A mere 10 days after revealing its E-Pilen Concept, Husqvarna announced a second electric concept, this time an e-scooter it calls the Vektorr.

Designed for urban commuting duty, the Vektorr Concept claims a top speed of 45 kph (28 mph) and a range of up to 95 km (59 miles). Beyond that, Husqvarna provided very little technical detail. We do know, however, that the Vektorr was co-developed with Bajaj, which owns a stake in Pierer Mobility, Husqvarna’s a parent company.

Interestingly, there is no mention of a swappable battery, a feature found on the E-Pilen. Pierer Mobility, through its subsidiary, KTM, is part a consortium for developing a swappable battery pack standard with Piaggio, Yamaha, and Honda. Development of the Vektorr likely began long before Pierer Mobility decided to work with the consortium.

Aprilia has updated its RS 125 and Tuono 125 for 2021, making them Euro 5-complaint and tweaking the styling of the entry-level street bikes to resemble their respective 660 models. The two 125 models are designed to serve beginners with Europe’s A1 license, which unfortunately also means they are unlikely to be imported to the U.S.

To meet Euro 5, the 124.2cc liquid-cooled four-valve DOHC Single has been revamped with a new cylinder head that uses new intake and exhaust ducts, a new iridium spark plug and a reshaped combustion chamber. The entire intake line was redesigned and the throttle body was moved to a higher position for a more direct air flow. The exhaust system was also updated and now uses a more efficient catalyst.

There’s something about inexpensive twin-cylinder middleweight naked bikes like the Yamaha MT-07 (and former FZ-07) that appeals to us. Their simplicity and practicality, combined with their spirited riding attributes make them hard not to love. Clearly, the riding public feels the same, as other manufacturers are starting to get in on the action, making the choices in this category bigger and bigger. Through it all, the MT-07 has been a mainstay since its introduction in 2015.

Our full-length 2021 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special review spanned more than 4,000 words to fully describe Harley’s new adventure bike. That’s a lot of words, but there is a lot to cover with a brand new motorcycle in a hot category like the adventure segment – and even moreso when a manufacturer, whose entire line exists of cruisers, builds a bike outside its wheelhouse. 

2021 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special Review – First Ride

Harley-Davidson had a video crew on-site during the model introduction and let me blabber to the camera after two long days of riding that left me tired, sweaty, dirty, and sunburnt – but also thoroughly impressed. The result is a mildly coherent rambling of what stood out to me at that time (and still does, thankfully). 

We’ve written before about Yamaha‘s fascination with arts and crafts and how to make a miniature Niken out of wool. It looks like the pandemic hasn’t quelled its creativity, as Yamaha’s latest project is making a mask shaped like an R1M‘s face.

Designed with help from the Japan Wool Felt Association, the R1M mask is created through needle felting, a technique of forming shapes by stabbing wool using a barbed needle to combine and compress the fibers. Yamaha provides a template and step-by-step instructions on how to make the mask.

Laguna Seca’s most prominent feature is the world-famous Corkscrew – the undulating left-right flick that you enter blind, which then proceeds to drop you three stories as you plunge into Rainey Curve. It’s a thrilling piece of asphalt every motorsport enthusiast should experience someday. But one of the more underappreciated sections of the track, especially for motorcyclists, is the hill leading up to the Corkscrew. Tackling it aboard the updated 2021 Aprilia RSV4 really makes you feel alive.

The 2022 Suzuki GSX-S1000 has undergone a thorough restyling and is said to boast engine changes that deliver more broad range torque in the low- to mid-range where the GSX-S had been criticized in prior tests. These updates also bring the GSX-S up to Euro 5 standards. When we compared the last GSX to its predecessor, it had gained smoothness at the throttle but lost horsepower and torque in the process. Hopefully, this trend hasn’t continued with the 2022 model, but only time will tell.

Harley’s been teasing us with this one since the end of its 2021 model launch presentation and now the dream is real – a limited edition Electra Glide Revival model will be the first in Harley’s new “Icons Collection.” And the Motor Co. says it will build one or two more Icons based on historic models annually in the years to come. The first celebrates the 1969 Electra Glide, which was the first Hog to wear the now iconic batwing fairing. The Electra Glide Revival model will be limited to a one-time build of 1,500 serialized examples, scheduled to reach dealers in late April, and floating an MSRP of $29,199.

Pricey, yes, but the Iconic exterior belies the modern internals, including a Milwaukee 8 114-inch V-twin, Boom! Box GTS infotainment system with color touch screen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay software compatibility, and Harley’s whole bag of RDRS (Reflex Defensive Rider Systems) Safety Enhancements. It’s a shame about that whole Robert Blake murder thing; how cool an Electra Glide in Blue might have been. Then again, it could still happen. That whole bad boy thing…

Harley-Davidson Confirms Limited Edition Electra Glide Revival *UPDATE*

Harley-Davidson Press Release: 

Husqvarna revealed its new electric E-Pilen Concept, offering a taste of what the company promises will be a range of zero-emissions products.

Well folks, the latest Harley machine to grace the motorcycle market jumps, slides, and rips with the best of them – “them” of course, being the heavyweight adventure motorcycle class. The entire world had its reservations, some optimistic, and plenty pessimistic. But after cruising for two days on the 2021 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special, it’s clear that it’s adept at much more than just that. 

