Touring Motorcycle Reviews, News, Gear and Travel Blogs https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/riding-style/touring/ Motorcycle Reviews, News on Motorcycles, Specs, Test & Race Results Tue, 10 Oct 2023 01:42:14 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.1 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/cropped-UMC_LOGO_512x512-140x140.jpg Touring Motorcycle Reviews, News, Gear and Travel Blogs https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/riding-style/touring/ 32 32 2024 Suzuki V-Strom 800 Touring First Look [Fast Facts + Photos] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/10/09/2024-suzuki-v-strom-800-touring-first-look-fast-facts-photos/ Tue, 10 Oct 2023 01:42:14 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=270555 A few days ago, we told you about the 2024 Suzuki V-Strom 800—a more pavement version of the V-Strom 800DE we tested last year. As it turns out, the new V-Strom 800 has a travel-friendly sibling—the 2024 Suzuki V-Strom 800 Touring. We went into great detail about the difference between the new V-Strom 800 and […]

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]]> 2024 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin Adventure Sports First Look https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/10/07/2024-honda-crf1100l-africa-twin-adventure-sports-first-look/ Sun, 08 Oct 2023 05:34:20 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=270544 The Africa Twin Adventure Sports lineup just got more streetwise, at least in Europe, with the release of the 2024 edition. The big news is that the 21-inch front wheel is replaced by a 19-inch hoop—yes, the ADV motorcycle still gets wire-spoke wheels—and semi-active suspension is now standard. There are two versions of the 2024 […]

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]]> 2024 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin First Look [10 Euro Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/10/05/2024-honda-crf1100l-africa-twin-first-look-10-euro-fast-facts/ Fri, 06 Oct 2023 06:19:02 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=270509 The European version of the 2024 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin enjoys many updates this year, with Showa Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment (Showa EERA) semi-active suspension leading the way as a new option. We have plenty more to share with you, along with a hint that you might see this in America sooner rather than later. […]

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]]> Sturgis Motorcycle Rally 2023 Ride [Snake, Limbo, and Woody] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/10/05/sturgis-motorcycle-rally-2023-ride/ Thu, 05 Oct 2023 21:20:57 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=270491 It is Day One of my first Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, and I’m sitting on the deck of our one-room, four-cot shack in the rain, watching my 2021 Indian Springfield Dark Horse slowly sink into the mud. This is definitely not what I expected, and apparently not what most of the people there anticipated, given the […]

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]]> 2024 BMW R 1300 GS First Look [20 Fast Facts + 30 Photos] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/09/28/2024-bmw-r-1300-gs-first-look-20-fast-facts-30-photos/ Thu, 28 Sep 2023 15:01:16 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=270135 The flagship GS gets a complete makeover this year, with the sleek, new 2024 BMW R 1300 GS bearing only a faint resemblance to the beefy big-bore GSes of the past. It’s genuinely all-new from top-to-bottom and front-to-back, so find a comfortable seat. These may be Fast Facts, but there are plenty of them. While […]

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]]> Red Alert! Midwest Autumn Motorcycle Riding https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/09/26/red-alert-midwest-autumn-motorcycle-riding/ Tue, 26 Sep 2023 23:13:43 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=270046 In the upper Midwest, it is the final act of the riding season. It is the special treat nature provides when days get shorter, summertime heat dials back to cooler temps, and the humidity lowers. The green of standing timber, corn, and grain turns to vibrant shades of red, orange, yellow, and tan. It is […]

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]]> 2024 Honda XL750 Transalp First Look [8 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/09/19/2024-honda-xl750-transalp-first-look-8-fast-facts/ Wed, 20 Sep 2023 02:17:02 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=269829 When Europe got the Honda XL750 Transalp last year, tongues immediately wagged regarding its release in the United States. Alas, the 2023 model year came and went without an American edition of the Transalp. However, hope springs eternal, and we introduce to you the 2024 Honda XL750 Transalp, which will hit dealer floors next month […]

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]]> 2024 KTM 890 Adventure R Rally First Look [8 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/09/06/2024-ktm-890-adventure-r-rally-first-look-8-fast-facts/ Wed, 06 Sep 2023 23:44:52 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=269499 KTM is upping the off-road ante of its parallel-twin-powered ADV lineup with the new 2024 KTM 890 Adventure R Rally. Based on the 890 Adventure R, the Rally enjoyed upgraded suspension, enhanced electronics, and additional protection from the elements encountered in dirt excursions. The 2024 KTM 890 Adventure R Rally gets fully adjustable suspension from […]

