750-1000cc

BMW put together the S 1000 XR for the adventuresome sort that prefers to stay on at least moderately civilized routes. Built on the proven S 1000 literbike platform, the XR really puts the “sport” in adventure-sport with a solid, 999 cc powerplant and a claimed top speed that lands upwards of the 125 mph mark. The XR also maintains a sportbike-like panache in spite of its adventuresome qualities, thus avoiding the blunt pragmatism associated with so many adv bikes. Of course, Beemer is a firm believer in better living through technology, and it includes a host of safety gadgets meant to help you keep it dirrty-side-down. Sound good yet? Let’s dig in and see what else the Bayerische has in store for us.

Continue reading for my review of the BMW S 1000 XR.

When launched three years ago, the H2 was an elegant artwork of supreme violence making 207 hp, more power than any of the superbikes in competition then. Then came the rest of the chaps who caught on with the horsepower war, with the most recent Ducati V4 making 215 hp. But it looks like the Japanese Green team didn’t like losing this race yet.

So for 2019, they have bumped up their 998cc supercharged motor to produce a lathering 230 hp, and the non-street-legal H2R will be making a mind-boggling 300 hp at the crank! It will also come with a self-healing paintjob, new brake calipers, tires, TFT instrumentation and a new Bluetooth connectivity app.

When launched three years ago, the H2 was an elegant artwork of supreme violence making 207 hp, more power than any of the superbikes in competition then. Then came the rest of the chaps who caught on with the horsepower war, with the most recent Ducati V4 making 215 hp. But it looks like the Japanese Green team didn’t like losing this race yet.

So for 2019, they have bumped up their 998cc supercharged motor to produce a lathering 230 hp, and the non-street-legal H2R will be making a mind-boggling 300 hp at the crank! It will also come with a self-healing paintjob, new brake calipers, tires, TFT instrumentation and a new Bluetooth connectivity app.

Yamaha’s R1 family brings genuine racebike fun to the unwashed masses for a price that belies their capabilities. The base-model R1 and its even more race-tastic “M” variant come with MotoGP-level performance, and indeed are actually set up to be quickly converted for track use, so these are no poser bikes, not by a long shot. A powerful liter-sized mill pushes the R1 family well into the stupidfast category with updated electronic subsystems to help you keep it all under control, and of course, the synergy between the components makes the R1 family much greater than the sum of its parts. Let’s dig in and see what else the Tuning Fork Company has going on with this pair.

Continue reading for my review of the Yamaha YZF-R1 / R1M.

Yamaha looks to redefine what we think of when we hear the word “trike” with the all-new Niken (literally: two sword) that brings the leaning trike concept into the realm of full-size bikes. Based on the popular FZ/MT-09, the Niken LMW (Leaning Multi-Wheel) doubles the size (and number) of the front contact patch(es) for greater safety and traction with the proven 847 cc Crossplane Concept engine to drive the thing. With over 100 ponies on tap and its fancy front end with gobs of traction, the Niken seems set to deliver a ride that is limited only by your own skills and testicular fortitude.

Continue reading for my first look at the Yamaha Niken.

There is a saying that goes - “There’s only one way to really understand Harley Davidson. Ride one.” All this while, this statement made complete sense of a brute machine that lets you cruise around in the brawniest fashion. But now, Harley is taking a whole new approach with the LiveWire electric motorcycles and a brand new segment – the naked streetfighter.

Yes, the Milwaukee brand is expanding its line of middleweight models with its first-ever streetfighter motorcycle that is planned for the 2020 year. This news comes along with the showcasing of its first-ever adventure bike, Pan-America, in a bid to bring new people to the brand from new markets across the world.

Having gone into MY 2017 with some substantial updates, the 2018 BMW F 700 GS stays competitive in the ever-growing adventure market. Outfitted as the more road-oriented version next to its F 800 GS stablemate, the F 700 GS has a lower seat height, a slightly remapped engine, and chassis components with an eye toward pavement riding.

Continue reading for my review of the BMW F 700 GS.

BMW carries on the F 800 GS and F 800 GS Adventure in 2018 with their 800 cc engine and capable onroad/offroad features. The former is more of a casual commuter / funbike, while the “Adventure” is geared toward touring and long-range work, and naturally, both come with the top-notch engineering one expects from BMW.

Continue reading for my review of the BMW F 800 GS and F 800 GS Adventure.

