Mar/Apr '09 - RoadRUNNER

RoadRUNNER

Mar/Apr '09

March/April 2009

Europe: Royal Riding from Vienna to Nice

Mar/Apr '09 Premium Content

Europe: Royal Riding from Vienna to Nice

Teaming up with Moto Adventures to scout out roads for upcoming tours from Vienna to Nice, I arrive in Klosterneuburg, north of the Austrian capital. Company headquarters are located there between a church and residences dating from the horse and oxcart eras of the 12th century, but the carriages chosen

California's Highway 1

Mar/Apr '09 Premium Content

California's Highway 1

It's July and I'm in Redding, California. I have to return my borrowed SV650S to American Suzuki in Los Angeles. I could strafe Interstate 5 through the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys under the blistering summer sun and get there in a day. Or I could

Mar/Apr '09 Premium Content

Western Iowa

Iowa, as everyone in Wisconsin knows, is that big flat place to the west where they grow corn and where all the crummy weather comes from that hits us about three days later. That's why our "gang" had to be nuts to even start a tour,

The Philippines

Mar/Apr '09 Premium Content

The Philippines

Not every day do you get the chance to ride a motorcycle on the other side of the world. So when that opportunity arises, you best take full advantage by riding fast, riding hard, and savoring every mile. Dumaguete to Bacolod Day 1: Bacolod City. It's close to

Reader Ride: Klamath Falls Trip

Mar/Apr '09 Premium Content

Reader Ride: Klamath Falls Trip

I could hear the alarm growing louder the more I gained consciousness. I could see the sunlight peeking through the blinds letting me know that it was time to get up and get this ride started. A stiff cup of coffee and a shower finished, I was loading my gear

Southern California Sojourn

Mar/Apr '09 Premium Content

Southern California Sojourn

Thanks to its mild climate, Los Angeles, California offers great riding almost every day of the year. And with its endless suburban sprawl and a plethora of interesting things to do and places to see, LA is a haven for motorcycle and scooter riders. We decided to take a day

Off-Roadin' in Eastern Ohio

Mar/Apr '09 Premium Content

Off-Roadin' in Eastern Ohio

Not long ago the idea of a dual-sport Shamrock Tour took root when Steve Mauk, a long-time off-road rider, ignited my imagination with tales of scenic gravel roads and trails winding through the overarching canopies of hardwood forests in his native Eastern Ohio. We collaborated on choosing a home base

Eastern Tennessee

Mar/Apr '09 Premium Content

Eastern Tennessee

Sometimes a tour takes on a life of its own before the wheels even roll from the driveway. Unexpected, odd themes will bubble to the surface, acting as catalysts of sorts for the entire journey. Looking at the map, it dawns on me that I'm leaving the Triad

Review: 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650

Review: 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650

> Old soldiers may never die, but sometimes they do get a makeover! Kawasaki's new KLR 650, with a host of changes, should now appeal to a wider range of buyers, from dyed-in-the-wool dirt riders to sport-touring aficionados. Kawasaki's first-generation KLR 650 had one of the

2009 Suzuki Boulevard M90

2009 Suzuki Boulevard M90

> In the cruiser world, bikes often fall into one of two categories. Either they are staid and mature icons of comfort and style, or they're raucous, straight-line bruisers creating drawn curtains and the frantic summoning of children. Is it asking too much for a taste of both?

2009 V Star 950

2009 V Star 950

> Once upon a time, the motorcycle tester's job was much simpler. There were good motorcycles and not-so-good motorcycles. It was only necessary to decide the category in which each particular test subject fell. Major manufacturers no longer build bad bikes, however. Some models may not appeal to