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Long-Term Bikes

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Latest Long-Term Bikes

Changing tires on the 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R

Kawasaki ZX-10R Long-Term ReportFresh skins and a chicken bake.

I was out in the shop today doing some track preparation on our long-term 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R and decided to offer an impromptu update. With 4640 miles on the clock, our ZX has nearly reached the halfway point of CW’s usual 10,000-mile test term without requiring repairs of any sort. [...]

Honda VFR1200F DCT - Long-Term Test Wrap-Up

Honda VFR1200F DCT – Long-Term Test Wrap-UpDual-clutch dream come true?

Few motorcycles have generated as many editorial column inches as Honda’s VFR1200F. Cycle World has published nearly 30 pages related to this sporting V-Four since its introduction in 2010. Why so much press? Well, we were excited that Honda had finally introduced a replacement for the aging VFR800F, even though [...]

Husqvarna TE630 - Long-Term Test Update

Husqvarna TE630 – Long-Term Test Update #2Finally ready for real adventure.

A lot has happened in the life of our TE630 since we introduced the bike to our long-term fleet more than a year ago; unfortunately, racking up miles isn’t one of them. Dual-purpose motorcycles tend to take a lot longer to accumulate miles than their street brethren. The reason? We [...]

Kawasaki ZX-10R ABS - Long-Term Test Update

Kawasaki ZX-10R ABS – Long-Term Test UpdateGreater green movement.

Kawasaki has never been a company to shy away from bringing the latest racing-derived technology to market. Team Green got the jump on its Japanese competitors with Sport-Kawasaki Traction Control (S-KTRC), its MotoGP-derived TC system featured on the latest ZX-10R. We were impressed with the 10R’s superb level of on-track [...]

Honda VFR1200F DCT - Long-Term Test Update

Honda VFR1200F DCT – Long-Term Test UpdateService and, now, a smile.

Maintenance-wise, we didn’t have to touch our long-term 2010 Honda VFR1200F DCT for more than 8000 miles. Okay, we changed the tires once—going from the original-equipment Dunlop Sportmax RoadSmarts to crisper-steering and only slightly less-durable SportMax Q2s ($498.43)—and topped up the engine oil once with half a quart. But, as [...]

BMW K1600GTL - Long-Term Test Update

BMW K1600GTL – Long-Term Test UpdateFor the love of the road.

Intentionally add miles to your daily commute? Are you mad?! Well, call us crazy, but with our new BMW K1600GTL long-term testbike, all we’ve wanted to do is ride. Even to the point of adding mileage to at least one staffer’s already lengthy grind to and from work. It’s not [...]

Can-Am Spyder RT-S - Long-Term Test Update

Can-Am Spyder RT-S – Long-Term Test UpdateThree wheels ready for the road.

Due to extreme weather, our long-term Can-Am Spyder RT-S didn’t see much action this spring, so it was sent in for its 6000-mile service with just 5706 miles on the clock. We expected no rude surprises when all the bodywork was stripped and the engine exposed so our tech could [...]

Victory Cross Country - Long-Term Test Update

Victory Cross Country – Long-Term Test UpdateBetter the second time around?

It was one of those “close but no cigar” outcomes. The scene? Last August’s “Have bags, will travel” comparison test. Its purpose? To see how Victory’s then-new Cross Country fared against similar V-Twin hard-baggers from Harley-Davidson and Yamaha. The outcome? Were it not for a few niggling complaints—a noisy transmission, [...]

Can-Am Spyder RT-S – Long-Term UpdateRecalled and serviced.

Its odometer showing 5135 miles, the RT-S is halfway through its 10,000-mile test, and two recalls have been the only significant events so far. Last June, BRP recalled the RT to replace its centrifugal clutch; some units with the semi-automatic tranny had suffered stalling problems that were traced to clutches [...]

Husqvarna TE630 – Long-Term Update #1Middleweight adventure-enduro.

Another sub-classification is the last thing motorcycling needs, but the term “adventure-enduro” somehow seems appropriate for Husky’s largest-displacement offering, the TE630. When we first rode the TE last spring in northern Italy, our route included a nice mix of dirt roads and asphalt but only a small section of single-track. [...]