All-Around Practicality and a Side of Thrills Story by Mike Seate  •  Photos by Jose Gallina When you think quick sharp-handling Suzuki, you think in-line four with a screaming, five-figure powerband, right? Bikes like Suzuki’s GSX-R line have not only defined the Japanese firm since 1985, but set standards for sporty road and track machines….

Power, Precision and Presence Story by Mike Seate and Jay LaRossa Photos by Jose Gallina The first thing that catches your attention about the new Aprilia Tuono 660 is the growl. The sound of the parallel twin engine’s pistons thrashing furiously along the cylinders is about a subtle as a lion stalking an antelope and…

Story by Nick Coumos • Photos by Mike Seate I’ve been interested in Royal Enfield motorcycles for many decades. From the original “Made in England” models through the reproduction period and now the newest models, I have been a fan. I especially liked the idea of the Himalayan when it was first introduced, thinking that…

Beauty and Beast in One Story by Mike Seate and Jay LaRossaPhotos by MV Agusta and Jose Gallina Just as the relentless arms race of race-replica sportbikes dies down, another full-bore contest has begun. This one pits motorcycle manufacturers against each other in a no-holds-barred race where the fastest, most powerful hyper­bike still wins, only…

Future Meets Past in Pollution-Free Hog Story by Jay LaRossa and Mike SeatePhotos by Mike Seate and Jose Gallina We’d been eagerly awaiting the chance to plant our leathers on Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire electric street­bike since its 2021 premiere. Switch­ing from the fabled push­rod-operated V-twin powertrain to a platform that’s powered only by batteries was the…

Plush Performance Personified Story by Mike Seate and Jay LaRossaPhotos by Jose Gallina and Mike Seate Sportbikes, with their back-breakingly low clip-on bars and excruciating riding positions, are dead, goes the theory. They’ve been replaced, for all but dedicated racers and track-day junkies, by high-performance naked bikes that offer slightly more forgiving ergonomics and similar…

Jay has just stepped off the 660cc Triumph Trident after a spirited 45-mile ride through the foothills of Southern California’s Santa Monica Mountains. It’s nearing dusk and even though the temperature is unusually cool for this time of year, he encountered several other quick motorcycle riders with intimate knowledge of these twisty, high desert roads….

Like any moto journalist, I jump at the chance to test ride new motorcycles. This generally involves free travel, meals and accommodation in some faraway, sunny locale, and plentiful time aboard a factory-fresh machine. However, when said invite entails riding a small-displacement commuter bike, one’s expectations are somewhat diminished. Single-cylinder 350s are not expected to…

With the emergence of the Chinese streetbike market (see Open Mike Pg.6), and both Triumph and Royal En- field launching all-new beginner-friendly machines, 2023 is looking like an optimum time to be a newbie rider. Nearly every motorcycle showroom is stocked with easy-to-master machines engineered with rider-friendly hardware specifically targeted to learners. Amenities like slip-assist clutches, low…