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

Tips

Everything Florian Packs for a 7-Day Motorcycle Trip

Motorcycles are fantastic vehicles for thrilling travel, but cars do have one undeniable advantage—a trunk. Taking all your things along can be a challenge, especially for longer trips. Packing a motorcycle for a week-long tour is just like any other art form in that it needs practice. Many motorcyclists,

Destinations

Everything in One Place—Athens, OH

Athens is your gateway to a whole bunch of excellent riding roads. No, not the Greek capital—we’re talking about Athens, OH. This welcoming city sits on the Hocking River in southeastern Ohio, some 20 miles from the West Virginia border. Athens, named after the ancient Greek city, is

Motorcycle Review Premium Content

Comparison: BMW R 1250 GS vs. R 1300 GS

Having ridden BMW GS models for more than 20 years, it’s difficult to overstate the massive number of changes in the 2024 R 1300 GS. More than redesigned, the legendary GS platform has been reimagined in the 1300. Rather than an attempt to improve on the engineering of previous

Motorcycle Review

Review: 2024 BMW F 900 GS

I’ve been riding the BMW F 800's since they were introduced in 2008. In addition, I owned the F 650 GS Dakar for several years, and have put many miles not only on the early F 800s, but every iteration of these models since then. Although I

Motorcycle Review

Review: 2024 Kawasaki Z500

Our first date was at the Julian Pie Company in California. We had our “meet cute” in the heart of San Diego only a few days before. I was in town to become more acquainted with Kawasaki’s latest offering. She was there as a model. The connection was immediate,

Motorcycle Review

Review: 2024 Triumph Tiger 1200

Asking for directions in Scotland can be challenging. “Jist follaw thes road ‘til ye see a lairge sign fur th’ change-hoose ‘n’ caw left,” is the closest approximation I can give of the advice I received. Fortunately, a driver provided me with transportation from the airport to the hotel, and

News

Preview: 2024 Special Collectors Issue

The 2024 RoadRUNNER Special Collector's Issue is now available to PRE-ORDER. This issue highlights eight completely new motorcycle tour stories, alongside trip planning information and stunning photos. This collection of articles takes you from the (surprisingly snowy) desert canyons of Arizona to Jolly Old England. Follow our moto

Jul/Aug '24 Premium Content

The Boys of Summer, Part 2: New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois

Tom Zachary had a 19-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB), from 1918 to 1936. He played for eight different teams and, with 720 strikeouts and an earned run average (ERA) of 3.73, was considered an exceptional, well-rounded pitcher. On September 30, 1927, however, Zachary’s career culminated in

May/Jun '24 Premium Content

The Boys of Summer, Part 1: Massachusetts, Connecticut & New York

My father is a New York Yankees fan. Born the year after Mickey Mantle put on the pinstripes (so 1952), he grew up in the Yankees’ Golden Era. The Bronx Bombers were in the midst of a five-year World Series win streak, an effort that would lead them toward 27

Tips

How to Create and Edit GPX Files with GPX.Studio

These days, most motorcycle touring riders use GPS routes and tracks to navigate on motorcycle tours. Whether you use your phone or a dedicated navigator, the routes typically come as GPX files. Finding pre-made GPX tracks can be easy. RoadRUNNER, for example, offers print subscribers GPS files back to the

Motorcycle Review

Review: 2024 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+

The sport-touring category is alive and well—but motorcycles don’t look like your dad’s Honda ST1300 anymore. The bikes in this segment have evolved, with more focus on sportiness and technology alongside a healthy dose of aggressive styling. If you’re a street rider who goes on trips,

Mar/Apr '24 Premium Content

Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop

The Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop stretches for 13 miles through its eponymous canyon, just west of Las Vegas. The one-way road curves its way through the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, which encompasses nearly 200,000 acres within the Mojave Desert. Look At Those Rocks! What sets Red

News

RoadRUNNER Presents: Motorcycles & Coffee with Florian

Welcome to Motorcycles & Coffee, a new video series by RoadRUNNER. Have you ever wondered about all the moto travel stories our contributors haven’t been able to share in our magazine or on our website? Florian Neuhauser, the editor-in-chief of RoadRUNNER magazine, set out to hear those stories—and

Motorcycle Review

Review: 2023 Zero DSR/X

My initial reaction was to scoff at the Zero DSR/X. An electric ADV bike… Seriously? How adventurous could the DSR/X be when half its battery capacity will be discharged during an 80-mph freeway ride across Southern California to get somewhere vaguely resembling adventure? Then I flew to rural

Jan/Feb '24

Whale Hunting in The Desert & The 1000 Mile Cheeseburger

"There’s whales in this here desert!” I proclaimed to Caleb as we swung our legs over our matching pair of Honda Gold Wings. “There’s whales, you just have to know where to look!” And that’s exactly what we intended to do. 9:07 a.m., Las

City Escape

Riding the Sandia Mountains—Albuquerque, New Mexico

In the high desert of New Mexico you will find one of the state's largest cities, Albuquerque. A city that weaves together a rich tapestry of culture, history, and natural beauty. With a backdrop of the Sandia Mountains and a skyline painted in hues of adobe, Albuquerque captivates

Motorcycle Review

Review: 2024 Honda Transalp XL750R

What magic did the 1980s possess that causes nostalgia for the age to be so prevalent? Notables, such as Harrison Ford and Jeff Bridges, have revived ‘80s characters, shows such as Stranger Things adopt the decade, and the list goes on. In 1986, Honda unveiled the first Transalp—the XL600V.

Travel Guide

Illinois Route 66

In the bustling heart of downtown Chicago begins the road that changed history—Route 66. Over the decades, the Main Street of America’s siren song of freedom has called thousands of motorists to hit the road. The 300 miles of Route 66 in Illinois are preserved like nowhere else

Motorcycle Review

Review: 2023 BMW R 1250 RT

Are you curious about what the “RT” stands for in the name of the 2023 BMW R 1250 RT? Well, the “R”  is for “Reise,” translating from German as “journey, trip, or voyage,” while the “T” means “Touring.” For the past 20 years, the RT has routinely been one of

WEB Exclusive

Review: 2023 Suzuki GSX-8S

Having already struck a first-inning home run with the V-Strom 800DE earlier in the year, I was eagerly anticipating the street version of Suzuki’s new parallel-twin that powers both the Strom and the GSX-8S. Swinging a leg over the 8S, it was immediately apparent the motorcycle wasn’t going

Motorcycle Review

Review: 2023 Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE

When Suzuki introduced the V-Strom in 2004, its name was derived from a combination of its V-twin engine and the German word “strom,” which translates to stream or power. The V-Strom is still with us, having proven itself a formidable machine in the street/adventure realm. In fact, the bike’

Jul/Aug '23

Review: 2023 Can-Am Spyder RT Sea-to-Sky

Can-Am has always marched to the beat of its own drum. A subsidiary of BRP, the company invented both the Ski-Doo snowmobile and the Sea-Doo watercraft. When it rolled out the innovative three-wheeled Spyder in 2007, many of us in the motorcycle community didn’t know what to make of

Jul/Aug '23 Premium Content

Kalispell, Montana Shamrock Tour®

Kalispell, MT. Population, 26,000. Like me, you may have never heard of this small town just 34 miles south of Glacier National Park. It’s known as a hub town for the park, but it is so much more. After spending a week in the area on a Shamrock