Harley-Davidson reported a 9% increase in motorcycle sales volume and 12% increase in  sales revenue over the first quarter of 2021, encouraging signs that the new Hardwire business plan is paying off.

According to its first quarter 2021 report, Harley-Davidson reported sales of 44,200 motorcycles, compared to 40,400 motorcycles sold in the same period last year. The increase was fueled almost entirely by North American sales, which saw a 30% jump to 32,800 units over the quarter. This was enough to more than offset a 36% decline in European sales, which was impacted by the company’s decision to stop selling Sportster and Street models in those markets.

Triumph’s Street Scrambler is just what the name implies. If you want to blaze a two-wheeled path to freedom off-road, there are Scrambler 1200s XC and XE. But the more approachable (and affordable) Street Scrambler is for more urbane adventures, with Triumph’s less powerful, 900 cc twin, less suspension travel, and a lower seat height that’s accessible to nearly everybody. For 2022, just like the upscale Scramblers, the SS is now Euro 5 compliant, and along with that come a few subtle yet tasty upgrades. 

Jan Brady was a middle sibling in the `70s sit-com The Brady Bunch, who got no respect as a result of her Coke-bottle glasses, lack of acting skills, and that none of the three Brady sisters on the show could hold a candle to the beauty of Alice the housekeeper. Which is kind of the situation the Honda XR250R found itself in 25 years ago – smaller-pistoned and therefore less desirable than the XR400 and XR650. Anyway, all those air-cooled beasts were unkillable when you could get them to (kick)start, and Honda will still sell you a brand-new XR650 if you desire one as Alice desired Sam the butcher.

Motorcycle art. MV Agusta’s tagline for years, if there’s one thing the Italian company is known for, it’s pumping out motorcycles that never fail to grab your attention. And while the Tamburini-designed F4 still ranks as one of the most stunning motorcycles ever made, I’m going to rank this, the MV Agusta Superveloce, as the first MV since the F4 to even come close to capturing hearts the same way.

Indian Motorcycle has filed trademark applications in multiple markets for “Scout Rogue,” suggesting a new Scout variant is in the works.

The trademark was first filed April 1 with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, with subsequent filings made today with trademark offices in Australia and the European Union. In each instance, the name “Scout Rogue” was registered for use with “motorcycles and structural parts therefor.” While that description is relatively vague, we can make some inferences from what we know from recent history of both Indian and its parent company, Polaris Industries.

Everybody wants to win the heritage war, including Royal Enfield, who claim they’re the oldest motorcycle marque out there in continuous production – since 1901. Does it matter that about half those years were in India? I guess it shouldn’t. Do car manufacturers battle it out to be the oldest?

KTM is taking its flagship naked bike to the next level with a limited edition 2021 1290 Super Duke RR. KTM will produce only 500 units of the Super Duke RR, but haven’t confirmed whether it will be offered in North America.

Remember the day you took your first long ride on your very first motorcycle? The weather was TV-commercial sunny as you rolled down the two-lane highway away from home. The wind flowing past your body was filled with excitement as the engine sang beneath your seat. You had the world by the handlebars, and you knew this was the beginning of Great Things, that many Good Times were about to be had – all because you had chosen to take your first steps towards becoming a motorcyclist. For many of us, it was this moment that set the hook, leading to a lifetime of motorcycling, and was less a decision and more of a calling than just about any experience before it. At least that’s how it was for me, and this is the memory I had during the first hour riding the 2021 Moto Guzzi V7. 

Rather hard to believe that KTM didn’t build its first street motorcycle until 1996 – the Duke 620. Since then, the Austrians have built so many excellent Dukes, RC sportbikes, and great adventure motorcycles it’s hard to remember the time before. Today we look back 20 years to when the orange brand decided to make a push into the world of motocross. It took them a while to get there, but they did achieve three Supercross titles in a row with Ryan Dungey, 2015 through 2017. An Easter reading from the book of Kato.

BMW is inching closer to launching the new CE 04 electric scooter, as the company has filed designs for the production model with the European Union Intellectual Property Office.

UPDATE May 18, 2021: BMW confirms that the production model of the Definition CE 04 scooter will be revealed this summer.

We last saw the scooter in concept form as the Definition CE 04 last November. At the time, BMW called the Definition “near-series,” with Ralf Rodepeter, BMW Motorrad’s head of marketing and product management, saying the finished version could arrive in showrooms in a matter of months.

Those months have slowly ticked away, with the new design filings, submitted Feb. 25 with the EUIPO, showing us what the production version of the CE 04 may look like. As we can see from the image juxtaposition below, the registered design stays fairly close to the Definition concept, but with some telltale clues to indicate it is for the production model.

It’s all about the SPT says Brandon Kraemer, who’s spent the last three years of his life working on the new 2022 Indian Chiefs as Senior Product Director. People want Style, they want Performance, and they want Technology (even if many of them don’t quite realize they want that last one).

The Aprilia Tuono 660 is a bike that I’ve been eager to ride since I first laid eyes on the pretty production-ready looking concept at EICMA 2019. Even through what was left of my tired red occhi, dried from so many hours of planes, trains, and automobiles (what I would give for that now!), I was digging the “naked” version of the RS660 more than the sportybike itself.

The 2021 Kawasaki KLX300SM might be the best new beginner motorcycle on the market. Did that get you fired up? Lemme ‘splain. It’s obvious that the new KLX300SM can be a lot of fun for riders of all levels, but there are some clear advantages of a supermoto-style motorcycle for the uninitiated. 

