Motorcycles

Nov/Dec '11

Review: 2011 Triumph Tiger 800 & 800XC

> When the invitation to ride the new Triumph Tigers first arrived, our initial reaction was that we’d already ridden the bike so what could be happening at this event that we don’t already know? Another piece of the puzzle: It was to be a two-day ride, back

Sep/Oct '11

2012 Kymco Scooter Lineup

> With an already long list of models available, Kymco has added five new scooters to its lineup, and I tested four of them. Charleston, SC, provided us with plenty of city and country riding, and the cobblestone roads gave us a feel of the scooters’ suspensions, especially after some

Sep/Oct '11

2012 Harley-Davidson® CVO™

> Each year Harley-Davidson®, the iconic American motorcycle-maker, shows off its best and brightest parts, accessories and paint by creating a collection of motorcycles branded with the CVO™ (Custom Vehicle Operations) moniker. This run of limited-production bikes is packed with more than hand-painted bodywork, hoards of chrome, and exclusive new

Sep/Oct '11

2012 Honda Gold Wing® GL1800

After a one-year hiatus, Honda’s flagship Gold Wing luxury touring model has been updated for 2012 with a number of changes, including styling, increased luggage capacity, better wind and weather protection, revised suspension settings, and newer electronics. Such extras as advanced GPS navigation, linked braking with ABS, and the

Jul/Aug '11

2012 BMW K 1600 GT and GTL

> Pieter de Waal, the vice president of BMW Motorrad USA, told us how the sporty new K 1600 GT and GTL models started out as a clean-sheet approach, with a five-year gestation. Although both the GTL and GT share most major components, they maintain separate personalities. The GTL offers

Jul/Aug '11

Long-term: 2010 Victory Cross Country

> Unlike many motorcycle manufacturers, Victory has eschewed the alphanumeric formula for its machines and has instead chosen to name them. The Vision is indeed visionary, the Hammer is about as subtle as a blacksmith, and a well-appointed Jackpot is reminiscent of the Vegas strip. What are we to make

Honda

Champion Trikes

> Trike conversions allow folks who would like to ride motorcycles - but want or need the stability of three wheels on the ground - to still enjoy the sensory experience and freedom of the road that motorcyclists love. As a result they are becoming more popular with aging baby

May/Jun '11

2011 Triumph Cruiser Lineup

> Triumph gives customers seven new models to choose from in 2011, and they  will be pleased with the direction that new CEO Greg Heichelbech is taking the fast-growing motorcycle manufacturer. Just outside Phoenix, Triumph presented the new Thunderbird Storm, along with the Speedmaster, America and Rocket III. Thunderbird Storm

May/Jun '11

2011 Harley-Davidson FLTRU Road Glide Ultra

> When the Motor Company introduced the Road Glide Ultra as a new model for 2011, and we had a short ride on it at the latest model introduction, I knew it deserved a full test. By combining the regular Road Glide with the large Tour Pack trunk used on

May/Jun '11

2011 Yamaha FZ8

> As the market changes and so-called "middleweight" sportbikes creep toward quadruple-digit CCs, Yamaha's latest addition joins the party already in progress. Having been released to the Euro market last year to great success, can it attract American riders? Snagging much of the technology developed for

Mar/Apr '11

2012 Yamaha Super Ténéré

> Yamaha has been selling this new Super Ténéré adventure-touring model in Europe for several years now and is finally bringing it to North America. Ténéré (pronounced like "tay-nay-ray") is the word for "desert" in the language of the Tuareg tribe that resides in the region

Mar/Apr '11

Review: 2011 Triumph Sprint GT

> The Sprint, one of the most popular and enduring models in Triumph's lineup, got a successful makeover that will no doubt please most riders. Although still sporty, this touring king offers comfort for both rider and passenger, along with luggage capacity fit for royalty. What’s New?

