Sport Motorcycle Reviews, Tests, and Comparisons https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/reviews/sport-motorcycle-reviews/ Motorcycle Reviews, News on Motorcycles, Specs, Test & Race Results Fri, 28 Jun 2024 06:55:46 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/cropped-UltimateMoto_Circle-512x512-1-32x32.png Sport Motorcycle Reviews, Tests, and Comparisons https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/reviews/sport-motorcycle-reviews/ 32 32 2015 Triumph Bonneville T214 SE Test [10-Year Owner’s Report] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2024/06/27/2015-triumph-bonneville-t214-se-ten-year-test-owners-report/ Fri, 28 Jun 2024 06:55:46 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=283902 The 2015 Triumph T214 Bonneville SE is my third Triumph Bonneville model. The other two—a 2003 Bonneville America and a 1977 Triumph T140J Silver Jubilee Edition 750 Bonneville—set the stage for my interest in the T214. The Bonneville America was a beautiful silver-on-black stretched-out cruiser, while the Silver Jubilee was a gorgeous limited edition commemorating […]

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]]> 2024 Moto Morini Seiemmezzo STR Sport Review https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2024/06/06/2024-moto-morini-seiemmezzo-str-sport-review/ Thu, 06 Jun 2024 08:22:24 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=278136 Moto Morini is back! Of course, that elicits the question from many riders: “Were they ever here?” Well, yes, though the Italian marque was, at best, a niche brand in America. Although Moto Morini has been around since 1937, when Alfonso Morini founded the company in Bologna, it never made serious inroads in the United […]

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]]> 2024 Triumph Scrambler 400 X Review [13 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2024/05/27/2024-triumph-scrambler-400-x-review-13-fast-facts/ Tue, 28 May 2024 05:11:06 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=277888 For those who appreciate the scrambler aesthetic and are looking for an attractively priced and sized model, the 2024 Triumph Scrambler 400 X may be just the ticket. As a smaller sibling to the Scrambler 900 and 1200, the Scrambler 400 X is lighter and more manageable, as well as being everyday practical and affordable […]

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]]> 2024 MV Agusta Turismo Veloce Lusso SCS Test To Death Valley https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2024/05/24/2024-mv-agusta-turismo-veloce-lusso-scs-test-to-death-valley/ Fri, 24 May 2024 08:22:13 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=277814 Friday at 0730. It’s cold, rain is predicted, and we’ve mountains to ride over on our long-planned Death Valley trip. Thoughts of punking out enter my mind, but I’m committed to my riding brothers to make this trip. I wrap myself in my best Held Hakuna battle suit and boots, throw an electric vest underneath, […]

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]]> 2024 Yamaha MT-09 Review [14 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2024/05/18/2024-yamaha-mt-09-review-14-fast-facts/ Sun, 19 May 2024 06:20:55 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=277683 Ten years ago, Yamaha took us to the Dark Side of Japan, where its rabblerousing MT lineup of naked sportbikes call home. The first to greet us on the wrong side of the tracks was the MT-09. But, instead of picking our pockets, it stole our hearts with its snotty punk-rock attitude and penchant for […]

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]]> 2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 Review [A Dozen Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2024/05/06/2024-husqvarna-svartpilen-801-review-a-dozen-fast-facts/ Tue, 07 May 2024 00:15:00 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=277246 With KTM established as a Ready To Race brand by its owner, Pierer Mobility, the pure-street arm of the parent company’s Husqvarna marque slots itself as a distinctive style-oriented brand that doesn’t forget its performance roots. Based on the futuristically styled and sport-focused KTM 790 Duke, the 2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 puts a steampunk/scrambler-inspired wrapper […]

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]]> 2024 KTM 990 Duke Review [A Dozen Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2024/04/21/2024-ktm-990-duke-review-a-dozen-fast-facts/ Mon, 22 Apr 2024 06:13:18 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=276903 Since KTM introduced its parallel-twin-powered middleweight naked motorcycles, the Austrian juggernaut has been roughing up the class with its performance-focused, no-holds-barred approach. First, we met the rowdy 790 Duke, which grew into the snarling 890 Duke variants, all of which left black eyes among the competition regarding carving corners or scuffing knee pucks. Now, that […]

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]]> 2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500 Review [14 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2024/04/19/2024-kawasaki-ninja-500-review-14-fast-facts/ Sat, 20 Apr 2024 05:08:51 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=276864 The world of high-performance sportbikes can be daunting and expensive. Sure, you can purchase racetrack-focused motorcycles armed with 200-horsepower engines and state-of-the-art components that only certified technicians can service. Those are specialized machines with high price, skill, and knowledge entry barriers. Kawasaki understands this and presents a viable option suitable for newbies, the budget-minded, and […]

