Classic Roads

The Sharp Curves and Steep Hills of Indiana SR 160

As you turn onto SR 160 outside Salem, IN, you’ll pass a sign urging trucks to instead use SR 56 to the north. The sign warns of SR 160’s “sharp curves, steep hills, and winding road.” What’s a warning to trucks is a promise of seriously good

Classic Roads

Ride the Dual Roads of Roan Mountain State Park—TN 143 and NC 261

In our Classic Roads articles, we typically highlight a specific enjoyable motorcycling road in the U.S., or sometimes elsewhere in the world. This time, though, I’ll be talking about two roads. It’s cats living with dogs, complete anarchy! Well, the situation’s not quite so bad—the

News

Meet Our Grand Prize Motorcycle Winner: Dirk Payne of Louisiana

When we launched our 25th Anniversary Sweepstakes, we knew the prize—a brand-new 2025 BMW R 1300 GS Adventure—was something special. The response from readers was overwhelming, with riders across the country getting their tickets and dreaming of where they’d take their first trip on the prize machine.

Classic Roads Premium Content

Slay the Dragon on US 129

Few roads in the world are as famous—or infamous—as US 129, better known to motorcyclists as the Tail of the Dragon. Straddling the border between Tennessee and North Carolina, this 11-mile stretch through the mountains packs a jaw-dropping 318 curves into its short distance.  Riders flock from all

Motorcycle Review

OSET TXP-20: The Next Step for Young Riders

Travel Guide

Where We Stopped on Route 66 from Missouri to New Mexico

One of the best parts of traveling Route 66 is the abundance of quirky and unforgettable roadside attractions. Here are a few of our favorite stops along the middle stretch of The Mother Road, from our summer 2024 tour The Great American Road Trip leading up to the route’s

Motorcycle Review

Review: 2025 Ducati XDiavel V4

Escape the City Colorado offers a wide range of testing options for a motorcycle. So, when I was on my way to Denver, a city I’ve last visited 13 years ago, I knew that every type of road would be within striking distance. Fortunately, the 170-mile test loop didn’

Shamrock Tour® Premium Content

Maggie Valley, North Carolina Shamrock Tour®

Last year, RoadRUNNER ran a contest to promote our new website platform and web subscription option. The winner and one friend would get to tag along on a RoadRUNNER Shamrock Tour® with myself and our Editor-in-Chief, Florian. We received an incredible response from our readers, many of which were eager

Motorcycle Review

Review: 2025 KTM 390 Adventure R & Enduro R

Punching Above Their Weight In the ADV category, where bikes often lean too far toward the street or trail, KTM might have once again found the sweet spot. With the release of the 2025 390 Adventure R and 390 Enduro R, the Austrian brand (despite its recent financial turbulence) is

Destinations

The Small Town That’s Got It All—Maggie Valley, NC

Scenic rides, beautiful nature, nearby entertainment and restaurants, fascinating history… Maggie Valley, NC, really does have it all. This small town is situated amidst the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains, roughly 35 miles from Asheville, with easy access along US 19. Don’t let its size and relatively remoteness fool you—

Motorcycle Review

2024 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S: Tarmac to Trails

Every flat tire has a silver lining. Actually, not all of them, but it does sometimes apply. Case in point—I was geared up, packed up, and ready to roll out for a combination project involving a couple bikes, a tour feature, and a dedicated review. Yet, the moment one

Classic Roads

Simply a Nice Ride—Indiana SR 450

Motorcyclists flock to certain roads because there’s a new famous sight and attractions behind every bend. Others, meanwhile, are more understated—they’re simply a good ride. Indiana SR 450 is one of these roads. This calm strip of two-lane begins just north of Shoals, IN, roughly 80 miles

Destinations

A Motorcyclists Guide to Fontana Dam, NC

Fontana Dam, NC, is a hidden gem for motorcyclists exploring the scenic byways of the Appalachian Mountains. Nestled along the border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this small but historically significant town is not just a gateway to nature.  It’s also a prime spot for two-wheeled adventurers

