In introducing the 2024 990 Duke, KTM has almost removed itself from conversations on best middleweight naked bike and entered the debate over best naked bike, regardless of size. That is assuming you can live without the gut-punching, high-horsepower performance of the more sadistic super-nakeds, like Aprilia’s Tuono V4, BMW’s S 1000 R, Ducati’s Streetfighter V4, and KTM’s own...

If there’s one major manufacturer that irrefutably looks out for the kids, it is KTM. For the Austrian factory, its entry-level machinery is every bit as important as its range-topping flagships. Big or small, a KTM has to be “Ready to Race.”It’s a philosophy that works. KTMs look young and feel young, and the smaller-capacity bikes aimed at new...

The beautiful thing about the Super Duke platform is that it wasn’t built around a rule book. Whereas most nakeds and hyper-nakeds trace their roots back to engines, chassis, and electronics developed for race-bred sportbikes, the modern Super Duke was built on hooligan bones. It is not a sportbike with fairings peeled off—it’s a purpose-built troublemaker with enough performance...

If you ride motorcycles, you of course know that red and green represent two of the most well-known motorcycle manufacturers in the world—Honda and Kawasaki. While their corporate colors may differ, one of the many things these companies have in common is the ability to produce high-quality, recreationally focused trail bikes that are equally as friendly to the rider...

One of the first actions Harley-Davidson undertook in 2021 after scrapping its “More Roads” strategy was to launch the Icons Collection, a limited-production line of motorcycles celebrating its iconic motorcycles and past designs. To qualify for the collection, the bikes would only be produced once in limited numbers and be priced reasonably, with each model celebrating a significant motorcycle...

If you were to draw a Venn diagram of the adventure bike category, CFMoto’s Ibex 450 would sit in the overlap between long-legged, tech-laden adventuring-touring giants like BMW’s R 1300 GS and lighter weight, less adventurous options like Kawasaki’s Versys-X 300, which act as an entry into the adventure-touring world. This is known in the motorcycling world as the...

There’s not much you can learn about a brand-new motorcycle in an hour’s ride on strange roads to an unknown destination. Add in the fact that you’re on arrow-straight Florida tarmac in the midst of the chaos that is Daytona Bike Week while riding a preproduction model, and you come to realize that any kind of in-depth evaluation is...

If there’s one environment in which electric motorcycles or scooters make compelling sense, it’s in the city. For short commutes and zipping through the urban jungle, it’s hard to see why you’d want much more. Except…Except the streets of London or Los Angeles and every congested conurbation in between aren’t exactly swarming with e-scoots. Not yet. One good reason...

Aprilia’s RS 457 is the newest entry into its sportbike lineup. It features a 457cc parallel twin with a 270-degree crank, makes a claimed 48 hp and 32 lb.-ft. of torque, and weighs 386 pounds. Building completely new from the ground up, Aprilia followed the same design philosophy as the RS 660 for this lightweight sportbike: utilizing the engine...

Triumph’s Street Triple 765 R is a Cycle World favorite and multitime Ten Best winner. Originally designed with a 675cc engine (Street Triple 675) derived from the Daytona 675, the Street Triple’s engine later grew into a 765cc inline-three. As the sole engine supplier in the Moto2 class, Triumph has a lot of RD in its inline-three platform. The 2024...

Suzuki revamped its middleweight lineup with the addition of an all-new parallel twin. The 776cc DOHC liquid-cooled parallel twin with a 270-degree crank is used in Suzuki’s new V-Strom 800DE, GSX-8S, and the recently announced GSX-8R. Having one versatile plug-and-play engine for different models is a strategy Yamaha has been successful with for years in the MT-07, XSR700, Ténéré 700,...

When news broke in late 2022 that Pierer Mobility (KTM, Husqvarna, and GasGas parent company) entered a partnership with MV Agusta many believed the Italian manufacturer would morph into a rebranded KTM. So far that hasn’t happened. The two major points of emphasis in the partnership with KTM is to support MV Agusta’s supply chain management and acquire its purchasing...

Kawasaki rocked headlines last year with the announcement of the Ninja ZX-4RR. The return of the small-bore inline-four resurrected memories of Japanese manufacturers competing in the All Japan TT-F3 championship. This all-new model from Team Green takes inspiration from the unattainable racebikes of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s and applies it to a roadworthy sportbike in an accessible package....

Last year, Kawasaki reintroduced the Eliminator name to its lineup as a 451cc lightweight cruiser. Based heavily off the already existing Z400 and Ninja 400 platform, the Eliminator utilizes the same engine but with a 6.8mm increased stroke (to 58.6mm) giving it a larger 451cc displacement. Since the introduction of the Eliminator in late 2023, Kawasaki also announced the new...

It seems every adventure bike manufacturer is following the design philosophy that Yamaha has been successful with for years; develop a versatile parallel twin feasible for platform sharing. Honda is no different. In 2022, it announced the development of an all-new 755cc parallel twin that would be utilized in the Transalp and Hornet 750. The same year, Suzuki debuted an...