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]]> 2024 MV Agusta Enduro Veloce Review [18 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2024/04/15/2024-mv-agusta-enduro-veloce-review-18-fast-facts/ Tue, 16 Apr 2024 06:14:30 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=276799 Brand management is not for the faint-hearted. Porsche risked its reputation as a premium sports car brand when it brought the Cayenne SUV to the market in 2002. While the faithful considered it the End Times, 22 years later, the two best-selling Porsches are the Macan and Cayenne SUVs. MV Agusta faced the same style […]

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]]> 2024 Triumph Scrambler 1200 X Review [10 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2024/04/09/2024-triumph-scrambler-1200-x-review-10-fast-facts/ Tue, 09 Apr 2024 18:46:30 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=276447 Success is exciting to navigate, and Triumph wasn’t messing around when it released the Scrambler 1200 range in 2019. The trail-bashing lineup included the cut-throat off-road XE, bolstered by a marginally less dirt-focused XC. Sure, one bike had more suspension travel than the other, but they were similar in specification, price, and outright performance. That […]

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]]> 2024 Aprilia RS 457 Review [A Dozen Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2024/04/06/2024-aprilia-rs-457-review-a-dozen-fast-facts/ Sat, 06 Apr 2024 17:00:17 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=276548 Meet the 2024 Aprilia RS 457. “What’s that?” you ask. Well, it’s Aprilia’s entry into the competitive lightweight sportbike class, capturing the hearts and minds of new riders by wearing the brand’s proven performance mindset and racing pedigree on its sleeve. That’s good news for those looking to cut their teeth on a sport machine […]

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]]> 2024 KTM 390 Duke Review [10 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2024/04/01/2024-ktm-390-duke-review-10-fast-facts/ Mon, 01 Apr 2024 23:30:59 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=276302 Pop the confetti because this year marks the 30th anniversary of KTM’s rambunctious Duke family of motorcycles. The orange brand’s first street bike was the Duke 620, which ushered in a generation of riders partial to skids, stoppies, and wheelies. Hooligan behavior is intrinsic to the Duke range’s DNA from top to bottom, where we […]

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]]> 2024 Kawasaki Z500 Review [12 Fast Facts; SE Version] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2024/03/27/2024-kawasaki-z500-review-12-fast-facts-se-version/ Wed, 27 Mar 2024 07:44:12 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=276084 There may be no better example of mission creep than Kawasaki’s small-bore Ninja model. What started as the Ninja 250R in 1986 grew into the Ninja 300 in 2013, and then the Ninja 400 in 2018. For 2024, we get the Ninja 500, which means the Z400 naked sibling now grows into the 2024 Kawasaki […]

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]]> 2025 Triumph Daytona 660 Review [10 Fast Facts From Spain] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2024/03/24/2025-triumph-daytona-660-review-10-fast-facts-from-spain/ Mon, 25 Mar 2024 05:06:56 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=275964 The middleweight sportbike class has captured the spotlight, shining bright with streetwise ergonomics, real-world performance levels, and fully faired supersport-inspired functionality. Things are hotting up in a segment that includes stalwarts such as the Kawasaki Ninja 650 and Honda CBR650R alongside flame-stoking newcomers such as the Aprilia RS 660, Yamaha YZFR7, and Suzuki GSX-8R. But […]

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]]> 2024 Moto Guzzi Stelvio Review [17 ADV Touring Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2024/03/10/2024-moto-guzzi-stelvio-review-17-adv-touring-fast-facts/ Sun, 10 Mar 2024 09:56:44 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=275634 If any motorcycles embody the adage, “Variety is the spice of life,” it’s those that wave the adventure-touring banner. These all-arounder globetrotters will invariably pound pavement from dusk ’til dawn, venture beyond asphalt’s end, or dip treads in water crossings. And one of Italy’s fabled manufacturers is again answering the mountain’s call with the 2024 […]

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]]> 2024 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE Review [A Dozen Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2024/03/01/2024-triumph-scrambler-1200-xe-review-a-dozen-fast-facts/ Fri, 01 Mar 2024 21:03:41 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=275446 The Triumph marquee appears in more than a few pivotal moments in two-wheeled history, not least of which is the birth of the scrambler. As dutiful custodians of these chronicles, the Hinkley staffers threw down a dusty gauntlet with the Scrambler 1200 range. The result was a rare pairing of authentic style and actual off-road […]

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]]> 2024 Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide ST Review [13 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2024/02/25/2024-harley-davidson-cvo-road-glide-st-review-13-fast-facts/ Mon, 26 Feb 2024 06:54:45 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=275327 The sheer spectacle of MotoAmerica’s King of the Baggers (KOTB) is undeniable. American V-twin touring machines transformed into 620-pound superbikes is a unique head-turning display and a golden opportunity for manufacturers. Drawing parallels between conventional sportbikes on the dealership floor and what’s seen lapping racetracks worldwide is child’s play for any marketing team. But what […]

