News Riding

Get your off-road riding kicks at Ocotillo Wells in California

Want a great off-highway riding experience? Add Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area in California to your list of favorite winter riding areas. Ocotillo Wells is about 70 miles east of Escondido on Highway 78. The area offers more than 85,000 acres of magnificent desert open for off-road exploration. The trails offer all kinds of

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News Riding

Indian Motorcycle offers new 2020 Challenger bagger

Indian Motorcycle has unveiled its 2020 Challenger bagger that it says combines American muscle, next-level technology and premium comfort. The bike is powered by the company’s all-new liquid-cooled 1,769cc (108ci) PowerPlus 60-degree V-twin engine. The engine pumps out a claimed 122 ponies. The Challenger also features a six-speed transmission with overdrive, assist clutch to reduce

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News Riding

2020 Kawasaki Z900RS ABS and Café Retro Sport machines

The Z900RS and Z900RS Café are back for 2020 in Kawasaki’s Retro Sport line of performance motorcycles. The Z900RS harkens back to the legendary 1972 Kawasaki Z1 900 superbike with its classic styling that includes the iconic teardrop gas tank. The original Kawasaki Z1 900 was supposed to be a 750 but Honda released its

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News Riding

Kawasaki adds W800 standard to its retro classic line

If you love the look of the 1960s standard motorcycles then the new-for-2020 Kawasaki W800 may be just what you need. Or, if you are more of the old-time street racer-type, you may want a W800 CAFÉ, which is back for 2020 after being introduced in 2019. Kawasaki says the new W800 as well as

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Magazine News Riding

Off-the-beaten path: In search of California’s missions

This article appeared in the July 2007 issue of American Motorcyclist. By Grant Parsons I’m on a mission to explore missions in California. I find myself riding on Stagecoach Road toward the California towns of Santa Ynez and Solvang, two small towns full of contrasts. First, there’s Mission Santa Ines (pictured above), which is actually

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News Riding

Survive your winter ride

If you’re one of those hardy souls who must ride even when it’s bitter cold out and there’s a foot of snow on the ground, here are a few tips to keep you going. If you ride on the street, watch for black ice. This is hard-to-see ice on the road. Be extra careful on

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News Riding

Tips for storing your machine this winter

With winter just around the corner, it may be time to start thinking about putting your bike up for the winter. Here are a few tips to get your bike through the winter so you are read to ride in the spring. Treat the fuel system. The first thing you need to do is fill

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News Riding

Get your off-road kicks at the Pike State Forest in Peebles, Ohio

The Pike State Forest may not have the most miles of trails among Ohio’s off-road riding areas, but it has features that put it at the top of list. The Pike State Forest APV Area has 10 miles of trails that will make for a good ride. It’s easy to double the mileage because all

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News Riding

Here’s what made the 1969 Honda CB750 so cool

There were some pretty cool bikes in the late 1960s: The Triumph Trident, BSA Rocket 3, Norton Commando, Harley-Davidson XLCH and the Kawasaki Mach III. But the 1969 Honda CB750 was different. It was revolutionary. Why was it so cool? Well, four cylinders, four megaphone exhausts, a disc front brake, an overhead camshaft and amazing

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News Riding

Nine Tips to Make Your Bike Run Longer

Bad stuff can happen to your motorcycle. Parts break. Electrical circuits short. Batteries die. But you hold the power to prevent or delay most of those bad things. Here are nine ways to help your precious bike last longer. Follow the recommendations in your manual. As hard as it may be to admit, the manufacturer

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