Motorcycle Blog on 2040Motos

MO Tested: Triumph Trident 660 Akrapovi Racing Line Exhaust Review

For racing use only The Triumph Trident 660 isn’t the first middleweight naked I would consider taking to the racetrack. Then again, sometimes I forget that some people only own one motorcycle that they use for everything. But, that didn’t stop Akrapovič from developing and manufacturing a closed-course only race-line full-system exhaust for it.

2022 Indian Scout Rogue and Rogue Sixty Review - First Ride

Sometimes dialing up the style dials up the substance, too Credit: Photos by Barry Hathaway The US motojournalist/influencer corps doesn’t look much at all like the people in the ads for Indian’s new Scout Rogue and Rogue Sixty. Carey Hart did meet us for lunch in Ojai during our ride, and he’d fit right in. The former MXer/freestyler not only looks the part, he actually builds custom motorcycles in his own big shop.

2022 Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ Review - First Ride

A force to be reckoned with in the Sport-Touring game. Credit: Photos by Kevin Wing Naturally, I reached for my Aerostich. The sport-tourer’s uniform of choice, it seemed like the right thing to wear when the invite to test Suzuki’s newest sport-tourer – the 2022 GSX-S1000GT+ – popped up in my inbox.

2022 Royal Enfield Classic 350 Review - First Ride

Is it worthy of slotting in next to Enfield's latest models? Credit: Photos by Brandon Bunch Things move at their own pace in the South. When it’s not stifling, the warm, humid breeze gently blowing through the Spanish moss-strewn southern live oaks relaxes in a way that you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.

Showdown: 2022 Kawasaki Ninja 400 Vs KTM RC390 - At The Track

Does the updated KTM have what it takes to dethrone the class king? Credit: Photos by Evans Brasfield; Video by: Sean Matic | Videos by Sean Matic It’s good to be the king. At least, that’s what it feels like to anyone racing a Kawasaki Ninja 400.

Showdown: 2022 Kawasaki Ninja 400 Vs KTM RC390 - At The Track

Does the updated KTM have what it takes to dethrone the class king? Credit: Photos by Evans Brasfield; Video by: Sean Matic | Videos by Sean Matic It’s good to be the king. At least, that’s what it feels like to anyone racing a Kawasaki Ninja 400.

Church of MO: 1997 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic

How many 25-year old motorcycles are still being sold anyway? The Honda XR650L springs to mind, but other than it, it’s too early on Easter Sunday to investigate further. Granted, the Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic has undergone enough changes as to really not be the same machine anymore, yet that indelible American profile, architecture, and riding experience remain the same.

2022 Kawasaki Z650RS Review - First Ride

Retro-styling on a middleweight favorite. Credit: Photos by Kevin Wing “I’m not a fan of the Darth Vader looks.” It’s a line we hear often whenever we test one of Kawasaki’s sporty bikes, especially from the Z family of naked bikes. Internally known as the Sugomi design language, Kawasaki says “Someone, or something, possessing sugomi inspires awe, leaves an indelible impression, is daunting in stature or ability, and commands respect.” Maybe it does, or maybe it doesn’t, but angular lines and sharp creases also alienate a section of the motorcycling world who like the modern tech and power from Kawasaki’s Z line, but could do without the sugomi styling.

2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST Review

Defining the sport-touring cruiser Credit: Photos by Evans Brasfield Perhaps what I love the most about the English language is its flexibility, how you can bump disparate words together and create something with an entirely new meaning. When it comes to motorcycles, the words sport and touring bring to mind two very different kinds of motorcycles. Sporting motorcycles place an emphasis on handling, acceleration, and braking, while touring bikes tend to focus on cargo capacity, rider comfort, and long-range capability.

2022 Harley-Davidson Nightster RH975 First Look

Fast Facts Revolution Max 975T claims 90 hp at 7500 rpm and 70 lb-ft. at 5000 rpm Claimed 481 pound wet weight Price starts at $13,499 A fresh take on a classic After a brief teaser campaign, Harley-Davidson officially revealed the Nightster, a new Sportster model powered by a 975cc version of the liquid-cooled Revolution Max engine. Arriving in dealerships this month, the 2022 Harley-Davidson Sportster is priced at $13,499 for Vivid Black and $13,899 for the Gunship Grey or Redline Red color options.

Harley-Davidson Pan America 975 and 965S Middleweight Adventure Bikes on the Way

RA975 and RA965S models appear on official Harley-Davidson website Last week, we broke the news confirming Harley-Davidson‘s next Sportster will be equipped with a 975cc version of the liquid-cooled Revolution Max engine, after spotting the model code “RH975” mentioned on an official Harley accessory page. It turns out the next Sportster wasn’t the only new model accidentally leaked by Harley-Davidson. Another accessory product listing, this time for a Pan America locking fuel cap, revealed two more model codes: the RA975 and RA965S.

