First Looks

Latest First Looks

KTM 690 Duke Track

KTM 690 Duke TrackAustria gets on track with a lightweight, limited-edition Single.

KTM has developed a special racing edition of its powerful Duke 690 and given life to the KTM European Junior Cup, which is open to younger riders and runs in conjunction with eight rounds of the Superbike World Championship. The potential of the Duke Track is staggering in relation to [...]

Yamaha Star Raider SCL

Yamaha Star Raider SCLA Japanese-American custom.

It’s safe to say that the Yamaha press conference held in Atlanta earlier this month was, well, unusual. The purpose of the meeting was never made entirely clear, and a presentation by company spokesmen simply restated the rationale that prompted Yamaha to establish the Star line as a separate cruiser-only [...]

Side profile: 2013 Moto Guzzi California 1400

2013 Moto Guzzi California 1400 and 2014 Aprilia CapoNord – First LookBigger, better, more refined V-Twin motorcycles from Piaggio are nearing production.

Piaggio’s annual dealer meeting in Monte Carlo always produces some surprises. Last year, Piaggio showed a prototype Moto Guzzi California 1400. This year, it provided a first look at the real thing. Scheduled as a 2013 model, the California 1400 will go into production sometime between July and September of [...]

2012 Harley-Davidson XL1200V Seventy-Two - First Look

First Look: 2012 Harley-Davidson XL1200V Seventy-Two and FLS Softail SlimThe Motor Company brings back “big metalflake” and introduces the “essential” Softail.

In early February, Harley-Davidson unveiled two new “mid-year” models, the 2012 XL1200V Seventy-Two and FLS Softail Slim, at Southern California biker hotspot Cook’s Corner. The Seventy-Two is part of Harley’s popular Dark Custom line, which also includes the Iron 883, Nightster, Forty-Eight, Street Bob, Fat Bob and Blackline. Drawing its [...]

2012 Harley-Davidson FLS Softail Slim - First Look

Harley Launches New Models: XL1200V Seventy-Two and FLS Softail SlimThe Motor Company brings back “big metalflake” and introduces the “essential” Softail.

In fact, the widest part of the Slim is its brand-new cross-brace-equipped “Hollywood” handlebar that stretches across the 5.0-gallon gas tank and black “cat’s eye” speedometer console. “This bar has been in our past,” said James. “No one knows where the name came from. There’s some thought that guys in [...]