ADV / Dual Sport Motorcycle Reviews, Tests, and Comparisons

Kawasaki KLX300 Long-Term Test [Beyond the Beaten Path]

Damon Powell — Sat, 02 Sep 2023 03:07:15 +0000

Building a best-selling motorcycle must be difficult. The manufacturers try year after year, tweaking each niche market with new clever designs and features. The beauty of a dual sport motorcycle is it can be used on the street and in the dirt, though it has challenges of its own. Do you design the bike to […]

The post Kawasaki KLX300 Long-Term Test [Beyond the Beaten Path] appeared first on Ultimate Motorcycling.

2023 Honda SCL500 Review [A Dozen Scrambler Fast Facts]

Kelly Callan — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 09:02:30 +0000

Motorcycle riding has this magical ability to transport me from my day-to-day whirlwind full of the pressures of modern life to a time that almost stands still. No matter what has been going on in my day, as soon as the faceshield clicks down or the goggle strap settles on my helmet, everything else fades […]

The post 2023 Honda SCL500 Review [A Dozen Scrambler Fast Facts] appeared first on Ultimate Motorcycling.

2023 Honda CRF300LS Review (A Dozen Dual-Sport Fast Facts)

Kelly Callan — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 01:39:23 +0000

In a welcoming move to further entice new riders into the market, Honda has lowered the seat height of its already hugely approachable CRF300L dual sport motorcycle, bringing us the 2023 Honda CRF300LS. It is difficult to oversell how much fun this small displacement bike is, and for newer riders who are still building their […]

The post 2023 Honda CRF300LS Review (A Dozen Dual-Sport Fast Facts) appeared first on Ultimate Motorcycling.

2023 Honda XR150L Review [11 Fast Facts: Street and Dirt]

Teejay Adams — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 06:04:38 +0000

Honda’s vision to bring lots of new, inexpensive motorcycles onto the market started with the ever-expanding miniMOTO line—the Grom, Monkey, Navi, Super Cub, and Trail125. With the 2023 Honda XR150L, this initiative includes a true dual-sport motorcycle with a price tag under $3000. I was assigned to do this test because I’m an off-road neophyte—the […]

The post 2023 Honda XR150L Review [11 Fast Facts: Street and Dirt] appeared first on Ultimate Motorcycling.

2023 Honda XR650L Review [30th Anniversary Retrospective]

Damon Powell — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 06:05:16 +0000

Introduced in 1993, the Honda XR650L is sold today in nearly its original configuration—no significant changes whatsoever. Thirty years is a long time for any motorcycle manufacturer to continue without offering the latest technology or gadgets. Attracting buyers without new bells and whistles is unheard of in the developing world, yet the 2023 Honda XR650L […]

The post 2023 Honda XR650L Review [30th Anniversary Retrospective] appeared first on Ultimate Motorcycling.

2023 Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition Review [14 Fast Facts]

Nic de Sena — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 06:28:01 +0000

The 2023 Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition is built for exactly what its name implies. It takes the capable Norden 901 travel enduro, bolts on a heaping dose of helpful touring accessories and, most importantly, features upgraded long-travel suspension to ensure wherever your dart lands on the map, you’ll have everything you need to get there. […]

The post 2023 Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition Review [14 Fast Facts] appeared first on Ultimate Motorcycling.

2008 KTM 950 Super Enduro R Review [Retro Test]

Jess McKinley — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 19:33:21 +0000

Manufacturers of dual-sport motorcycles are forced to make various compromises as they skew their products toward a particular segment of the consumer spectrum. As avid motorcyclists, our challenge is to correctly identify the machines with the specific blend of attributes that best suit our particular tastes. For those of you who believe that raw, unbridled […]

The post 2008 KTM 950 Super Enduro R Review [Retro Test] appeared first on Ultimate Motorcycling.

2023 Harley-Davidson Pan America Special Review

Freeman Wood — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 07:01:07 +0000

Okay, I will admit it. When I heard that Harley-Davidson planned to produce an adventure motorcycle, I had significant doubts. I mean, what does a company that is known for producing big, heavy, air-cooled (and fantastic) cruisers know about the adventure motorcycle market? And how could H-D possibly compete in such a white-hot segment against […]

The post 2023 Harley-Davidson Pan America Special Review appeared first on Ultimate Motorcycling.

2023 Suzuki V-Strom 800DE Review [27 Fast Facts From Sardinia]

Don Williams — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 08:30:09 +0000

Suzuki signals a dirt intent with the truly all-new 2023 Suzuki V-Strom 800DE. The gauntlet is thrown down with a 21-inch front wheel and the longest-travel suspension yet in the V-Strom line. There’s much more to the new V-Strom, so Ultimate Motorcycling headed to the south coast of the idyllic Mediterranean island of Sardinia to […]

The post 2023 Suzuki V-Strom 800DE Review [27 Fast Facts From Sardinia] appeared first on Ultimate Motorcycling.

