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Motorcycle Road Tests

American-made and all-brand motorcycle road tests and comparisons from the editors of Rider and American Rider magazines. This section includes everything about motorcycles including retro and vintage motorcycles as well as full road tests complete with dyno runs, motorcycle gas mileage and hands-on field-testing.

Cruiser + Touring Motorcycle Reviews

2014-Indian-Chief-teaser

2014 Indian Chief to be Unveiled at Sturgis, Pricing Released

Following the reveal of the all-new Thunder Stroke 111 engine at Daytona Bike Week, Indian Motorcycle has announced that the revival of the Indian Motorcycle brand will debut... read story

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The re-constructed bell-tower tells the traveler that he has arrived at Mission San Miguel.

Harley-Davidson’s 2013 FXDB Street Bob Tour Test

“Give me a road-trip report,” says Editor Tuttle, tossing me the keys to the Harley Street Bob. “Let me know if the... Read more »

Honda’s goal for the F6B is to attract more riders to the GL1800 with less weight, lower cost, more style and plenty of performance.

2013 Honda F6B – Rider Test

Last year, more new touring motorcycles were sold than bikes in any other individual street bike category, even cruisers.... Read more »

Toss on a backpack and “urban prowler” Breakout shifts into weekend tripper.

Ridden & Rated: 2013 Harley-Davidson Breakout

Once upon a time, wide 240-series rear tires were only found on $50,000 custom motorcycles, or bikes heading for the drag... Read more »

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Sport + Sport Touring Motorcycle Reviews

Even in the dark cold of winter, it’s well worth it to get up early for sunrise over California’s majestic Sierra Nevada range.

Five Fast Fellows: 2013 Sport-Touring Shootout

Sport touring, a hybrid category that blends the performance of sportbikes with the comfort of touring bikes, takes many forms. Some add a taller windscreen, bar risers and... read story

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Not the lightest, but the FJR1300 is the smallest and has the least luggage capacity.

2013 Yamaha FJR1300 Review

Every bike in this comparison has roots that go back decades, from the BMW R100RT in the late ’70s, to the BMW K100RT,... Read more »

The Trophy has excellent wind protection and agile handling but excessive engine noise.

2013 Triumph Trophy SE Review

The Triumph Trophy SE is the only all-new model in this comparison, yet it seems strangely familiar. Its liquid-cooled, 1,215cc... Read more »

With its Ferrari-like fins, the Concours looks like the king of horsepower that it is.

2013 Kawasaki Concours 14 Review

When the Kawasaki Concours 14 sped onto the sport-touring scene for 2008, it easily arm-wrestled the competition into submission.... Read more »

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Sport Standard + Standard Motorcycle Reviews

These four motorcycles are quick, lean and low.

Quick, Lean & Low: A Fast Foursome of Easily Straddled Middleweights

Whether you’re a novice rider who’s a bit unsteady at stops, or just a little vertically challenged, when you’re holding up a motorcycle at a standstill there’s nothing... read story

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The Triumph Bonneville has the lowest standard seat height here, at 29.1 inches, but it comes at the expense of comfort. And yes, it comes in colors other than purple.

2013 Triumph Bonneville: Ridden & Rated

When our Imperial Purple/Fusion White Triumph Bonneville was delivered, I was sure it was a mistake, certain that the bike... Read more »

Like an Italian greyhound, the Ducati Monster 696 is slender, fast and low to the ground, with a standard seat height of 30.3 inches. The factory accessory low seat drops it to 29.5 inches.

2013 Ducati Monster 696 ABS: Ridden & Rated

All of these bikes have at least some claim to icon status, in terms of both styling and longevity. The first Triumph Bonneville... Read more »

The Stone carries on the V7 tradition in fine, simple style, with upright seating, monotone paint and cast wheels.

