What rider doesn’t love a look back at the motorcycles that preceded today’s tech-savvy creations? Welcome to the Ultimate Motorcycling archives; we’re revisiting some of our favorite reviews from years past, highlighting the machines that laid the rubber for what’s on today’s showroom floors. Enjoy.
Having been thoroughly disabused of any notion that the Gold Wing is little more than a two-wheeled station wagon, I would go so far as to say that between its potent acceleration, confident braking and competent cornering, the Wing feels like, well . . . feels like a real motorcycle.
Providing a solid link to this past, the Triumph Thruxton proudly flaunts its illustrious history, while enjoying the benefits of being a thoroughly modern machine.
Fire up the radial-valve 998cc 4-cylinder motor of the 2005 MV Agusta F4 1000 Tamburini (MT4) and you will know that this masterpiece of design, bristling with technological innovation, must be Italian.
Prior to the release of the amazing CBR1000RR—Honda’s primary liter sport machine—Honda amassed a shelf of trophies with the CBR’s predecessor, the V-twin powered RC51.
The year 1967 was awash in monumental events. Summer of Love bromides aside, the image of Hendrix immolating his Strat at Monterey is a visual time stamp of a convulsive year. Change and upheaval, among other things, were in the air.
In this week’s first segment, Senior Editor Nic de Sena tells all about the Aprilia RS 660 Trofeo. The fabled Italian racing marque has produced a track-only version of its excellent streetbike, and Nic gave it a good thrashing around Laguna Seca recently. Even if you’re not a track junkie, you’ll find this to be an interesting take on an already really good machine.
In the second segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with teen racing sensation Kayla Yaakov. Kayla made a name for herself in the smaller classes as she was growing up, but having just turned 16 a few weeks ago, she was able to move up a class and race 600 Supersport for Tytler’s Racing at the last Moto America race of this year. In case you’re thinking this may be hype—she finished on the podium in 3rd place, having started the race 13th on the grid. That’s a heck of an accomplishment for a first race in the most competitive class of them all. Teejay chats with Kayla about growing up and where it all started.
From all of us here at Motos & Friends… we hope you enjoy this episode!