Motorcycle, Gear, Parts and Accessories Reviews and Tests

2023 Kawasaki KLR650 S ABS Review [15 Fast Facts]

Don Williams — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 05:57:04 +0000

When it was introduced in 1987, the Kawasaki KLR650 was an adventure bike before the category had been named. While it was considered a dual-sport motorcycle, it had a fairing and weighed quite a bit. Buyers were dual-sport fans attracted to the liquid-cooled DOHC motor and exploration-friendly six-gallon fuel tank. In 2008, the second-generation KLR650 […]

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Alpinestars Boot Repair Review [Behind The Scenes]

Will Embree — Sun, 22 Oct 2023 05:53:07 +0000

Since I started riding motocross bikes, people have talked about Alpinestars resoling or reconditioning the boots they make. However, it was always just talk at the track. It seemed more like a myth or a rumor because I had never seen a set of Alpinestars repaired boots or thought to send a pair in for […]

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Icon Hooligan Ultrabolt Jacket Review [Cool, Stylish Protection]

Gary Ilminen — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 06:06:31 +0000

The Icon Hooligan Ultrabolt jacket is focused on dry, warm-to-hot conditions. The ventilation is full-time—there are no closable vents and no zip-out full-sleeve or vest liner. So, if conditions are prone to change during the ride, bringing along rain gear and a warm, wind-stopping base layer is a good idea. Constructed of 300-denier polyester with […]

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2023 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR vs. Yamaha YZF-R7 Comparison

Nic de Sena — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 16:28:58 +0000

Every so often, a paradigm shift occurs, and the sportbike segment is positively percolating with change. These things come in cycles, with one manufacturer pushing the envelope and others following suit. Rigid displacement doctrine, expected features, and pricing are all being rethought with the 2023 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR and Yamaha YZF-R7—two motorcycles that apply wildly […]

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2023 Honda Trail 125 Review [8 Fast Facts From the Ranch]

Teejay Adams — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 03:00:57 +0000

The neo-retro Honda Trail 125 is a mega hit with riders around the world, and it’s easy to see why. Inspired by Honda’s timeless classic Trail 90 and Trail 110 motorcycles dating back to the 1960s, the concept is modernized with EFI, disc brakes with front-wheel ABS, electric starting, and a new longer-stroke engine in […]

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Secret Upper Peninsula Book Review [Riders Library]

Gary Ilminen — Sat, 14 Oct 2023 01:19:49 +0000

Spectacular fall colors are already popping across the northern tier of states here in the U.S. of A. Perhaps few places offer as great a place to take it all in on a fall color ride or touring destination as Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The Ottawa National Forest embraces more than a million acres of woodland. […]

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Anti Social Social Club x Alpinestars x Jorge Martín Apparel Debuts

Don Williams — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 01:52:36 +0000

While you were watching Jorge Martín sweep the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix, scoring the pole, a Sprint win, and a GP victory, you might have noticed that he was wearing some stylish Alpinestars gear. Martín’s helmet, leathers, gloves, and boots result from a collaboration between Alpinestars and the street-wise Anti Social Social Club founded by […]

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2024 Suzuki RM-Z250 First Ride Review [Pro Circuit Equipped]

Will Embree — Sat, 30 Sep 2023 07:44:12 +0000

The media convened at Southern California’s world-renowned Fox Raceway for the Suzuki RM-Z Media Ride Day for our first ride aboard the 2024 RM-Z250. You are probably wondering what is new this year, right? Well, (almost) nothing—the RM-Z250 platform remains the same. The model year 2024 marks another unchanged continuance of Suzuki’s RM-Z platform. The […]

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2023 Aprilia RS 660 Trofeo Review [Laguna Seca Tested]

Nic de Sena — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 19:59:18 +0000

Race bikes are undeniably special. With no street-legal considerations to spoil the fun, the sleek, uninterrupted lines of track-ready bodywork give a glimpse into a designer’s idyllic vision, one that isn’t weighed down by lighting, turn indicators, mirrors, or frilly creature comforts—pure, uncompromising performance. Any would-be speed merchant is captivated by the litany of go-fast […]

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Schuberth S3 Helmet Review [Full-Face Protection from Germany]

Jonathan Handler — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 08:02:57 +0000

The new and refined Schuberth S3 helmet has arrived in the US, offering much more than its predecessors—the S2 Sport model from 2017 and the S2 over a decade ago. Schuberth is best known for modular-style helmets, and the S model range, now just the S3, is Schuberth’s only full-face helmet, a direct descendent from […]

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2023 Indian Sport Chief Review [9 Fast Facts]

Don Williams — Sat, 23 Sep 2023 07:12:01 +0000

Indian seemed to have the sport side of its lineup covered by the FTRs and the Challenger—that latter provides the basis of the King of the Baggers race bikes. The Chief platform seemed comfortably entrenched in traditional cruisers and light-duty baggers. However, someone at Indian had bigger ideas, and the 2023 Indian Sport Chief is […]

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Tilsberk Head-Up Display Review [A Motorcycle HUD That Works]

Jonathan Handler — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 20:44:52 +0000

Head-up displays (HUD) and smart motorcycle helmets have been in and out of the news for about ten years. Anecdotally, some have flopped, and, frankly, I have not been able to keep up with the promises of superior design and functionality that have been bandied around, nor have I even tried one. Vaporware is plentiful […]

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2024 Kawasaki Eliminator Review [13 Fast Facts]

