Honda’s heavily anticipated new CB500SF may have stolen Chongqing, China’s CIMAMotor show over the weekend, but it wasn’t the red brand’s only notable reveal. See, they also raised the curtain on a new sport bike with similar bones but a much different skin. Dubbed the CBR500R Four, it’s arguably even more noteworthy than its retro-styled…
Read More “Honda’s Dazzling New Sport Bike Just Might Be the Easiest Rider Yet” »
Good things come to those who wait, right? That’s what I kept repeating to myself as rumors continued to swirl about Honda’s follow-up to the (discontinued) CB400SF, a super-approachable retro standard four-banger. Honda waited so long, in fact, that upstart brand ZXMoto jumped the gun, revealing its own preemptive dupe earlier this month. Over the…
In case you missed it, the motorcycle world is absolutely exploding with activity lately — and running the gamut in terms of size, style and even power source. In the past few weeks, we’ve seen notable news with bikes as small as 125cc and as big as 1,999cc. We’ve seen lots of traditionally powered two-wheelers…
Read More “14 Awesome New Motorcycles Rolling Out Right Now” »
Just a little over two decades ago, Honda rocked the motorcycle world with an eye-catching cruiser called the Rune. Because of the model’s striking looks, many innovations and expansive footprint, it proved to be an ambitious project and a tough sell. While it was never meant to be a high-volume bike, Honda pulled the model…
Read More “This Eight-Cylinder Cruiser Apes One of Honda’s Most Ambitious Motorcycle Designs” »
The trouble with aphorisms is, they can sometimes be completely contradictory. I mean, how can I “go big or go home” if “good things come in small packages”? That particular paradox might be geographical, at least as far as vehicles are concerned, with the US embracing the former phrase and most of the rest of…
The world of motorcycles is defined by variety — for every bike that adheres to a particular style or type, there are just as many that march to the beat of their own drum. Still, even the most casual of two-wheeled enthusiasts would be hard-pressed to mistake a motorcycle for a scooter. Between the differences…
Read More “Could This Scooter Be the Most Interesting Motorcycle Release of the Year?” »
The very thought of modifying a motorcycle can be simultaneously exciting and terrifying. The excitement emerges from the notion of giving your bike a whole new look and feel. The terror, meanwhile, conjures up images of lighter wallets and questionable “improvements…. Check out the original article: [Gearpatrol] The Custom Harley-Davidson Motorcycle of Your Dreams May…
Read More “The Custom Harley-Davidson Motorcycle of Your Dreams May Be Closer Than You Think” »
When it comes to pure fun factor, few types of motorcycles can compare to a supermoto. Between their low weight and torquey engines, they’re easy to flick around and even easier to wheelie. Of course, ‘Sumos’ are essentially loosely adapted dirt bikes shod with street-going rubber and dressed in the bare necessities for road legality…….
Being located in the heart of Italy’s Motor Valley — in close proximity to the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati — Ducati is all too aware of the importance of speed and acceleration. As such, you’ll find it’s rare that the outfit ventures beyond its usual bread and butter of high-octane sport bikes, naked…
Read More “Ducati Just Dropped Its Quickest Production Motorcycle to Date. It’s Not a Sport Bike” »
Despite Honda’s many automotive and powersport ventures, the brand hasn’t rushed into the EV game. Quite the contrary. On the car side, Honda has an active presence, but the Prologue remains its sole all-electric offering in the United States…. Check out the original article: [Gearpatrol] Honda’s Newest Motorcycle Is Unlike Any Production Bike It’s Built…
Read More “Honda’s Newest Motorcycle Is Unlike Any Production Bike It’s Built Before” »
When it comes to top-tier heavyweight adventure touring bikes, it’s pretty tough to beat the Germans and the Italians. By that I mean BMW and Ducati, of course, and even more specifically, the 1300 GS and the Multistrada. Both bikes are available in a number of variants, depending just how premium you want to get…….
