Ken Freund

Tips

Paint Touch-Up Repairs

Stuff happens! It may not be today or tomorrow, but eventually that beautiful paint job on your pride and joy will be "compromised," shall we say. Perhaps it's best if you think of paint as a sacrificial coating, which protects the metal underneath from corrosion, along

Tips

Winterizing Your Motorcycle

Leaving a motorcycle idle for several months can wreak havoc if precautions are not taken. Here are a few minor things you can do to protect your bike and prevent problems when you’re ready to ride again. Gas Before storing your motorcycle for any extended period of time, top

Tips

Chain & Final Drive Maintenance

Motorcycle chains and final drives are strong, durable, and efficient, but they do need occasional maintenance. Fortunately, these are fairly simple procedures and can be accomplished by most owners in a reasonably short time. A quick inspection should be performed before every ride. On bikes equipped with chains, a thorough

Jan/Feb '10

Shopping For A Used Motorcycle

Buying a used motorcycle intelligently requires considerably greater effort than just walking into a showroom and selecting a new one. There are both risks and rewards with a previously owned machine. You can get far more bang for your buck, while letting the original buyer take the big depreciation loss.

Tips

How to Make Your Motorcycle Last Forever

Motorcycles are made better than ever. Their design, materials and machining are more accurate and precise – and reliability is greater than it’s been before. To that end, here are some tips on how to keep your motorcycle going as long as you want and save money too. The three

Mar/Apr '20

Review: 2020 Indian Challenger

Building a Better Bagger! > With its new Challenger models, Indian Motorcycle has definitely shown that it is a strong contender in the heavy cruiser-bagger category. The Challenger was designed to compete directly with Harley-Davidson’s Road Glide models, and this introduction can be considered a shot across H-D’s

Sep/Oct '19

Review: 2019 BMW R 1250 GS / GSA

One of the Best Gets Even Better > The versatile R-series boxer GS models are important to BMW, as the bikes are the top-selling models, with sales of both the GS and GSA (GS Adventure) comprising 27% of all BMW motorcycles sold in the U.S. In this competitive adventure-touring

Jan/Feb '19

Review: 2019 Can-Am Ryker

All-new Chassis, Engines, Entry Level Pricing > Can-Am has taken aim at a previously untapped market with the introduction of its all-new 2019 Ryker. Designed as a lower-priced model for local and day-trip use, it is intended to attract new and more youthful buyers to the brand, which until now

Nov/Dec '17

Review: 2017 Suzuki V-Strom 650 & 2018 Suzuki V-Strom 1000

> It’s not every day that a motorcycle manufacturer holds a press launch for two motorcycles of different model years. Yet, that’s exactly what Suzuki did recently, high up in California’s lovely San Bernardino Mountains. Both 650 V-Stroms—the standard and XT versions—are listed as 2017

Sep/Oct '17

2017 BMW R nineT Pure and Racer: Sibling Rivalry

> The Racer has a half-fairing with a small windshield, clip-on handlebar, and a solo saddle. It is intended to recall the superbike era of the 1970s and ‘80s, which featured models such as the R90S, and its engine is reminiscent of the powerplants used in the BMW Motorrad Boxer

Sep/Oct '17

2017 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 ABS: Better Than Ever

> Kawasaki’s Ninja 1000 ABS sport-touring model was first introduced in 2014. For 2017, the model has been revamped and updated in a number of significant ways. The bodywork and gas tank have been redesigned with a sharper cowl, more closely resembling Kawi’s supersport models, along with updated

Jul/Aug '17

Comparison: 2017 Honda CMX300 & CMX500H

> Back in the 1960s and ‘70s, Honda introduced America to the fun of smaller-displacement motorcycles. With its “You meet the nicest people on a Honda” advertising campaign—and a slew of low-cost and lightweight machines—the company put the Baby Boomer generation on two wheels and made lifetime enthusiasts

Jan/Feb '17

2017 Harley-Davidson Touring Rollout: The Motor Company Does a Heart Transplant!

> Harley’s Twin Cam engines have been around since the last century—heck, the last millennium—so it was time for a change. Change has come in the form of a new powerplant dubbed the Milwaukee-Eight, for its eight valves (four per cylinder, up from the prior two) and,