In recent years, motorcycles like the 2021 Kawasaki KLX300 have become increasingly more popular, not only due to its small displacement, but also because it gives riders the versatility of having a mount that’s street legal while being able to handle duties in the dirt without being too intimidating. The KLX update couldn’t come at a better time for folks interested in dual-sport motorcycles. In a world ravaged by COVID-induced change, motorcycling – particularly the off-road segment – has enjoyed a welcome surge of interest for those looking for a new way to fill their time while still maintaining a safe distance from their fellow humans. 

For a helluva lot of American motorcyclists, tradition is important, and a lot of people want something that looks traditional on the outside, even if it’s verging on revolutionary inside. I think that’s kind of what’s going on with Honda’s new Rebel 1100. The profile says cruiser, but a slightly closer look reveals Honda’s done trying to copy Harley with fake cooling fins and plastic chrome gewgaws (though the Fury et al remain in the lineup). The new Rebel wears its liquid-cooled 1084cc Unicam parallel Twin from the Africa Twin right out in the open.

2021 Honda Rebel 1100 DCT First Ride Review

The Rebel’s cruiser ergos had my hip flexors concerned at first, but even my old body adapted pretty quickly to the highish pegs beneath the 27.5-inch seat. I could hang my 30-in legs atop the pegs when droning along to stretch them out. For 5’8” me the handlebar was a bit forward; later I was able to rotate it down and rearward a smidge, where it was just about perfect. For me, the thick seat’s a fine shape and comfortable enough.

Twenty-five years ago the Aprilia RSV1000 Mille won our Open Twins shootout, the SL1000 Falco was a staff favorite, and the Scarabeo 150 scooter was “practically Italian sex in a practical package.” Wait, what? Anyway, the Futura was and is a great sport-tourer, but maybe not great enough, since Aprilia pulled the plug after 2005. Have they built a sport tourer since? I think not. Shudder to think how good a thing to ride an RSV4 Futura might’ve been.

You have to be careful what you say in meetings. We were yukking it up over unlikely Top 10 ideas the other day, when I threw out “Most Revolutionary Harleys.” A few weeks later, here we are. The joke’s on me. After a little investigation and contemplation, it turns out a bunch of Harleys were pretty revolutionary, in the context of Harley-Davidson at least. And when you start bagging on Harley for being a bit hidebound, you also need to step back and try to remember the last time Honda ventured outside its box? Or Suzuki? The bigger and older the company, the more things stay the same – mostly because that’s how the customer likes it. But not so much these ten things:

The Multistrada has always been an exciting machine. It showcases Ducati’s sporting heritage in an upright touring-focused package that has been an absolute weapon in the canyons for some time thanks to its sporty V-Twin and 17-inch wheel combo. The latter, however, is exactly why the big Ducati could never quite hang with its ADV rivals when the pavement ran out. In addition to the stonking Granturismo V4, which has been specifically designed for adventure touring, the `21 Multi now features a 19/17-inch wheel combo that makes all the difference when the road runs out.

2021 Ducati Multistrada V4 Review – First Ride

The new V4 Granturismo boasts a slightly larger, 1158cc displacement thanks to its 2mm larger bores. Stroke and compression ratio remain the same at 53.5mm and 14:1. The V4 Granturismo engine is said to weigh 147 lbs, making it a touch over two pounds lighter than the outgoing Testastretta DVT V2 and five pounds heavier than the Stradale V4. It’s also more compact than the V-Twin. The V4 is 3.3 inches shorter front to back and 3.7 inches shorter in height compared to the Multi 1260’s engine. Width has increased a tad by 0.8 inches. Ducati tells us the Granturismo V4 is cranking out 170 ponies at 10,500 rpm and 92.2 lb-ft at 8750.

“E” for ETHOS is in the air, people are starting to take action instead of just saying they care about the atmosphere. Purchasing electric cars, reusable grocery bags, cups, paper straws, and the repurposing of man-made matter; recycling is on the rise everywhere. Serial 1 ebike is Harley Davidson’s delve into the e-ssisted bicycle – announced in November of 2020. It’s also a clear connection to the re-cycling of heritage, since Harley’s first motorcycle ever is referred to as Serial 1. Harley-Davidson’s engineering strength, production prowess, and resources reaped from the love of feeling the freedom of two-wheeled mobility inspires the clear connection between Harley-Davidson motorcycles and its brand new bicycle brand. In fact, Serial 1 is now its own Lehi, Utah-based company, with H-D holding a large part of the equity.

The three sacred pillars of its 90%-new Generation 3 MT-09, says Yamaha, are value, torque, and agility. Value-wise, the bottom line has crept up $400 to $9,399, but that’s not bad for a brand new Yamaha with all the gewgaws this one’s got. As for torque, the retuned-for-Euro 5 Triple goes from 847 to 890 cc, gaining 6% more twisting force in the process. 

2021 Yamaha MT-09 Review – First Ride

Yamaha UK’s website pegs that at 68.6 lb-ft at 7000 rpm, and 117.4 horsepower at 10,000 rpm. That’s slightly less than a nice Kawasaki Z900 four-banger or KTM 890 Duke, but definitely in the ballpark.

