Touring Bikes
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2010 BMW R1200 GS Adventure review
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To read about the updated engine, click here The Adventure is updated with the same twin-cam motor as the standard GS. The radial-valve engine’s additional torque is arguably even more useful with that extra weight to shift – at 223kg dry, it’s 20kg heavier than the standard GS, even before you top up its…
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2010 BMW R1200GS review
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You wouldn’t expect BMW to change the R1200GS very much. After all, the big dual-purpose boxer makes up more than half the firm’s motorcycle production, and almost 200,000 of the things have been sold since its arrival in 2004.When a bike is that popular, you’d be crazy to mess with it. But BMWdoesn’t like standing…
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2010 Triumph Sprint GT
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Sports-tourers beware: Triumph’s new Sprint GT is set to be one of the best value big tourers out there TRIUMPH’S brief was simple: take an existing sports-touring Sprint ST and make it more practical, pillion friendly, comfortable and capable of carrying more luggage over long distances. The new Sprint GT (Grand Tourer) is the…
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2010 Suzuki DL650 V-Strom Review
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Compared to Kawasaki’s Versys, and BMW’s F650GS, the Suzuki is the least sporty of the three bikes, despite having an alloy frame and sharing its water-cooled, fuel injected V-twin engine with the SV650 that dominates mini-twins racing. Styled like an adventure bike, the V-Strom is really a middleweight tourer. Which means it’s comfy for one…
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2010 Kawasaki Versys 650 Review
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The Versys stands tall, like an adventure bike. It’s easy to forget that it shares most of its chassis with Kawasaki’sER-6 sportster including the 17-inch wheels on road tyres (although the standard fit Dunlop Sportmaxs are horrible in the wet – fit some Roadsmarts at the earliest opportunity). Like the Suzuki DL650 V-Strom it’s also…
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2010 Honda DCT VFR1200 Review
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The biggest step forward in motorcycle controls for 70 years or the answer to a question nobody asked? MCM rides Honda’s new DCT VFR1200 to find out… Just what is DCT? Dual Clutch Transmission is Honda’s take on a quick-shifting, semiautomatic gearbox similar to those used in top-end sports cars since 2003.This is not…
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2010 BMW F650GS Review
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This bike’s got an 800cc engine. Nobody, even at BMW, knows why it’s called an F650. Similarly, no one seems to know why the F800GS – the more off-roady of the two 800cc GS bikes – gets the more powerful engine (more power is generally a liability off-road) while the roadster gets the restricted motor.…
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2009 BMW R1200RT SE Reader Review
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The BMW R1200RT has been described as the world’s best touring bike. Owner Graham Thompson thinks it’s that and so much more. This is his report of their first year and 10,000 miles together. Two bikes share my garage – a BMW R1200RT SE and a Harley Fat Bob. I love them both but for…
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2009 Suzuki GSX650F review
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MCM freelance Bob Pickett took a Suzuki GSX650F for a 100-mile test ride and ended up buying it. He has now put 1000 winter miles on the clock and files the first of a series of reports we will be producing on life with the middleweight all-rounder. There can be no greater compliment than to…
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2005 Yamaha FJR1300 Reader Review
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Two years and 49,000 miles on an FJR1300 have convinced former Bemsee sidecar champion David Bexley that the Yamaha – with a few mods – is the best big tourer on the planet. I am not a rider who changes bikes very often because I am of the firm belief that when the unexpected happens I…