2023 Kawasaki KLX230SM Review [A Dozen Fast Facts]

Kelly Callan — Tue, 27 Dec 2022 04:26:43 +0000

Kawasaki doubles the size of its supermoto line-up by adding the 2023 Kawasaki KLX230SM. As the little brother to the KLX300SM, the KLX230SM is an ambassador to the world of motorcycling for entry-level riders looking for supermoto styling while they develop their riding skills. At 296 pounds, the KLX230SM almost feels like a mini-moto bike, […]

The post 2023 Kawasaki KLX230SM Review [A Dozen Fast Facts] appeared first on Ultimate Motorcycling.

2023 Kawasaki KLX230 S Review [21 Dual-Sport Fast Facts]

Teejay Adams — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 07:05:00 +0000

Debuting last year, the Kawasaki KLX230 S is a lowered version of the KLX230 dual-sport bike that bowed-in three years ago. Just a year after it appeared, it’s already getting updates. As we didn’t get a chance to review it last year, we’re happy to test the already-refined version. I’m an off-road neophyte—exactly the target […]

The post 2023 Kawasaki KLX230 S Review [21 Dual-Sport Fast Facts] appeared first on Ultimate Motorcycling.

2023 KTM 890 Adventure Review [14 Fast Facts From Portugal]

Jess McKinley — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 08:45:41 +0000

Even with new entrants in the space, the KTM 890 Adventure is arguably the market’s most performance-oriented middleweight travel enduro. Recognizing this, KTM product engineers decided to complement the bike’s current strengths with refinements in aerodynamics, comfort, and rider usability. Interestingly, they also skewed the focus of the standard 890 Adventure towards increased off-road capability, […]

The post 2023 KTM 890 Adventure Review [14 Fast Facts From Portugal] appeared first on Ultimate Motorcycling.

2022 Suzuki DR650S Review [Almost Pavement-Only Test]

Don Williams — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 00:32:03 +0000

The last time we tested the venerable Suzuki DR650S, we grabbed a factory-lowered version. It turned a motorcycle that is fairly precarious off-road into an easy-to-ride trailbike, albeit one that still weighs 366 pounds with the 3.4-gallon fuel tank topped off. Although dual-sport motorcycles have dual personalities, many people only ride them on the street. […]

The post 2022 Suzuki DR650S Review [Almost Pavement-Only Test] appeared first on Ultimate Motorcycling.

2022 BMW F 900 XR Commuter Review (with Premium Package)

Kelly Callan — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 03:54:33 +0000

I traverse the same busy freeways and surface street congestion as everyone else in Los Angeles on the way to and from work, but my commute is an adventure because I do it on two wheels. Lately, the 2022 BMW F 900 XR has been my rideshare buddy, and it’s a terrific sidekick for mixing […]

The post 2022 BMW F 900 XR Commuter Review (with Premium Package) appeared first on Ultimate Motorcycling.

2023 Ducati DesertX Review [15 Fast Facts for Adventure]

Nic de Sena — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 23:36:58 +0000

Charging full bore into the middleweight ADV segment is the 2023 Ducati DesertX, primed with all the off-road fixings that any aspiring adventurer could want. Ever since the Italian firm proofed its air-cooled DesertX concept at EICMA 2019, ADV fans were left champing at the bit, drawn in by its alluring vintage veneer and trail-capable […]

The post 2023 Ducati DesertX Review [15 Fast Facts for Adventure] appeared first on Ultimate Motorcycling.

2022 KTM 1290 Super Adventure R Review [29 Fast Facts]

Don Williams — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 20:09:10 +0000

Already the king of off-road when it comes to open-class adventure motorcycles, the 2022 KTM 1290 Super Adventure R gets a new frame, IMU-enhanced electronic wizardry, aggressive dirt tires, and more. With the 1290 Super Adventure S taking care of those who prefer the street most of the time, the R comes loaded for bear […]

The post 2022 KTM 1290 Super Adventure R Review [29 Fast Facts] appeared first on Ultimate Motorcycling.

Overland Expo Yamaha Ténéré 700 Review [Yellowstone Tested]

Freeman Wood — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 21:14:23 +0000

The motorcycle community is tight-knit—one of the things I really like about being a motorcycle rider. Earlier this year, I met a moto rider and writer working for Overland Expo at the launch of the new Triumph Tiger 1200 adventure motorcycle. We swapped adventure travel stories, as you do with similarly minded people at these […]

The post Overland Expo Yamaha Ténéré 700 Review [Yellowstone Tested] appeared first on Ultimate Motorcycling.