Mar/Apr '11

Review: 2011 Kawasaki Vulcan® Vaquero™

> Kawasaki's latest touring-cruiser Vaquero (which means "cowboy" in Spanish) was appropriately introduced amid longhorns and cattle ranches in the Lone Star State north of Houston. The Vaquero shares Voyager's wide upper fairing, but with a shorter windscreen and revamped lower bodywork, plus new,

Jan/Feb '11

Three New Harley-Davidson® Models for 2011

> For 2011, The Motor Company has introduced three exciting new models: the Road Glide® Ultra, plus a pair of Sportsters®, the SuperLow™, and XR1200X™. Harley's lineup now boasts 32 models, including long-haul touring machines, urban brawlers, contemporary customs, retro-style bobbers, sport roadsters, and standards. As mentioned in

Jan/Feb '11

2011 Star Stryker

> One morning not long ago some folks at Yamaha's Star Cruiser Division woke up and decided they needed to fill the gap between their V Star 950 and 1854cc Raider. The new Stryker was penned with help from custom bike-builder Jeff Palhegyi, an outside design firm named

Jan/Feb '11

Review: 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 1000

> Most young riders, and surely many seasoned riders as well, want the ultimate sportbike - they want to feel like a MotoGP racer. Of course, in reality, a motorcycle that's been specifically designed for the track isn't the most practical on the street. Kawasaki engineers

Nov/Dec '10

2011 Victory Lineup

Transports of Delight The New American Motorcycle, as Victory likes to call itself, is now moving comfortably into adolescence. It's been 13 years since the first 92 cubic-inch Victories went on sale, and the 2011 range now comprises 12 models across the cruising spectrum from boulevard bruisers to

Nov/Dec '10

2010 Ducati Multistrada

Motorcycle of the Year > Every so often, a motorcycle manufacturer comes out with a new design that moves the state-of-the-art forward a significant and noticeable amount — a "game changer" if you will. With the new Multistrada 1200 S, Ducati's engineers have significantly advanced motorcycle design

Nov/Dec '10

Review: 2010 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager

When Kawasaki invited us to ride the Vulcan 1700 Voyager in sunny California, I jumped at the chance. What could be better than touring the Golden State’s vast highways and beautiful byways on a comfortable machine equipped with everything touring riders need to rack up the miles? Besides nice

Nov/Dec '10

2010 Honda VFR1200F

The V-4 engine was Soichiro Honda’s favorite engine, and he wasn’t alone. Since 1983, Honda has built V-4 motorcycles that have been hugely popular among riders around the world. In the late 80s, the VFR even outsold the English and Italian bikes in their respective countries. Now entering

Sep/Oct '10

2011 Harley-Davidson CVO

It's hard to believe, but Harley-Davidson's Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO) division is already a teenager, hitting its lucky 13th year! RoadRUNNER just viewed the latest crop of high-line Hogs at beautiful Lake Tahoe, a fitting venue for these pricey machines that are known for their fancy

Sep/Oct '10

2010 Moto Guzzi Stelvio 1200 4V ABS

At 9,045 feet, Stelvio is the second highest paved mountain pass in the Alps and the highest in the eastern Alps. I can say firsthand that with 60 tight switchbacks, Stelvio truly is a challenge! Moto Guzzi named its 1200cc Stelvio model after the legendary Stelvio Pass for good

Sep/Oct '10

2010 Honda NT700V Long-term Evaluation

Squint and the NT700V looks like a scaled-down ST1300. And with sport-touring styling and credentials, plus an attractive price, the versatile NT clearly helps to fill the gap left by the departed VFR800. Although the NT700V was introduced in Europe as the Deauville back in 1999 and has since sold

Sep/Oct '10

2010 Piaggio Models

Once again this year, RoadRUNNER experienced the Italian hospitality of the folks at Piaggio group, who hosted a motorcycle press open house at their US headquarters in Costa Mesa, CA. All day we had an opportunity to ride Piaggio's lineup, including Aprilias and Moto Guzzis. Later in the

Jul/Aug '10

2010 BMW R 1200 GS & GS Adventure

BMW Motorrad celebrated the 30th anniversary of its popular GS series by introducing the most powerful R 1200 GS and GS Adventure ever. Taking its name from a combination of the German Gelände and Strasse, GS translates to "terrain" and "road," respectively  -  and for three