review

Review: 2020 Kawasaki W800

by Sabrina Giacomini from https://www.rideapart.com A legend brought back to life. The 2019 show season was a good one for Kawasaki. Not only did Team Green unveil the Z H2 as well as the updated Ninja 1000 SE SX+ and 650, but it also teamed up with Bimota to create the polarizing Tesi H2 prototype. As though that wasn’t enough, the manufacturer also introduced the W800, a stripped down, entry-level version of the W800 Cafe. I remember vividly the collective gasp we had when the model was first unveiled. The clean and simple lines were a hit among the RideApart team. I even remember being just a little upset about the U.S. and Canada getting the bike in red rather than in the gorgeous shade of green we saw in Tokyo. My disappointment didn’t last long, however, and by the time I picked one up from the Kawasaki HQ, it was completely crushed by how charming the bike actually looked. More on that later, let’s start from the beginning, shall we? The year was 1965. While Americans and Russians were continuously outshining one another on the aerospace innovation front, Japanese and European motorcycle manufacturers had an ongoing Space Race of their own. Instead of reaching for the stars, however, the Big Four were competing for the title as the maker of the most powerful motorcycle on the market. The early- to mid-60s were also formative years for newly-formed Kawasaki Motorcycle Co—a new competitor on the motorcycle scene born from the fusion of Kawasaki Aircraft Industry and Meguro Manufacturing Company in 1964. Thanks to the solid foundations provided by Meguro’s 30-year experience with motorcycles, it wasn’t long before Kawasaki introduced its first big displacement bike, the W1, in 1965. The 624cc parallel-twin is credited for putting Kawasaki on the map as […]

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Harley-Davidson Iron 883 review: Head for the sunset

by Fraser Addecott from https://www.mirror.co.uk/ Fraser says the iconic American brand’s ‘smaller’ V-twin Sportsters are the perfect entry-level way in to the wonderful world of Harley-Davidson I will confess straightaway that I have a bit of a soft spot for Harley-Davidson’s Sportsters and, in particular, the Iron 883. Years ago, back when global pandemics were merely the stuff of horror writers and even before David Cameron had considered holding a referendum on leaving the EU, the 883 was the first bike I reviewed for the Mirror. Harley’s Sportsters have been around and in in continuous production since 1957, when they were known as the XL range. For most of that time, this was the smallest-capacity machine produced by the iconic American brand, although that position is now taken by the Street 750. Nevertheless, the bike is still regarded as an entry-level model and has been the way into the world of owning a Harley for many riders. Some old-school Harley riders may give the Iron short shrift, but this bike is undeniably cool. It is part of the company’s Dark Custom range, so looks mean and moody with the frame, engine casings, exhausts and most other parts blacked out. The only colour on my silver test bike was on the rather groovy peanut tank and the two fenders. It may be a smallish version of it, but that V-twin motor is unmistakable and completes the look, showing this bike means business. With a seat height of 760mm or just under 30in, the Iron is low. I see this as a big advantage and one of the reasons it is popular for newish riders and women. The biggest Harleys can seem somewhat daunting in terms of size and weight. At 256kg (564lb) the Iron is not light, but with both boots

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Kawasaki Z900 review: You don’t have to get your kit off and start a fight to like it

by Geoff Hill from https://www.mirror.co.uk It may be an evolution rather than a revolution, but the latest version of this popular naked streetfighter looks good and is tons of fun, with a great engine and a very attractive price tag Question: A naked streetfighter is a) A football fan after the bars shut in a nudist colony. b) Someone who thinks that naked streets should be brightened up with those nice hanging baskets full of petunias. c) The small green thing on which I’m hurtling around a corner with a smile on my face. The answer, of course, is c – in other words, a sports bike which has been stripped bare of any fairings, folderols and fripperies to look more lean, mean and aggressive. Or in this case, the latest incarnation of the Z900, a very nice 32,000 of which Kawasaki has sold since introducing it in 2017 as an evolution of previous 750 and 800cc versions. To be honest, it didn’t really need to update this one apart from the pressure of Euro 5 emissions demands from Brussels, but the Kawasaki boffins thought they may as well take the opportunity to tweak a few other things while they had their sleeves rolled up. They started with the aesthetics, reshaping the nose, side panels and fuel tank for a more aggressive look, and sticking in LED headlights while they were at it. Thankfully, they didn’t muck about with the seating position, which, while slightly compact for anyone of 6ft 7in like me, is perfect for smaller folk, canting you forward slightly to leave your hands resting lightly on the wide bars and needing only the hint of a nudge to leave you carving into bends like a cornering craftsman or woman on their way to a BBQ for a

