Motorcycle Blog on 2040Motos

2017 Moto Guzzi V7 III Stone Review

Guzzi's entry-level roadster gets new cylinder heads and other updates Credit: Photos by Max Tanbara After 50 years of production, an Italian classic much like Joe Pesci and Spaghetti O’s, the Moto Guzzi V7 Stone is now onto its third iteration of Guzzi’s most popular bike. Doses of change have come alongside the new roman numeral for this entry-level classic that remains a quality and affordable standard. 2017 Moto Guzzi V7 III Stone Editor Score: 82.0% Engine 17.0/20 Suspension/Handling 13.0/15 Transmission/Clutch 7.0/10 Brakes 8.0/10 Instruments/Controls 3.0/5 Ergonomics/Comfort 8.0/10 Appearance/Quality 9.0/10 Desirability 8.0/10 Value 9.0/10 Overall Score 82/100 With Moto Guzzi’s signature longitudinally mounted 744cc air-cooled powerplant protruding from its gills, wrapped in a classic-bike bun, alongside modern features such as ABS and traction control, the V7 III Stone is a solid package for the pleasantly affordable $7,990 price tag.

Indian 2018: arrows and tomahawks

The American brand has introduced a line of bikes for the new model year. The main model lines have innovations of various kinds. The most popular upgrade is a revised color scheme that refreshes the look of the motorcycles.

The new Yamaha Tenere is preparing to debut

The next-generation 689cc touring enduro is almost ready. The bike, magnificent in its conciseness and Dakar functionality, is a kind of preview of the future SUV that will replace the XT660Z Tenere. The rival of the BMW F800 GS/F 800 GS Adventure and the promising KTM 790 Adventure borrowed the 689cc inline-two from the Yamaha MT-07 and XSR700 (on these bikes it develops 74.8 hp and 68 Nm).

Ducati Multistrada will increase the "cubes"

In the fall, at the EICMA Milan Motor Show, an updated tourenduro with an engine from the XDiavel muscle bike will appear in the beams of spotlights. According to preliminary data, the bike will replace the 1198.4cc L-twin Testastretta with a 1262cc Testastretta borrowed from the XDiavel. The difference in output between these two engines is negligible - with an identical power of 152 hp.

Ducati Multistrada 950 will turn into a two-wheeled ambulance

During the Pikes Peak Hill Climb Race, two tourenduros will be on the lookout. Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is 156 turns, 12.42 miles (about 20 kilometers) long and an elevation difference of 1439m between the start and finish points. The difficult route requires special doctors' transport, so during the upcoming 95th race, two Ducati Multistrada 950 touring enduros in the appropriate color scheme and with flashing beacons will be on guard for the health of the pilots.

2018 Kymco Xtown 300i ABS Review – First Ride

Cross town for less Credit: Photos by Michael Spain-Smith With a scooter market of less than 30,000 units from major manufacturers a year*, the USA isn’t much of a thing for scooters, and medium-displacement scoots like Kymco’s new $3,999 Xtown are even less of a thing since Honda dropped its PCX 300 and Suzuki fired its Burgman 400. I got to ride the new Kymco Xtown 300i ABS last week, a scooter that replaces two similar-sized models in the Taiwanese company’s line and offers solid value to the scooter rider that wants comfort, convenience and freeway-friendly power. For 2018, Kymco also offers the bigger, faster – and $2,000 pricier – Xciting 400i, but has also dropped the Downtown 300i and People 300i from the line.

Husqvarna upgraded supermoto FS 450

For the 2018 model year, the looks of the Husk has remained virtually unchanged, with the exception of slightly different color graphics. There are some technical metamorphoses, and one of the main ones is a new reverse slip clutch from the Swiss company Suter Industries. But still, it's a familiar fighter with a 449cc single-barreled 63bhp, WP monoshock rear, 16.5" front and 17" rear wheels on Bridgestone slicks.

2018 Kymco Like 150i ABS Review

Get your scoot on for less Scooters are big in European and other markets – around here, not so much. “Scooters and soccer,” Kymco PR rep Peter Jones tells us, “they’re just not a part of our culture.” Still, Kymco doggedly sticks to its guns, offering a full line of scooters where many OEMs have reduced or eliminated their scooter offerings. “The coolest person you know, that’s a scooter rider,” Jones goes on to say, and 54-year-old Taiwanese firm Kymco’s latest offering caters to the coolest of them.

