Table of contents for September 2017 in Cycle World

Two-stroke lovers have dreamed of this day: when a major manufacturer applies modern technologies to produce powerful two-stroke bikes once more—with legal low emissions. Two-stroke road bikes pretty much disappeared in the US after 1984 because carbureted two-strokes must scavenge (refill, while pushing exhaust gas out) their cylinders with fuel-air mixture. Because exhaust and transfer (fresh charge) ports must be open simulta neously for roughly 120 degrees, it was inevitable that such engines would “short-circuit” some fuel to the exhaust, producing high emissions of unburned hydrocarbons and using roughly 30 percent more fuel than a four-stroke engine of the same power. Then in the later 1980s/ early ’90s came direct fuel injection, promising to cut two-stroke emissions and fuel consumption to fourstroke levels. By eliminating the carburetor and injecting the…

BMW R nineT Racer vs. Triumph Thruxton 1200 Café racers, with their sleek lines, beautiful bodywork, classic looks, and aggressive riding position, are what first drew me to motorcycles. I didn’t grow up around motorcycles, didn’t care about going off of jumps or around racetracks—I just wanted to feel free and cool and do something that was terrifying and exhilarating and fun. Today’s café racers do that better than ever before, though this is expressed through two very different philosophies in BMW’s new R nineT Racer and Triumph’s Thruxton 1200. When I got into motorcycles a decade ago, that meant buying a UJM from the ’70s or a (then) new air-cooled Triumph Bonneville or Thruxton. Going the vintage route didn’t work out so well, as I’m pretty inept with a tool…

SLAMMED SUZUKI Q:I ride a 2006 Suzuki DL650, which I lowered using a 3/4 lowering link on the rear suspension and by raising the fork legs in the triple tree an equal amount. I can flat foot when I stop, and with lowered footpegs the ergonomics are perfect. The new 2018 Suzuki DL1000 is on my short list for a new bike but is a little tall. When a motorcycle is equipped with an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) can you safely make these type of changes, or am I limited to a lowered seat and footpegs? MARK THOMSON STITTSVILLE, ONTARIO, CANADA A:As in previous replies, I am not a fan of lowering bikes. There are many bad trade-offs that occur when a bike is lowered, not the least of which…

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 54 percent of fatal motorcycle accidents involve collisions with other vehicles—which most of the time are at fault. Perhaps that’s because traditionally, avoiding motorcyclists has been done old-school, requiring drivers to take care and watch out—a seeming rarity on today’s roads. Fortunately, though, drivers now have help available, as carmakers are beginning to embed automated accidentavoidance technology into their vehicles. Typically, cameras and sensors connect with ECUs, annunciators, and actuators to automatically scan for collision threats, warn the driver, and even initiate steering or braking actions to avert unwanted contact… such as with you and your Fat Boy. This is welcome progress for motorcyclists because with our sobering 29-times greater fatality risk compared to car drivers, we need every advantage. Disappointingly,…

Aprilia Tuono 1100 RR vs. BMW S1000R vs. KTM 1290 Super Duke R vs. Yamaha FZ-10 Back in 2012 the final stretch of a once all-dirt road to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak was paved, and with this change of surface came a new chapter in the historic Race to the Clouds. As speeds increased and elapsed time up the 12.42-mile course plummeted, safety concerns arose. Following a pair of tragic competitor fatalities, the event organizers introduced an equipment standard requiring eligible motorcycles to have been manufactured with a one-piece handlebar. With this “safety” initiative the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has become a premier showcase for the thriving sport naked segment. At this year’s 96th running of America’s second oldest motorsport race, a 2017 KTM 1290 Super Duke…

YEARS SOLD: 2003–2017 MSRP NEW: $14,999 (’03) to $13,999 (’17) BLUE BOOK RETAIL VALUE: $4,555 (’03) to $10,380 (’17) BASIC SPECS: Early Vegas models are powered by the Victory Freedom 1,508cc air-/oil-cooled 50-degree V-twin with a five-speed gearbox. Drivetrain updates introduced in ’06 include a displacement increase to 100ci (1,639cc) and six-speed transmission. The current Freedom 106 (1,731cc) engine has been in service since the 2011 model year. All Vegas models feature low-maintenance hydraulic valve lifters, electronic fuel injection, and belt final drive. The chassis utilizes a conventional 43mm fork with 5.1-inch travel and a single shock offering 3.9 inches of rear travel and cast wheels (19-inch front, 18- inch rear) each carrying a single disc brake. WHY IT’S DESIRABLE: Preceded by only the Victory V92C cruiser, the Vegas is…

BMW had no idea when it launched the R nineT in 2013 to commemorate Motorrad’s 90th anniversary that anyone would like it or that the bikes would sell. Four years later, it’s opened an entirely new market segment for the Bavarian brand, spawning four deriv atives of the bike to create BMW’s Heritage line. The R nineT Urban G/S comes as the latest addition, its styling reminiscent of the 1980 BMW R80G/S that created the adventure bike segment we know today. As with the other R nineT derivatives, most components are shared with the other bikes, the bulk of design attention focused on aesthetics, design, and spiritual vibe. All with good reason, as BMW’s market research revealed that the buyer for this bike is different than your average motorcycle showroom…

AS SUPERBIKE RACING has evolved over the past four decades, almost every manufacturer that has participated in the sport has at one time or another built special homologation models to get an advantage within the scope of the rules. But in recent years, a few of those same brands have decided to push the boundaries beyond the restraints imposed by racing and built no-holds-barred trackbikes. Lighter, more powerful, more exotic, and more awesome. These technical marvels are as much about showcasing engineering knowledge as they are for developing ideas for future models. Ducati’s Superleggera and Desmosedici as well as Honda’s RC213V-S are prime examples of super specials that for one reason or another are too radical to compete in most racing series. BMW’s brand-new HP4 Race is all of those…

THE VIEW FROM INSIDE THE PADDOCK MICHAEL DUNLOP Senior TT Winner By now we’ve all seen the bonkers videos of Isle of Man TT racers lapping at 130-mph average speeds, head-shaking or crashing between hedges and rock walls (if they are lucky), and generally defying the odds by running at the limit where a greater percentage of mistakes will end in death or serious injury. Three riders died this year. Seeing it live and riding the course on a streetbike while the roads are open during TT made me realize that as good as the coverage and on-board footage has become, the soul-moving magnitude is only truly absorbed by riding those bumpy, crooked roads firsthand and then seeing our superheroes who somehow look like construction workers (or are actually construction…