Motorcycles

Trying to bring car owners into the motorcycle world has led to some interesting products. For example, the Polaris Slingshot, the 3-wheeler from Indian’s owner. And there’s the Morgan 3-Wheeler, which has an actual S&S bike engine. But some brands attempted to tackle the task from a different angle. Rather than build a bike-like car, …

With the sheer variety of motorcycle types available today, it’s often easy to forget that some are fairly-recent creations. The adventure bike category, for example, didn’t exist until BMW launched the 1981 R80 G/S. Others, though, evolved from older designs, such as how UJMs fostered standards. And BMW has some familiarity with this as well. …

Riding a motorcycle can be tough in certain situations, but what if you could do it with your mind? Of course, you already do ride a motorcycle using your mind as your brain transmits messages to signal your arms and feet to move and drive the bike, but what if you could make it respond …

Aping the classics is a common theme in the motorcycle world today. You have café racers, bobbers, scramblers, and bikes like the Trail 125 and Monkey. However, with improvements in bike technology, even though the 2020 Kawasaki Z900RS Café and Yamaha XSR900 recall their predecessors, they offer more than design alone. But which one of …

When the Honda CB750 launched in 1969, it helped create a new kind of bike: the Universal Japanese Motorcycle. Over the next few years, other Japanese manufacturers like Kawasaki would release UJMs of their own. Eventually, this class of bike morphed into the standard motorcycle segment. This, given the current retro trend, gives us the …

It may surprise some, but the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has actually boosted motorcycle sales. Especially ones designed for off-roading, such as adventure bikes and dual-sports. And it’s not just new models that are gaining popularity. As with classic SUVs, vintage off-road bikes have captured buyers’ attention with style, simplicity, and fond memories. This is why, …

With all the holidays coming up, there are plenty of opportunities to give and receive gifts from friends, family, and loved ones. This can come with stress and anxiety, whether financial or simply not knowing what to get someone, buying presents can be tough. What do you get your weird, car-nerd niece or your wacky …

Collectors are a big part of the motoring world. Some people love cars, trucks, and motorcycles so much that they buy many of them just to preserve and house them. What makes something collectible is usually a mix of rarity and quality. Of course, there are exceptions to this, but for the most part, that …

Though Ducati produces a range of desirable motorcycles, the Monster may arguably be the most important. Before the Scrambler, it was the Italian brand’s entry-level model. And it’s still one of Ducati’s best-selling and most reliable bikes. For 2021, the Ducati Monster enters its next generation. And while it’s leaving something behind, thanks in part …

Modern bikes may have better technology, but it’s important to remember that what we call classic motorcycles were once cutting-edge machines. And even if bikes like the BMW K1 didn’t always sell well, they did at least introduce new features. But there’s something to be said about taking an idea and honing it. Such is …

If the leather motorcycle jacket is cool, what does that make the king of leather jackets, the Schott Perfecto? Ice cold. 

While bikes like the Street Glide show that Harley-Davidson still builds good cruiser motorcycles, that’s no longer enough to sustain the brand. Other bike companies, such as BMW and Royal Enfield, have been making inroads on the segment. And while Indian still makes cruisers, it now offers flat-trackers, too. But following the announcement of a …

If you’re asking for a good touring motorcycle, a common answer is ‘Honda Gold Wing.’ New or used, it’s a reliable, comfortable bike that can hang with the best cruisers Harley-Davidson has to offer. And as with models like the Harley-Davidson Sportster, the Gold Wing has served as the base for many customization projects. For …

Every motorcyclist knows how dangerous the roads can be. Unfortunately, accidents take motorist lives every single day across the country, regardless of what vehicle you drive. There are a lot of reasons why motorcycles are more dangerous than your standard cars, and that means they require extra safety precautions to ensure you make it home …

While cruisers and standard motorcycles are fairly different, they’re both commonly-chosen riding options. And they’re both available in ‘stripped-down’ forms: cruisers have bobbers, and standards have naked bikes. I own one of the latter: a 2012 Triumph Street Triple R. But after my recent time with a 2021 Indian Scout Bobber, I’ve grown to appreciate …

Kawasaki and Honda have ruled the motorcycle scene for decades. Their fierce rivalry has produced some of the coolest motorcycles ever made. The competition drives both companies to continually produce high-quality performance machines that make bike lovers crazy trying to pick between the two. The dual-sport powerhouse models from each company are probably the most …

Up until recently, if I had to choose between a cruiser and a standard motorcycle, I’d typically pick the latter. That’s why I bought one, a Triumph Street Triple R. However, after spending some time with a 2021 Indian Scout Bobber, I’m not so sure which kind I’d pick. Because while it isn’t perfect, it …

The original 101 Scout still looms large in Indian’s history even after almost a century. Its modern namesake, though, seems hell-bent on living up to that legacy. And in the Indian Scout Bobber’s case, it not only has a vintage name but vintage-inspired looks. However, the design is only part of what makes this bike …

The rise of the retro motorcycle segment doesn’t just mean more scramblers and café racers. It also touches on cruisers in the form of factory bobbers. For example, the latest version of the Indian Scout Bobber. I recently spent a few weeks with the 2021 model riding in and around Chicagoland. And during that time, …

For every successful brand like Harley-Davidson, there are dozens of motorcycle companies that didn’t make it. Just in the US, there was Crocker, Henderson, and Pierce-Arrow; even Indian went dormant for a time. However, just like Indian, some famous names are making a comeback. Including one well-known British marque that’s been reborn as an electric …