Agility-wise, the new MT weighs just 417 pounds, says Yamaha, which is a whopping 51 fewer than a 468-lb Z900 – and only 9 more than our 2020 Motorcycle of the Year KTM Duke 890 R. Lightness is expensive; the KTM is quite a bit more money than the Yamaha. Heck, Yamaha says the new MT-09 is only 11 pounds heavier than a MT-07.

Along with that light weight and power, an all-new Controlled Fill aluminum frame continues the agility theme, adds stability at speed, and makes the new bike way easier on the orbs than the outgoing model. The new frame that ties the MT’s headstock to its (new) swingarm is a really graceful work of engineering art. Yamaha says the frame is but 1.7mm thick at its thinnest point, and designed for 50% more lateral stiffness as well as greater strength torsionally and longitudinally.

Throw in better suspension than the 09’s ever rolled on before, a standard up/down quickshifter, a 6-axis IMU controlling the new traction control and lean-sensitive brakes – and the newest Master of Torque looks like an even better bargain than it’s always been since the first FZ-09 in 2014. And, the new MT-09 SP, which should be here shortly, might be an even better one, since it adds cruise control and upscale suspension including a fully adjustable Öhlins shock for only $1600 more: $10,999.

Anyway, it wouldn’t be a road test without a video would it? So here it is. And here’s the written road test from last week in case you missed that. No trees were harmed in publishing it.

We’ve already expended a ton of pixels talking about the new Harley-Davidson Pan America, most recently here. But Harley put out even more detailed pics and info in this release a few weeks ago about the all-new 1250 Revolution Max, or “Revmax” V-twin engine, that’s going to power it. 

Eschewing the “not invented here” mentality it’s famous for, Harley included more sweet details in the new engine than you might’ve expected, including variable valve timing and scissors gear primary drive. Dual counterbalancers on a Harley? That’s correct, because: “Engine balancing contributes to weight reduction and motorcycle performance because engine components do not have to be designed to withstand stress inputs from vibration.” Though they couldn’t resist: “The balancers are tuned to retain just enough vibration to make the motorcycle feel `alive.’”

Hydraulic valve adjusters are a thing seldom found on motorcycles but almost always on cars, and we don’t understand why (peak rpm is 9500 here). And though you should never have to remove these cams to adjust valves since they’re hydraulic, you are able to lift the cams out without disassembling the camshaft drive if you need to – ala, the old TL1000 Suzuki and current V Strom 1050 engine. Somebody’s using their noggin. 

Furthermore, H-D claims 150 horsepower and 94 ft-lbs torque (crankshaft) for its new engine, which is fully 30 hp and 7 ft-lbs more than Indian says its excellent liquid-cooled FTR1200 puts out. H-D’s not meaning to just provide comparable performance, but to blow its upstart competitor out of the water. Not that the Pan America and the FTR are quite in the same motorcycle category, but you know you’ll be seeing the Revmax in a bunch of new Harleys beyond the PA. We’ll have to wait for the dyno to tell the tale.

Finally, contrary to what you may have read, Harley’s Paul James would like to point out that this is an entirely new engine, with no parts shared with the Revolution (V-Rod) engine or Revolution X (Street) engine. It was also not a partnered or purchased engine, but rather entirely designed and developed in-house by HDMC and made in Milwaukee.

Harley-Davidson Press Release:

MILWAUKEE (February 22, 2021) – The Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 and Pan America 1250 Special models are powered by the all-new Revolution Max 1250 engine, a liquid-cooled V-Twin designed to offer flexible, engaging performance with a broad powerband that builds to a rush of high-RPM power surging through the redline. The Revolution Max 1250 engine has been tuned specifically to deliver desirable power characteristics for the Pan America 1250 and Pan America 1250 Special models, with an emphasis on smooth low-end torque delivery and low-speed throttle control applicable to off-road riding.

“Through its history Harley-Davidson has embraced technological evolution while respecting the heritage of our brand, with engines that produce real-world performance for real-life riders,” said Harley-Davidson Chief Engineer Alex Bozmoski. “The Revolution Max 1250 is a clean-sheet, advanced-design effort that will carry Pan America riders over new horizons with reliability, efficiency, and exciting performance.”

A focus on performance and weight reduction drove both vehicle and engine architecture, material choices, and aggressive component design optimization. To minimize overall motorcycle weight the engine is integrated into the vehicle as the central member of the chassis. The use of lightweight materials helps achieve a desirable power-to-weight ratio. The Revolution Max 1250 engine is assembled at the Harley-Davidson Pilgrim Road Powertrain Operations facility in Wisconsin.

Revolution Max 1250 Engine

Displacement: 1250cc

Bore x Stroke: 4.13 in. (105 mm) x 2.83 in (72 mm)

Horsepower: 150 hp

Peak Torque: 94 ft. lbs.

Peak RPM: 9500

Compression Ratio: 13:1

While we have previously covered the impending bagger and touring variants of the BMW R18, CARB filings have now confirmed plans to deliver these models to the buying public. As published last year with spy pictures, a touring version of the BMW R18 cruiser had been spotted sporting a fork-mounted windscreen and leather saddlebags. A potential competitor to the Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic, this touring model joins the cruiser and fairing-mounted bagger versions we uncovered in design filings in late February 2020.

Different is good. Change is good. Not fitting precisely into a predetermined category is good. That was the take-away from many when the Indian FTR1200 hit the market in 2019. Made in America with naked bike styling, a flat-track-esque wheel combo, and a rowdy performance-focused V-Twin engine, the FTR was unlike anything to come from an American manufacturer for quite some time – and arguably the best culmination of its mass-produced parts ever assembled Stateside. 