Read More “One of the Best Adventure Touring Motorcycles Just Got Even Better” »
Eliminator. It’s not just the title of arguably ZZ Top’s best album — and certainly the band’s most commercially successful one, on the strength of “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” and “Legs. ” Nope, it’s also the nameplate of a classic Kawasaki cruiser…. Check out the original article: [Gearpatrol] This Gorgeous Entry-Level Cruiser…
Two fun related facts: First, hayabusa is Japanese for “peregrine falcon,” a bird of prey whose vertical hunting dive can reach 202 mph, faster than any other flying fowl. Second, in 1999, the Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa did its namesake proud — and shocked the entire two-wheeled world — as its top speed of 194 mph…
Read More “Suzuki’s Legendary Super-Fast Motorcycle Has Never Looked Better” »
Born in the mid-1960s, Giallo is a uniquely Italian genre of horror film, characterized by high style, suspense, gore and an oft-masked killer whose identity only emerges late. Coincidentally enough, it appears that when gas-powered motorcycles ultimately fall, the slayer may be revealed as … Italian. That’s the only conclusion I can draw upon beholding…
Read More “Ducati’s Latest Innovation Could Fundamentally Change Motorcycles Forever” »
Born in the mid-1960s, Giallo is a uniquely Italian genre of horror film, characterized by hight style, suspense, gore and an oft-masked killer whose identity only emerges late. Coincidentally enough, it appears that when gas-powered motorcycles ultimately fall, the slayer may be revealed as … Italian. That’s the only conclusion I can draw upon beholding…
Read More “Ducati’s Latest Innovation Could Fundamentally Change Motorcycles Forever” »
“Actions speak louder than words” is one of those adages that has really held up over time. It’s also how I feel Zhang Xue might respond to any Honda exec who dared asked him WTF is going on with his eponymous new moto brand’s upcoming launch. Because as the whispers get louder about a new…
Read More “The Best-Looking New Retro-Styled Honda Motorcycle Isn’t Made By Honda” »
All other things being equal, no country has shouted, “hey, we make motorcycles too!” more loudly of late than the Sleeping Giant. That particular nickname for China no longer really applies in the two-wheeled space; the beast has awakened with the likes of QJMotor, Voge, Kove, Hanway and Benda making noise alongside Chinese-backed heritage brands…
Read More “This Super-Affordable Retro-Styled Cruiser Is an Entry-Level Delight” »
From urban-oriented bikes to electric-specific rider programs to Tom Cruise riding an S2 Del Mar out of the Summer Olympics closing ceremony, LiveWire has tried seemingly everything to boost interest in its battery-powered motorcycles. Recently, however, the Harley-Davidson sub-brand pulled a big red emergency lever, to the extreme benefit of anyone considering kissing their gas…
Read More “Harley-Davidson’s Most Advanced Motorcycles Are Shockingly Affordable Right Now” »
Among the many eternal push-pulls of human existence, a pretty prevalent one in the product world (among other places) is the tension between exclusivity and accessibility. It’s probably no surprise that often those who possess an exclusive thing generally wish it to remain that way, with others needing to “earn” access to it (like they…
From subdued neutral tones to bright highlighter-like hues, the color palette throughout the factory motorcycle industry is vast and varied. Even still, for many riders, customization is a big part of the experience, and a bike isn’t really ready for action until it’s got some sort of extra personal touch. Recognizing this, Honda just launched…
Read More “Honda’s New Program Will Produce Motorcycles Unlike Anything on the Market” »
For as much of a fuss as we motorheads can make about different kinds of bikes (and the people who ride them), sometimes the biggest distinctions are aesthetic. How else would it be possible for, say, Dutch customizer PowerBrick to turn the Harley-Davidson Pan America (an ADV Harley had already tweaked into a road moto)…
Read More “BMW Just Made Its Best-Looking Retro-Styled Roadster Even Cooler” »
They say variety is the spice of life. I say variety is the spice of bike. That truth becomes apparent to me as I survey the motorcycles we’ve been covering in just the past few weeks…. Check out the original article: [Gearpatrol] 13 Awesome New Motorcycles Rolling Out Right Now
Among the many indelible memories I have from an epic motorcycle ride through the Himalayas two summers ago, one is realizing how big a certain bike brand I never even knew existed is over there. I’m talking about Hero, which, along with Royal Enfield, is positively ubiquitous over there, especially in bustling metropolises like Delhi…
Having started my motorcycle journey wrenching and riding on a 1973 CB175, I’ve always maintained a soft spot for small-displacement Hondas. And it’s not just out of nostalgia. Between their accessible pricing, their unfailing reliability and their impressive fun factor, they’re fantastic little bikes (especially relative to because of their size)…. Check out the original…
Read More “This Super Affordable Military-Inspired Honda Motorcycle Is a Retro-Styled Dream” »
Helluva party. That was all I could think as I took in the amped-up music and food and drink at Barcelona’s Llotja de Mar last July. Dating back to the 14th century, this majestic structure boasts loads of history…. Check out the original article: [Gearpatrol] Can Royal Enfield’s Ambitious Yet Affordable New Roadster Dominate American…
Read More “Can Royal Enfield’s Ambitious Yet Affordable New Roadster Dominate American Streets?” »
In case you missed it, it’s not just the US, various European countries and Japan making fantastic motorcycles these days. In recent years, India and China have been blowing up, successfully leveraging scale to produce great-looking bikes that generally outperform their sticker prices. Case in point: CFMoto, a 36-year-old Hangzhou, China-based manufacturer of everything from…
Read More “Can a Rising Motorcycle Brand’s Gorgeous New Bike Live Up to Its Looks?” »
Were they to update the 1967 classic The Graduate, and I somehow landed the role of Mr. McGuire, I would look Benjamin Braddock in the eye and say: “Two words. Small displacement…. Check out the original article: [Gearpatrol] A Beloved Entry-Level Motorcycle Is Finally Returning to Our Shores
The words Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen may not mean much to you, but every moto enthusiast knows KTM. Named for its founder, his (later) business partner and the Austrian town it calls home, the brand has been producing tough, distinctive motorcycles since 1934. Though it has been struggling financially of late, a recent takeover by…
Read More “Did an Unlikely Brand Make the Ultimate Entry-Level Street Motorcycle?” »
