Wednesday May 22, 2013
We've put motorcycles as diverse as the Triumph Bonneville, Honda Gold Wing, and Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Lo to the long term test, and now it's time to find out how another bike performs over the long haul.
Our next subject will hail from Kawasaki, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer whose parent company is responsible for heavy duty goods like bullet trains and container ships.
And so, the big question: If you had to live with one of these four Kawasaki motorcycles for roughly half a year, which would it be? To read a review of each contender, simply click on the photo of the bike; once you're ready to vote, click the link below.
You're only allowed one vote, so choose wisely and click here to see how the race is going.
The Ninja 300's predecessor may have made its name as a stellar beginner bike, but that hasn't kept this sequel from winning over a slew of more experienced riders.
>>Click Here to Vote for the Kawasaki Ninja 300 ABS<<
Packing over 200 horsepower beneath its vented bodywork, few bikes are as brawny as the ZX-14R... but does that make it a good daily rider?
>>Click Here to Vote for the Kawasaki ZX-14R ABS<<
It doesn't get much more versatile than the Concours 14, a saddlebag-equipped sport tourer whose underpinnings can be traced to the fire-breathing ZX-14.
>>Click Here to Vote for the Kawasaki Concours 14 ABS<<
It may not be the most adaptable motorcycle for daily use, but the naked Z1000 delivers wheelie-popping power in an aggressively styled package.
>>Click Here to Vote for the Kawasaki Z1000<<
>>Click Here to See the Poll Results Without Voting<<
>>Find us on Facebook<<
>>Follow us on Twitter<<
Related:
Photos © Kawasaki
Wednesday May 15, 2013
Honda's gradual downsizing has touched all aspects of its U.S. lineup-- from the elimination of their big-bore VTX1800-series and the engineering effort invested into the NC700X to the introduction of middleweights like the CBR500-series. But the just-introduced 2014 Honda Grom takes the trend to new extremes.
The 2014 Honda Grom is tiny-- not only in price (the little guy starts at $2,999) but also in footprint. Sporting miniscule 12-inch wheels, this minibike packs surprisingly sporty details like an inverted fork, digital instrument cluster, and a curb weight of only 225 pounds. Motivation comes from an air-cooled, fuel-injected 124cc single-cylinder engine mated to a 4-speed transmission, while its seat height is a surprisingly tall 29.7 inches.
Could the Grom stall in its efforts to take miniaturization to new levels?
Unlikely.
For three grand, this new bike is loaded with efficiency, value, and personality. Not only is it a viable alternative to scooters, the Honda Grom just might re-carve a new niche for the long forgotten minibike genre.
Related:
Photo © Honda
Monday May 13, 2013
Until now, we've known the 2014 Indian Chief will pack an air-cooled 111 cubic inch (1,811cc) v-twin that sounds like this-- and we've also just been graced with the dimly lit silhouette seen above, which will finally see the light of day at this year's Sturgis Rally in August.
But equally-- and perhaps even more importantly-- we've just learned the Chief's pricing will start at $18,999, slotting the hefty cruiser squarely between Harley-Davidson's $17,399 Softail Deluxe and $19,899 Road King Classic, both of which are powered by a 103 cubic inch mill.
Sure, the Chief is a premium product, and no doubt aims to attract a well-heeled contingent that's just as likely to cross-shop against Harley-Davidson's spread of standard and CVO models. We also expect the lineup to expand in both directions, growing to offer bikes for a broader span of checking accounts.
But even bigger than the question of price point and potential for market penetration is the fact that Polaris has endeavored to resuscitate the 112 year-old nameplate at all, putting a ballsy stake into another source of homegrown manufacturing. Whether or not you're a fan of big engined, air-cooled cruisers, the new Indian motorcycle brand is something pretty much anyone can agree is damn exciting for America.
Related:
Photos © Indian
Sunday May 12, 2013
Unless your bike is equipped with saddlebags, there's a good chance you're donning a backpack while getting your goods from A to B... and with that said, the invariable question arises: would a backpack be good or bad for you in the event of an unplanned pavement scraping excursion?
The query has been looming in my transom for some time now, so when reader Peter emailed the same question (which has also been posed on another forum), I thought I'd throw it out to you, my readers, and ask whether or not you've had any direct experience (or theories) on what happens to backpacks in the event of a crash: would having an object strapped to your back offer abrasion resistance, or could it transfer load forces from impact and cause further damage to your spine? Read More...