In between feedings for his newborn child, Motorcycle.com’s sleuth, Dennis Chung, has informed us that Harley-Davidson has filed a new trademark application in Europe for the name Nightster. 

Why do we care? Because the Sportster line has been discontinued in Europe, and in the US it only exists in three forms: the Iron 883, Iron 1200, and Forty-Eight – a far cry from the heyday of the Sportster line. Because of this, it’s hard to believe that Harley would simply let one of its most legendary model lines fade away into the depths of history. That Harley is using Nightster, a name for a previous Sportster, would suggest the Sportster line’s replacement will still be called Sportsters (this was always likely, but this further cements it).

It’s hard to say with any more detail what Harley has up its sleeve at this point, but The Motor Company has also previously filed trademarks both in Europe and the US for 48X, which could be another potential new Sportster. This isn’t much of a stretch for the imagination, of course, considering the Forty-Eight we currently have. So, an evolution of the model is likely (hence the X in the name). 

In between feedings for his newborn child, Motorcycle.com’s sleuth, Dennis Chung, has informed us that certification filings in Australia have given us a little bit more information about the 2021 Harley-Davidson Livewire. The first of the major manufacturers to produce a full-fledged electric motorcycle, the Livewire brings with it some cutting-edge technology and performance. Eventually, though, every motorcycle needs to get updated and the Livewire is no exception.

The Australian certification filing doesn’t necessarily tell us a great deal, but what it does tell us is pretty important: The weight has gone up and the power has gone down.

According to the 2020 filing, the Livewire is listed at 249 kg (549 lbs) and 78 kW (105 hp) at 11,000 rpm. The 2021 filing shows revised numbers of 255 kg (562 lbs) and 75 kW (101 hp) at 10,500 rpm. 

Remember back in the day of group gatherings how hard it could be to find time in everyone’s busy schedules to congregate? To get together for a week-long ride or some other getaway? Without fail everything would start to slot into place just in time for your best friend to have something come up. You’d try to reschedule and that too would fall apart for one reason or another. The phrase “herding cats” comes to mind. Locking down this group of middleweight adventure bikes was kind of like that. It’s a test we’ve been attempting to schedule for six months. As is always the case, some “friends” are more reliable than others. 

But, none of that matters now because here we are with the MVPs of the scorchin’ hot middleweight adventure segment. Never you mind that these “middleweight’s” displacements have continued to swell as is tradition in motorcycling these days. Rather, focus on the real world functionality of these machines. These bikes are lighter, smaller, and more manageable than their 1200cc(+) counterparts, which, at least for me, makes them more enticing to push the envelope off-road. 

The obvious choice to follow-up the RS660 in Aprilia’s lineup, the Noale-based factory has now officially released details on the 2021 Tuono 660. Taking a page from the RSV4/Tuono V4 playbook, the smaller siblings share the same relation, as the Tuono 660 is essentially a “stripped down” version of its RS brother, meant first and foremost to be ridden on the street.Everything You

Want To Know About The Aprilia RS660 (Except What It’s Like To Ride)

We use quotes around stripped down because, just like the V4 Tuono, there’s still quite a bit of plastic to be found with the Tuono 660, including the double fairing up front with the hidden winglets. What’s interesting is that, during the RS660 press briefing, Aprilia downplayed the winglet’s downforce effect and played up rider comfort, saying the winglets were primarily to channel hot air from the engine away from the rider. In its press materials, Aprilia still says the winglets move hot air away from the rider, but also “contributes to optimized stability at high speeds.”

Triumph Bonneville is one of those iconic motorcycles that even non-riders know the name of, perhaps because their father rode one back in the day. In recent years, the Bonneville has grown into a decent-sized family, and like all families, the Bonnevilles change over time. Today, the 2021 Triumph Bonneville family made their first public appearance, and apparently, they have been taking pretty good care of themselves during the pandemic. While Euro 5 compliance leads the list of changes each Bonnie model underwent, the good folks at Hinckley took the opportunity to grace a handful of key changes on each Bonneville model.

The long wait is over, and the 2021 Harley-Davidson Pan America, first sleuthed out on MO in 2017 and  announced in 2018, is finally here. Despite the “we’re not late to the adventure market; we invented it way back in the early 1900s” tone of the announcement video, the Pan America looks to be an exciting adventure bike. Still, the fact remains that the Motor Company is a late entry into the well-established, ridiculously-competitive adventure market. (Let’s not forget that much of the adventure segment’s growth is now in the ultra-hot middleweight class, not the heavyweights.) The Pan America is the most important new motorcycle Harley has announced in years, and it has a lot riding on it. After all, the latest quarterly report showed some rather large red numbers ($96 million in 2020’s fourth fiscal quarter). Regardless, we are always interested in what Harley has to offer as it makes another foray outside of the heavyweight cruiser/tourer market that it almost exclusively inhabits. 

We’ve been intrigued with what the name Pan America holds for the riding public since 2017, and we’re excited that the time is officially at hand. There will be two models, the Pan America 1250 ($17,319) and the Pan America 1250 Special ($19,999). Here are five things you need to know about the motorcycle that Harley has pinned so many hopes on in 2021. 