2018 Kymco Xciting 400i Review - First Ride

My fling with a thing Credit: Photos by Michael Spain-Smith We were snuggled into a conference room in the upscale Aloft hotel in Asheville, North Carolina, when PR man Peter Jones kicked off Kymco’s 2018 new-product launch by telling us that scooters in the U.S. market are “such a small thing, they’re not even really a thing… scooters and soccer, they’re just not a part of our culture.” But the lack of scooter culture has made Taiwanese manufacturer Kymco itself a thing. After staying doggedly in the American scooter market for the better part of two decades, Kymco has a coast-to-coast dealer network, a good reputation for reliability and value, and is basically the only purveyor of value-priced, high-performance maxi-scooters.

2018 Kymco Spade 150 Review – First Ride

What's up, niches? Credit: Photos by Michael Spain-Smith Asheville, North Carolina has been the scene of several Kymco product launches, and why not? It’s an oddball little city deep in the heart of Dixie that boasts world-class food, fun and roads.

2018 Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 and Vitpilen 701 Spied

Credit: Photos by BMH-Images When Husqvarna introduced the production models of the Svartpilen 401 street-scrambler and Vitpilen 401 café racer last November, which are based on KTM’s 390 powertrain, we figured it was only a matter of time before we saw larger versions using Husky’s 701 engine. Husqvarna had already presented a Vitpilen 701 in concept form a year earlier, so we were not entirely shocked when we received spy photos of a near-production version (above right) alongside its sibling, a Svartpilen 701. The Vitpilen 701 being tested doesn’t stray too far from the original concept.

Crossover Honda CRF450R again upgraded

The first update is related to the kickstarter, or rather, its absence: now the “single-barrel” in the basic version is started by an electric starter with a very light Li-ion battery. The second difference of the newly rejuvenated CRF450R is the suspension with changed settings - obviously, it steers more fun and perky than before.

Could Ducati Be Sold To Royal Enfield?

Putting the brakes on a rumor Ever since Reuters broke the news last month that Volkswagen is considering unloading Ducati, the rumor mill has been at full churn trying to figure out where the Italian company would end up. Volkswagen, of course, is on the hook for billions in penalties as a result of the Dieselgate scandal, and finding someone willing to fork over a ten-digit check for Ducati would definitely help. The list of potential suitors for Ducati isn’t that long.

Wall-climbing Vespas Star in Italian Art Exhibit

If you find yourself visiting Italy this year, be sure to stop in Florence to see a line of Vespas climbing the wall of the Gallery Hotel Art. The dozen Vespa shells are joined by three other scooters on the ground, each carefully painted by artist Simone D’Auria in an exhibit titled “Freedom” as part of the broader Lungarno Collection art project. D’Auria painted each scooter’s body with a nature-themed livery using a water transfer printing technique.

BMW showed the electric scooter of the future

Motorrad Concept Link is a two-wheeled gadget that understands its owner. An electric propulsion system with a traction battery located in the lower part of the “body” and a motor that transmits traction to the rear wheel via a belt drive is far from the most remarkable aspect of the concept. For example, it has a stretched wheelbase and reverse gear.

BMW is developing a carbon fiber sportbike

The super-exclusive version of the S1000RR, like the Superleggera, features a power structure, carbon fiber empennage and wheels, as well as Öhlins forks, Brembo brakes and an Akrapovič exhaust system. The bike will be released in limited edition.

Yamaha XSR900 wins again

Yamaha's roadster now has one more achievement on the long list - this time the bike was awarded with the prestigious Red Dot Award for design. It is the fifth in a row for this model and the fifth for the company. Not bad huh!

From the gates of the Irbit plant comes the upgraded "citizen" Ural cT

From the gates of the Irbit plant comes the upgraded "citizen" Ural cT - the most affordable motorcycle in the lineup, which has gained points in comfort. The old-school control panel was replaced with a trendy panel with built-in electronics. The second important innovation, for which the riders who decide to buy will sing the glory to IMZ, are the more comfortable “one and a half” seats, which replaced the rubber “frogs” (or “tractor” ones, as you like).

Honda announced a hardcore version of the Africa Twin

At the Motodays show in Rome, Honda announced a hardcore version of the Africa Twin, featuring Dakar styling, technical innovations and a price tag that surpasses the exterior of the motorcycle in severity. The Italian division of Honda has comprehensively modified the CRF1000L, giving it the dashing style of an experimental vehicle along the way. There is a pretty good attempt to endow the motorcycle with the features of a Dakar monster.

Suzuki has updated the GSX-S1000 and GSX-S1000F

The GSX-S1000 street fighter, based on the 2005 Suzuki GSX-R1000 K5 sportbike engine, and its faired F-version came out two years ago. This spectacular couple began the new year of 2017 with updates. The rider will certainly notice the presence of a new clutch with reverse slip, providing smoother downshifts!