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SportBike Chic Kevlar Jeans Review

Made in the USA by a Woman Rider By Chris Gibbany with photos by her husband Although I have been riding motorcycles for years, it has only been in the last few years that I have really wanted a pair of Kevlar riding jeans. Two things have kept me from buying a pair; cost and sizing. Not having a brick and mortar store that allowed me to try on a pair, kept me from ordering a pair online not knowing if they would fit or not. Now, I can tell the world about an awesome pair of Kevlar jeans made by a woman rider to help other women riders be safe and look great while doing it, at a very reasonable price. CLICK HERE TO READ THE REVIEW ON BIKERNET JOIN  THE CANTINA – SUBSCRIBE NOW https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

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BMW F900 XR review

by Geoff Hill from https://www.mirror.co.uk Same engine, frame and brakes as the F900R, but a very different bike Small changes can make a huge different to a machine and the adventure version of this middleweight Beemer proves it by being much better than the naked roadster version, says Geoff Sometimes small is big. And before you think I’ve come over all Zen and am sitting on the stone floor of a hut halfway up Mount Fuji contemplating my hara and coming up with koan riddles, I mean that even small changes to a motorbike can alter its character completely. This can be a good thing, such as when Triumph moved the bars back on the Rocket III, and the pegs back and down very slightly, to create the Roadster. It was only a matter of an inch or two, but it made for a much sportier ride. It can also be a bad thing, like when Ducati moved the footpegs forward on the Diavel to create the XDiavel, effectively emasculating a brilliantly macho machine. Which leads me, naturally, to the BMW F900 XR. I’d just got off its stablemate the F900 R, which was good but not memorable, and although the XR has the same engine, frame and brakes, it feels like a completely different bike. Whereas the F900 R is a naked roadster, the XR is an adventure tourer and it feels like it from the moment you sit on it, with wider bars, and a more upright and neutral position, which not only means all-day riding comfort, but better visibility all round, including a better view in the mirrors. The TFT screen is the same simple but effective model as on the R. Riding off, it feels right from the start, with perfect low speed balance which on

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Kawasaki’s Open-Road Ready 2020 Ninja 1000SX Ups The Comfort, Tech And Power

by Bill Roberson from https://www.forbes.com It’s raining and I’m sheltering in place with my family, which sadly means no motorcycle riding as spring weather imminently arrives in the Northwest. Thankfully, Kawasaki just broke the boredom by holding a model reveal online, as is the sudden new norm, and the new bike is the 2020 Ninja 1000SX. It looks to be another fine machine from the always capable Kawasaki. But after the presentation, I found myself wandering down memory lane (and through digitized photos) to the first and only Ninja I personally owned. In the early 1990’s, I happened across a pristine first-gen Top Gun era 1986 GPz 900 Ninja in bone-stock, unblemished like-new condition (below). Resplendent in original red, white and blue livery, it was by that time somewhat of a performance relic, but I bought it anyway because, well, I had always wanted one and the price was right. Compared to the back-road-strafing Suzuki GSX-R 750 I was riding at the time, it was heavy, a bit wobbly when pressed in the curves, and big. But still, it was just so cool. It still is. One weekend, a riding buddy and I saddled up our respective bikes with some soft bags and headed out to parts unknown in the wide-open (and very lightly patrolled) reaches of eastern Oregon. Midway into a long leg of the trip, my cohort was complaining about the uncomfortable riding position of his mount and tried everything from using the rear pegs to sitting on towels to soothe the pain. But I had made an unexpected discovery: That big, heavy GPz Ninja was a near-perfect sport-touring machine, with a supple yet sporty suspension, a comfortable seat, a near-perfect bar-seat-peg triangle (for myself at least), and a willing, powerful engine. That was the first of many

