Sport + Sport Touring Motorcycles
Motorcyles guides discussing Sport + Sport Touring Motorcycles include discussion of sportbikes that resemble road race bikes with turn signals and license plates, and motorcycles that blend the performance of sportbikes with the wind protection, comfort and luggage capacity of touring bikes. Sportbikes, some of which are homologated for racing and others that offer the go–fast look but are designed exclusively for street riding, cover a broad range of engine sizes (from the 150cc Kymco Quannon 150 to the 1,441cc Kawasaki Ninja ZX–14R), numbers of cylinders (singles, twins, triples and fours) and configurations (parallel twin, V–twin, V4, in–line triple or four), but according to reviews and road tests, most have performance oriented engines and components, aerodynamic bodywork and aggressive riding positions. Because sport–touring motorbikes are a hybrid category, guides also cover a broad range of engine sizes and types, but reviews state that they tend to have comfortable riding positions, good wind protection thanks to a windshield and fairing, standard luggage (saddlebags, perhaps a trunk) and touring amenities such as cruise control, ABS, audio systems and more.
Motus Announces Production Plans, Pricing for 2013 MST and MST-R
Press Release
March 16, 2012
After a year of extensive testing and development, Motus Motorcycles announced at Daytona Bike Week its 2012 production plans, including pricing, accessories, specifications, availability and an initial list of dealers. The 2011/2012 American Sport Tour led Motus through the laboratory, around racetracks,... Read more »
Riding Among Giants, A 2011 Kawasaki Concours 14 ABS Tour Test
Greg Drevenstedt
January 26, 2012
Our motivations differed, but our destination was the same. Having fallen under the spell of majestic redwoods several years ago at Muir Woods National Monument, north of San Francisco, she wanted to see big trees. Having fallen under the spell of the Kawasaki Concours 14, winner of our last sport-touring... Read more »
2012 Honda CBR1000RR – First Ride
Greg Drevenstedt
January 24, 2012
Liter-bike horsepower wars aren’t over, but they’re past the shock-and-awe phase of the campaign. With peak rear-wheel figures exceeding 150, sometimes by a considerable margin, the name of the game is harnessing all those stallions. Riding modes, traction control and ABS are now found–standard... Read more »
2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R – First Ride
Greg Drevenstedt
January 23, 2012
At the dawn of the 21th century, as the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12 and Suzuki GSX-1300R Hayabusa duked it out for top-speed bragging rights, motorcycle manufacturers agreed to limit production machines to 186 mph (300 kph), avoiding legislative restrictions then being considered in Europe. Everyone grumbled... Read more »
2012 Yamaha YZF-R1 – First Ride
Greg Drevenstedt
January 19, 2012
After debuting its crossplane crankshaft in 2009, Yamaha’s 2012 update of the YZF-R1 has focused on refinement, adding traction control, updating the look and celebrating the company’s Grand Prix racing heritage. Worldwide, 2,000 World GP 50th Anniversary Edition YZF-R1s, with anniversary... Read more »
2011 Moto Guzzi Griso 8V SE Road Test
Kevin Wing
December 28, 2011
Like the chicken or the egg, one wonders what Moto Guzzi decided upon first—the Griso moniker for this motorcycle or its unique design. If the former, I can imagine the artisans at Marabese Design near Milan scratching their heads a bit at first, pondering what a motorcycle named after a muscular bodyguard... Read more »
2011 Moto Guzzi Griso 8V SE Road Test
Rider Magazine
December 15, 2011
photography by Kevin Wing This 2011 Moto Guzzi Griso 8V SE Road Test was originally published in the January 2012 issue of Rider magazine] Apparel: Helmet: HJC Symax II / Jacket & Pants: Olympia Moto Sports Airglide / Boots: Cortech Solution Like the chicken or the egg, one wonders what Moto Guzzi... Read more »
Ducati 1199 Panigale Unveiled in Hollywood
Rider Magazine
November 22, 2011
Fashion-forward, image-conscious Ducati has a thing for Hollywood. Its bikes have been in enough movies to earn Screen Actors Guild union cards for every model in the lineup. Slick and trick Ducatis have made cameos in recent films like “Tron Legacy,” “Wall Street 2,” “The Expendables,” “Inception,”... Read more »
2012 BMW K 1600 GT vs. 2011 Kawasaki Concours 14 Road Test
Rider Magazine
November 22, 2011
photography by Kevin Wing [This 2012 BMW K 1600 GT vs. 2011 Kawasaki Concours 14 Road Test was originally published in the December 2011 issue of Rider magazine] Concours: Helmet: Shoei Qwest / Jacket: Tourmaster Jett 3 / Pants: Tourmaster Flex / Boots: Forma. BMW: Helmet: Arai Signet-Q / Jacket:... Read more »
2012 Kawasakis – First Look
Rider Magazine
October 10, 2011
Even though the leaves are turning brown, the season is green…Kawasaki green. The company has pulled the covers off its new-for-2012 street models, which includes three sportbikes and its flagship touring cruiser. 2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R For 2012, the mightiest Ninja has been reworked from stem... Read more »