Harley-Davidson Unveils New Road King Special

The new modification for 2017 received a Milwaukee-Eight engine, a new fork and rear shock. With a dry weight of 355kg, the bike is powered by a 1750cc Milwaukee-Eight 107 V-twin engine delivering 150Nm at 3250rpm. The same unit is put not only on the Road King line, but also on other bikes from Milwaukee.

Ducati and Diesel create exclusive Diavel

Motorcycle manufacturer Ducati and famous clothing brand Diesel teamed up around the Diavel muscle bike, and this is the result. From the outside, this is an ordinary Diavel, but it differs in a number of stylistic nuances, which, in fact, make it a unique product. One of the main and most noticeable design innovations is the deliberately shabby stainless steel fuel tank.

Sportbike BMW S1000 RR received a turbocharger and almost 300

This formidable "bimmer" appears to have stylistic differences from the standard bike, although the main thing in it is not the design, it’s the technical stuffing. It turns the S1000 RR into a real rocket, dominating all the standard "1-litres". The master decided to increase the power and traction by installing a turbocharger!

The Japanese fantasized about the new Kawasaki Ninja 250

The small sportbike was last updated in 2013, but the next update is just around the corner. The Japanese magazine Young Machine has published a hypothetical (or, who knows, very likely) image of the new generation Kawasaki Ninja 250, which will appear at the end of next year or in 2018. The render is intriguing: according to it, the younger “ninja” can get a “birdcage” frame and a “changeling” fork.

Baggers Brawl

The Harley-Davidson Street Glide, Indian Chieftain, Moto Guzzi MGX21, and Victory Magnum face off in an Old West shootout Credit: Photos by Evans Brasfield | Videos by James Martinec The great American West never suffers fools. When you look at the harsh conditions faced by the hardy souls who set out to claim their fortune in California’s Mojave Desert, the stakes get even higher. Do a little research, and you’ll discover an impressive number of hamlets were born, sometimes prospered, sometimes didn’t, then died – often in dog years.

Aprilia unveils RSV4 R FW-GP sportbike with technical solutions from the world of MotoGP

On the New Year’s Eve, the company from Noale announced the launch of a new customer program for its racing division and removed the cover from four different variants of the RSV4 “sport liter” at once. At the same time, if the first three, in fact, are machines “cut down” to meet the technical regulations of the competition (two superstocks with different degrees of “roasting” RSV4 R FW-SSTK1 and RSV4 R FW-SSTK2, as well as a superbike RSV4 R-FW SBK), then the fourth , RSV4 R FW-GP, is something special. The new Aprilia is actually created on the basis of a road bike, with an implanted engine from the RS-GP 15 grand prix car.

Suzuki will equip motorcycles with turbochargers

To become the owner of a motorcycle with a “snail”, it won’t need to go to the tuners, since in the future the arsenal of the Suzuki brand will be replenished with products with a solution that is not quite typical for serial motorcycles. According to the head of the company, quite advanced and innovative motorcycles will soon return to service. First and foremost, Suzuki bikes will get a turbocharger.

Battle Of The 125cc Ankle Biters, Part 2

Now the real fun begins Credit: Photos by Evans Brasfield | Videos by James Lee Martinec By now, we’ll assume you’ve read the Part 1 of the Ankle Biters test, wherein we asked some newer riders to ride the Honda Grom, Kawasaki Z125 Pro, Kymco K-Pipe 125, and SSR Motorsports Razkull 125. Their job was to give us feedback as to which bike makes the best learner for the absolute noob because it’s been awhile since any of the MO staff could call themselves one. Our riders had a lot of fun with the test, but as for us MOrons, we wanted a bit more excitement once we got a chance to throw a leg over the quartet.

Battle of the 125cc Ankle Biters, Part 1

Honda Grom takes on the Kawasaki Z125, Kymco K-Pipe 125, and SSR Motorsports Razkull 125 Credit: Photos by Evans Brasfield You can thank Honda for reigniting the mini bike craze with the release of the Honda Grom back in 2014. The little 125cc runabout is a refreshing throwback to the days you could grab your board, ride out to the ocean, hit the waves, then jet around town in search of the best carne asada burrito – while maybe sneaking into a skate park for a quick blast. In short, the Grom inspires fun rides at a slower pace.

2017 Moto Guzzi V7 III Video Preview

A classic reborn again Videos by Evans Brasfield, Brett Colpitts Everyone from hipsters to crusty old fogies loves Guzzi’s V7, or at least the idea and the stature of it. However, it seemed a bit dated, even the V7 II introduced a couple of years ago. For 2017, Guzzi is introducing the V7 III, with an updated double-cradle steel frame with revised geometry and new suspension.