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Riding Triumph’s Rocket 3

by Dries Van der Walt from https://www.wheels24.co.za As promised during the local launch of the new Triumph Rocket 3, Triumph South Africa allowed me to ride the beast on Wednesday, March 25, beating the national coronavirus lockdown by just two days. It was a bitter-sweet experience because while riding the open (and already noticeably quieter) roads in the Hekpoort area of Gauteng, I was keenly aware of the fact that this would be my last leisure ride on a bike for quite a while. I was joined on the trip by Triumph South Africa CEO Bruce Allen and a colleague from another publication, and the conversation over brunch was predictably dominated by our shared concern about the effects that the looming lockdown, as undeniably necessary as it was, would have on the country’s already brittle economy. But all of that did nothing to distract from the experience of riding the world’s biggest-capacity production bike. At 2500cm³, the Rocket 3’s engine capacity exceeds that of most cars – almost double that of the popular B-segment hatchbacks that are ubiquitous on South African roads. Housing an engine of that size dictates the design approach, and the Rocket 3 presents a squat motorcycle that is not likely to be mistaken for anything else. Intimidating at first Despite being not very tall, the sheer bulk of the bike is somewhat intimidating at first sight. This feeling is not dispelled once you swing a leg over, because that’s when you realise how wide the frame actually is. That said, as soon as the wheels start rolling and your feet are on the pegs, the intimidation factor dissipates with the realisation that, despite its bulk, the Rocket is really well-balanced. It carries its weight low in the frame, and the size seems to melt away as

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DORF Reviewed

A Book about Two Brothers Riding from Los Angeles To Sturgis Book by Bob Bitchin, Review by Rogue I was thinking about all of you on Quarantine and how much I think you would enjoy reading this book by my friend Bob Bitchin. I will tell you ahead of time, it is an ADULT PUBLICATION and if you are offended by Sex, Drugs, or Rock and Roll it is probably not for you. READ THE BOOK REVIEW ON BIKERNET – CLICK HERE Shop for Books, Leather Gear and more in the 5-Ball Racing Shop https://shop.bikernet.com/

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BMW F900 R review: Nothing like a naked roadster on a freezing day

by Geoff Hill from https://www.mirror.co.uk Starring in his own remake of Freezy Rider, our man Hill tackles the elements to see if the Beemer has what it takes in the tough middleweight sector and finds it’s close, but not quite a cigar It was freezing, raining and blowing a gale – and I was on a bike with zero miles and new tyres. Perfect conditions, then, for pushing the limits of the Bavarian firm’s naked roadster whose mission, should it choose to accept it, was to give a good spanking to Triumph’s new Tiger 900 and the established and very popular Yamaha MT-09. “Mmmm. I’d start in Rain mode if I was you,” said Ian at the dealership, slapping me cheerily on the back and going back to his nice warm office, the swine. Oh well, I was obviously being punished after getting home from back to back launches in southern Spain and Morocco, and at least first impressions of the Beemer were good – compact but comfortable riding position, tilting you forward in a mildly sporty fashion on to the bars to give you a view of decent mirrors and a fairly simple but informative TFT screen. A quick toggle of the Mode button through Road, Dynamic and Dynamic Pro into Rain, another toggle of the Electronic Suspension Adjustment to solo rider with luggage to take account of the fact that I’m heavier than the average ride, three presses of the heated grips button to get them up to the maximum setting – and I was off. The fuelling at low revs was slightly snatchy and acceleration in Rain mode was a stately affair, and was never going to set my pants on fire, particularly since they were now soggy anyway. Why BMW designs very expensive suits with the

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