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Let’s be honest, dual-sport motorcycles aren’t really designed for touring, despite my best efforts (here and here). The bikes are merely street-legal dirt bikes without much accommodation for creature comfort. So, spending 220-ish miles flat in the saddle from Las Vegas, NV to Palmdale, CA, mostly on Interstate 15, is a platform for cataloging discomforts, and after riding approximately 360 miles, mostly off road over the two previous days, my aches-and-pains were legion. Still, with sore muscles from my arms all the way down to the arches of my feet, why did I spend most of my time grinning as I cranked out the miles? I’d finally participated in the LA-Barstow To Vegas Dual-Sport Ride, an event that had intrigued me for over 25 years, which is 23 years longer than I have been actively riding in the dirt. Achieving life goals is always good, but somehow the physically-challenging ones accomplished after the half-century mark are even sweeter. 

MO Touring: Building A Lightweight Adventure Bike

MO Touring: Building A Lightweight Adventure Tourer – Part 2


For this plan to work, though, I needed an accomplice, and I looked no further than Ryan Adams, who has witnessed quite a few of my off-road follies. While he didn’t surprise me by agreeing to ride the event, his choice of mount gave me pause. Rather than riding his personal KTM 500 EXC, he decided that nothing would do but a Ducati DesertX. Suddenly, I no longer felt I was the crazy one for attempting this ride. Ducati happily obliged Ryan’s request. The plan was a go. What I didn’t know at the time was that Friend of MO, Cait Maher, was preparing for a solo run on her Yamaha TW200. 

2023 Ducati DesertX Review – First Ride

They don’t do a lot of advertising at Aerostich. Instead, proprietor Andy Goldfine lets the product speak for itself, mostly by keeping the US motojournalist corp well-supplied with his suits. Once you’ve worn one a bit, it can feel weird to ride any distance in anything else. There’s more competition than when he began the business decades ago, but something about the one-piece Roadcrafter’s versatility, toughness, and wide range of uses in all kinds of environments keeps lots of long-time customers coming back, while still adding new converts, too.

Also, there’s just something about hand craftsmanship that attracts people trapped in the disposable consumer goods era, and hand tailoring. The latest version of the Roadcrafter, the R-3 that we witness being put together here from start to finish, comes in 60 standard sizes; from there, it can be expanded, contracted, lengthened or shortened as needed. There’s also no  need to feel guilty about the skilled workers doing that tailoring, either, many of whom have been proud Aerostichers for decades. Their names ride along with you, handwritten on a textile panel sewn inside every suit.



Even if you’re not interested in an R-3, this new 16-minute video’s as fun to watch as any How It’s Made episode, and the music is nice and relaxing too. Is that Brahms? Thrill to the computerized laser cutter! Swoon at the waterproof tape applier! Be terribly frightened at how close Mari’s fingers come to that industrial sewing machine needle…

Say, I think that’s my new gray and yellow R-3 on the rack at 10:04!

Best Value Motorcycle of 2022: Aprilia Tuareg 660

It’s been a few years since an adventure-style moto made its way into this category – though with the popularity of the class still truckin’ along, it shouldn’t be a surprise to see another ADV rip its way into the ranks of the Best Value category. For 2022, the Aprilia Tuareg boldly displays its impressive package starting at $11,999. While $12k isn’t an insignificant sum, what you get for your money with the Tuareg transcends from being an excellent value in the ADV world to an excellent value overall.

2022 Aprilia Tuareg 660 Review – First Ride

We’ve seen Aprilia’s new 660 platform stuffed into a sportbike, naked, and now adventure machines. The new Parallel Twin is a versatile mill that has been tuned to fit each of those categories. With the Tuareg, the engine has been tuned to deliver 75% of its available torque from 3,000 rpm, which turns into 85% when you hit 4,500 rpm; it also has 10% lower gearing than the other 660-powered siblings. On the dyno, rear wheel power translated to 68 hp at 9200 rpm and 44.3 lb-ft at 6500 rpm. The Tuareg likes to be spun up a bit more than others, like the Yamaha Ténéré, but it still delivers smooth forward punch throughout the low to mid-range.

