strom 650 ABS and ABS Adventure models at the U.S. press launch in

Mar/Apr '12

2012 BMW K 1600 GTL vs. 2012 Honda Gold Wing GL1800

The near simultaneous 2012 introductions of BMW’s new K 1600 GTL and Honda’s redesigned Gold Wing GL1800 beg for a comparison. Both are flagship models for their respective brands, propelled by six-cylinder engines and designed for long-distance touring. We chose the K 1600 GTL rather than the GT

Jan/Feb '12

2012 Harley-Davidson Model Introduction

> Harley-Davidson rumbles into town with 32 different models on six platforms for 2012. The number of models that come standard with the bigger Twin Cam 103 engine is expanded to all Touring and Softail® series, all but the two least-expensive Dyna® models: Super Glide® Custom and Street Bob®. The

Jan/Feb '12

2011 Moto Guzzi Norge GT 8V

> Let's cut to the chase - I took the 2011 Moto Guzzi Norge GT 8V into the wilds of Pennsylvania and felt really connected to this bike. Despite the cold and the rain and the occasional muddy patch, the Norge didn't miss a beat and,

Jan/Feb '12

2011 Honda PCX 125

> Honda’s recent addition to its scooter lineup is a fun alternative to driving to the office or around town in a car, and the 125cc engine is the heart of this sporty-looking commuter. The quality seat is firm and comfortable, and the passenger seat sits higher thanks to

Nov/Dec '11

2012 Victory® Cross Country Tour

> When Victory® introduced its newest touring model, a simple intro ride wasn’t enough. To truly appreciate all the Cross Country Tour has to offer we rode almost 1,000 miles through four states for a long distance evaluation. Along the way we encountered every type of road, just

Nov/Dec '11

2011 Honda Interstate

> Although the three models in Honda’s Custom sector (Sabre, Interstate and Stateline) are quite similar, each has a specific purpose and personality, and the Interstate is the touring one of the trio. It comes with a windscreen, floorboards, saddlebags and, new this year, an optional ABS/CBS brake