It’s on the dirt that the differences between the two bikes really became apparent. Both bikes perform very well on the asphalt. Similar performance, handling and general usability. The GS only really distinguishing itself at slower speeds where the C of G becomes a big factor.
Words: Rob Harris/Nick Smirniw Photos: Wilfrid Gaube When the Bandit 600 came out back in ’96 I thought at last, a real bike! Never one to compromise for speed but no comfort or vice versa, always left me restoring old 70’s ‘sports’ bikes. Back then, a bike were a bike (imagine in crackly old fogie … Continue reading Comparo: Kawasaki ZRX1100 vs Suzuki Bandit 1200
The setting was perfect for one of those bad ’80’s horror films. An empty summer camp, a violent thunderstorm, and three unsuspecting motorcyclists. We were just outside Parry Sound, racing against the storm, trying to find the damn camp that I could have sworn I once saw the sign for and Editor ‘arris could have sworn he’d once been to.
Ideally we should have got them all and done a “Boxer Blowout Super Comparo Battle of the Titans Bollocks” type of test. But that would involve actual organisation and planning – two attributes that we simply haven’t yet perfected … or more accurately, even understood. For now, enough of the rambling intros, let’s get down to the R1100S versus the R1100R.
Words: Barb Piatkowski/Rob Harris Photos: Wilfrid Gaube So, what’s the reward for not crashing your first test ride bike? Why, it’s another test ride bike in the form of a 1999 Yamaha R6, no less! No one was more surprised than I was when the call came in from Editor ‘arris, that my second test … Continue reading Test Ride: Yamaha R6
One of the original models to come out of the Triumph factory, the first generation Tiger went on sale in England in 1993, with the first Canadian sale being in ’94.
I’m a cruiser kind of guy. I like low, slung-back bikes, with plenty of chrome and loud pipes. So when I was offered a chance to test ride the new Triumph Sprint ST for a week, my first reaction was “Who, me?”
Let’s say that you’re the type that values self control. You’re interested in the Hayabusa because you want a sports tourer, with emphasis on the tourer. Well, it does that job actually quite well. However, this is really where the ergonomics verses aerodynamics argument comes into play.
Hello. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Barbara, I’m a motorcycle rider/ instructor and I’ve been friends with (CMG contributor) Nick Smirniw and Editor ‘arris for quite a while now; well, long enough at least to be trusted with this gig as a test rider.
Back when Kawasaki were in their infancy and the British big twins had the world market by the gonads, Kawi decided it was time to get serious about motorcycles and build a big air cooled twin of its own