Motorcycles

Nov/Dec '13

Comparison: 2013 BMW R 1200 GS vs 2013 KTM 1190 Adventure R: Battle of the Giants

> With the allure of traveling around the world on two wheels ever increasing, the adventure-type motorcycles seem to be at their limits. “How much better can they get?” one might ask. Well, since they can already get to almost any place on earth, now they can do it

Nov/Dec '13

2014 Kymco MYROAD 700i: The New King of the (Scooter) Hill

> Lately, there seems to be a displacement war going on in the most unlikely of motoring segments: scooters. There are now at least five companies in the U.S. selling scooters with displacements of 500cc and up, but there can be only one displacement king. And here it is—

Sep/Oct '13

2013 Honda CBR500R and CB500F: Budget Bikes with Gusto

> Honda’s new entry-level 500s, the CBR500R and the CB500F, are budget bikes with gusto. With fuel-injected parallel twins that are as smooth as four cylinder bikes, the newest micro racer and sport standard are impressive world-market machines. Since February of this year, Honda has introduced

Sep/Oct '13

2013 Moto Guzzi California 1400 Touring and Custom: Cruisers that Can Carve Corners!

> Moto Guzzi has completely revamped its flagship California model and offers two handsome versions for 2013, the Touring and the Custom. Choose the Touring model and get hard saddlebags, fog lights, a windscreen, and a passenger grab rail. Select the Custom model and get a naked cruiser. Both versions

Sep/Oct '13

2013 BMW F 800 GT: The Right Piece of the Puzzle

> BMW thins the herd and replaces a first-model sport tourer with a longer and leaner next-generation machine. Gone are the F 800 S and ST; welcome to the higher horsepower F 800 GT, an everyday bike with touring capabilities. Like picking through a puzzle box, so many

Jul/Aug '13

Comparison: 2012 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Touring vs. 2012 Moto Guzzi Stelvio NTX

> What we have here are birds of a feather, V-twins from the land of Chianti and chiaroscuro that represent two very different interpretations of the fastest growing segment in our little playground—adventure touring. Both marques have a strong touring heritage, so it’s no surprise that they’

Jul/Aug '13

2013 Honda CRF250L: Dual Sport Darling

> After being away for almost a decade (the street-legal XR250L was dropped in 2004), Honda is back in the 250cc dual sport segment with the CRF250L. The new machine receives its crisp styling from Honda’s CRF series, but the engine design is borrowed from the CBR250R sportbike.

Jul/Aug '13

2013 Kymco Xciting 500i ABS: Scooting Redefined

> Most scooters are designed with one task in mind—urban commuting, and it is a role that suits them well. There are, however, some scoots that are capable of much more, even some for whom words like “highway” or “tour” aren’t so dirty. One of these is the

Jul/Aug '13

2013 Star V Star 1300 Deluxe: Yamaha Adds a Budget-friendly Bagger

> Yamaha’s Star cruiser division has launched its new 2013 V Star 1300 Deluxe, which it calls a “midsize” bagger. My, how times have changed. Why, it wasn’t that long ago that an 80-cubic-inch motorcycle was considered full size! A bright multi-reflector headlight, LED taillight,

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

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

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

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

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’

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!

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-

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

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.

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

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,

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

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

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

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