Best Standard Motorcycle of 2022: Triumph Speed Twin 1200

Frankly the first modern-era Triumph to wear the legendary Speed Twin moniker was a tad disappointing when it rolled down the skids for 2020. All was forgiven, though, when Triumph made it all right with the 2022 version. The weedy suspension components of the first bike (which, in fairness, may have been more period-correct) gave way to a new, 43mm inverted Marzocchi fork brandishing radial-mount Brembo M50 monobloc calipers squeezing bigger, 320mm discs. A pair of “higher-spec” shocks brought up the rear. New lightweight 12-spoke cast wheels rolled onto the scene, shod with Metzeler RR Racetec rubber.

2022 Triumph Speed Twin Review

In making the bike cleaner for Euro 5, Triumph threw in a few more horsepower – 91 in total, on the Rottweiler Performance Dynojet, and 74.5 lb-ft of torque – via a bump in compression, a lightened crank, a new camshaft… That’s plenteous power for a “retro,” and all of it safely deployed via three ride modes: rain, road, and sport. Add all the new stuff up, continue on with the classic comfortable upright ergonomics, and suddenly you’re riding a retro that’s packing surprisingly modern, well-developed curvy-backroad sporting chops. At the same time, for just getting from A to B, you can feel free to think of the Speed Twin as an upscale Standard motorcycle, with beautiful suspension, comfortable seating for two (or one and a nice milk crate). Pile on the miles; Triumph’s proud of having designed the new 1200cc 270-degree Twin with longer service intervals.

Best Standard Motorcycle of 2022: Triumph Speed Twin 1200

Frankly the first modern-era Triumph to wear the legendary Speed Twin moniker was a tad disappointing when it rolled down the skids for 2020. All was forgiven, though, when Triumph made it all right with the 2022 version. The weedy suspension components of the first bike (which, in fairness, may have been more period-correct) gave way to a new, 43mm inverted Marzocchi fork brandishing radial-mount Brembo M50 monobloc calipers squeezing bigger, 320mm discs. A pair of “higher-spec” shocks brought up the rear. New lightweight 12-spoke cast wheels rolled onto the scene, shod with Metzeler RR Racetec rubber.

2022 Triumph Speed Twin Review

In making the bike cleaner for Euro 5, Triumph threw in a few more horsepower – 91 in total, on the Rottweiler Performance Dynojet, and 74.5 lb-ft of torque – via a bump in compression, a lightened crank, a new camshaft… That’s plenteous power for a “retro,” and all of it safely deployed via three ride modes: rain, road, and sport. Add all the new stuff up, continue on with the classic comfortable upright ergonomics, and suddenly you’re riding a retro that’s packing surprisingly modern, well-developed curvy-backroad sporting chops. At the same time, for just getting from A to B, you can feel free to think of the Speed Twin as an upscale Standard motorcycle, with beautiful suspension, comfortable seating for two (or one and a nice milk crate). Pile on the miles; Triumph’s proud of having designed the new 1200cc 270-degree Twin with longer service intervals.

Best Cruiser / Bagger Motorcycle of 2022: BMW K1600B

Man, it’s been a while since we managed to get seven baggers together for a real-live comparison, but last time we did, in 2018, this BMW won it against the usual suspects from Harley-Davidson, Indian, et al. They’ve all received upgrades in the ensuing years, but nothing earth shattering to upend the pecking order. And nothing to upset our earlier, semi-collective conclusion that a bagger does not have to be built in America or powered by a big V-Twin.

For 2022, BMW made it even easier for us to continue our six-cylinder love by festooning the new K1600B with some nice upgrades (along with all the other K-bikes). It begins with a great big new TFT display, continues through some nice electronics upgrades, and concludes in a motorcycle that’s more dynamic than ever. In fact, the display is always telling you you’re a Dynamic Pro, which is nice reinforcement.

2022 BMW K1600B Review – First Ride

Cruise mode is nice for cruising sedately along in the time-honored, discover America way. The seat’s quite comfy and only 29.5 inches from the ground. Footpegs instead of floorboards make it a bit easier to transition from sportier machinery, but there’s an optional floorboard, er, option, that tall people like, too (along with a million other options). Trim levels, really.

