Why you don’t want the best motorcycle you’ll ever ride

What makes a motorcycle good? Is it big horsepower numbers and a long list of novel technology? Its ability to triple the highway speed limit? Is it presence in a TV show or its ability to impress your buddies on a motorcycle forum? This new 2012 Suzuki V-Strom 650 has none of that. When it leaked last year, we even called it boring. But, after spending over a month on it, that opinion has changed totally. The V-Strom might not be the sexiest motorcycle out there, but it is the most broadly capable we’ve ridden.

Photos: Sean Smith :continue:

Wes Siler. February 27th, 2012 - Permalink - Comments (96)

The $3,200 solution to the modern motorcycle

“Cool is being able to afford a bike that looks good and makes the owner feel good, but does not break the bank,” said the guy who designed this bike back when he first showed it to us in 2010. Finally, the Cleveland CycleWerks Misfit is available in the US. It’s not hard to define its USP — the $3,200 price tag — but, for that price do you still get a real motorcycle? HFL is the first publication to in the world to ride the Misfit and, we’re extremely pleased to report that yes, the Misfit is fun, well-made and would make pretty much anyone feel good. It’s as real as any motorcycle gets, but we’d go further than that. The Misfit achieves something virtually no other motorcycle does. At any price.

Photos: Grant Ray :continue:

Wes Siler. February 3rd, 2012 - Permalink - Comments (96)

20 live photos of the new ZX-14R and Ninja 650

Just back from Kawasaki’s annual dealer conference in Orlando, Florida, here’s photos I shot of the two biggest news items unveiled there. The 2012 Kawasaki ZX-14R is a mild facelift of the existing bike, but thanks to a larger stroke upping capacity to 1,441cc, it should put out something in the region of 200bhp sans ram air in American trim, a slight advantage over the European model, which is held back to 197bhp by EU noise regulations. The 2012 Kawasaki Ninja 650 is pretty much all-new with the exception of its parallel-twin motor. That’s good, this is now a very, very good-looking budget middleweight. :continue:

Wes Siler. October 11th, 2011 - Permalink - Comments (18)

An adventure in confusion

Suzuki Europe is teasing a new bike with the tag line, “Are you ready for adventure?” Nothing confusing about that, right? They’re planning to replace the worthy-but-lackluster V-Strom range with a more exciting adventure tourer, right? The only question is: which dead racist will they name it after this time? That’s when you run into problems. The line drawing that follows that text looks distinctly like a sport tourer. Oh, Suzuki. :continue:

Wes Siler. June 1st, 2011 - Permalink - Comments (26)

Ryca CS-1: my first cafe racer

You’ve got 10 seconds to guess which 650cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine and steel cradle frame form the basis of this Ryca CS-1 cafe racer. Hint: it’s got a low-maintenance belt final drive. Got it? No you don’t. It’s not anything dirt-based and it’s not anything from Milwaukee. > :continue:

Wes Siler. June 14th, 2010 - Permalink - Comments (65)

Suzuki Gladius Vs. I-405

Housing a re-tuned SV650 v-twin in a new, steel trellis frame, the Suzuki Gladius raises questions about its identity. Is it a replacement for the naked SV650 or something new entirely? We take it to one of the most congested freeways in the country to find out.

Click below for the feature:Suzuki Gladius vs. I-405

Grant Ray. April 3rd, 2009 - Permalink - Comments (14)

Suzuki Gladius vs. I-405

Admin. April 3rd, 2009 - Permalink - Comments (0)

Details: Suzuki Gladius

The Gladius is Suzuki’s attempt to further develop a design language that appeals to a wider audience. You’d never never guess the bike is built with a sleek purposeful stance, as its qualities are very difficult to capture on camera, ultimately making it look bulky and overweight. These photos of the bike’s details fail as well. However, in the round, the Suzuki has a dimensionality and character that is similar in feel to sparse design qualities associated with private jets. We know that sounds crazy and is contradictive with all the Gladius’ compartmentalization, but somehow it still works. > :continue:

Grant Ray. April 1st, 2009 - Permalink - Comments (20)

Suzuki Gladius gets price tag along with accessories

Suzuki’s new entry-level bike, the 2009 Suzuki Gladius has been officially listed at $6,899. That’s pretty much right in the middle of the other Japanese offerings for entry level middle weight bikes. A full $600 cheaper than the sportier full-faired SV650SF, the Gladius is $100 more than the Kawasaki Ninja 650R and $500 more than the ER-6n, but still just under the $6,990 MSRP of the Yamaha FZ6R. Honda apparently can’t be bothered with offering anything beyond the dated Rebel 250.> :continue:

Grant Ray. March 25th, 2009 - Permalink - Comments (20)

L-R-G turns Suzuki Gladius into supermoto

Brought to you by the same people as last year’s L-R-G Hayabusa, this Suzuki Gladius gets a similar winterfresh paint scheme, but a very different style of tuning. Where that Busa was the ultimate expression of the established street-tuning style, this Gladius actually manages to achieve something new, pointing the way for a possible future spin-off model direct from Suzuki. What’s impressive here is how few modifications were required to turn the Gladius into a supermoto.> :continue:

Wes Siler. February 7th, 2009 - Permalink - Comments (24)

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