Aping the classics is a common theme in the motorcycle world today. You have café racers, bobbers, scramblers, and bikes like the Trail 125 and Monkey. However, with improvements in bike technology, even though the 2020 Kawasaki Z900RS Café and Yamaha XSR900 recall their predecessors, they offer more than design alone. But which one of …
When the Honda CB750 launched in 1969, it helped create a new kind of bike: the Universal Japanese Motorcycle. Over the next few years, other Japanese manufacturers like Kawasaki would release UJMs of their own. Eventually, this class of bike morphed into the standard motorcycle segment. This, given the current retro trend, gives us the …
Kawasaki and Honda have ruled the motorcycle scene for decades. Their fierce rivalry has produced some of the coolest motorcycles ever made. The competition drives both companies to continually produce high-quality performance machines that make bike lovers crazy trying to pick between the two. The dual-sport powerhouse models from each company are probably the most …
ATVs are an undeniable blast. An adventure on a wooded trail with the sound of your machine and the scent of its exhaust is a type of freedom that isn’t reserved for the rich and famous. There are good affordable ATV options out there. The Honda FourTrax Rancher and the Yamaha Kodiak are two of …
Today’s motorcycles offer plenty of new technology. They’re also designed for various functions and types of riders. There are standard/retro, adventure, cruiser, superbike, supermoto, electric, and mini versions. But some people are looking for a motorcycle for beginners. The top pick of the bunch is the Kawasaki Ninja 400, according to Popular Mechanics. The best …
Activities like camping and overlanding show that enjoying motorcycles can be about more than sheer speed. However, sometimes that’s exactly what you need from a bike, even outside of the racetrack. For example, if you need to deliver food like, say, a pizza before it gets cold. And more power, or just more engine, are …
It doesn’t have the Panigale V4’s engine, but the 2020 Ducati Panigale V2 doesn’t need it to deliver serious speed. Plus, it’s more affordable than the V4 model, which is a good thing for riders interested in setting lap times and carving up roads. As a result, Popular Mechanics called it the best superbike of …
Middleweight dual-sport motorcycles might just be the most fun a person can have on two wheels. They are light, nimble, easy to ride, adventurous, cheap, and reliable. One of the kings of the dual-sport world is the Kawasaki KLR 650, and in 2018 after nearly 30 years, Kawasaki discontinued its legendary dual-sport. As the folks …
When it comes to affordable sportbikes, the Kawasaki Ninja lineup tends to be a common choice. And if you want to ride on the racetrack more than the street, you go for the ZX models. But just like the higher-capacity models have competition, such as the Ducati Panigale V2, so do the medium-capacity ones. In …
Dual sports are some of the best motorcycles for off-roading. They combine the simplicity and capability of dirt bikes with just enough comfort for on-road travel. And one of the best and most iconic models is the Kawasaki KLR650. Unfortunately, it’s been off the market for several years now. But new rumors suggest the Japanese …
As approachable as the Panigale V4 S is (for a superbike anyway), Ducati’s latest Streetfighter might be even more so. But the Italian marque doesn’t have a monopoly on the high-performance naked bike segment. So how does the Ducati Streetfighter V4 stack up against the competition? Naked bikes vs. streetfighters The term ‘naked bike’ actually …
While a standard motorcycle, like the Street Triple R, is a good all-around bike, it’s not the best for every situation. For relaxed, long-distance riding, a cruiser motorcycle makes a bit more sense. And, while some cruisers come with large price tags, you don’t need to break your budget to afford one. There are a …
Increasingly-tougher emissions regulations make for interesting, and high-performance, motorcycle tech. For example, Yamaha’s getting back into turbochargers, for one. And Kawasaki is working on putting a manual transmission in an electric motorcycle. However, that’s not the only new bike the Japanese company seems to be developing. There are already rumors about the brand’s 200-hp supercharged …
Even before the supercharged 200-hp Ninja H2, Kawasaki offered some pretty powerful motorcycles. And that includes cruisers. Today, the idea of a ‘power’ or ‘muscle cruiser’ isn’t that unusual. Harley-Davidson, Ducati, and (arguably) Triumph offer bikes that fall into those categories. But the 1976 Kawasaki KZ900 LTD was the first. How the Kawasaki Z1 led …