2023 Zero DSR/X Review [Electric Adventure Motorcycle]

Nic de Sena — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 23:28:19 +0000

The call of the great outdoors is strong these days, especially in a motorcycle market embracing all things adventure. Offerings run the gamut from off-road-focused ADV sluggers to ADV-styled touring steeds, which isn’t lost on Northern California-based Zero Motorcycles, releasing its virtually all-new 2023 Zero DSR/X into the wild. Zero’s electric ADV isn’t a spruced-up […]

The post 2023 Zero DSR/X Review [Electric Adventure Motorcycle] appeared first on Ultimate Motorcycling.

2023 Royal Enfield Scram 411 Test [First Ride In Wisconsin]

Gary Ilminen — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 07:54:04 +0000

Over the years, there has been the philosophy in the motorcycle industry that “more is better.” The proof of that has been particularly noticeable in the upward trends toward ever-greater horsepower, and more technical complexity in terms of electronics—ride modes, wheelie control, traction control, you name it. In the design of the new 2023 Royal […]

The post 2023 Royal Enfield Scram 411 Test [First Ride In Wisconsin] appeared first on Ultimate Motorcycling.

2022 Honda Africa Twin Review [A Personal Adventure Bike Test]

Freeman Wood — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 01:40:29 +0000

They say age is just a number, but tell that to my hip, which decided that my “active lifestyle” was too much and has packed it in. As I struggle to throw my leg over the 34.3-inch seat height of the 2022 Honda Africa Twin, I question my unquenchable thirst for adventure and the motorcycles […]

The post 2022 Honda Africa Twin Review [A Personal Adventure Bike Test] appeared first on Ultimate Motorcycling.

BMW G 310 GS Review: 40 Years GS Edition Urban Adventure Motorcycle

Don Williams — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 22:51:08 +0000

One of the rewarding aspects of my job is letting a motorcycle reveal itself to me. Some motorcycles are narrowly focused, making my job less complicated (and interesting), while others are more mysterious about their true missions. The BMW G 310 GS 40 Years GS writes quite a multifaceted story. When my wife sent out […]

The post BMW G 310 GS Review: 40 Years GS Edition Urban Adventure Motorcycle appeared first on Ultimate Motorcycling.

2022 Kawasaki Versys 650 LT vs. Triumph Tiger Sport 660 Comparison

Staff — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 23:31:23 +0000

The Kawasaki Versys 650 LT has been a mainstay in the lightweight adventure-touring motorcycle division, and now it has a direct competitor—the new Triumph Tiger Sport 660. Although not a touring model out of the crate, we added a pair of Triumph’s accessory hard side cases to the Tiger Sport 660, and an instant adventure-touring […]

The post 2022 Kawasaki Versys 650 LT vs. Triumph Tiger Sport 660 Comparison appeared first on Ultimate Motorcycling.

2022 Ducati Scrambler Icon Dark Review [10 Fast Facts]

Nic de Sena — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 00:57:10 +0000

It’s been boomtown in Bologna ever since Ducati unveiled its Scrambler family of motorcycles, with its numbers growing to fill plenty of niches in the segment. The one that started it all was the Scrambler Icon, which is still riding a wave of praise from its 2019 refresh with highlights that include cornering ABS, suspension […]

The post 2022 Ducati Scrambler Icon Dark Review [10 Fast Facts] appeared first on Ultimate Motorcycling.

2022 Kawasaki KLR650 Adventure Test: Southwest Tour Ride

Damon Powell — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 08:23:14 +0000

When Ultimate Motorcycling Editor Don Williams is given an invitation to a bike introduction, he instinctively knows who to give the task to. In the case of the 2022 Kawasaki KLR650 Adventure, he guessed I’d be interested—and, of course, he was right. I bought my first new motorcycle off a Newport Beach showroom for a […]

The post 2022 Kawasaki KLR650 Adventure Test: Southwest Tour Ride appeared first on Ultimate Motorcycling.

2022 Honda CB500X Review [16 Fast Facts: Adventure Motorcycle]

Kelly Callan — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 07:17:22 +0000

The Honda CB500X returns for its 10th year of duty with several updates to further polish the well-dialed mid-sized all ’rounder. The adventurous personality in Honda’s three-bike CB500 line, the 2022 Honda CB500X is an unintimidating, capable bike with a broad appeal. The parallel-twin produces predictable power in a comfortable chassis that welcomes novice riders […]

The post 2022 Honda CB500X Review [16 Fast Facts: Adventure Motorcycle] appeared first on Ultimate Motorcycling.