Wind Burned Eyes

Can You Buy a Factory Dakar Bike? Meet the 2027 KTM 450 Rally Replica

KTM’s 2027 450 Rally Replica is finally arriving, and it’s the closest thing to an actual Dakar-winning machine that any of us will ever ride. Built directly from the Austrian brand’s legendary factory race program, the 450cc single-cylinder bike combines proven rally DNA with modern touring technology.

This isn’t your typical middleweight adventure bike. The 450 Rally Replica is purpose-built for desert racing, featuring KTM’s rally-specific 450cc fuel-injected SOHC engine paired with a six-speed gearbox and Brembo hydraulic clutch.

Can a 250cc Janus Motorcycle Really Conquer 1,000 Miles in 24 Hours?

Most riders who go after an Iron Butt Association SaddleSore 1,000 certification dial up the luxury. They bring hulking sport-tourers with oversized tanks, heated grips, plush seats. Everything designed to make brutal distance easier.

Spencer Anderson from Lafayette, Louisiana did the opposite. He tackled eight 1,000-mile-in-under-24-hours rides on a 229cc Janus Halcyon 250 during 2025.

RST Moto Roadster Air D3O Jacket Review – Everything You Need to Know

The RST Moto Roadster Air D3O is a perforated leather jacket built for warm weather street riding. It brings the classic Roadster aesthetic into a hot-weather package at a mid-range price point.

It brings the classic Roadster aesthetic into a hot-weather package with D3O Level 1 armor and CE Class A certification. Here’s what it offers.

Triumph’s New War Paint: Brighter Colors for 2027

Six core models are getting fresh colorways for the new model year, arriving in showrooms starting in August. The move signals Triumph’s commitment to giving riders more personalization options across its most popular lineup.

The Tiger Sport 800 trades understated grey for a striking new Sapphire Black and Racing Yellow combo that screams performance. It’s a bold departure from the bike’s usual sophisticated palette, and one we’ve covered the earlier Tiger Sport 660 extensively.

Custom Yamaha SR500 by Phil Leeke

This Yamaha SR500 café racer named “Minty,” built by retired Bentley Motors engineer Phil Leeke.

Rather than cutting up a complete bike, Leeke built the motorcycle from scratch using a standalone 1984 frame and a 1979 single-cylinder engine.

Does Suzuki’s Sport Crossover SV-7GX Hit the Mark for 2027?

Suzuki’s rolling out its first batch of 2027 models, and the headline-grabber is a fresh take on the middleweight sport-touring market: the all-new SV-7GX and SV-7GXV sport crossover machines. Both tap into Suzuki’s time-tested 645cc 90-degree V-Twin, the same engine that powers the SV650, a platform that’s earned its stripes over two decades.

The move makes sense. Suzuki’s carving out a niche between pure sportbikes and full adventure tourers, and the SV-7GX sits right in that sweet spot. It’s got the agility riders want for canyon carving, paired with comfort features that make longer hauls less of a chore.

The End of an Era: Cycle World Magazine Shuts Down After 64 Years

Cycle World, the legendary motorcycle magazine that helped define the sport for nearly six and a half decades, has shut down. Effective July 7, 2026, the publication ended operations with all staff reportedly let go the same day. The closure marks the end of an institution that once set the agenda for the entire motorcycle industry.

The magazine, owned by Octane Lending since being acquired from Swedish publisher Bonnier Corp., had transitioned into a digital-only operation in recent years. But the shift from print to web, and the changing economics of motorcycle media, ultimately proved unsustainable. After five years under Octane’s ownership, the company decided to shutter the brand entirely.

Is Kawasaki Taming the Ninja H2 for 2027?

Kawasaki’s legendary supercharged Ninja H2 is getting an update for 2027, and the news comes with a caveat that’s got the internet buzzing. Fresh EPA and CARB filings reveal that the new generation might be losing more than thirty horsepower compared to the current model. That’s a significant drop for a bike positioned as the engineering pinnacle of Kawasaki’s lineup.

The 2026 Ninja H2 was certified at 228 hp at 11,500 rpm. The 2027 version, according to homologation documents, will share emissions data with the Z H2 SE, pointing to a new peak of 197 hp at 10,500 rpm. The change appears to stem from production simplification rather than pure emissions compliance, aligning the supercharged engine across both Ninja and Z model lines. That said, 197 hp is still plenty of performance for a street bike.

Is a Winged, More Powerful Suzuki GSX250R About to Return to the West?

Suzuki’s entry-level GSX250R is finally getting the update riders have been asking for, and it might be the ticket back into markets that lost it years ago.

New Chinese type-approval documents reveal an updated GSX250R with variable valve timing, a power bump, and a fresh look. It’s built in partnership with Haojue and expected to launch officially this month.

The First Long Solo Ride: What to Expect and Why It Matters

Most riders remember their first long solo ride pretty clearly. Not the whole thing, necessarily, but the feeling of it. Road trips are special.

The moment when the last familiar landmark dropped behind you and you were just out there, on your own, going somewhere on your own terms. Something shifts in that moment that’s hard to describe and harder to forget. If you haven’t done one yet, here’s what to expect.