Dual–Sport + Adventure Motorcycles
Dual–Sport + Adventure Motorcycles are street–legal motorcycles that are designed for use both on– and off–road (the “dual” in dual–sport or dual–purpose). Dual–sport motorcycle guides discuss the fact that these are typically single–cylinder motorbikes with engine displacements ranging from 250cc to 650cc. Adventure motorcycles, also known as adventurer tourers or travel enduros, have larger, multi–cylinder engines (650cc and up) and are often equipped for long–distance travel with windshields, comfortable seats, saddlebags or side cases. Due to the rigors of off–road use, dual–sport and adventure motorcycles often have durable bodywork and protective elements such as hand guards, engine guards and skid plates – something to look for when reading Dual–Sport + Adventure Motorcycle reviews. Their tires often have a large–block tread pattern that provide grip on pavement and in dirt or gravel; those ridden almost exclusively off–road usually run knobby tires like those found on dirt bikes.
2012 BMW G 650 GS Sertão Road Test
Greg Drevenstedt
April 3, 2012
Sertão is Portuguese for hinterlands or back country, particularly the arid badlands of northeastern Brazil, the sort of place the new offroad-ready G 650 GS Sertão is designed to explore. From 2000-2010, the rock-hopping variant of BMW’s F 650 GS was called the Dakar, after the legendary rally that... Read more »
2012 Triumph Tiger Explorer First Ride Review
Greg Drevenstedt
February 27, 2012
Leaned over mid-corner, the toe of my boot scraping the tarmac and adrenalin crackling through my veins, rolling on the throttle induces a deep, guttural bark from the stainless-steel exhaust pipe. The rear tire hits something slick, perhaps a thin line of diesel fuel slopped onto the roadway by that... Read more »
2012 Honda NC700X – First Look
Greg Drevenstedt
January 20, 2012
At the New York stop on the International Motorcycle Shows tour, American Honda is unveiling an all-new model, the 2012 Honda NC700X. First seen at the EICMA show in Italy last October, the NC700X features adventure-bike styling, a new engine, and nimble handling. In addition, the NC700X offers the option... Read more »
2012 Suzuki V-Strom 650 ABS Road Test
Greg Drevenstedt
January 13, 2012
[This 2012 Suzuki V-Strom 650 ABS Road Test was originally published in the February 2012 issue of Rider magazine] Remember the SV650? When it debuted in 1999, Suzuki’s small-fry naked bike wowed the press and public alike despite having modest power, budget components and no wind protection. Why?... Read more »
2011 BMW R1200GS Adventure vs. 2012 Yamaha Super Ténéré Road Test
Rider Magazine
January 6, 2012
photography by Kevin Wing This 2011 BMW R1200GS Adventure vs. 2012 Yamaha Super Ténéré Motorcycle Comparison was originally published in the January 2012 issue of Rider magazine] 2012 Yamaha Super Ténéré (left) and 2011 BMW R1200GS Adventure can do it all: touring, sport touring, dual-sporting,... Read more »
2011 BMW G 650 GS Road Test
Greg Drevenstedt
November 25, 2011
When I started working at Rider a few years ago, a friend of mine asked, “Now that riding is work, what will you do for fun?” I scoffed at the suggestion that motorcycling would ever feel like work, but my friend’s comment proved to have merit. Since I ride and write about motorcycles 9-to-5, my... Read more »
2012 KTM Street Bikes – First Look
Rider Magazine
November 23, 2011
2012 KTM RC8 R KTM has streamlined its street bike lineup for 2012, with eight models in four categories. 2012 KTM 990 SMT ABS Two high-spec versions of the 1190 superbike, the RC8 R and RC8 R Race Spec, will be offered but the base-model RC8 superbike has been dropped. The 1,195cc V-twin gets dual-spark... Read more »
2012 Suzuki V-Strom 650 ABS First Ride
Rider Magazine
November 9, 2011
photography by John Howell & Enrico Pavia Western North Carolina, home to all-consuming kudzu vines, fertile fields full of King Cotton and roads that wind their way through Appalachian hollows, coves and gaps, is a picture-perfect place to test the 2012 Suzuki V-Strom 650 ABS, especially in late... Read more »
2012 Husqvarna Dual-Purpose TE Line Revealed
Rider Magazine
August 31, 2011
2012 Husqvarna TE250 Dirt-aggressive and street-legal, the revamped TE dual-purpose bikes in the 2012 Husqvarna motorcycle lineup are ready to invade the U.S. All four TE models receive new reinforced all-black chromoly frames, silver rims and fresh styling (shared changes with the rest of the 2012 Husqvarna... Read more »
2011 Triumph Tiger 800 vs. Suzuki V-Strom 650 ABS Road Test
Rider Magazine
June 21, 2011
photography by Kevin Wing [This 2011 Triumph Tiger 800 vs. Suzuki V-Strom 650 ABS Road Test Comparison was originally published in the June 2011 issue of Rider magazine] When we first tested the V-Strom 650 in 2004, and for several years thereafter, Suzuki had the middleweight, multicylinder adventure... Read more »