2022 Piaggio BV 400 S Review

A sophisticated scoot with a little more muscle. Credit: Photos by Evans Brasfield The saying is massively overused, but there really is no replacement for displacement. Such is the case with the updated 2022 Piaggio BV 400 S – BV being the abbreviation for Beverly.

Confirmed: Next Harley-Davidson Sportster Will Use Revolution Max 975 Engine

The Nightster 975 has a certain ring to it We are less than a week away from the official reveal of Harley-Davidson‘s next Sportster, but we’ve managed to confirm the new model will use a 975 version of the Revolution Max engine. Harley-Davidson has been slowly revealing details of the new model, first with a teaser video and a number of social media posts. We’ve previously speculated that the new model will use a smaller displacement version of the Sportster S‘ Revolution Max 1250T engine, with clues such as the telescopic fork, twin rear shocks and single front disc hinting at a less performance-oriented focus.

Benelli TNT125: Stylish, compact, economical

The Benelli TNT125 is a versatile "baby" modeled after the legendary TNT 1130. This small-capacity vehicle is the perfect beginner's study desk, great for commuting, amateur stunters and even delivery guys will appreciate the baby (unless, of course, the latter are not embarrassed by the price tag). The TNT125 is equipped with a 125cc air-cooled "single barrel" that develops a maximum power of 11 hp at 9500 rpm and Euro 5 compliant.

2022 KTM RC390 Review - First Ride

A more focused lightweight sportbike Credit: Photos by Casey Davis Since its debut in 2015, the KTM RC390 has represented the pointed end of the lightweight sportbike spectrum. Aggressive in its styling, and dedicated to its Ready to Race brand promise, the RC390 has always been pitched as a fun little track bike that also happens to be street-legal with enough comfort for daily duty. This has caused the little KTM to be lauded with praise at the track in our previous comparisons, but at the same time, that attitude has caused the Kawasaki Ninja 400 to come out on top as a better well-rounded motorcycle in our last two comparisons.

Church of MO: 2002 Triumph 955i Daytona First Ride

For a while there it looked like Triumph wanted to play the superbike game with the rest of the world. But slimming down the 955i Daytona by losing its original one-sided swingarm, and other weight-saving measures, sometimes seemed more like cost-cutting ones. And maybe Triumph sensed the imminent demise of the superbike a bit earlier than some others.

Showdown: 2022 Piaggio BV400 Vs. Suzuki Burgman 400

This is how you tour Los Angeles without all the stress. Credit: Photos by Evans Brasfield; Video by Sean Matic and Mark Miller | Videos by Sean Matic and Mark Miller Ah, Los Angeles. The city of angels and Dodger dogs, beaches and mountains.

Showdown: 2022 Piaggio BV400 Vs. Suzuki Burgman 400

This is how you tour Los Angeles without all the stress. Credit: Photos by Evans Brasfield; Video by Sean Matic and Mark Miller | Videos by Sean Matic and Mark Miller Ah, Los Angeles. The city of angels and Dodger dogs, beaches and mountains.

BMW R 1300 GS, R 1400 GS and M 1300 GS Expected for 2023

All three expected to share a new liquid-cooled Boxer engine Credit: Photos by Bernhard Höhne Last summer, we published photos of a very raw BMW GS prototype undergoing testing. The test mule was heavily disguised, to the point of having panels with a fake trellis covering the real subframe. The prototypes were so raw, it was difficult to tell exactly how much of it would make it to a production model.

Next Revolution Max Harley-Davidson Sportster to Be Announced April 12

Possible names include 48X and Nightster Harley-Davidson will announce its next Revolution Max-powered Sportster model on April 12. The Motor Company dropped a short music-themed teaser video titled “Instrument of Expression,” to promote the announcement, and offer a few tantalizing glimpses of the new model. Harley-Davidson previously teased the next Sportster model last July, revealing a design with more traditional styling than the Sportster S.

Chinese cafe racer Lifan KPM150

The Chinese manufacturer Lifan has introduced new motorcycles for the local market, and one of the novelties is the cafe racer Lifan KPM150. Lifan, like other Chinese manufacturers, conquers the market of classics and neo retro. In this case, Lifan KPM150 is similar in design to BMW R nineT Racer: headlight shape, clip-on placement, tail.

