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I have touted the Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro as being the best bike at doing everything that money can buy, and I am still convinced of that. It handles like a sport bike, is comfortable like a touring bike, light and nimble, and after 3000 miles on it I still love it.
Well, I am going to have the chance to give the new Triumph Tiger 660 Sport a 9 day road test on Cyndy’s and my trip to the Isle of Man at the end of this month. I am looking forward to riding it and telling all of you just what I feel about it.
I know that at near 70 years of age what is important in a motorcycle for me may not necessarily be the same as for some of you. A light and nimble motorcycle that gives good wind protection, a comfortable ride, good handling, and a nice engine is what I want. It needs to be pleasant on the eyes also.
Ironically, I remember the GL500 Silverwing that Honda made back in the eighties. It was hard for me then to really get what that motorcycle was all about, but I sure get it now!
Desmo or Not: Ducati’s V-4 Panigale and Granturismo
Two Ducatis. One big difference.
The 1,103cc engine in Ducati’s Panigale V4 is not only the foundation upon which the company is building its future. It represents a synthesis, the connection between past and present Ducati technology.
The project is technically and functionally very sound; the 90-degree V is powerful, reliable, compact, and light. It’s flexible enough to be at home in today’s strongest production superbike, the 224 hp Panigale Superleggera V4; its 208 hp naked counterpart, the Streetfighter V4; and the successful Multistrada V4, which currently outsells its V2 counterpart despite its higher price.
The Panigale V-4 has proved so rational, strong, and reliable that Ducati’s R&D department decided to experiment with a non-desmo valve train.
While Ducati and desmo are inseparably linked today, keep in mind that until the birth of the Pantah 500, Ducati also produced many spring-valve designs. The sporty Mk III 250, 350, and 450cc singles were available with both types of valve actuation starting from the early 1970s.
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2022 Suzuki GSX-S1000 | Road Test Review
Engine development is the costliest aspect of designing a new motorcycle. Manufacturers, always vigilant about the bottom line, sometimes spread out these costs by using the same engine in multiple models. The 2022 Suzuki GSX-S1000 is built around the 999cc inline-Four originally from the GSX-R1000 K5 (2005-2008), which won multiple AMA Superbike championships. Advantages of the K5 engine include a long-stroke design that delivers strong low and midrange power, a crankshaft/gearbox configuration that allows the twin-spar frame to run directly from the steering head to the swingarm pivot, and a proven track record of performance and reliability.
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