Style and comfort.  Two concepts locked in a never-ending twist of marketing hype and subjective context.  Maybe you’ve convinced yourself that you are pulling off those fur lined Crocs that you picked up for “wearing around the house” though instead you find yourself wearing more often than real shoes, but let’s be honest…no one is pulling those off.  I get it though, the need for comfort sometimes outweigh the appeal of being stylish.  When it comes to motorcycling, this is a very real design tradeoff that manufacturers must face.  Comfort often comes at the cost of handling, with more relaxed riding positions, softer suspension, and additional weight in the form of larger seats, bars, and functional storage.  Style on the other hand, often indicates a more aggressive riding position, smaller, lighter seating, and an overall harsher ride that is optimized for peak performance.  Somewhere in between these design worlds lies the Kawasaki Ninja 650R.

If you’re in the market for a sportbike in next to new condition without the factory price tag, you’ll enjoy checking out this week’s featured Moto-Spotlight.  Look through any ‘best bike’ publications around and you’re bound to find the name GSX-R.  The gixxer name is one of the most recognizable in the motorcycling world, and with good reason.  Suzuki’s flagship sportbike line has become an icon throughout the racing world and on the street because of it’s reputation for reliability and performance.  Suzuki is one of the rare manufacturers to offer a 750cc sport bike.  Despite being classified as a middleweight, the GSXR 750 weighs in at just 6 pounds heavier than it’s 600cc younger sibling.  Someone must have weighed that incorrectly, right?  It’s specs like these that put a smile on the face of everyone who has the chance to own one of these machines.  Squeezing 150cc and 24 additional HP into a frame that [...]

The not-so-distant future of motorcycling equipment is brimming with new technology that aims to make your ride safer and more interesting than ever.  For those of us that film our rides, whether it be for recreational, safety, or social purposes, Bell is teaming up with 360fly to put out one of the sleekest integrated helmet cams to date.  This new design features a fully integrated 360 degree camera that is positioned on top of the helmet for optimal viewing angles and maximum stability.  Along with the 360 degree recording, Bell is touting advanced functionality such as live-streaming, and even a collision avoidance warning system that can alert the wearer to potentially hazardous obstacles.  Though Bell has not set a release date for their new line of smart helmets, expect these to be available sooner rather than later.

As technologies for smart devices become cheaper and more compact, the possibilities for gear integration continues to [...]

It’s time to turn the Moto-Spotlight to one of our favorite and most popular bike, the Kawasaki Ninja 300.  As one of the industries worst kept secrets, Kawasaki has been producing some of the most affordable, reliable, and stylish small engine motorcycles for over 30 years.  The Ninja 250r has long been one of the highest rated beginner bikes due to its low-cost, ease of maintenance, and rider friendly ergonomics.  When Kawasaki brought the Ninja 300 to market in 2012, they took everything that made the Ninja 250r so appealing and gave it more power with modern styling and technology.  This new layout puts out 39hp, and 19lb-ft torque, over the 250r’s 29hp, 15lb-ft torque.   The 300r features a new 296cc liquid cooled parallel-twin engine with fuel injection, 6-speed wet slipper clutch, digital gauges, and ABS brake option.  The low seat height and adjustable suspension makes the Ninja adept to nearly any rider size and skill without having to [...]

Honda’s NC 700X is one of the most versatile motorcycles on the market today.  From daily commuting to windy back roads, every part of the NC 700X is designed to offer the fullest experience in comfort and fun.  Powered by a 670cc liquid-cooled parallel twin engine that produces great power in the low to mid range making it perfect for pulling through corners or splitting through traffic.  Engine vibration has been minimized thanks to Honda’s uniaxial primary crank balancer which means greater comfort on those long rides.  Honda has gone to great lengths to achieve optimal weight distribution on the NC700X.  With its forward engine placement, and under seat fuel tank, the NC700X offers very balanced handling while maintaining a comfortable upright riding position.  Making this bike even smoother is Honda’s DCT clutch system which allows riders to glide through gears with effortless shifting.  If you’re the kind of rider who appreciates more control, manual [...]

Few names carry weight in the motorcycling world like Harley-Davidson.  With the 2014 Iron 883, Harley has turned their attention to the hardcore, minimalist crowd.  The classic tapered fuel tank, and simple clean fender style combined with a low-rise handlebar help give the Iron 883 a more compact, functional look.  Dual chrome exhaust pipes combined with signature Harley-Davidson V-twin engine layout give this bike a powerful exhaust note with all the performance to back it up.  Classic engine design definitely does not mean outdated performance.  With modern innovations like aluminum cylinders and Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection, the air-cooled V-twin carries all the grunt of the Harley-Davidson name with improved performance and efficiency to boot.  Blacked-out accents throughout the whole bike show the extreme attention to detail that has gone into the 2014 Iron 883.  For more details and pictures, check out the page details here!

Whether you’re in the market for your first motorcycle, or ready to [...]

Whether you’re a daily commuter or weekend warrior, dressing for the slide and a pre-ride inspection is a key aspect of maintaining your motorcycle, and keeping your safe.  Let’s breakdown the basics of what you need to look for in a pre-ride inspection.

Leaking fluids – before hoping on your bike, check ground for puddles or dripping fluid off the bottom of the motorcycle.  If you store your bike in the same place regularly, placing a clean piece of cardboard or paper towel underneath will give you a clear indication if any fluids have leaked since your last ride.

Engine oil – before attempting to start up the bike, verify that your motorcycle has oil in it.  Most modern engines have a clear oil-view window.  With the bike upright, verify that the oil level is clearly visible through the window.  Roughly halfway to three quarters full in the window is ideal.

Tires – give both [...]

Honda is making a strong bid for one of the single greatest all around starter bikes with its 2015 CB300F.    Stylish, efficient, and fun are all characteristics that describe this naked style bike.  With an increased power output of 17% compared to its 250f younger sibling, the CB300F offers all the appeal of a compact, nimble beginner bike, with plenty of power to grow into.  Despite having all the power needed to ride comfortable on the freeway, riders can expect up to 71 mpg on the 300F.  Those who are new to motorcycling will appreciate the low, upright riding position and overall light weight with a seat height of just 30.7 inches and a curb weight under 350 lbs.  If you are in the market for a beginner bike, or just looking for an efficient, stylish new ride, you’ll be hard pressed finding an example more mint than this!  With just 48 original miles, and [...]