Yamaha’s YZF-R1S expands the R1 range down into a slightly younger demographic with the “S” variant that sheds some of its fancy metallurgy in favor of slightly less-noble metals with a concurrent decrease in the sticker shock. The “S” delivers the same thrilling performance as the rest of the line as well, so this isn’t just a detuned or repowered look-a-like, its a bona fide R1 that drops a few race-day features to make a bike that is not only less expensive, but more pragmatic for a daily rider. Now you can get that same feel and performance even if the parking lot is the closest it will ever get to a track. Today, I’m going to see what all the buzz surrounding this bike is about, and see how it compares to other lower-top-shelf models currently on the market.

Continue reading for my review of the Yamaha YZF-R1S.

MV Agusta launched the F3 800 way back in ’13 for the ’14 model year, and apparently is happy with the result since it carries over straight into MY2018. The F3 800 stands with a foot in two worlds — literbikes and mid-displacement sportbikes— and at a glance it seems safe to say “mission accomplie.” A powerful triple delivers the goods with power figures that land near the top of the range for what is appropriate for “civilized” road use. The electronics suite is even more impressive than its hardware, and the whole package comes together to deliver the goods in a manageable manner with plenty to offer riders looking for a thrill but not wanting a full-on race machine or the leather-bound payment book that comes with one.

Continue reading for my review of the MV Agusta F3 800.

BMW Motorrad carries its essential little F 800 R into the 2018 model year with the same essential design and, according to the factory, a noob-friendly demeanor. Meant to serve as a sort of Jack-of-all-Trades, it sports Riding Mode technology with ABS to bring a measure of flexibility and safety to the table. Delivering more power after the 2015 update, it comes from a proven, parallel-twin plant nestled away in a lightweight aluminum frame that is set up to have an appropriately nimble nature to keep things exciting for the more-experienced riders out there. Is this the mid-displacement, arguably entry-level roadster you’ve been looking for? Let’s find out.

Continue reading for my review of the BMW F 800 R.

Kawasaki is taking its Team 38 racing team, and the modded Ninja H2 to a place where the automobile is king and speed is the one true god. A piece of land bordered by mountains, and crusted in fine white granules of salt - The Bonneville Salt Flats International Speedway.

The team is there to attempt and set a new world record in a category that has been undisclosed. The record run will be a part of the Speed Week from August 11th to the 18th, 2018, the same time where speed junkies from all over the world will land on this 10 mile stretch in the pursuit of holding the title for the fastest man and machine. Kawasaki has released a teaser video of the attempt this year at Bonneville.

Nicknamed ’The Scalpel’, the 790cc brutal twin-cylinder was KTM’s entry to the hot naked middleweight market. With a quirky 105 hp on tap, this 370 lb orange streetfighter is the sharpest tool under the KTM roof all out to dominate streets.

Now, our friends at MoreBikes have stumbled upon the Austrian manufacturer testing the production version of the sportier ‘790 Duke R’ in action. The snaps showcase the bike sans any graphics and orange wheels instead of the black ones that come on the standard 790 Duke.

The race to the top is getting more fearsome every passing day, and the manufacturers are pulling out every little trick they have up their sleeves to make their product stand out from the rest.

BMW Motorrad is at the forefront of imagination, innovation, and technology and proof of that is their list of the finest motorcycles that set benchmarks for every other maker to chase it. Keeping the race alive, the German manufacturer has released a host of updates to its 2019 lineup, including its scooters, six-cylinder tourers, R NineT retro models, and the new adventure machines.

Being the most talked about bike ever since its launch, the Niken showcases a crazy innovation called the Leaning Multi-Wheeler (LMW). Basically, Yamaha has stepped up their game with this.

The three-wheeled revolutionary motorcycle based on the hugely popular MT-09 platform is finally coming to the US, and it costs exactly $5,333 per Wheel. If you can do the math right, that means the Niken will cost exactly $7,000 markup over the Yamaha MT-09.

Announced at the previous EICMA show in Milan, Moto Guzzi showcased its interest at entering the midweight adventure market with the brand new V85 concept. It is the firm’s first attempt at the Enduro scene since the demise of its 1200cc Stelvio at the advent of Euro4.

Although the concept we saw was already close to what we could expect out of the factory, it was still a concept, and a few minor changes were expected. Confirming this are these images captured by the good folks at MotorcycleNews.com where MG is undergoing the final testing for the V85 sans the striking paintjob.