Jan/Feb '17

Review: 2017 Moto Guzzi MGX-21 Flying Fortress

> The name begs explanation, and the PR folks explained the rather unusual MGX-21 moniker as Moto Guzzi Experimental, with 21 referring to the front wheel diameter and the year the company was started (1921). The nickname Flying Fortress came from early viewers’ comments about the hulking appearance of the

Nov/Dec '16

Review: 2016 Yamaha XSR900

> With its latest XSR900 model, Yamaha has spawned an exciting sibling from the FZ-09, one with a neo-retro look that’ll make you nostalgic for the ‘70s. Two Wheels, Three Cylinders, High Fives! The reason for the XSR900’s styling is to appeal to young—and young at heart—

Sep/Oct '16

2017 Victory Octane: Modern Muscle

> While sharing the Indian Scout’s basic platform, the Octane has a considerable number of components specially made for it. To give it a unique look, the new model is styled with sharper lines and a more pronounced center spine, along with other touches that give it a leaner,

Jul/Aug '16

Review: 2016 Yamaha FJR1300A and ES

> Sport Touring Just Got More Refined! With the introduction of the new 2016 FJR1300A and FJR1300ES models, Yamaha’s flagship sport-touring line has again been upgraded. Let’s start with a little history review. The FJR1300 series was originally introduced in Europe in 2001, but wasn’t imported to

Jul/Aug '16 Premium Content

South America: The Trans-Amazonian Challenge

The first Trans-Amazonian Challenge joint venture tour by MotoDiscovery and Motolombia is a daunting undertaking for participants and guides alike. A huge loop of northern South America is planned, more than 8,700 miles in 45 days, through eight countries. The route starts in Cartagena, Colombia, near the northernmost portion

May/Jun '16

Review: 2016 Indian Springfield

> Named after the birthplace of Indian Motorcycle—Springfield, MA, back in 1901—the new 2016 Springfield combines nostalgic styling cues with modern touring amenities like a tall windscreen, cruise control, and remote-locking hard saddlebags. Merging Old-School Looks with New Technology At a casual glance, the Springfield may appear to

Mar/Apr '16

Review: 2016 Indian Scout Sixty

> In a bid to widen its market and bring in new riders to the brand, Indian has introduced the Sixty—a slightly revamped Scout—and dropped the price by an impressive ,300 compared to the 1,133cc model. A Liter of Affordable Fun! So what’s different about it?

Sep/Oct '15

2015 MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800: Mama Mia, That’s a Spicy Italian!

> Many may recall that MV Agusta was repatriated from Harley-Davidson in 2010 by the Castiglioni family. Since then, the reborn niche motorcycle maker has been bringing out some exciting new models, while also trying to expand its market coverage. MV’s foray into the sport-touring segment with the new

Jul/Aug '15

City Escape: Santa Clarita, California

> Santa Clarita lies just north of Los Angeles along the West Coast’s main north-south corridor, Interstate 5, so it’s easy to get to from many surrounding areas. Just north of town is Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park, with fantastic roller coasters, and Castaic Lake, which offers

May/Jun '15

2014 Moto Guzzi Norge GT 8V: Italian Flair

> Moto Guzzi’s Norge (which means “Norway” in several European languages) was named after a Moto Guzzi’s 4,000-mile journey to Norway and the Arctic Circle in 1928. Styling of the Norge GT looks the part of a proper sport-touring mount with roomy saddlebags, an adjustable windscreen, and

Mar/Apr '15

2014 Yamaha Super Ténéré: Rugged, Yet Refined!

> Many motorcyclists have discovered that adventure-touring motorcycles offer an excellent combination of on- and off-road performance, comfort, and practical utility. As this do-it-all market segment gains more competition and models, Yamaha has upped its game with significant improvements on a late-release 2014 Super Ténéré. There are more than a

Mar/Apr '15

Review: 2015 Kawasaki Concours 14 ABS

> While other manufacturers raise their prices for the new model year, Team Green drops the list price of the Concours 14 by a whopping 0! This potent sport-touring model was introduced for 2008 and last freshened up in 2010. Changes for 2015 are modest but add up to a