#review

The announcement of the 2017 Yamaha YZF-R6 – with new electronics but the same ‘ol engine – should be considered a jolt of excitement for the supersport world. While it’s a little disappointing to not see any engine upgrades for 2017, the fact the bike is getting any updates at all is a positive sign. And if you’re a little let down by the new R6 like I am, at least the updated appearance of the Yamaha is stunning.

The beauty of modular helmets is the ability to have the best of both worlds; the convenience of a three-quarter helmet when you want it, with the protection of a full-face helmet when you need it. What more could you ask for, really? If you talk to the folks at Scorpion, there’s plenty more, like a modular helmet suitable for adventure touring rides. This modular would have all the benefits we’re accustomed to, but also be able to handle the occasional trip off the beaten path. With that, Scorpion took it upon itself to develop a modular helmet that lived up to the definition of modular: the EXO AT-950.

This week’s Church feature is an interesting look back at the 2008 Vectrix Electric Scooter. It’s interesting because electric vehicle technology has come a long way since Yossef Schvetz rode the Vectrix. For one, NiMH batteries have given way to lithium-ion. What hasn’t changed is the reaction first-timers like Schvetz get when they turn the e-throttle for an electric for the first time. Instant, massive acceleration blows people away each time. Read on to see the rest of Yossef’s thoughts about what is becoming the propulsion method of the future.

The Honda Ruckus won’t win any beauty contests, but its charm is in its ugliness. Maybe that’s why the Ruckus has such a loyal (and huge) cult following. For this week’s Church feature, we look back at the 2006 Honda Ruckus from the eyes of our friends at our sister site, TheScooterReview.com. In it, the author attempts to make the Ruckus out as some sort of masculine device. The word “macho” is used and there’s even a reference to Chuck Norris! It gave us a good chuckle. Hopefully you’ll get a kick out of it, too. Enjoy.  

It’s been a rather diverse week as far as content is concerned at Motorcycle.com this week. Sportbikes, cruisers, adventure bikes, and even adventure scooters were published on these virtual pages over the past seven days. All of those bikes are great for letting its rider escape the pressure and stress the everyday world can bring. Instead of escaping the everyday however, today’s Church feature is going to look at a machine that allows you to take on the everyday with a bit more ease and comfort: the 2002 Honda Reflex 250 scooter. A great everyday runabout, the 250cc scoot came with plenty of space and comfortable ergos to keep you fresh on the way to work. Here’s the 2001 MO staff with their take on the Honda. 

The 2016 MotoAmerica season has now come to a close, and American Cameron Beaubier is the king of the Superbike class for another year. However, his path to the championship was anything but easy. Herein is a brief overall breakdown of the 2016 MotoAmerica season.

If American, European or Japanese cruisers don’t hit the mark for you, there aren’t very many avenues left to turn down. However, one can still look towards Korea. As Gabe Ets-Hokin notes in his review of the 2007 Hyosung Avitar, the 650cc V-Twin borrowed from the company’s GT650 sporty bike sees some minor changes and is housed in a twin-spar frame that looks to be inspired by the Harley V-Rod. If you’re interested in the Hyosung, the bike is still around today, only its name has been changed to GV650/Aquila Pro. And it’ll set you back a reasonable $7000. As for the riding impressions, see Gabe’s take below. To see more pictures, be sure to visit the photo gallery.

Motorcycling is a lot like any other sport: to stay sharp with your skills, you actually have to go out there and practice. However, unlike many other sports, keeping your skills sharp on two wheels isn’t as easy as simply grabbing a stick or a ball and heading to the nearest court or field. In the case of track riding, taking your sportbike to the track presents a whole host of challenges.

Like their sportbike cousins, middleweight cruisers provide nearly as much pleasure as their big-displacement counterparts, but have the benefit of lighter weight and better maneuverability. Two middleweight cruisers that are reliable as a rock, though perhaps a little bland, the Honda Shadow ACE and Yamaha V-Star 1100 are solid mid-displacement cruisers that are just as fine today as they were back in 2004, when we pit the two against each other. On the surface they may look fairly similar, but dig deeper and the two go about cruising in notably different ways. Here’s the MO crew of 2004 to tell you more.  

Due to Euro 4 regulations, this week Victory announced its European lineup would be reduced down to four models: the Octane, Gunner, High-ball and Judge (which, ironically, isn’t part of Victory’s 2017 U.S. lineup). After reading the news, it seemed fitting to make Victory the marque of choice for this week’s Church feature. Specifically, the 2007 Victory Hammer S, as ridden (and written) by MO alum, Pete Brissette. With seemingly just an appearance change and a swap of handlebars, Victory had turned the standard Hammer into something Pete couldn’t resist, going so far as to say “Victory got it right!” The collective MO staff have long been fans of the underdog Victory, and Pete explains in this review why that’s so. Enjoy. And, as always, for more pictures be sure to visit the photo gallery.

I really like these things. Riding a Zero FX along a babbling brook and over some granite outcroppings a few years ago while hearing the water gurgle and the birds chirp was a come-to-Jesus moment that showed me the potential of silent running and instant torque. But I haven’t spent any time on electric bikes since that one.

This week’s Church feature is special for a few reasons. First off, the MO squad are all fans of 750s, and the 2007 Suzuki GSX-R750 was a real riot to rip around on. Moreover, this story is amusing because its author, Brad Puetz, is now on Kawasaki’s payroll, his assignment to deal with the requests of media hacks like us. With that, here’s a Canadian’s take on what it’s like to ride sportbikes on a racetrack in California in the middle of December. And for more pics, check out the photo gallery.

In our Top 10 Disappointing Motorcycles list, Tom nominated the Ducati Multistrada 1100 because he, like many (most?) despised its styling. But none of us could deny that, looks aside, it was a fine motorcycle. So for this week’s Church feature, our pal Yossef Schvetz takes the updated Multistrada 1100 of 2007 vintage for a spin and reminds us that, despite her, well, ugly appearance, the first-gen Multi has a heart of gold. For more photos of the Multi 1100, be sure to visit the photo gallery. 

The Honda Pacific Coast 800 is not a motorcycle I think about very often. In fact, I hadn’t thought about it at all until Tom Roderick nominated it as one of his choices for Top 10 Disappointing Motorcycles. Then, once a search result popped up after typing Pacific Coast into the MO search bar, I had a feeling the subject of this week’s Church feature was presenting itself. After reading the first impression below of the Honda Pacific Coast from the 1998 MO staff, I knew we had a winner. If you’re curious about the “Station wagon of motorcycles” then you owe it to yourself to check out the story below.

In light of the new Yamaha FZ-10 I rode a few days ago, let’s travel back 10 years to the intro of the 10’s predecessor: the FZ1. It, too, was a more comfortable version of the built-for-the-track R1, but in stark contrast to the new FZ-10 it’s styling can only be considered bland by comparison. Styled more for the gentlemanly set, it’s a bit strange Gabe Ets-Hokin was the one who got to ride this bike at the intro (zing!). Nonetheless, the FZ1 holds a soft spot in many rider’s hearts for being more than just a naked R1 with a handlebar – it’s a comfortable long-distance machine that can also handle the bends. Here’s Gabe to tell you more.