Motorcycle Review

2025 Indian PowerPlus 112 Lineup: Performance Baggers for Everyday Champions

Indian Motorcycle is taking what it has developed for the track and bringing it to the street with the new PowerPlus 112 lineup. This is the platform that powered the 2024 King of the Baggers champion, and delivers not only high horsepower and torque, but an all around performance-oriented bagger

Motorcycle Review

Review: 2025 Husqvarna Vitpilen 801

A Duke of a Different Color Blame my Midwest upbringing, but whenever I hear of Husqvarna, I first think of chainsaws, then dirt bikes, and finally street bikes. While tinkering around on the Husqvarna website, I was surprised that the company produced its first street motorcycle 56 years before its

The Great American Road Trip Premium Content

Part 1: Historic Route 66 Begins

There's a road that stretches across the Heart of America, a thread of pavement and promise that has captured the imaginations of travelers for nearly a century. For Caleb, Florian, and me, it was a road we'd always dreamed of riding in its entirety—all 2,

Motorcycle Review

Review: 2024 Harley-Davidson Road Glide

A New Motorcycle on an Old Road I don’t often fall in love with a motorcycle right when I swing my leg over it—especially, to be frank, if that motorcycle is a Harley-Davidson. Yet, the 2024 Road Glide and I clicked right away. It was like when you

Buyers Guide

2025 BMW R 1300 GS Adventure Sweepstakes Build-Out

In case you haven’t heard, we are giving away a brand-new motorcycle to celebrate our 25th year in publication. But, the winner won’t just get a stock bike. We’re handing out a fully accessorized adventure machine with lots of gear and extras! Here’s how we have

Motorcycle Review

Review: 2025 Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE LT

The Kawasaki Versys has been one of the most underrated motorcycles since its inception. I remember swinging a leg over the Versys 650 back in the day, not thinking much of the little bike that didn’t seem to fit in any particular category at the time. Kawasaki called it

Destinations Premium Content

Great Smoky Mountains National Park—A Green Paradise

If you haven’t ridden in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park yet, what are you waiting for? Set time for a trip and get in the saddle, because you’re missing out. Covering 522,000 acres on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, the Great Smoky Mountains National

Letter from the Editor Premium Content

25 Years—A Letter From Florian

Dear Reader, It is with great pride that I announce RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel is celebrating its 25th year. As an independent, family-owned publishing company, we’ve always considered you, our readers, our extended family. We have ridden together through some seriously great times and also some hard and

News

New Year, New Motorcycle

Enter to Win a 2025 BMW R 1300 GSA RoadRUNNER is celebrating a monumental milestone—our 25th year publishing the best motorcycle travel magazine! To show our appreciation for the incredible community of riders and adventurers who have supported us through the years, we’re kicking off 2025 with an

Classic Roads

Discover the Fun and Characterful Tail of the Gecko

Motorcyclists love a good reptilian tail. Just look at all the riders flocking to experience the Tail of the Dragon in Tennessee. But you don’t need a mythical beast to have a good time on a motorcycle. Sometimes, a more unassuming reptile will do just fine. Like a gecko.

Motorcycle Review

2024 Yamaha MT-09 SP: The True Master of Torque

It has been 10 years since Yamaha introduced the MT model line, and I first tested one in 2016 before the U.S. designation changed from FZ to the current one. I took the new 2024 MT-09 SP to the same roads on the Tennessee-North Carolina border, and it provided

Classic Roads Premium Content

The Hidden Gem of the Nantahala Forest—Wayah Road and Wayah Bald Road

Wayah Road winds through the breathtaking scenery of North Carolina's Nantahala National Forest. Beginning near Franklin, NC, Wayah Rd stretches approximately 28 miles, connecting US 64 and US 74. This route leads riders through the dense forest, alongside rushing streams and through countless twists and turns. It also