2022 Suzuki GSX-S1000 Review – First Ride

Cleaner, greener, more civilized but even meaner Credit: Photos by Kevin Wing It’s always fun to read the armchair quarterbackings of our beloved MOrons in the Comments whenever a new motorcycle springs into view, and the latest iteration of Suzuki’s naked GSX-S1000, harumph, was no exception. Some hate the angular new styling, some defend it. Some lament the demise of Suzuki in general, some admire the company’s resourcefulness in doing less with more.

2023 Triumph Tiger 1200 Review - First Ride

This cat's claws are sharper than ever Credit: Photos by Kingdom Creative Triumph’s open-class ADV bike, the Tiger 1200 (or Tiger Explorer depending on what era we’re talking about), had begun to get a little long in the tooth. The big cat hadn’t received a major overhaul since its introduction in 2012 – only receiving incremental upgrades to keep the machine relevant over the past 10 years. The Brits did give the bike some refreshes and new tech over that time, but nothing compared to the latest iteration that I was lucky enough to get a proper two-day test of around the backroads and trails of the Iberian Peninsula.

Honda Hawk 11 Revealed, But Many Questions Remain

Only for Japan... for now This weekend, at the 2022 Osaka Motorcycle Show, Honda revealed the new Hawk 11, a new café racer based on the Africa Twin and NT1100 sport-tourer platform. And while Honda released several details about the Hawk 11, there is still a lot of vital information that has not been provided.

Church of MO: 2002 Buell XB9R Vs. Ducati 900SS

Well lookit that: I was already a Buell apologist 20 years ago. The low-handlebarred XB9R was Buell’s first with the sweet Verlicchi fuel-in-frame design, but it was the XB9S that came out the following year that we still covet. Meanwhile, taste may finally be catching up to the new Ducati 900SS Pierre Terblanche designed in 1998.

2022 Yamaha NEO's, E01 Electric Scooter Details Released

Swappable batteries help extend range, but only to a point Following the initial announcement of its electric mobility strategy, Yamaha has released full specifications for the NEO’s scooter and confirmed proof-of-concept testing of the larger E01 model will commence in July. Yamaha has described the NEO’s as providing performance on par with a 50cc gasoline-powered scooter. We now know the NEO’s offers a claimed peak output of 3.4 hp, with a nominal power output of 3.1 hp.

KTM 790 Duke Returns for 2022

The Scalpel is back In a surprising move, KTM is bringing back the 790 Duke, returning “the Scalpel” to its lineup in select markets after a very brief absence. The 790 Duke was introduced in 2017, but it was quickly supplanted by the 890 Duke R in 2019 as KTM’s top middleweight naked. The 790 was dropped completely for the 2021 model year, replaced by a new non-R 890 Duke.

Qianjiang-Built 353cc Harley-Davidson Inches Closer to Production

VIN decoder confirms 353cc Parallel-Twin engine A small displacement Harley-Davidson model developed with Chinese manufacturer Qianjiang may finally be nearing production. The prospective 350cc model has been in the works since 2019, and despite design filings of the bike and a look at the Harley-branded engine, we haven’t heard any official statement on when it will go into production. Harley-Davidson first showed renderings of its small-displacement model in 2019.

2023 Honda ST125 Dax Announced for Europe

Fast Facts T-shaped chassis Tiny 1-gallon fuel tank IMU-based ABS No word on US availability Another friendly little retro Minimoto from Honda Honda announced a new 125cc Minimoto for Europe, reviving the Dax model name for a new generation of riders. The name was originally used in Europe in 1969 for Honda’s ST-series in 50 and 70cc models, and last produced from 1995 to 2003 in Japan. The name comes from “Dachshund”, as its distinctive T-shaped frame resembles the weiner dog breed, helping it stand out from Honda’s other minibikes like the Monkey and Cub.

2023 Ducati Panigale V4 SP2 First Look

Fast Facts Lightweight carbon wheels STM-EVO SBK dry clutch Matte Black Winter Test livery MSRP $39,500 Ducati's "Ultimate Racetrack Machine" As we had previously reported last month, Ducati is introducing a new Panigale V4 SP2, a numbered series production model it bills as “The Ultimate Racetrack Machine.” Internationally, the SP2 is a 2022 model, but for North America, it will arrive in dealerships in the fourth quarter as a 2023 model. A follow up to 2021’s SP model, the SP2 takes all the updates the Panigale V4 and V4 S received for 2022, and adds a number of upgrades to make it worthy of the “Sport Production” label and $39,500 price tag. These upgrades include carbon wheels, Brembo Stylema R calipers, MCS radial master cylinder, STM-EVO SBK dry clutch, lightened 520 chain, billet Rizoma footpegs and a matt black Winter Test livery.