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]]> 2024 Triumph Speed 400 Review [13 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2024/02/05/2024-triumph-speed-400-review-13-fast-facts/ Mon, 05 Feb 2024 08:32:56 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=274812 The Triumph Speed Twins—the 900 and 1200—have a new sibling. The 2024 Triumph Speed 400 is the first single-cylinder Triumph street bike since the brand was revived 41 years ago by John Bloor. The Speed 400 also draws on the Speed Triple, which features a single shock, more modern styling, and a sportier demeanor than […]

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]]> 2024 Suzuki GSX-8R Review [11 Fast Facts: Track and Street] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2024/01/30/2024-suzuki-gsx-8r-review-11-fast-facts-track-and-street/ Tue, 30 Jan 2024 18:53:59 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=274551 A new breed of middleweight twin-cylinder sportbike is changing the conversation, shaking things up by offering something narrowly focused, race-replica supersport machines can’t—versatility. The 2024 Suzuki GSX-8R lines up against stiff competition, such as the Aprilia RS 660, Yamaha YZF-R7, and the coming-soon Triumph Daytona 660, with the Hamamatsu factory hoping to strike the perfect […]

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]]> 2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 Review [14 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2024/01/17/2024-royal-enfield-shotgun-650-review-14-fast-facts/ Thu, 18 Jan 2024 07:35:11 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=274148 The latest iteration of Royal Enfield’s versatile 650-Twin platform is the bobber-styled Shotgun 650, a visually pleasing and easy-riding motorcycle. Built around the same smooth-powered and friendly engine found in the INT650 standard, Continental GT 650 café racer, and Super Meteor 650 cruiser, the 2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 carves its own niche with a […]

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]]> 2023 BMW R 1250 RS Review [with Premium Package] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/12/22/2023-bmw-r-1250-rs-review-with-premium-package/ Fri, 22 Dec 2023 08:20:23 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=273337 With Associate Editor Jonathan Handler occupied with building the Ultimate Motorcycling BMW R 1250 RS Project Bike, I thought it was a good time to revisit the stock RS. Well, okay, not quite stock. We procured a 2023 BMW R 1250 RS with two of BMW’s packages—the essential Premium Package ($2900) and the good-looking Style […]

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]]> 2004 Honda CBR1000RR Review [Track Tested] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/12/17/2004-honda-cbr1000rr-review-track-tested/ Mon, 18 Dec 2023 05:39:29 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=273058 To read the 2024 Honda CBR1000RR spec sheet is to be intimidated. The mere fact that a road-going motorcycle produces just north of 170 horsepower seems excessive at best—and dangerous at worst—but don’t judge a bike solely on its dynamometer figures. Riding the 2024 Honda CBR1000RR at its Arizona Motorsports Park launch, it quickly became […]

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]]> 2024 Suzuki GSX-S1000GX+ Review [A Dozen Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/12/14/2024-suzuki-gsx-s1000gx-review-a-dozen-fast-facts/ Thu, 14 Dec 2023 18:38:05 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=272686 The 2024 Suzuki GSX-S1000GX+ is the latest sport-touring feather to join the burgeoning GSX-S family cap. As the youngest sibling of the troupe, the GX+ seizes upon today’s trends within the sport-touring market, which often embraces ADV influences, while melding them to established 17-inch-wheel platforms such as the Japanese manufacturer’s own GSX-S1000GT/GT+ that the GX+ […]

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]]> 2024 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+ Touring Test: Las Vegas Bound https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/12/08/2024-yamaha-tracer-9-gt-touring-test-las-vegas-bound/ Fri, 08 Dec 2023 22:37:09 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=272500 When Ultimate Motorcycling got wind of my upcoming trip from my home in Los Angeles to Las Vegas, a desert settlement in the state of Nevada, we decided to turn it into a travel story. Rather than ride my Moto Guzzi V7 III Special again, as I did on my summer trip to Maryland for […]

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]]> 2023 Krämer EVO2-690S Review [Race Tested at Barber] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/12/01/2023-kramer-evo2-690s-review-race-tested-at-barber/ Fri, 01 Dec 2023 16:40:58 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=272282 When putting a new motorcycle through its paces, you want to give it a fair shake in its natural habitat. To wit, ADV bikes seek adventure, cruisers cruise, and sport bikes do sport bike things. By that irrefutable logic, we can infer that race bikes race, which brings us to the 2023 Krämer EVO2-690S—a purpose-built […]

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