Touring Bikes
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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…
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2004 Kawasaki ZRX1200R Used Review
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8474 miles, up for £3795 First impressions: The colour kind of kills it in my opinion; it isn’t very Eddie Lawson is it? That said, not everyone wants a green bike. Some sensible extras like a rack and the crash bars indicate the previous owner was maybe a steady Eddie. The silencer is actually…
