- February 1, 2023
- 68 Comments
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Kawasaki Announces New ZX-4RR: Four-Cylinder Supersport With 16,000 RPM Redline
Earlier today, Kawasaki announced the new Ninja ZX-4RR KRT Edition, which will be available this Spring at U.S. dealers carrying an MSRP of $9,699. As expected, this is a high performance 399cc four-cylinder machine. Redline is at 16,000 rpm with peak torque at 11,000 rpm. Peak horsepower has not been released by Kawasaki, but expect […]
- January 31, 2023
- 12 Comments
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European Pricing for Honda XL750 Transalp Points to U.S. Pricing Below $11,000
Honda pricing for the 2023 XL750 Transalp is showing up on Honda’s European web sites. Honda Italy, for instance, shows a price of €10,690. U.K. pricing is apparently £9,499. Comparing other European prices for Honda motorcycles to their U.S. market pricing for the same bikes, it looks like the XL750 Transalp, should it be brought […]
KTM Announces Minor Changes to 2023 390 Adventure (or Why Cast Wheels are Not Ideal for the Dirt)
Last year, KTM changed the 390 Adventure model by giving it stronger wheels. This year? The little KTM gets “stronger wheels.” If you wanted proof that cast aluminum wheels are not ideal for off-road conditions (such as bouncing off rocks), now you have it. Last year, KTM gave the 390 Adventure stronger, cast aluminum wheels […]
- January 25, 2023
- 70 Comments
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Is Kawasaki About to Announce a Four-Cylinder ZX-4R for the U.S. Market?
Federal and California agencies have a tendency to spoil surprises for vehicle manufacturers. After the federal NHTSA received a filing from Kawasaki identifying a 399cc four-cylinder model last year, the California Air Resources Board has now certified a Kawasaki with the same model designation and displacement. This coincides with Kawasaki’s plans to introduce two new […]
- January 19, 2023
- 39 Comments
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BMW K 1600 GT: MD First Impressions
We just picked up our BMW K 1600 GT test bike a couple of days ago, and have put roughly 70 freeway miles on it at this point. This article is meant to be nothing more than a report on our first impressions of this flagship tourer from the German brand. First of all, we […]
- January 18, 2023
- 39 Comments
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New Suzuki GSX-8S Priced Under $9,000; V-Strom 800DE Pricing Also Announced
Suzuki, which has been short on all-new models as of late, has announced U.S. pricing for the 2023 models utilizing the new 776cc parallel-twin engine. These include the GSX-8S and the Adventure Touring models, the V-Strom 800DE and the DE Adventure (with standard bags). The naked GSX-8S carries a U.S. MSRP of $8,849 with its […]
- January 16, 2023
- 10 Comments
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Ducati Finalizes Spec and Begins Production of MotoE Race Bikes
Several months ago, we went into detail regarding Ducati’s prototype of its race bike for the 2023 MotoE championship. Now, Ducati is producing the bikes so that they can be distributed to teams prior to the first test in Jerez in early March. The bikes will enter their first race at the French Grand Prix […]
- January 10, 2023
- 72 Comments
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Pure Electrics Won’t Work for Most Motorcycle Enthusiasts, Who May Have a Hybrid Future
Regulations mandating fuel economy for auto manufacturers have generally ignored motorcyclists. Motorcycles have always achieved remarkable fuel economy in comparison with automobiles, with 40, 50 and even 60 mpg relatively commonplace for two-wheelers. Honda’s NC700X frequently averages 70 mpg according to Fuelly. By comparison, the “remarkable” new 2023 Toyota Prius hybrid is rated in the […]
- December 12, 2022
- 94 Comments
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MotoGP Sprint Races: More Entertainment for Fans, and More Work/Danger for Riders
Last year saw 20 MotoGP races … already too many for people like KTM boss Stefan Pierer. Next year there will be 42 races, including 21 full length GPs on Sunday and 21 half-distance Sprint Races on Saturday. Do the riders get a salary increase for all this extra work? Apparently not, although there should […]
- December 6, 2022
- 25 Comments
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2022 Husqvarna Svartpilen 401: MD Ride Review
Small, lightweight and inexpensive motorcycles used to mean drastically underpowered for highway or commuting use. An example would be Kawasaki’s Ninja 250, which had its virtues … but power wasn’t one of them. Now, of course, we have choices that include KTM’s 390 Duke and Kawasaki’s Z400/Ninja 400 models. These bikes make decent power and […]
- December 2, 2022
- 30 Comments
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2022 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S: MD Ride Review
When we tested the prior model of the new KTM 1290 Super Adventure S back in 2018, we found it comfortable, good handling, and extraordinarily powerful. KTM is now famous for its 1,301cc v-twin, but it was still shocking how strong this motor was in 2018. That big v-twin is back in a new model […]