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]]> SW-Motech Drybag Review [80 and 180 Tail Bags: ADV Ready] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/09/04/sw-motech-drybag-review-80-and-180-tail-bags-adv-ready/ Tue, 05 Sep 2023 05:45:17 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=269433 I have been into adventure touring since I began work on the Ultimate Motorcycling Yamaha Ténéré 700 Project Bike two years ago. My initial plan was to have big panniers and fill them as needed for each trip. I have found that day trips don’t require such large luggage, and weeks-long trips require better organization […]

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]]> AGV Tourmodular Helmet Review [Modular for Touring] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/08/31/agv-tourmodular-helmet-review-modular-for-touring/ Thu, 31 Aug 2023 23:59:04 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=269356 The AGV Tourmodular helmet makes a statement about its protective performance by earning DOT FMVSS 218 and ECE 22.06 certification (homologation Protective/Jet)—the latest iteration of one of the most rigorous helmet performance standards. To achieve that, AGV uses a combination of carbon and aramid fibers in addition to fiberglass in the shell construction in a […]

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]]> Editor’s Letter – September 2023 – Creating Memories https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/08/29/editors-letter-september-2023-creating-memories/ Wed, 30 Aug 2023 06:53:54 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=269324 The longer you ride, the more memories you have to catalog. While not every ride is life-changing, each one almost always makes the day better. An advantage to being a motorcycle magazine editor is that many of my more epic rides are chronicled—formerly in print, and now on this website. However, in the days of […]

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]]> Ducati ST3 S and Moto Guzzi Breva V 1100 Test [Colorado Tour] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/08/29/ducati-moto-guzzi-test/ Wed, 30 Aug 2023 05:49:32 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=269314 There’s no doubt that there was symbolism in the air. We were at the Handlebars Bar and Saloon in Silverton, Colo., enjoying an authentic western lunch celebrating the 25th anniversary of our first ride together. Of course, this time, rather than two-up on a 1981 Yamaha 550 Seca in Southern California, we arrived on a […]

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]]> 2023 Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide Review [16 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/08/25/2023-harley-davidson-cvo-road-glide-review-16-fast-facts/ Fri, 25 Aug 2023 08:24:12 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=269211 After 120 years of business, Harley-Davidson has figured out exactly what buttons to push within its fan base. The Badge-and-Sheild brand’s CVO lineup is nothing short of a love letter to the American V-twin touring faithful, used as the vessel to showcase H-D’s latest technologies, exclusive paint finishes, and new powertrains. This year, the 2023 […]

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]]> 2024 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+ Review [12 Sport-Touring Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/08/19/2024-yamaha-tracer-9-gt-review-12-sport-touring-fast-facts/ Sat, 19 Aug 2023 08:26:01 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=269073 Here, there, everywhere. That is the underlying motto of Sport Touring. In recent years, Yamaha has leaned on its middleweight Tracer family of motorcycles for precisely that, repurposing the lively triple-cylinder CP3 engine and frame of its spirited MT-09 lineup for touring duty, decked out with long-distance fixings—luggage, creature comforts, and helpful rider aids. It’s […]

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]]> 2023 BMW R 18 Classic Review [Big Boxer Experience] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/08/18/2023-bmw-r-18-classic-review-big-boxer-experience/ Fri, 18 Aug 2023 21:59:40 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=269037 Taste or attraction can be a peculiar thing, and that might explain why I basically ignored BMW Motorrad’s lineup of R 18 bikes for almost three years. Now, upon rumination, I find them irresistible. I think my penchant for sport and sport-touring bikes fogged my vision, and it took some saddle time to overcome this […]

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]]> Garmin Zūmo XT2 Review [Motorcycle GPS Navigator] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/08/14/garmin-zumo-xt2-review-motorcycle-gps-navigator/ Tue, 15 Aug 2023 01:18:03 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=268878 The new Garmin Zūmo XT2 adds screen size, brightness, and enhanced functionality to the highly regarded Zūmo XT. With a $100 MSRP uptick from the XT model, the $600 Zūmo XT2 has a 15 percent larger screen and is noticeably brighter than its predecessor. The new Tread smartphone app for the XT2, which is not […]

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]]> 2023 Electric Motorcycles Buyers Guide From A to Z [30+ Brands] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/08/01/2023-electric-motorcycles-buyers-guide-from-a-to-z-30-brands/ Wed, 02 Aug 2023 04:59:59 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=268614 I recently took a look at some of the aspects of the ever-growing electric motorcycle story with my commentary, “Will electric motorcycles ever own the road?” With scooters, mini-bikes, ultralight off-road-only dirt bikes, classic conventional street bikes, white-knuckle-fast sport bikes, adventure motorcycles, and even heavyweight baggers on the market, there is e-cycle for almost any […]