I’ve been fortunate enough to attend the last two Ducati Multistrada press launches for MO. In late 2017, I was in Gran Canaria putting the then-new Multistrada 1260 through an endless series of switchbacks up the side of a volcano. I came away thoroughly impressed with the chassis and quickness of that big adventure/sport/touring bike. In addition to the motorcycle’s natural ability, the electronics suite allowed the ride to be tailored to fit a large swath of rider preferences. From the throttle response to the suspension – all was easily adjusted with the handlebar’s switchgear. It was the swiss army knife of motorcycles, I thought.

Twenty-five years ago the literbike balanced above a sharp precipice: On one side was the light new Honda CBR900RR Fireblade, and on the other were older, bigger bikes like the Yamaha FZR1000 and Kawasaki ZX-9R that you could actually go places on. Not knowing what to call the new bike they’d just built to bridge the gap to the new YZF-R1 that would be sprung two years later, Yamaha came up with Thunderace, nicely in keeping with the 600 cc Thundercat. Why not? In those days, MO was an international affair. Take it away, Colin, Ken, and Nigel. Check’s in the mail.

It says something when the biggest talking point about an updated motorcycle is the electronics package, but that’s exactly where we’ll begin as today MV Agusta has announced its updated Brutale and Dragster lineup for 2021.

Now, to be clear, there’s plenty to talk about with the Brutale and Dragster. You don’t have a rolling art exhibit like these two bikes and not talk about them, but focusing too much on the nuts and bolts of these two machines is not really the point. Let’s just take a second to admire the eye-catching looks MV designers have so masterfully sculpted.

One hundred years ago, in 1921, Indian Motorcycle launched the Indian Chief. At the time, nobody could have imagined what a cultural – and motoring – icon that bike would turn out to be. A century on and a lot has changed since then, including the rise and fall and rise again of the Indian Motorcycle company. But today marks an important day, as Indian celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Chief with a complete revamp and three new models: the Chief, Chief Bobber, and the Super Chief.

Ola Stenegard, Director of Industrial Design for Indian says the goal for the new Chief line was to “capture a timeless look that never goes out of style and looks beautiful whether naked or fully dressed.” It’s this simplistic design element that would lay the foundation for all three motorcycles, as three themes became the driving force behind the design: Power, Minimalism, and Attitude.

I get it. I understand all of us don’t want to be seen in public, especially in certain publics, on a Honda NC750X virtue signalling our tiny, 745cc 60-mpg carbon footprint. Nor does everybody want to assert their elite adventurousness aboard an Africa Twin in $2000 worth of Gore-Tex® regalia if they’re not all that interested in striking off into the hinterlands – especially if they already live there. You might get away with those things in California, but everybody doesn’t live in Lala-land. Only 12% of Americans. And plenty of them aren’t interested in being Power Rangers either.

Back in December, I included the KTM 890 Adventure R in our selection of most anticipated motorcycles of 2021. This was a list of the staff’s most anticipated bikes, mind you. As I mentioned there, the bike was hot on my mind because I knew I would have the chance to swing a leg over it soon. I mean, how could I not be excited about a motorcycle that is capable of long days of travel while simultaneously being able to tackle the toughest terrain you’re willing to take it over. Folks the likes of Chris Birch and Quinn Cody have shown that the KTM isn’t likely to be the limiting factor. If you have the talent, the Adventure R will get it done. 

For a segment of motorcycling as technologically-driven as sportbikes, 14 years is an eternity – even more so for a category that Suzuki calls the Ultimate Sportbike – but that’s how long it’s been for the Hayabusa. While there was an incremental update in 2013 that brought ABS to the table, until today, the Hayabusa, a motorcycle that, on its inception way back in 1999 had claimed the title of “world’s fastest production motorcycle,” had only undergone two generational updates: the original release and the 2008 revamp. However, today’s announcement of the 2022 Suzuki Hayabusa adds another chapter to this earth-bound missile.

When considering the Hayabusa, two features immediately come to mind. First, is the iconic look of the slippery fairing inspired, according to Suzuki, by the peregrine falcon, which the manufacturer has long boasted of having “one of the lowest drag coefficients achieved on a production bike.” The nose of the fairing swoops back over the windshield, carrying the arc of the bike’s lines over the back of the tucked-in rider before curving down over the tail section’s prominent hump – a look that has only been enhanced in the 2022 version. The second prominent feature of the Hayabusa is almost completely hidden from view but is almost as iconic as the motorcycle’s profile (Just ask drag racers). A 1340cc inline-Four is responsible for the thrust that propels the Hayabusa to a speed-limited 185 mph.

Ducati is preparing to add a Pikes Peak version of the Multistrada V4 and another Scrambler variant for the 2021 model year.

A Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak makes a lot of sense, as Ducati has offered a similar variant for the previous 1260 and 1200 Multistradas. Ducati continued offering a Multistrada 1260 Pikes Peak even after it switched from the ‘Strada to a prototype Streetfighter V4 for the 2019 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (which we’ll always remember for Carlin Dunne’s tragic accident.)

Even though motorcycles are no longer allowed to compete in the Hill Climb, the tradition appears to continue as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s certification for the 2021 Multistrada V4 includes a Pikes Peak variant.

Beyond using the same engine, the certification does not tell us what to expect from the 2021 Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak. We can, however, make a few guesses based on how the previous Pikes Peak bikes.

