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  • Author: Arden Kysely

2025 Suzuki DR-Z4S Unveiled

  Suzuki hasn’t updated the DR-Z platform in a meaningful way since the 2003 model in my garage was new. While it’s a great bike and near-perfect as a lightweight BDR machine, the DR-Z400S and SM are old-tech in a new age of motos. That ends now with the 2025 DR-Z models, newly named the…

Big Bend BDR-X Revealed

Big Bend, here we come. Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR) added their sixth BDR-X to an already impressive list of routes. Coming just a few weeks after their lush green Chattahoochee route, this one explores the dry desert of southwest Texas. And like everything in Texas, it’s big. The loop route is 618 miles long broken…

Triumph Tiger 800 Sport Coming in 2025

Triumph’s Tiger Sport 800 is a fully-faired street bike for riders who stick to the pavement while exploring the world. Built to comfortably carry two people plus luggage, the 800 is prepped to make full use of curvy back roads. Here’s what we know so far. Power To keep this Tiger growling like the others…

Aether Mulholland Jacket :: Field Tested

Aether’s Mulholland motorcycle jacket is their latest offering in a line of distinctive riding protection. Mulholland Drive is a bucket list ride for motorcyclists, combining tortuous tarmac with ridge-top views of the ocean, mountains, and greater Los Angeles. Aether’s stylishly masculine, road-worthy garment is a paean to the road and its riders. Meet the Mulholland…

Chattahoochee BDR-X Route Announced

The Chattahoochee Oconee National Forest in Georgia is the location of the latest motorcycle adventure route devised by the folks at Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR). The “Hoochee” is a BDR-X format, taking in just a corner of northern Georgia in its 350-mile circular track. This is the fourth route that BMW Motorrad USA has presented…

Road and Trail Tested :: Honda CRF300LS

The 2024 CRF300LS is Honda’s latest addition to their 300-class dual-sport line. A lowered version of the popular CRF300L, it’s another step in Honda’s initiative to make motorcycles accessible to more riders. CRF300LS Genesis I tested CRF300 L and Rally models at Honda’s 2021 press launch, finding them both capable and enjoyable. But they were…

2025 Royal Enfield Himalayan Pricing

“Royal Enfield calling Honda. We thought you should know that we’ve just released U.S. pricing for the 2025 Himalayan 450. Our new ABS-equipped single will retail for $5799, $700 less than your CRF300L Rally with ABS. How do you feel about that?” “Hello, Enfield. Honda here. Sure, our 286cc single doesn’t have the horsepower or…

2025 BMW R 1300 GS Adventure

BMW’s 2025 R 1300 GS Adventure is ready for the big tour. Street or dirt, solo or two-up, it’s built to go the distance with the most creature comforts this side of a Honda Gold Wing. And this is not just last year’s GS with a bigger gas tank and a few add-ons. The 2025…

Ducati DesertX Discovery Adventure Tourer

With the debut of the DesertX Discovery, Ducati acknowledges the difference between adventure riding and adventure touring. The former being a hurried transit through natural surroundings, the latter a measured journey to explore and enjoy nature. Though the heart of the original DesertX beats beneath its red and black livery, the Discovery provides creature comforts,…

BMW GS Trophy 2024 Goes to Namibia

The eighth running of the BMW International GS Trophy event takes place in Namibia this fall, with the riders aboard special R 1300 GS machines. BMW Motorrad is adding a host of extras to their R 1300 Style GS Trophy model, starting with the optional Enduro Package. The competitors will enjoy handguard extensions, handlebar risers,…

California-North BDR Film Goes Public

The CABDR-North (aka NorCal) BDR film, now available on YouTube, provides an end-to-end overview of the 13th BDR route created by Backcountry Discovery Routes. Like previous BDR films, this one gets down and dirty while also highlighting amazing scenery and seductive backroads. It also delves into the history and struggles of early settlers and shows…

Field Tested :: Dainese Riding Gear and AGV AX9 Helmet

Dainese has a well-deserved reputation for quality motorcycle apparel for all types of riding. I’ve seen the results of a friend sliding down the freeway at 60 mph in a Dainese jacket. Though shredded, the jacket didn’t wear through and the rider was unscathed. This review examines three Dainese garments and an AGV helmet (AGV…

New AdventureTracker Class to Race in Sturgis

There’s a new race in town. The AdventureTracker class from American Flat Track (AFT) debuts at the inaugural Sturgis TT on August 11, 2024. AMA Pro Racing recently announced the governing rules for Adventure machines. Production-based bikes with minimal modifications will be screaming through Sturgis in this first of its kind race. Will Your Bike…

Yamaha Volunteers Protect Public Lands

Yamaha takes seriously their responsibility to inform all motorized recreational vehicle (MRV) users of where they are welcome to ride, and where they aren’t. In doing so, they partner with non-profit organizations to prevent and mitigate damage to public lands. The company’s goal is to keep those lands accessible. Yamaha Heads to the Hills Yamaha’s…

Honda NX650 Build, Italian Style

The Honda NX650 Dominator found a lukewarm reception in the U.S. and was discontinued here after just two years. Perhaps we just didn’t understand the appeal of the streety dual-sport. Across the pond the NX lasted 13 years and was deemed a sturdy machine for commuting and the occasional foray on country roads. Its reasonable…

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