Motorcycles may be fun to ride, but if you're constantly having to fix it, what's the point? These five brands are known for having the most reliable motorcycles
The 2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS and its vintage predecessor, the CT90, might be great entry-level off-roaders, but they're not exactly touring adventure bikes. And yet, with some willpower and prep-work, RevZilla's Common Tread team showed that they can tackle even the extremes of Alaska's wilderness.
Today, inverted forks, carbon-fiber body panels, under-seat exhausts, and heavy titanium and magnesium usage are common sights on high-end superbikes and sportbikes. But that's only because the 1992 Honda NR750 introduced them to the road. And even today, no road bike has oval pistons like it.
Although it's not the only motorcycle company to use them, Ducati bikes of a certain vintage are well-remembered for the look and sound of their dry clutches. However, due to increasing noise regulations, all but the most hardcore modern Ducatis have switched over to easier-to-live-with wet clutches. But some conversion kits are still available.
The founder of Zero Style, Shinya Kimura now has his own California shop for making custom motorcycles. And his latest project is 'The Wal,' a 2021 BMW R 18 with hand-shaped bodywork designed for high-speed long-distance rides.
While they're not the most off-road-capable scramblers that their manufacturers offer, the 2022 Triumph Street Scrambler and Ducati Scrambler Icon are both approachable retro-style bikes. But while the Triumph has the edge on unpaved surfaces, the Ducati is more exciting around town.
The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 and INT650 are approachable vintage-style bikes with affordable price tags. But some may want a bit more performance or find the stock suspension not quite up to par. Or perhaps they want to change the looks. France's Bad Winners' bolt-on kits can help with that.
Italian motorcycle brand Aprilia hasn't had an off-road bike for a while now. But for 2022, it's resurrecting an iconic name on a new adventure bike: the Aprilia Tuareg 660. And this dual-sport-style ADV is an approachable, fun way to explore both paved and unpaved roads.
Older Ducati motorcycles have a reputation for being unreliable. But while used Ducatis often require more frequent maintenance, that doesn't necessarily make them unreliable. And there are some used models that don't require as much wrenching.
Just like the Panigale it's based on, the Ducati Streetfighter is getting some new trims. For 2022, the Streetfighter V4 SP takes the V4 S up a notch with Superleggera components, while the Streetfighter V2 makes Ducati's super naked bike a bit more approachable.
A new 2022 Triumph Street Twin makes for a solid affordable all-around retro motorcycle, but a used 2009-2015 Triumph Thruxton 900 offers similar specs for less cash in a cafe racer body. And choosing between them depends not just on where you ride, but also budget, tech preferences, and whether you want a warranty.
Like before, the 2022 Yamaha XSR900 borrows a powertrain and chassis from the current MT-09. But that means a bigger engine, more power and torque, and a stiffer, lighter platform than the 2021 bike. And all that, along with more tech, comes wrapped in a new 1980s-inspired design.