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2011 Yamaha Raptor 700R SE ATV Dune Review

For 2011 the big-bore Yamaha Raptor retails for $8999 and has an even darker outlook with all-black bodywork and subtle phantom graphics. A special front grab bar and custom GYTR heel guards come standard, and both machines tread on new inner-rolled wheels. Powering this beast is a 686cc four-valve engine with 9.2:1 compression ratio. For a big Single, the 700R is very smooth thanks to dual counterbalancers and a 44mm throttle body squirts fuel into the thumping engine. It too uses a five-speed manual transmission, but riders will be happy to find it has reverse as well. This mattered little in the sand, but the 700R is popular with power-hungry trail riders thanks to its narrower profile and more supple suspension. Piggyback shocks on the front are fully adjustable and the solo rear suspension is customizable as well. It has slightly less wheel travel than the 450R (9.1 inches front, 10.1 inches rear). The Raptor uses 20-inch Dunlop KT345 rear tires and 21-inch Dunlop KT341 front tires for 4.4 inches of ground clearance.

2011 Yamaha Raptor 700R SE ATV Dune Review

2009 Honda XR650L Adventure Project Update

We’ve been slowly chipping away at the 2009 Honda XR650L in an attempt to make it a great budget adventure bike. The XR was brand new when we picked it up, but the carryover model is one of the easiest to find used and has plenty of aftermarket support and hop-up potential. It’s been awhile since our initial 2009 Honda XR650L Project Bike Part 1 so let’s take a quick look around the red machine to see what kind of progress has been made.

2009 Honda XR650L Adventure Project Update

2011 Suzuki GSX-R600 First Ride

When it comes to motorcycling Suzuki’s GSX-R line is synonymous with performance. Since 1985, over 360,000 Gixxers have been sold making it one of the most popular sportbike brands. This year the GSX-R pedigree continues its advancement with the release of the 2011 Suzuki GSX-R600. This new Supersport is an evolution designed to sharpen all performance facets, and we evaluated the updates at Alabama’s Barber Motorsports Park. For information on the technical details peruse the 2011 Suzuki GSX-R600 and GSX-R750 First Look, as this review focuses on our riding impression at the racetrack.

2011 Suzuki GSX-R600 First Ride

2011 Entry Level Sport ATV Comparison

Right or wrong, many people feel ATVs are easier to learn riding basics thanks to the stability of four wheels. A solid platform allows entry-level riders to practice shifting a manual transmission, braking and body control without having to worry about balance. Getting new or young riders to start riding an ATV or motorcycle and enjoying the outdoors is a life-changing experience that we can all relate to. With that in mind, MotoUSA rounded up two quads that offer different approaches for an introduction to sport ATVs. We spent over a month logging miles in the hills of Oregon, Californian sand dunes and Arizona deserts. During that time a number of different riders provided feedback including women, teens, beginners and full-sized men with plenty of experience.

2011 Entry Level Sport ATV Comparison

2012 BMW K1600GTL First Ride

Germany may not have come away from South Africa with the World Cup trophy last year, but the nation does boast a winner in the form of the new K1600GTL. At least that's our take on the latest Beemer during our first ride introduction in South Africa.

2012 BMW K1600GTL First Ride

2-3-4 Middleweight Street Bike Comparison

Explosions. A series of thousands upon thousands syncopate in the controlled chaos that is an internal combustion engine. Dig the sound of the exhaust note, the internal whine of mechanical precision churning out rotary power. The soul of a motorcycle is the engine - its heartbeat and lifeblood. In our 2-3-4 Middleweight Street Bike Comparison, Motorcycle USA pits three different takes on engine configuration - three different approaches at the middleweight standard with the Twin-powered BMW F800R, three-cylinder Triumph Street Triple R and Inline-Four Yamaha FZ8.

2-3-4 Middleweight Street Bike Comparison

2011 Can-Am Commander 1000 XT Review

Timing is everything. Just a few months ago, Can-Am announced that, with its then-new Commanders 800 and 1000, it had the fastest, most powerful UTVs on the planet. In its videos the Canadian manufacturer drove home this claim with drag races and sled (weight) pulls, showing both its 1000 and 800 side-by-sides destroying all contenders, including the previously fastest, pure-performance Polaris RZR 800.

2011 Can-Am Commander 1000 XT Review

2011 Suzuki GSX-R750 First Ride

decade ago, before liter-class sportbikes became vogue, 750s were the original Superbikes. Despite being on the verge of extinction (Suzuki is the only brand to still offer this class) there is still a need for a motorcycle that bridges the gap between the peaky, high-revving engine performance of a 600 and the front wheel in the sky bottom-end punch of a 1000. This is exactly where the new and improved 2011 Suzuki GSX-R750 is positioned. In this review we assess its racetrack capabilities from Barber Motorsports Park. Looking for more technical information? Browse through the 2011 Suzuki GSX-R600 and GSX-R750 First Look feature.

2011 Suzuki GSX-R750 First Ride

2011 Snow Bike Comparison

It has been two years since we had the first opportunity to test snow bikes. At the time, it was such a fantastic experience that I just had to tell everyone I knew about this emerging sport. I was not alone in that sentiment. Mike Metzger and Derrick Mahoney were so impressed from that first trip to McCall, Idaho that they both went out and bought kits for themselves.

2011 Snow Bike Comparison

Kawasaki Brute Force ATV: Warn Winch Install

The Brute Force 750i 4x4 is a proven all-purpose ATV that has evolved into one of the most popular models in Kawasaki’s line-up. We added one of these do-it-all machines to our testing garage where it will be put through the gauntlet by MotorcycleUSA staff. As it’s slated for some serious abuse and sure to get caught in some precarious situations our first bolt-on accessories include a set of front and rear CV Joint Guards ($124.95 Front - $144.95 Rear). The guards will help keep vital suspension components protected and allow the ATV slide over rough terrain, ruts and rocks. The plastic OEM guards are better than nothing but the aluminum guards are more durable.

Kawasaki Brute Force ATV: Warn Winch Install

2011 Zero MX First Ride

What if it was possible to bust out a moto right behind the house? Not down on the lower 40 acres, but in the backyard with neighbors on all sides. For most motocross riders this is a far-fetched dream. Noise is the biggest issue with bikes in an urban area, but an electric dirt bike like the 2011 Zero MX makes the impossible a reality. Zero Motorcycles has been producing silent, eco-friendly two-wheelers for dirt and street in its Santa Cruz, California headquarters since 2006. For 2011, engineers went from top to bottom on the entire line, including the MX, to standardize and improve the effectiveness of this emerging motorcycle technology.

2011 Zero MX First Ride

2012 Victory High-Ball First Ride

There’s something about riding a motorcycle with your arms hung high that fosters machismo. Maybe it’s because the bikes that first captured my imagination were ‘70s choppers with crazy-high Ape Hangers. As a kid, I remember seeing club members rumbling around the Bay Area, tattooed arms hanging defiantly high. Maybe it’s because Apes over a certain height will get you a ticket in some states. They’re like a finger in the face of conventionalism. This style of bars are not usually standard fare on an OEM bike, but then again, Victory Motorcycles isn’t one to follow conventions. The American V-Twin manufacturer proved that when they released the Vision.

2012 Victory High-Ball First Ride