2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 Since Husqvarna’s motorcycle division was acquired by KTM in 2013, the brand has produced some interesting-looking streetbikes with KTM components under the model names of Vitpilen (“white arrow” in Swedish) and Svartpilen (“black arrow”), both in 401 and 701 sizes. For 2024, the Husqvarna 801 Svartpilen naked bike upgrades the lineup with a 799cc parallel-Twin, a new frame, performance components, and new rider aids and technology. Related: Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 | Road Test Review The 401 and 701 models have used KTM engines, and that remains the case with the ..read more

The Z500’s ergonomics allow for both upright riding when wanted and a somewhat tucked-in stance for sportier riding. The 2024 Kawasaki Z500 is upgraded from the Z400 with a larger-displacement engine, sharper styling, new technology, a new seat shape, and more upgrades. The naked bike is now powered by a 451cc parallel-Twin with a claimed max 51 hp and 31.7 lb-ft of torque. It has a trellis frame and features a short-wheelbase/long-swingarm configuration, and it’s light weight at 366 lb for the standard and 370 lb for the SE version. We got the chance to test the Kawasaki Z500 in and around Sa ..read more

Originally built more than a century ago, Seven Bridges Road parallels and crosses Amity Creek, which cascades down a series of waterfalls for 400 vertical feet. This road was a highlight of this Minnesota motorcycle ride. A couple summers ago, I flew to Minneapolis for a CFMOTO press launch and to visit our parent company’s home office. When CFMOTO gave me the key to a 650 ADVentura and let me loose for a day, I made a beeline north to Duluth to pay a visit to my friend Andy Goldfine and tour the Aerostich factory and store. Related: 2022 CFMOTO Motorcycle Lineup | First Ride Review Scan QR ..read more

The MV Agusta Enduro Veloce is the storied Italian brand’s first full-production model in the fast-growing adventure touring segment. (Photos courtesy MV Agusta) If you asked what I thought about MV Agusta around 2010, I’d quickly respond: Beautiful Italian lines and attitudes but priced for the very few. Then, in 2012, MV introduced the F3 sportbike, offering the inline-Triple platform in relatively affordable 675 and 800 versions. The 675 performed decently for its short time in World Supersport from 2013-2020, taking five 3rd-place finishes and one runner-up.  The Triples ignited the V ..read more

Never skip leg day! In this installment of Motor School, Quinn discusses how working your legs and feet into the turning process pays huge dividends during low-speed turns. (Photos by Kevin Wing) Hey, a smidge of Dr. Seuss-inspired thinking never hurt anybody. Moreover, while this article is dropping in May, I’m writing it during the holiday season, and I’m full steam ahead on a speed-train of hot cider and gingerbread treats, so loosen up. Now, where was I about the feet thing? The sugar coma is real. Oh yes, your feet. Let’s kick it off with a question: When you ride your streetbike, do you ..read more

This Southern Minnesota motorcycle ride included an early morning stop at Church Hill Overlook on the Root River with a great view of the Lanesboro Stone Dam, constructed in 1868 with unmortared limestone blocks. (Photos by the author and Chad Cochran.) Motorcyclists living in Minnesota experience long winters with plenty of time to think about roads we want to ride. It’s a sweet feeling when spring arrives and the bikes come out of hibernation. My son, Chad, feels the same way. We kicked off the riding season with an overnight Minnesota motorcycle ride down the Great River Road (U.S. Route 61 ..read more

This Kentucky and Tennessee motorcycle ride includes a section of the Natchez Trace Parkway, which starts less than 20 miles from downtown Nashville. The historic road follows an ancient pathway for 444 miles to Natchez, Mississippi, on the Mississippi River. (Photos by the author and Cheryl Kessel) When a family friend decided to celebrate a milestone birthday in Nashville, our interest was piqued. Being big music fans and suckers for seeing new places, especially those with famously good motorcycling roads, my wife, Cheryl, and I decided to tag along. Others handled the search for accommodat ..read more

The 2024 Triumph Daytona 660 sportbike is powered by a 660cc inline-Triple that makes 95 hp and 51 lb-ft of torque. (Photos courtesy Triumph) In the mid-1990s, when I cut my teeth as a motorcyclist, the Big Four Japanese manufacturers were engaged in a middleweight sportbike arms race. Every other year, each brand unveiled an updated platform, squeezing a few more ponies out of their 599cc inline-Four engine and tweaking frame geometry, suspension systems, and brakes. As a result of this one-upmanship, middleweight sportbikes went from entry-level all-arounders to racebikes with lights and lic ..read more

The 450NK is one of four bikes in CFMOTO’s lineup powered by a liquid-cooled 449cc parallel-Twin with dual counterbalancers and a lively 270-degree crank. (Photos by Kevin Wing) As a husky guy who’s 6 feet tall and more than 200 lb, I’m not the target buyer for small bikes, but man, I sure love riding them. Don’t get me wrong; I love riding powerful bikes (like the 190-hp KTM 1390 Super Duke R Evo I track-tested in Spain) and big bikes (like the Harley-Davidson Glides I recently rode on a nine-day, 4,200-mile tour through four states), but they require a level of respect and seriousness that I ..read more

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