Best Lightweight / Entry-Level Motorcycle of 2022: CFMoto 700 CL-X

After years of KTM owning this class with its 390 Duke and (390 Adventure), there’s a new kid in town – new in the US, anyway – in the form of the CFMoto 700 CL-X. It’s only fitting, really, since CFMoto’s Chinese manufacturer and KTM have a decade-long history together. That same Chinese OEM had a pre-existing relationship with Kawasaki also, and if CFMoto’s 700 CL-X isn’t powered by an engine eerily similar to a Versys 650 parallel Twin, I will eat my cat. In fact, the 700 CL-X is powered by a Versys twin that’s been stroked by 4mm, to 83 x 64mm dimensions – a thing Kawasaki’s never had the decency to do. That takes it to 693 cubic centimeters, and a claimed output of 74 hp at 8,500 rpm (and 48 lb-ft at 6,500 revs). Which makes this one a tad larger than our usual Lightweight winners, but for $6,399, how can you not supersize it?

It feels almost as fast as a Yamaha MT-07 blasting down the ⅓-mile front straight at the “testing facility” CFMoto took us to on day one of our little press junket, near their lovely hometown of Plymouth, Minnesota. Not only is it a sweet little engine, the rest of the package is surprisingly nice, too: CF is on a mission to change minds about Chinese motorcycles, and after our brief encounter with, I think, seven of its new bikes, I’d say it’s well on its way. The new 790 KTM-powered 800 Adventura is even more impressive, but wasn’t available in time for this year’s MOBOs.

2022 CFMoto 700 CL-X/ 700 CL-X Sport Review – First Ride

Best Electric Motorcycle: Zero DSR/X

Just because the candidates for Best Electric Bike this year are rather sparse doesn’t mean there isn’t a motorcycle worthy of an award. Energica’s new Experia certainly appears to be worthy of consideration, but as we mentioned in our opening page, a model needs to be available in dealers by the time of our posting. The Experia is not. This leaves one really excellent motorcycle left to choose. It would be hard not to recognize the Zero DSR/X in the Best Electric category after basically calling it the best motorcycle Zero has made so far. If you look at where Zero started – as essentially a glorified mountain bike – to where the company is now, and in a relatively short amount of time, the DSR/X is very impressive. In a way, you could say the DSR/X is the ultimate evolution of that original glorified mountain bike. Built to capitalize on the ADV craze sweeping the industry, it certainly is the most capable Zero so far.

2023 Zero DSR/X Review – First Ride

Unsurprisingly, it boasts the current pinnacle of Zero’s engineering talents. From the highest battery capacity to date and its most torque-rich motor, to the level of refinement within the proprietary Cypher III operating system. Partnering with Bosch to integrate its safety systems lends another point of credibility to the doubters out there, as do the premium components from J.Juan and Pirelli. Maybe the most important thing, however, is simply creating a motorcycle that looks, feels, and works like… a motorcycle. Zero’s done that with the DSR/X. Apart from the sound and the charging routine, the learning curve to riding a DSR/X is basically nill. We’re kidding ourselves into thinking it will give the likes of the BMW GS or KTM Adventure series a run for their money, but let’s give credit where credit is due. The Zero DSR/X is a good motorcycle without the need for qualification.

Best Electric Motorcycle Runner-Up: BMW CE 04

Time keeps on tickin’, tickin’, into the future. Twenty years ago, though, a happy harmonic convergence had me and my 8-year old son on the same wavelength when it came to two-wheeled toys. The new Buell XB-9S was at the top of my list; a Razor scooter was at the top of his. Later, we learned what might have been if Erik Buell’s turbocharger plan hadn’t been last-minute aborted by the higher-ups at H-D. But even in its normally aspirated state, I still remember the 9S being a complete hoot. Luckily, Erik Buell is still out there swinging away; it sounds like the Fuell Flow is ready for prime time.