Harley-Davidson laid out the details for The Hardwire, the company’s new strategic plan for the next five years. Highlights of The Hardwire include investing in the touring and heavyweight cruiser segment, expanding into new segments and creating a new division dedicated to electric motorcycles.

The Hardwire’s goals from 2021 to 2025 include a mid single-digit annual growth in revenue and a steady improvement in operating margin from motorcycle sales as well as a double-digit growth in Harley-Davidson Financial Services (HDFS). Capital spending will range between $190-250 million annually, including expanding Harley-Davidson’s digital ecosystem and establishing the new electric vehicles division. Harley-Davidson also targets a low double-digit growth in earnings per share.

The Hardwire builds on the groundwork set by the previous Rewire strategy and consists of six key priorities:

Update: CARB documents obtained March 10, 2021 have confirmed the use of the larger M8 114 cu. in. motor. 

Harley-Davidson announced its 2021 touring lineup last month, but we can confirm the company has one more model up it’s sleeve, and we’re not talking about the Pan America. Harley-Davidson’s 2021 model virtual presentation included a teaser image of a fuel tank console with the word “Revival” written on it. Motorcycle.com can now confirm that the Harley-Davidson Revival will be a 2021 touring model powered by the Milwaukee-Eight V-Twin engine.

The confirmation comes via the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency which certified the Revival alongside its returning touring models. The filing includes both the M-8 107 and 114 displacements, but Harley-Davidson typically reserves the larger engine for the Specials. Unless Harley-Davidson breaks away from this nomenclature, we can assume the 2021 Revival will use the same 107ci (1746cc) version of the Milwaukee-Eight as the Electra Glide Standard, Road Glide, Road King and Street Glide.

We don’t know when Harley-Davidson will announce the Revival. The company’s immediate focus is on launching the Pan America 1250 on Feb. 22, and Harley-Davidson will likely want to put enough space between its first adventure-touring bike and the Revival. We’re also getting to the point where manufacturers are announcing their first 2022 models, so Harley-Davidson may not want to wait too long.

Harley-Davidson is set to announce its year-end fiscal results tomorrow, along with the first details of the company’s new Hardwire business plan. This may include some details of the Revival.

Check back with us here on Motorcycle.com for the latest information as it becomes available.

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Following the reveal of the 2021 Triumph Speed Triple RS last week, we couldn’t help but notice that Triumph’s 2021 model lineup looked a little sparse. We’ve now entered the second month of the year, and Triumph still has yet to announce the Bonneville or any of its “Modern Classics” for the 2021 model year.

Thanks to certification data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Motorcycle.com can now confirm that several Triumph Modern Classics are skipping the 2021 model year and going straight to 2022. The emissions data suggests the Parallel-Twin engines powering these models have all received updates, which should help them clear Euro 5 emissions requirements.

Specifically, the U.S. EPA has certified the 2022 Bonneville T100, Street Twin, Bonneville Bobber, Bonneville Speedmaster and Street Scrambler. Noticeably absent is the Bonneville T120; that doesn’t necessarily mean the T120 won’t be returning, as certification data can be updated at any time. In fact, we can confirm that a new Bonneville T120 has been certified in Australia.

As for the Bonneville T100, the EPA certification confirms it will share the same engine as the Street Twin as well as a new Street Twin Goldline variant. The Parallel-Twin engine remains at the same 900cc displacement as the 2020 models, but the EPA cites a jump in power output, going from the 2020 engine’s claimed 61.7 hp at 6900 rpm to a claimed 64.0 hp at 7500 rpm.

The Street Scrambler will also stay at a 900cc displacement, with the 2022 model certification claiming 64.1 hp at 7250 rpm compared to the 2020 model’s claimed 62.1 hp at 7400 rpm. For 2022, Triumph will add a new Street Scrambler Sandstorm variant.

The 2022 Bonneville Bobber and Speedmaster will share the same 1200cc Parallel-Twin, with the EPA claiming 77.8 hp at 6000 rpm compared to the 2020 models’ claimed 75.9 hp at 6100 rpm. Not mentioned is the Bonneville Bobber Black, but that may come in a later update.

The Triumph Thruxton RS was also certified by the EPA for 2022 as well as 2021 with no changes indicated. The Speed Twin and Scrambler 1200 was also certified for the 2021 model year and are expected to be certified for 2022 at some point.

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Some suggested Triumph’s shot at a four-cylinder 600 sportbike should’ve been included in last week’s “Ten Worst Motorcycles of the Modern Era.” I think that’s way too harsh an assessment, but in any case, Triumph’s 2001 TT600 and the various inline Fours that followed it never quite got traction in the marketplace, and left the building after the 2006 Speed Four. Which wasn’t really a bad thing, as its demise led to the rise of the Daytona 675 and Street Triples shortly thereafter.

Suzuki is teasing a new model launch for Feb. 5, and all clues point towards it being for a new Hayabusa. The Hayabusa remained a part of Suzuki’s U.S. lineup in 2020, but in Europe, the GSX1300R was dropped in 2018 when Euro 4 standards were introduced. Rumors of a new Hayabusa have been trickling around ever since, and it looks like Suzuki is ready to launch a new model.

Below is the international teaser, showing the new model on a high-speed test track, as indicated by the extremely banked corners. The video is simply titled “The all-new model will be unveiled” while the version of the video on Suzuki Canada’s YouTube channel is titled “Something BIG is coming to Suzuki Canada!”