2013 Moto Guzzi V7 Stone: Ridden & Rated

The trio of V7s in Moto Guzzi’s 2013 lineup starts with the low-priced Stone, a gutsy name choice meant to convey the bike’s... Read more »

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Dual-Sport + Adventure Motorcycle Reviews

F-800-GS-Adventure-2bike

BMW F 800 GS Adventure – First Look

Adventure touring’s rapidly expanding universe can be traced back to a Big Bang moment: BMW’s introduction of the R80G/S in 1980. Gelände/Strasse—Off-road/Road in German,... read story

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The C 650 GT is a sport tourer in scooter clothing; the NC700X is nimble, adequately quick and easy to ride.

Comparison Test: 2013 BMW C 650 GT vs. 2013 Honda NC700X

We aren’t normally a shiftless bunch except for an hour or two after lunch, but we recently spent the last two weeks swapping... Read more »

A smaller 19-inch front wheel and wider, lower-profile tires contribute to the Adventure’s nimble, confident handling.

2014 KTM 1190 Adventure–First Ride

Roaring out of the fourth tight, uphill corner, one of hundreds in our aggressive ascent from sea level to the lava fields... Read more »

Light, nimble and economical to operate, our 250 dual-sports all have plenty of fun on tap, whether your destination is work, school or the wide open spaces.

Rider Comparo: 2013 Honda CRF250L vs. 2013 Kawasaki KLX250S vs. 2013 Yamaha WR250R

The last time Rider corralled a herd of 250 dual-sports (April 2008), we chose the thriftiest models available in the face... Read more »

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Retro + Vintage Motorcycle Reviews

1977 Ducati Sport Desmo 500.

Retrospective: Ducati Sport Desmo 500: 1977-1982

The moral of this story is simple: Do not let non-motorcycling bureaucrats run a motorcycle company. Ducati had a pretty successful run from its inception in 1946, especially... read story

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This model was the last of the Vincent line, a fully faired '55 Series D Black Prince.

26th Annual All-British Motorcycle Weekend, San Jose, California

You have to give those Brit-bike lovers a big hand; they are an incredibly enthusiastic bunch of enthusiasts, putting up... Read more »

1959 Indian Chief

Retrospective: Indian / Royal Enfield Chief 700cc: 1959-1961

The history of the Indian motorcycle name gets a bit convoluted after the demise of the old company in 1953. Its last genuine... Read more »

When you visit the National Motorcycle Museum, be prepared, as the sheer number of bikes and memorabilia are almost overwhelming.

The Vintage Rally 2012

Where can a motorcyclist go to experience our sport’s rich and storied past? Anamosa, Iowa, for starters. The National... Read more »

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Sidecar + Scooter + Trike Motorcycle Reviews

The C 650 GT is a sport tourer in scooter clothing; the NC700X is nimble, adequately quick and easy to ride.

Comparison Test: 2013 BMW C 650 GT vs. 2013 Honda NC700X

We aren’t normally a shiftless bunch except for an hour or two after lunch, but we recently spent the last two weeks swapping between two new “automatics”—BMW’s... read story

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2012 Ural Yamal Limited Edition

The 2012 Ural Limited Edition: The Ural Yamal

IMZ-Ural, the Siberian manufacturer of motorcycles with sidecars, has introduced the 2012 limited edition Ural Yamal—the... Read more »

Motor Trike’s Vortex trike conversion has fenders and rear bodywork that closely match the lines of the Cross Country Tour. Lake George is in the background.

Ridden & Rated: 2012 Motor Trike Victory Vortex

Heavyweight touring bikes such as the Victory Cross Country and Cross Roads easily lend themselves to the additional stability,... Read more »

Efficient and delightful around town, highway capable, underseat storage that holds a full-face helmet and more, and your choice of Metallic Black or Candy Red…what’s not to like about the PCX150?

2013 Honda PCX150 Review

Good things may come in small packages, but Honda’s pint-sized PCX just got bigger…and better. Honda has upped the PCX125’s... Read more »

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