Latest motorcycle news, reviews, and editorials

While we're all awaiting official word of a new R 1300 GS, BMW surprised us with a teaser for an entirely different model: a new M 1000 XR.

When British businessman John Bloor resurrected Triumph motorcycles in the late '80s and early '90s, he utilized cutting-edge manufacturing technology and clever modular design principles in an effort to allow the company to compete with the established Japanese motorcycle brands.

The California Air Resources Board has issued an executive order for the Honda XL750 Transalp, certifying the mid-sized adventure-tourer for the 2024 model year.

Details about the new 2024 BMW R 1300 GS have popped up in vehicle homologation data in Switzerland, confirming the next-generation GS including some initial specifications. Full information remains to be confirmed, but based on the data, and the spy photos that have popped up over the last few years, here's what we know.

Normally, Church of MO features are all about motorcycle reviews we've done from a time long, long ago. It's fun to take a trip back in time to see what we thought about yesteryear's motorcycles back when they were new. Today's Church feature is a little different. Today's motorcycles are basically sophisticated computers on two wheels. Making them go faster or perform better is less the result of turning a wrench, and more a product of pushing a button on a laptop. But tuning via computers instead of wrenches isn't a new concept. As proof, we take you back to the year 2000 and this ECU module to improve the performance of... a Harley-Davidson Dyna. Although the Dyna was carbureted, playing with spark and altering when the air/fuel ratio goes pop compared to what the factory says is still a staple of tuning today.

It might be old enough to drink, but this fully-kitted 2001 BMW K 1200 LT Custom still looks brand new. And as you can tell by the pictures, it's been outfitted with a ton of goodies to make it an absolute delight for burning away miles on the road – for a little extra, the owner is even throwing in 15 cu. ft. trailer. With nearly 42,000 miles on the clock, if you do the math, that comes out to a little under 1,900 miles a year – it's barely been ridden!

You can see the full list of mods and maintenance in the reprint of the ad below, or visit the bmwlt.com forum. For $6,100, it seems like a great buy for the right person.

Lightfighter Racing nearly 4 years on…

I might as well just come out and say it: In my years as a motojournalist, I’ve had the pleasure of testing dozens of track leathers, from ill-fitting, inexpensive off-the-rack items to full-on custom-sized suits, and the Alpinestars Fusion Race Suit is the most comfortable and best breathing one I’ve ever had the pleasure of donning. Since that’s my opinion, I figured I shouldn’t string you readers out. However, if you want to find out why I feel this way, I’d be happy to tell you. 

"Entry-level" denim... starting at $199.

Begin press release:

KTM has updated its enduro range for 2024, including both two-stroke and four-stroke models and the U.S. street legal 350 EXC-F and 500 EXC-F. The entire lineup has been revamped, with KTM claiming 95% of the components are new, including the frame, suspension, and bodywork.

Imagine doing what you do for a living and at the end of the day being thrilled you’re still alive. - Lee Johnston

No conversation around the Isle of Man TT is complete without talking about the very real possibility of death. More than any other competition in the world today, few, if any, are more dangerous than the Isle of Man TT. But ask anyone who competes in the legendary race (or has ever competed in it) and you’ll hear a general theme about why they do it: Passion. Love. Fulfillment.

GasGas is preparing to introduce a new __________ for 2024, which we expect to be very similar to the KTM __________ and the Husqvarna __________. Oops, I forgot to fill in the blanks there, but I think you get the gist. It's no secret that GasGas, following its acquisition by Pierer Mobility, has been introducing motorcycles that are essentially reskinned versions of KTM models. The same goes for Husqvarna too, which gets a similar treatment, only with their frames powder-coated blue instead of KTM orange and GasGas red.

Last week, we posted about how Kawasaki is set to reveal 16 new models on June 6, including a revamped ZX-6R (and probably a ZX-6RR). That's good news for the ailing middleweight sportbike contingent and a sign that 600s aren't dead – at least not yet. So, to appreciate where the ZX-6R is going, we thought it would be appropriate to take a look back to 1998, and our review of the ZX-6R, to see where the bike has been.

When I first set out to modify Yamaha’s MT-10 SP, the mission was to prove what we say here at MO all the time: that simple mods can transform a motorcycle. All I did was change the brake pads and rotors, swap out the exhaust, and reflash the ECU. After that was said and done, this new and improved MT-10 really is a blast to ride – and it all happened for under $1000. I really didn’t need the rotors either, so that could have saved an extra couple hundred bucks.

Scam or steal? You decide.

Astute readers are probably wondering why Motorcycle.com is publishing a First Ride of a bike that’s not coming to the States this model year. Our reasoning is that, thanks to the sleuthing of Dennis Chung, we suspect the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+ will be coming to the U.S. in 2024. (Read about it here.) So, we thought our fellow MOrons might be as interested as we are in how well the new technology incorporated into the GT+ performs. We hope you enjoy this taste of what it has to offer. –EB