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]]> 2024 Yamaha Ténéré 700 First Look [6 Fast Facts For ADV Riding] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/07/29/2024-yamaha-tenere-700-first-look-6-fast-facts-for-adv-riding/ Sat, 29 Jul 2023 08:00:29 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=268526 The 2024 Yamaha Ténéré 700 gets a nice makeover this year via a few desirable upgrades to the popular mid-size adventure touring motorcycle. Yamaha hinted at these changes with the European version of the 2023 Ténéré 700, and now Americans can enjoy the improvements. The latest Ténéré 700 has three ABS modes. Mode 1 is […]

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]]> 2024 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+ First Look [7 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/07/27/2024-yamaha-tracer-9-gt-first-look-7-fast-facts/ Fri, 28 Jul 2023 02:37:13 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=268478 The 2024 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+ benefits from extensive electronic updates. While the frame and motor are unchanged, this mid-size sport-touring motorcycle’s updates are unarguably substantial. Let’s see what’s new about the 2024 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+. Radar comes to the Tracer. Millimeter Wave Radar upgrades the cruise control system to adaptive cruise control, which […]

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]]> 2023 Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide Review [18 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/07/26/2023-harley-davidson-cvo-street-glide-review-18-fast-facts/ Wed, 26 Jul 2023 08:11:43 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=268426 2023 is a significant milestone for Milwaukee’s own Harley-Davidson, who happen to be ringing in 120 years of cranking out all-American V-twin machinery right in the good ol’ US of A. That anniversary deserves a hearty bash of its own, which the Motor Company threw at its hometown—a city brimming with baggers, brats, and breweries, […]

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]]> GlobeScout XPAN+ Aluminium Top Case Review https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/07/30/globescout-xpan-aluminium-top-case-review/ Sun, 30 Jul 2023 08:30:50 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=268560 The GlobeScout XPAN+ Aluminium Top Case is made from a rugged aluminum magnesium alloy, is good-looking, and has serious locking hardware. I chose the 27L (7.1-gallon) model, as I have finally figured out what I want to carry and where. The 27L, 40L, and 47L capacity versions all cost the same, so function and form […]

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]]> Klim Latitude Jacket and Pants Review [Adventure Touring Ready] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/07/19/klim-latitude-jacket-and-pants-review-adventure-touring-ready/ Thu, 20 Jul 2023 05:56:48 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=268266 Adventure motorcycles and their riders traverse all kinds of terrain and weather. Sometimes we pass through, enjoying the scenery, and occasionally we are unwillingly introduced to Mother Earth face-first. To stay comfortable in all types of weather, and safe if we get off, we seek the best riding gear we can afford. The editorial team […]

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]]> Held Brickland LC Boots Review [Sport-Touring ADV Footwear] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/07/17/held-brickland-lc-boots-review-sport-touring-adv-footwear/ Mon, 17 Jul 2023 07:27:45 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=268165 The Held Brickland LC is the 4.3-inch shorter version of the German company’s off-road-ready Brickland adventure boots. They’re all I want in all-weather ADV boots that I will never take off-road. The Brickland LC boots are extremely sturdy, with a medium-chunky Vibram anti-slip sole. The outer shell is full-grain cowhide with a soft polyester lining. […]

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]]> Smart HJC 20B Review [Designed with Sena] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/07/15/smart-hjc-20b-review-designed-with-sena/ Sat, 15 Jul 2023 07:11:17 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=268134 I loved the look, fit, and quietness of the HJC F70 Carbon full-face helmet when I reviewed it. Before going for several long rides with it, I installed the Smart HJC 20B Bluetooth communication system developed with Sena specifically for a select group of HJC helmets. HJC offers two models of Bluetooth systems for the […]

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]]> Moto Guzzi V7 III Special Coast-To-Coast and Back [Travel Story] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/07/14/moto-guzzi-v7-iii-special-coast-to-coast-and-back-travel-story/ Fri, 14 Jul 2023 23:48:51 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=268124 The adage “When all you have is a hammer, everything starts to look like a nail” carries weight to all who have turned wrenches. When the bike in your garage is a Moto Guzzi V7 III Special, and you need to get from California to Maryland in two weeks for a wedding, the Guzzi is […]

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