Teejay Adams — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 04:14:57 +0000

The Kawasaki Eliminator has been offered in many different forms since the name debuted with the Eliminator 900 in 1985. This latest bearer of the power-cruiser banner, the 2024 Kawasaki Eliminator, is a gem powered by a 451cc twin, designed to suit the needs of new riders and those who seek the joy of an […]

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2024 Honda Shadow Phantom Review [9 Fast Facts]

Don Williams — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 22:43:23 +0000

Although the Rebel lineup gets most of the Honda cruiser attention these days, the 41-year-old Shadow V-twins are still around, and people continue to buy the latest iterations—the Phantom and the Aero. Both are powered by a liquid-cooled 745cc engine and are priced between the Rebel 500 and 1100. The Shadows had become something of […]

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2024 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R Review [13 Fast Facts From the Track]

Nic de Sena — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 07:50:07 +0000

Team Green keeps the supersport dream alive with its updated 2024 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R, bringing a handful of updates to its faithful 636cc inline-four-powered motorcycle. While Kawi’s Japanese competitors have allowed their offerings to collect over a decade’s worth of dust or disappear from many markets, the ZX-6R enjoyed meaningful tweaks along the way, and […]

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Topdon JumpSurge1200 Review: Power Bank Battery Jump Starter

Jonathan Handler — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 22:42:19 +0000

Topdon USA refers to itself as a global automotive brand offering a broad range of products, including diagnostic tools, programmers, thermal cameras for auto shops, EV chargers, battery testers, and the subject of this review—jump starters. The Topdon JumpSurge1200 is the company’s lowest-priced jump starter in a model range differing solely in power, although the […]

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SW-Motech Drybag Review [80 and 180 Tail Bags: ADV Ready]

Neil Wyenn — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 05:45:17 +0000

I have been into adventure touring since I began work on the Ultimate Motorcycling Yamaha Ténéré 700 Project Bike two years ago. My initial plan was to have big panniers and fill them as needed for each trip. I have found that day trips don’t require such large luggage, and weeks-long trips require better organization […]

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Urmosi 720 SBC Review [Soft Off-Road Handlebar Clamp]

Bill Kranhold — Mon, 04 Sep 2023 06:20:10 +0000

Dirt bike riders who like to put lots of hours in will do anything to improve the quality of riding time, focusing on lessening fatigue and the possibility of injury. Rider aids such as extra resilient grips, suspension fine-tuning, ergonomics, and impact isolation devices all help keep fatigue and injuries down while improving the riding […]

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The Craft & Art of Motorcycling Book Review [Riders Library]

Gary Ilminen — Sat, 02 Sep 2023 07:44:08 +0000

Steve Krugman’s new book, The Craft & Art of Motorcycling from First Ride to the Road Ahead, is an amazingly comprehensive textbook in content. It is also a disarmingly imaginative book in presentation, so it doesn’t come across as a dry textbook. It deals with the serious subject of how to ride well-equipped motorcycles and […]

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Kawasaki KLX300 Long-Term Test [Beyond the Beaten Path]

Damon Powell — Sat, 02 Sep 2023 03:07:15 +0000

Building a best-selling motorcycle must be difficult. The manufacturers try year after year, tweaking each niche market with new clever designs and features. The beauty of a dual sport motorcycle is it can be used on the street and in the dirt, though it has challenges of its own. Do you design the bike to […]

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Klim Induction Pro Jacket Review [Summertime Mesh]

Jonathan Handler — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 06:06:50 +0000

When riding in the summer, I’ve referred to myself as a “perfaholic” for my love of perforated leather jackets. However, when it gets really hot, I need mesh. The Klim Induction Pro jacket is the top of the Idaho-based company’s mesh jacket lineup, and likely one of the nicest mesh numbers I’ve seen. The Klim […]

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AGV Tourmodular Helmet Review [Modular for Touring]

Gary Ilminen — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 23:59:04 +0000

The AGV Tourmodular helmet makes a statement about its protective performance by earning DOT FMVSS 218 and ECE 22.06 certification (homologation Protective/Jet)—the latest iteration of one of the most rigorous helmet performance standards. To achieve that, AGV uses a combination of carbon and aramid fibers in addition to fiberglass in the shell construction in a […]

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Ride Free – A Memoir by Willie G. Davidson Book Review

Gary Ilminen — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 08:06:29 +0000

The word “iconic” is a word I tend to try to avoid because it is so overused in current journalism that it has lost much of its meaning. This, however, is an exception. Now in his 90th year, Willie G. Davidson is a truly iconic figure in the motorcycle world. He has done a lot […]

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Ducati ST3 S and Moto Guzzi Breva V 1100 Test [Colorado Tour]

Kelly Callan — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 05:49:32 +0000

There’s no doubt that there was symbolism in the air. We were at the Handlebars Bar and Saloon in Silverton, Colo., enjoying an authentic western lunch celebrating the 25th anniversary of our first ride together. Of course, this time, rather than two-up on a 1981 Yamaha 550 Seca in Southern California, we arrived on a […]

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2023 Honda SCL500 Review [A Dozen Scrambler Fast Facts]

Kelly Callan — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 09:02:30 +0000

Motorcycle riding has this magical ability to transport me from my day-to-day whirlwind full of the pressures of modern life to a time that almost stands still. No matter what has been going on in my day, as soon as the faceshield clicks down or the goggle strap settles on my helmet, everything else fades […]

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