When it comes to 2020 motorcycles, liter bikes are the most exciting. Each of these superbikes boasts a powerful 1 liter-displacing engine and trickle-down race technology. But we already know all of these sportbikes are fast. Which ones are the fastest and baddest of all? Here are the leading liter bikes of 2020. Everyone has …
High-RPM redlines and more cylinders are usually how motorcycle companies increase performance. But Yamaha is going to use something that, while common in cars, isn’t really seen in bikes: forced-induction. Not a supercharger, like on the Kawasaki Ninja H2, though. Instead, Yamaha is re-introducing turbocharging to its motorcycle lineup. The Yamaha turbocharged bike news Performance …
There are a number of excellent affordable motorcycles that you can take off-road. However, some may be nervous about bringing a brand-new bike to get banged up off-pavement. However, as is the case for most beginner bikes, the simple solution is to get a used motorcycle. It’s likely already been beat-up a bit. Plus, buying …
Though it makes a motorcycle with a 200-hp supercharged engine, Kawasaki also offers bikes with engines better-suited to newer riders. Bikes like the Z125 Pro, and the Ninja 400 sportbike. And as bikes like Honda’s RC166 show, sometimes the smallest engines are the most impressive ones. That’s a sentiment the upcoming Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R clearly …
The 2020 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R is a top performer among others in its class. The ZX-14R motorcycle enjoys a loyal and loving fan base––and for good reason. This Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle is a powerful machine and buying it new is all too tempting. But if you want to save some money, you are probably already …
Harley-Davidson isn’t the only motorcycle company with cruisers. While Kawasaki may be better known for sportbikes and dual sports, it also offers café racers, touring bikes, and cruisers. In fact, the Kawasaki Vulcan is one of the quickest cruisers on sale today. But it may be getting even quicker. New rumors suggest Kawasaki may be …
Over the last three seasons, we’ve watched Eli Tomac achieve a ton of wins and podium finishes aboard his Kawasaki KX450F motorcycle. Now, he’s won his first 450SX championship title. Obviously, he’s a fantastic rider with grit and determination. He also puts on a show every race with passes and crashes for the books. But …
Although there are plenty of exciting, stylish, and fast motorcycles on the market, some are priced more like cars. And considering how affordable used cars, even sports cars, can be, it can be difficult justifying a bike purchase. Especially for something like a sport bike. The Suzuki Hayabusa may be fast, but it’s not exactly …
After an absolute rollercoaster ride of whether or not Suzuki would discontinue the Hayabusa or unveil a new touring speed machine, we’ve been over here sort of scratching our heads. The Kawasaki Ninja hung on and produced a new 2020 ZX-14r even after rumors of Hayabusa’s retirement which began in 2018. Though the Busa has …
Since the 1990s, sportbikes have brought something to the motorcycle industry that is all their own. Sheer speed and incredible power to weight ratio is the name of the game and neither of these beasts is playing around. Not recommended for the inexperienced rider, the Hayabusa and the ZX-14r are motorcycles designed to maneuver long …
Although the lack of extensive fast-chargers limits their long-distance capability, electric motorcycles can be excellent urban commuters. In addition, the lack of clutch makes them good for beginning riders, or those without manual experience. However, the EV conversion market shows that electric cars and trucks, at least, can still use manual transmissions. And now, Kawasaki …
There’s a whole host of neo-classic motorcycles available today. Customers can choose from scramblers, bobbers, cruisers, a modern Honda Cub, and hand-built carbureted models based on 50s British bikes. Arguably, though, what kick-started this trend was the rise in café racers, previewed by the Ducati Sport 1000. Even Harley-Davidson is working on such a bike. …
Finding the perfect motorcycle for a beginner is a tricky process that can take some time. What are the best models you should be looking for?
Motorcycles are ridden every from dirt trails to paved roads. For the latter, standards and cruisers tend to be popular choices. Cruisers in particular offer an attractive combination of relaxed riding with casual speed. Quite a few cruisers can actually out-accelerate some high-end sports cars. However, over long stretches of road, touring bikes are the …
