Wednesday, April 15, 2009

BMW Rockster 1130cc


Being a goofy ßrit, this thing did wonders for my first experience of a motorcycle from the Bayerische Motoren Werke. I particularly liked the stripped down (for a Beemer) look, especially with its neato front headlamp set-üp and the nice wide handlebar arrangement. The seating is quite high and lends itself to a favorable elbows-up motocross style angle of attack with those corresponding (read:quick) handling traits that only naked's can offer.

Buell XB9S Lightning


It's a wonderful thing. The ability to pass between two countries, enjoying the courtesy of each, as if you were a native of both. Me? - I get to wave the Stars and Stripes and sip my tea in between Monty Python repeats on BBC America.

It's winter in Florida, which means perfect biking weather for three fabulous months of the year. Unfortunately, and due to the scarcity of this model I'm forced from the lush and luxuriously equipped 2WF garage, 3000 miles west to California to go taste the flavor of Erik Buell's latest creation.

Moto Guzzi V7 Sport


The V7 Sport was a limited production sportbike designed to appeal to the sporting market that Moto Guzzi's touring oriented Eldorado had left numb. The V7 Sport was conceived from the ground up to be a sportbike, receiving its very own lighter frame. And nearly everything bolted to the V7's backbone was unique to the machine rather than being just parts from the Eldorado's spares rack. One exception to that is in the friendly ergonomics from the Eldorado that ensured that the V7 would be a bike capable of being ridden all day in comfort.

SUDA Kawasaki ZRX1100


We haven’t yet had a chance to throw a leg over Kawasaki’s, new to the States, ZRX1100, but we thought it might be fun to give you a taste of dessert before dinner and let you see a ZRX1100 that was modified by a shop in Japan. This naked bike has been available in Japan for two years now, so we thought you might appreciate learning about how others have had some fun hopping-up the thing. Here’s the scoop from our Japanese correspondent, Rick Williams. You might be surprised to see from where some of the hot parts came.

Suzuki GSX R-600


So there I was flying out to Sunny California to go test ride the new Gixxer 1000 and 600. Come to California, they said. Great weather, they said. Well, it rained and rained, consequently, we came back with some super soggy pic's of the 600 and no real ride impression. So here's a Sunny Florida review, where tires are warm and sticky and the sun is always, always shining... Mike Emery.

I have previously owned a pair of older generation GSXR 600s, along with a 2000 R6, and a whole fleet of Honda 600s before that, including the original Hurricane, the impeccable F2, and the evolutionary F3. I have no allegiance to any particular brand over another. Right now it is hard to argue against Suzuki though. They have stepped up to the plate and are here to play hardball with their stunning GSX-R line.

Aprilia RSV-1000R


Last year, Aprilia introduced the "Dream Series" of their RSV-1000R Factory. The problem was, that just like a Turbo Porsche, a 40ft sport yacht and a house in Miami, it was a little out of my reach. Having a champagne taste with a beer budget, it didn't hurt me too much to admire the bike from afar. Hey, with the bespoke tailored Dainese matching leathers, gloves and helmet, combined with dreaming about the included trip to the Noale factory, this Nera helped keep me warm on many a cold night.

Triumph Legend TT


A Bike in Every Garage We're beginning to suspect that the guys at Triumph aren't a bunch of idiots. First they brought back a dead company from scratch by using a modular technology that allowed them to build multiple engine configurations and displacements inexpensively. Then they release a completely redesigned, high-tech, lightweight, sportbike with a distinct identity and performance that allows it to run with the best of its competition -- and all at a lower price than their previous machines. And through all of this, Triumph continues to produce retro versions of the bikes of the original marque that made it all worth dredging up the old Triumph name in the first place.