UPDATED Jan. 28: KTM says the 1290 Super Adventure S will be available this spring as a 2021 model in Europe, but it will not be coming to North America until the fall as an early 2022 model.

KTM officially announced the new 2021 1290 Super Adventure S, featuring a new frame, a low-slung fuel tank, Euro5 compliance and adaptive cruise control. The announcement confirms details we were first to report in December after the official pages for the 1290 Super Adventure were mistakenly published on KTM’s website. Not announced yet, but expected to come shortly, is the more off-road capable 1290 Super Adventure R which will receive similar updates.

2021 KTM 1290 Super Adventure R and S Details Leak

Harley-Davidson announced the bulk of its 2021 lineup in a virtual launch event last week, highlighting the updates to its Softail, touring and CVO models. The launch was different for Harley-Davidson in two ways. For one, it was held completely virtually in a 40-minute video, a necessity during a global pandemic. It was also unusual in that it was held in the middle of January instead of the traditional September. As outlined in Harley-Davidson’s Rewire plan, this looks to be a permanent change moving forward, positioning the new model launch closer to the start of the riding season.

Which Harley-Davidson Models Are Getting Axed?

While a January launch will be the plan moving forward, it meant there was a longer wait than usual for the 2021 model announcements. Combined with a stated goal of streamlining its lineup by 30% and the long-awaited launch of the Pan America adventure-tourer next month, this year’s model launch faced more scrutiny than in previous years.

The FTR seems to be one of those love-it or hate-it polarizing kinds of motorcycles. With this trio of 2022 Indian FTR1200s, Polaris wants more love and less hate. When loosed upon the public in 2019, a large part of the confusion had to do with its 19-/18-inch wheel combo, complete with flat-track inspired Dunlop tires. What is this thing anyway? A sportbike? An ADV bike? A Ducati Monster wannabe? The only thing certain was that it wasn’t much like anything we’d seen before from a (major) American motorcycle manufacturer, or any manufacturer for that matter. The answer, of course, was that the FTR was a little of all those: a 120-horsepower liquid-cooled V-twin naked sportbike that was happy to blast down dirt roads too. Indian went so far as to hold the bike’s press launch in Baja, on a ride that included 40 miles of sandy dirt road. On the other hand, you could also just cruise, in the time-honored American idiom, thanks to the nice upright ergos and standard cruise control.

You can still get that adventurous FTR1200 in the form of the Rally, which continues on with the bigger (wire-spoke) wheels and dirty road capabilities. Now, Indian’s brought three new 2022 FTR1200s to bear, all with 17-inch wheels front and rear shod in proper sportbike rubber, revised suspension to suit, a lower seat, a refined engine tune, and – Indian hopes – a whole new appeal for people who have no intention of leaving the pavement. I think we all wondered why they didn’t build this one first? Probably because they were trying hard to make the flat-track-dominating FTR750 connection.

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Indian Press Release:

The OG naked/ hooligan/streetfighter has received a ground up redesign for the 2021 model year. Triumph tells us it has left no stone unturned with every single component new from tip to top. From the chassis to the new 1160 cc Triple, the latest Speed Triple RS is said to be the, “Fastest accelerating, most powerful, highest torque Speed Triple ever with a hair-raising new sound.”  

Much like the Holy Trinity, the Motorcycle Online Staff in those days, 20 years ago, was able to coalesce as One, to write road tests in the first person singular from anywhere in the world. Kawasaki’s new ZRX1200 would go on to achieve cult status, though I, the MO Staff, don’t believe the “S” model tested here ever made it to the New World. It barely matters, since the photos are barely discernible anyway (and our slightly better lead image looks like it came from the press kit). The “S” had a slightly larger fairing than the ZX1200R, which appeared in America later in 2001. Let us all observe a moment of silence in honor of bandwidth.

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What Tiger 850? When I went to St. Louis to learn all about the new Triumph 900 family way back in December 2019, there were five Tiger 900s – two 900 GTs, two Rallys, and a base model Tiger 900. Sometime between then and now, Triumph decided to distinguish the base model by calling it Tiger 850 Sport, but in fact, it has the same 888 cc Triple as the other four bikes, supposedly slightly detuned.

For a couple of years there’ve been rumors suggesting there’s a new Hayabusa on the way, and with that old warhorse currently MIA from Suzuki’s list of returning 2021 models, the buzz has grown a bit louder that Suzuki’s fixing to spring a new World’s Fastest Production Motorcycle on the world. This time we’ll be a bit less unsuspecting than we were in 1999, and this time, it won’t be so easy a feat for Suzuki to pull off, given the existence of the Kawasaki H2 Carbon, which made an honest 206-rear-wheel horsepower on our dyno last November.

Whether the new ’Busa is fact or fiction, it probably won’t be the earth-shattering experience the original 1999 GSX-R1300 was, a motorcycle that had no peer or precedent when it came to bouncing off its 186-mph speed governor. (Actually, as Mr. Siahaan points out, the governor didn’t appear until year two for the Hayabusa.) I still remember the day outside Barcelona when Mr. Watshisname, the Hayabusa project leader, asked us lucky “journalists,” with a sincere smile, to please respect all Spanish traffic laws. That was just before our German ride leader snapped his visor closed and twisted his Hayabusa’s throttle to the stop as we set off down the motorway. Soon, gentle freeway bends became corners where you could almost get a knee down.