Bike Maniacs

Base Price:  $9000 Last year Guzzi upgraded the V7 enough to warrant the "II" at the end of its name. What you get in this new V7 is a roomier ride, thanks to a half-inch lower seat and an engine pushed forward in the chassis. Speaking of the engine, there's a new 750 cc, air-cooled V-Twin linked to a six-speed transmission replacing the old five. And this is no high-strung sportbike powertrain. So here's a bike that always relies on torque and gearing to get riders up to speed rather than top end horsepower. The V7 is no sportbike but that marvelous V-Twin certainly sounds sweet, and The V7 Stone might have a foothold in the past, but it's actually loaded with tech. Guzzi includes ABS as well as traction control as standard equipment, which turns this good deal into a great one. Moto  Guzzi  is a brand unlike any other. Now in its 95th year of uninterrupted production, Guzzi remains entirely authentic in its retro appeal. Some other man...

Base Price : 5'500 $ ( estimated ) You doesn't typically think of BMW as "cheap" bikes, but the new G 310 R is here to change that. The new bike uses a 313cc liquid-cooled single cylinder that cranks out 34 hp up at 9,500 rpm. And that's plenty because this little bike weighs just 350 pounds. But the thing that makes the new BMW such a standout in this smaller-class of sporty bikes is the high-level of craftsmanship with which it's built. This doesn't look or feel like a budget bike. And like the more expensive BMWs, this one is fitted with ABS standard. We are particularly smitten by the bike's style—especially when it's wearing the classic old-school BMW white with red and blue stripes paint scheme. BMW hasn't yet announced pricing, but competitors like Honda's CBR300R and Kawasaki's Ninja 300 come in around $5000, so don't expect this one to stray too far outside that pricing neighborhood. BMW  has been on the ...

Base Price : $10'000 Victory motorcycles don't come cheap, and practically never go south of $10,000. But that changes this year with the new Octane. Although not an all-new motorcycle—it shares quite a bit of its mechanical makeup with the Indian Scout 60. But that's certainly not a bad thing because the Scout made our list of best buys last year. The 1200 liquid-cooled V-Twin is a modified version of what powers the Scout. It's also where it delivers 104 hp and 76 lb-ft of torque. The suspension has been calibrated for a sportier feel, too. Because it weighs more than 100 pounds less than Victory's own Vegas, this lower-priced machine is also one of the quickest and most rewarding to ride in the company's lineup. Compared to the classically-styled Indian, the Octane looks more like a muscled-up street fighter—and we certainly liking that aesthetic. For those of you who haven’t noticed, Polaris, the parent company of Victory and  Indian motorcycles...

Base Price : 13'000 $ Modern sportbikes have the technology, power, and sharp handling to seamlessly make the transition from road to track. But isn't there room for a sportbike that's just a little more comfortable? Apparently so. Ducati has created a sportbike that's friendly to ride every day. The riding position is more upright so less of your bodyweight is focused down on your wrists. Still, this is still a beastly-quick machine thanks to is 937cc liquid-cooled L-Twin that puts down 113 hp way up at 9,000 rpm. And with just 463 pounds to pull around, it certainly won't be lacking when the road twists. The Supersport comes standard with a system that dials in specific riding and power modes (not unlike a modern high performance sport sedan) and includes traction and ABS. And since it's a Ducati—the Supersport is one good-looking bike. For those that need a little more, the Supersport S model ($14,795) adds high-performance suspension and clutchless ...

Base Price : $6500 Honda's middleweight sportbike, The CBR500R, is one of those rare bikes with wide appeal. It's a great machine for first time riders as well as seasoned enthusiasts that appreciate the nimble size, low price, and solid handling. The 471cc parallel twin is smooth and torquey and happy to rev, and the suspension is very comfortable and compliant, whether around town or in the canyons. The CBR500R benefitted from some substantial changes last year including a revised suspension, new styling, and both a new exhaust and intake. Translation? It looks and sounds even better than before. But what hasn't changed is its status has a gateway to sport bike culture. This year’s updated CBR500R and its twin-cylinder siblings, the naked CB500F and adventure styled CB500X, replace models that have been among Honda’s best and most successful of recent years. Precisely targeted at the European A2 class for relatively young and inexperienced riders, the trio w...

Base Price : 8'700 $ It's no secret we have a weakness for Retro-styled bikes. And the new Yamaha SCR 950 hits all the right notes. Just check out the sweet vintage lace wheels and old school number plates. The SCR looks like something that would roll right out of Steve McQueen's garage in the 1970s. The new on-off road scrambler-style machine is based on the bones of the Yamaha Bolt cruiser, including its 942cc air-cooled Twin. But the transformation to SCR was accomplished by adding a taller suspension and handlebars for a comfier riding position. Of course with relatively modest underpinnings, the SCR won't keep up with the more focused bikes dedicated to dirt sports or backroad hustling. But with an easy-riding personality, classic style, and an estimated 51 mpg, the SCR is a bike that looks like a weekend toy but makes for an excellent daily rider.  This is one of those bikes that you simply have to look past the spec sheet and ride, as on paper t...