Motorcycle.com’s Best Of (MOBO) award season is finally here again! As has been our recent tradition, we use the MOBOs to begin our December wrap-up of the 2022 model year before we jump into the new model introduction season. Although EICMA was only a couple of weeks ago, and the bulk of the 2022 motorcycle models have been announced, the 2022 model year isn’t officially over until we wrap up our awards!

Once again, the Motorcycle.com staff gathered over multiple video conferences to work our way through the bounty of motorcycles that we were privileged to test during the model year. Remarkably, there were fewer disagreements over nominees than there have been in previous years. We still had a few disputes to settle, but in the end, our choices were unanimous.

Motorcycle.com Best Of 2021
Motorcycle.com Best Of 2020
Motorcycle.com Best Of 2019
Motorcycle.com Best Of 2018
Motorcycle.com Best Of 2017
Motorcycle.com Best Of 2016

This year, in a break from the MO tradition of more-is-more comparisons, we devoted much of our testing to two-bike shootouts as part of our Showdowns video series;all while testing individual bikes and attending new model introductions. As always, we attempt to bring our beloved MOrons the most varied motorcycle content available. Our testing year started with an adventure-touring shootout and ended with a sport-touring one. In between, we looked at everything from EV scooters to the hardest-nosed sportbikes to everything in between.

Our requirements for MOBO eligibility are pretty straightforward: MO must have tested the bike during the model year, and the bike must be available to the public at the time of publication. Naturally, that leaves a couple of strong contenders for next year, already. Case-in-point? The anticipated Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello S and the Energica Experia, which will arrive in showrooms early next year.

When BMW created the first GS in 1980, reactions were mixed. Back then, the motorcycle industry did not have the fragmented family tree of specialized segments that it has today, with sport bikes, sport touring, touring, off-road, enduro, retro sport, standard, and all manner of cruisers. However, by mixing on-road, off-road, and touring characteristics into a single bike, BMW must have known they were on to something, because they soldiered on with the model, and not only has the GS survived, but it has thrived. Today, adventure riding, the segment that the BMW GS created, is one of the fastest growing in motorcycling, with every major manufacturer having some variation of the GS formula in their current lineup.

The increase in the number of adventure riders on roads and trails, some of them new to motorcycling altogether, others experienced in other types of riding but new to the adventure riding experience, brings the need for a different type of rider training. Specialized rider training programs are not a new phenomenon, but their popularity has been steadily increasing. Enduro Park Canada is one such facility that caters to the adventure riding enthusiast, giving participants an experience unlike any other at their permanent facility in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Enduro Park Canada offers training programs from beginner to advanced, from single-day to nine-day tours, designed for any make and model of adventure bike. They also have a fleet of BMW rental bikes through their partnership with BMW.

Unlike other programs that are part-time and may move from location to location, Enduro Park Canada has a permanent facility that operates full-time. They are located only 15 minutes from Victoria, British Columbia, with easy access to Victoria International Airport, and all of the accommodations and amenities that the city of Victoria has to offer.

The invention of the trackday tire is the single greatest thing to happen to trackday riders since, well, trackdays. Being able to leave the tire warmers at home (or not own any at all!) has a trickle-down effect for those lazy riders among us – myself included. No warmers means the stands can stay home, and so can the generator. Better still, leaving all those things behind doesn’t compromise anything out on track; modern trackday tires provide plenty of grip and more longevity than your average race slick. (But let’s make one thing clear: if you’re actually racing, a slick is still the way to go.)

Dunlop was one of the first to introduce a trackday tire with the launch of the Q3 family as far back as 2013. It was soon followed by the Q3+. I was a fan of both tires when I tried them for the first time, impressed by the quick warm-up times and confident handling they provided. Dunlop followed that up with the Q4 – which, on paper, was supposed to be an even better trackday tire. In my opinion, however, it really wasn’t that great. To its credit, the Q4 came to working temperature very quickly, and the revised profile of the tire gave it nice handling characteristics with elbow-dragging lean angles very much within reach. What I wasn’t so impressed with was its outright grip on open-class sportbikes (it worked fine on smaller bikes). Worse yet, those big bikes would wear the Q4 quickly – one day of A-pace track riding was enough to wear the tire down to the wear bars, which was very surprising.

