Motorcycles

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

May/Jun '08

Review: 2006 Kawasaki Ninja ZX14

Apprehension and sheer curiosity were the sensations rattling around inside my head the first time I thumbed the starter on the Kawasaki ZX14 Ninja. Though we ride bikes of all different stripes, I was uncharacteristically anxious about this particular model. After all, this is a machine capable of sub 10-second

Scooter

Ciao, Bella

Until the advent of the Vespa and Lambretta, most motorcycles were essentially heavyweight bicycles with an engine mounted in the middle of the frame. While perhaps the optimal arrangement from an engineering standpoint (the basic concept remains unchanged to this day), it left something to be desired in ergonomic terms.

Mar/Apr '08

Review: 2007 Triumph Tiger 1050

> Since its founding in 1883, the Triumph marque has seen good times, bad times, and many of its UK neighbors, such as Norton and BSA, unceremoniously ushered off into the shadowy abyss of moto-history by the auctioneer's gavel. Without getting too misty-eyed over recent developments, it really

Mar/Apr '08

BMW's New Enduros

> BMW Motorrad starts out what promises to be an exciting year by unveiling a new range of enduro bikes in various classes for different purposes. The BMW G 450 X is pure dirt bike and addresses young hobbyists as well as professional racers. Although it is street legal, the

Mar/Apr '08

Honda ST1300

> Being able to have the best of both worlds is a tough proposition when you're out on the road in unfamiliar territory. Two cases in point: the difficulty of finding clean, comfortable rooms for reasonable sums or restaurants that still serve tasty and wholesome fare. Sometimes you

Mar/Apr '08

Review: 2008 Can-Am Spyder

> Looking more like an imaginative prop from a sci-fi movie than a product you can buy on the spot from your nearby dealer today, the new Can-Am Spyder strikes a radical pose. Part motorcycle, part automobile - with perhaps a touch of ATV, snowmobile and PWC in it -

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

Jan/Feb '08

Review: 2008 Kawasaki Versys 650

> In dictionary terms, a system consists of a number of individual parts with particular attributes combined in appropriate relationships within a specific environment. The idea is that the whole will be greater than the sum of its parts  -  and once we got together to ride the roads in

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

KYMCO's Xciting 500 Scooter

> The Kwang Yang Motor Company's roots in the powersports industry can be traced back to the Taiwanese company's founding in 1963. Today, it manufactures over 500,000 motor scooters, motorcycles and ATVs each year at five plants in Asia, and exports products to over 70

Jan/Feb '08

BMW F 800 GS

With the long-awaited F 800 GS travel enduro, BMW Motorrad intends to continue their mastery of on- and off-road motorcycling. Power for this latest Bavarian offering comes from an 85 horsepower, liquid-cooled, vertical twin derived from the F 800 S/ST models. The high-revving engine provides immediate throttle response and

Nov/Dec '07

Review: 2007 Kawasaki Concours 14

> Kawasaki could write the book about playing the tease. For most of 2007, they coyly titillated the motorcycling world with hearsay about their long-anticipated replacement for the venerable Concours. Rumored release dates, tantalizing photos, and thinly veiled specs fluttered by, and each tidbit hinted at a machine that would

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

Nov/Dec '07

Review: 2007 Kawasaki KLR650

> Finding interesting, new roads on the map is one of life's great treasure hunts. Poring over the topos, looking for previously unnoticed grey lines rife with squiggles is a quest that pays touring dividends time and again. But even the best research can run afoul of the

Nov/Dec '07

Review: 2007 KTM 950 Supermoto

> The burgeoning supermotard class of motorcycles offers a sizzling blend of motocross and road-racing designs that can be devastatingly quick on a twisty back road. If you've never experienced a 'motard, think of riding a big dirt bike on steroids, with lots of power, sticky street

Sep/Oct '07

2007 Victory Vision

> There's always risk involved when launching a new motorcycle. That's especially true when the model unveiled falls squarely in the upper ranges of the luxury-touring segment. Only a few high-stakes players can sit at that table, and their fan base is very well defined and

Sep/Oct '07

2007 BMW G 650 X Model Series

> It wasn't so long ago that a BMW was considered your father's motorcycle, conservatively styled, quiet, and a little square  -  the tweed jacket of the motorcycle world. And although understated competence still generates some appeal, the cool contingent wants more pizzazz from today'

Sep/Oct '07

2007 Yamaha YZF-R1

> Place the tip of your thumb and forefinger three millimeters apart. That's about 1/10 of an inch, and how much Yamaha engineers raised the rear swingarm pivot on the 2007 YZF-R1. Chew on that for a second  -  not 2mm, not 4mm, but 3mm, to reduce

Sep/Oct '07

Honda NSS250A Reflex®

> I'd be lying if I said working for RoadRUNNER wasn't a great gig. Riding motorcycles for a living is a terrific way to make a buck. But the traveling and great events are only part of the equation. I'm still expected to meet

Jul/Aug '07

Review: 2007 Kawasaki ZX-14

> Boasting an inline four-cylinder engine that displaces 1352cc, the new ZX-14 is currently the biggest and most powerful sport bike in production. With the assistance of its ram-air system, the bike is said to produce 187 crankshaft horsepower at 9500 rpm. Even without the aid of forced air, stock

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

Jul/Aug '07

2007 BMW F800S/ST

> BMW has officially entered the midrange motorcycle fray with the all-new F800 series, featuring the sporting S and the touring-oriented ST. The Bavarians invited us to test both in an exotic and very demanding setting: The Big Island of Hawaii. For many two-wheel enthusiasts, it is heartwarming to know

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

And the Winner is…

> In keeping with its progressive nature, the Victoria Police Department in Victoria, BC, Canada, set out to select a modern motorcycle for their Traffic Section. While fiscal responsibility has always been a consideration in selecting vehicles for the department, officer comfort and safety are primary concerns, as well as