When a brand like Royal Enfield—one that is known for retro cool and affordable prices—moves away from its tried-and-true formula that has brought it much success, the stakes are high. Last year when it introduced the liquid-cooled DOHC 452cc 2024 Himalayan as a replacement for its much loved 411cc air-cooled model, it was well received by the press and...

If you wondered where the inspiration for the modern performance cruiser came from, take a look in the mirror. OK, maybe the inspiration didn’t come from you specifically, but bikes like the Harley-Davidson Low Rider S and Indian Sport Chief weren’t born by chance. They exist because an overwhelming majority of riders proved there was a market for tall,...

Performance cruisers became popular in the aftermarket scene when riders began customizing their bikes for improved power, handling, and cornering clearance with an emphasis on style. Most of the bikes emerging from this cruiser subculture have been Harley-Davidsons. So much so, The Motor Company started making club-style performance cruisers such as the Low Rider S and Low Rider ST. Recognizing...

Yamaha’s YZF-R7 stands alone in the Blu Cru middleweight sportbike lineup. Originally released as a 2022 model, the R7 is based on the MT-07 platform with the same basic chassis and CP2 engine. This is the same 689cc parallel twin featured in the Ténéré 700 and XSR700. Utilizing one engine platform across a range of different models is something Yamaha...

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Harley-Davidson’s Low Rider S is a performance cruiser with West Coast club styling. Originally introduced to the Dyna platform in 2016, the Low Rider S moved to the Softail platform in 2020. Shortly after, the Low Rider S was updated in 2022, receiving the larger Milwaukee-Eight 117ci engine..embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; }...

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Maeving’s RM1S underlines the importance of asking the right questions. In this case, the UK-based electric motorcycle manufacturer didn’t ask how it could replace internal combustion engines, but how it could offer simple, stylish, and practical alternatives for anyone with short commutes in big cities. The answer? An all-electric urban commuter that weighs less than 300 pounds, has a...

Triumph has returned to the supersport segment, reviving the Daytona name. But just as we’ve seen from other manufacturers, this new middleweight sportbike is not like those of the past. Today, this segment plays in a different field. One of practicality, comfort, and performance.The 2025 Triumph Daytona 660 is based off the Trident and Tiger Sport 660. All three models...

Images of Pedro Acosta sliding, cutting, and wheelying the GasGas SM 700 are aspirational to riders of any level. The control, composure, and explosiveness to slide into a corner, turn the bike, and wheelie out in a fluid motion is a dance few riders can do. So when I was informed my next assignment is the GasGas SM 700...

If you’ve ever broken your dominant hand and been forced to take up tasks like writing or brushing your teeth with the other, you’ll understand what MV Agusta was up against when it launched the Turismo Veloce in 2015. Since transitioning from building airplanes in the early 1900s to motorcycles in 1945, the company has built a legacy on...

In 2024, the term “retro motorcycle” can mean many things but few, if any, manufacturers take the concept of reviving and rethinking past models to such extremes as Praga. While most mainstream, mass-market retros run on thoroughly modern chassis designs, for instance, the Czech company’s handcrafted ZS 800 rolls out of the factory as an unabashed hardtail, complete with...

The LiveWire S2 Mulholland is an easy bike to doubt. It’s small, relatively expensive, and leaves many aspects of traditional motorcycle design behind as it leans into its lightweight, urban-electric personality. It is also fast, fun, and easy to ride with well-tuned, high-end components. This new electric machine takes unique consideration—there’s a right way and a wrong way to...

The CFMoto 450NK is the Chinese manufacturer’s 449cc lightweight naked bike. Derived from the 450SS sportbike, the 450NK utilizes the same 449cc parallel twin. This same powerplant has also been applied to CFMoto’s incoming lightweight adventure bike, the Ibex 450. Cross platform sharing a versatile parallel twin is a successful strategy Yamaha applies to its 689cc CP2 engine. Now, CFMoto...