Anecdotally, it seems as though people I’ve talked to were mixed about big bike grip, but the wear issue was universal. “I got that feedback a lot,” says John Robinson, Dunlop’s Senior Tire Design Engineer (who was a junior engineer back in the Q3 and Q4 days). “At trackdays, I had to explain to the tech inspection folks that, even though a Q4 might be down to the wear bar on one or both sides, there was still at least 4mm of rubber left underneath. New York Safety Track, my local track, knows by now, but it’s something I deal with constantly.” The lesson? Out of the many technical innovations a tire design team constantly think about, they can’t forget the human element. Better placement of wear bars, for example, will more accurately tell an owner when it’s time to start considering new tires. And get tech inspectors off John’s back. Clearly, there was room for improvement with the Q4. 

Something More

Obviously, simply moving the position of the wear bars isn’t a reason to develop a new tire. Every tire company is constantly striving to one-up the last thing they made, and Dunlop is no different. The march of time means new technologies emerge, and Dunlop’s involvement as the sole tire supplier to the MotoAmerica series means lessons learned when tires are pushed to the limits are able to trickle down to the tires you and I can buy at the local shop. We witnessed the fruits of that labor with the Q3, the Q4, and we’re about to experience it again.

We know that regular MO readers are fans of the Isle of Man TT. Friend of MO, Andrew Capone, gives us annual posts from the event, and the analytics tell us that they are very popular. So, the release of the feature-length documentary film Tourist Trophy should spark more than a little interest among the fans. Over the course of 90+ minutes, viewers get the opportunity to get to know some of the variety of riders taking part in the 2022 Isle of Man TT. 



Out And About At The Isle Of Man TT 2022 – Part 1

Out And About At The Isle Of Man TT 2022 – Part 2

Earlier this year, reports emerged that BMW had filed trademark applications for “R12”, with many predicting the name would be used on a new cruiser. The logic made sense, as the naming structure was similar to the R18, and BMW lacked a cruiser model in the 1200-ish range. We were a little less bullish on that theory at the time, and we suspected there was more to the story. And now, new evidence has emerged that may justify our skepticism.

The evidence is a new trademark application BMW filed in Germany for “R12 S”, for use on “motorcycles and their parts.” The application was filed on Oct. 18 or a little more than a year after BMW filed for the name “R12”. Historically, the “S” at the end of a BMW model name is reserved for sport models, with a lineage including the R 69 S, R 90 S, and R 100 S as the earliest examples. Over time, BMW has offered a K 75 S, K 1200 S and F 800 S, while its Boxer-engined R models included the R 1100 S from 1998-2005 and the R 1200 S in 2006 and 2007.

All of these “S” models were considered sport models, with the more modern bikes coming either fully or partially faired. We expect the R12 S to follow this pattern, which then leads us to believe the R12 will not be a cruiser after all, as it’s unlikely BMW would wrap a fairing around a cruiser chassis  and call it a sportbike.

No, a more likely theory is that the R12 and R12 S will be two models on a new platform that will replace the R NineT. Here’s our reasoning.

Here we go again; another trip around the sun done and dusted. As we enter the 2022 Christmas buying season, there’s one tradition that highlights the times. No, not the consumption of mass quantities of turkey. Rather, we’re here to honor Black Friday in its many forms. Time to get out your credit card and shop for those holiday deals.

On this page, we’ll be tracking some of the best Black Friday deals for motorcycle gear here, so keep checking this space for updates.

What is Black Friday?

“Black Friday” is the unofficial start to the holiday shopping season. It falls on the day after US Thanksgiving, which is the fourth Thursday of November. Though not an actual holiday, a lot of people take both Thursday and Friday off for a four-day weekend. That’s one reason why retailers have jumped on Black Friday, with big sales for people taking the day off to go shopping for holiday gifts. The result is one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

For 2022, Black Friday falls on Nov. 25, with many retailers timing their sales for the stroke of midnight. Others, like Revzilla, are getting a head start with deals available now. So, we thought we’d point you in the direction now to get those presents going to your loved ones (or yourself) ASAP.

Check back every day for our latest updates