There are three basic classes within the dual sport segment. Lightweights such as Honda’s CRF300L and Kawasaki’s KLX300. High-performance, competition-spec dual sports from KTM, Husqvarna, and Beta. And heavyweights. Classic air-cooled thumpers such as the Honda XR650L and Suzuki DR650S. But where did the DR-Z400S fit in?You might say everywhere and nowhere. The DR-Z400 has been in a class...

The journey of Kawasaki’s Z roadsters can be traced back to the early 1970s and the original Z1, but the modern interpretation began life in 2003 as the Z1000 as a tribute to that original Z. Over the past 20-plus years the ingredients may have changed, but the goal has always been to build a fun and fast open-class...

Messing with a good thing is often the fastest route to a let down, so Kawasaki didn’t mess too much with the 2025 Ninja 1100SX and SX SE. There are updates, notably an increase in displacement but a reduction in peak horsepower. However the midrange has been beefed up with a higher peak torque number. That’s it. The press...

What’s the most competitive sector of the new-bike market right now? Well, it’s elbows-out in pretty much all segments, but the super-naked class surely ranks among the most hotly contested at the moment. The Ducati Streetfighter V4 S, Triumph Speed Triple RS, and Honda CB1000 Hornet are all new or fundamental updates for 2025. Aprilia has a refreshed Tuono...

Ten years after it was first launched on an unsuspecting motorcycle world at EICMA, Ducati’s XDiavel is back for a redo, and Gen 2 has left no stone unturned in the redesign. And much like the original XDiavel blew through the usual cruiser-segment tropes, this one’s looking to buck convention too; it’s a V-4.Why not? Ducati entered the cruiser...

Is it possible to imagine Harley-Davidson without the Fat Boy? Or even motorcycling? It was such a surprising model, from its name (a few chuckles) to its almost shocking yet somehow inevitable design. The Softail debuted in 1984 but the 1990 Fat Boy in its bright silver finish with yellow accents, and those imposing aluminum disc wheels with fat...

BMW’s parallel-twin streetbikes tend to keep a relatively low profile. While new versions of the German manufacturer’s flagship GS boxers and 200 hp inline-fours typically cruise into harbor to a rapturous welcome, updated models of the smaller-capacity Beemers come into dock overnight, without fanfare and then stay largely below the radar.The latest bikes to prove the point are the...

The Veneto region in northern Italy is famous for its wine, seafood, and capital city, Venice. Just 30 minutes west lies the town of Noale, the home of Aprilia Racing. Like football (soccer) teams throughout Europe, the neighborhood is united by the success of Aprilia Racing. The gated gray-and-tempered-glass building stands alongside a busy street and is adored by...

“These go to 11.” The famous Spinal Tap scene goes through my head as I look down at a nearly wide-screen ratio 6.9-inch TFT screen and adjust the 2025 Ducati Streetfighter V4 S’ riding mode from Sport to Race. Moments later, the acceleration down Andalucia Circuit’s backstraight builds from a massive second-gear shove in the back to a ridiculously...

For those who can recall 1994 and the first-ever Triumph Speed Triple, well done;it was a while ago. Much has changed since then, both in motorcycling and at the Hinckley HQ itself, but the Brit manufacturer’s flagship streetfighter—or super-naked, as we might call it now—has endured and evolved, culminating in the 2025 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS. Always muscular...

Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way: Yamaha’s R6 was one of the most iconic trackday and racebikes that has ever existed. Outside of the GSX-R line, there isn’t likely a sportbike that has a more storied history and reputation as a supersport winner. But for a lot of reasons (emissions, sales, etc.) Yamaha dropped...

Updated: March 17, 2025It started life known as Project 371. Its designers nicknamed it the king of kings. Cycle World called it a behemoth. Fans labeled it a magic carpet; naysayers, a couch on wheels. To most of us, it’s the Honda Gold Wing.What’s in a name? Millions of miles, decades of innovation, the pride of Japan’s largest motorcycle...

Kawasaki revamped its flagship adventure-touring model, the 2025 Versys 1100 SE LT, with a larger engine, improved electronics, and increased comfort. Kawasaki offers three adventure-touring models Stateside: the lightweight Versys-X 300, the middleweight Versys 650, and the top-tier Versys 1100. The 1100 SE LT receives premium features including electronically adjustable suspension, heated grips, cornering lights, hand guards, and a...

Husqvarna’s Vitpilen and Svartpilen lineup has been reimagined with a larger engine, new electronics, updated styling, and improved ergonomics. The new direction was originally applied to the Vitpilen 401 and Svartpilen 401 platform we tested last year. Husqvarna’s Vitpilen 801 and Svartpilen 801 have received the same treatment.The Vitpilen 801 just might be Husqvarna’s most desirable streetbike yet. Departing from...

Any motorcyclist will tell you there’s nothing like experiencing the countryside aboard two wheels. But it could also be argued that any motorcycle, be it a Panigale V4 R or a Honda Trail125, can be used to that end, and to muddy the waters even more, the touring segment has continued to splinter into ever-more specialized segments. You got...