Gear Patrol

We don’t subscribe to the belief that everything purported as “green” is actually worth your time and money — no matter how hard Oprah stares us down. Still, the new Zero XU electric motorcycle makes our good book for a host of reasons. Thanks to aircraft grade aluminum construction, the bike is lightweight and as…

Turbo. All-wheel drive. Diesel. Motorcycle. Virtually all of these words get our attention all by themselves. Combine them in the form of the chiseled two-wheeler above, and you have the (conceptual) Kickboxer Diesel, designed by Ian McElroy. Powered by a compact, fuel-efficient Japanese diesel engine, the Kickboxer capitalized on McElroy’s previous Subaru WRX gas-powered engine…

Behold Ducati’s new flagship Monster, the 1100EVO ($11,995). Of course, with flagship status comes flagship features and the Duc hardly disappoints. The svelte 373 lb bike packs Ducati’s Desmodue Evoluzione engine, which boasts a whopping 100 air-cooled horsepower and 76 lb-ft of torque. But with power comes responsibility and the 1100EVO comes standard with Ducati’s…

Earlier this year, Ducati introduced the Monster 796. A few months later, they busted out the 2011 Diavel – an all-new 162 horsepower, 456 pound, 0-60 mph in 2.6 seconds, technology-laden, two-wheeled miracle machine. So how did Ducati improve on near-perfection? By making it black — diamond black to be precise. The new color scheme…

With a three wheels firmly planted under the category “instantly recognizable”, Ural motorcycles have been carrying riders+1 since World War II. For 2010, Ural has created the limited edition Taiga ($13,999), named after the northernmost forest, which covers a significant portion of Russia and Canada. Built for weekend adventures, the Taiga utilizes a signature on-demand…

Innovative green technology and our fondness for two-wheeled machinations don’t often cross, but when they do it certainly grabs our attention. Brammo has staked its flag right in our crossroads with the new Enertia Plus ($8,995), the sequel to the original two-wheeled urban commuter.

Looks like the Brits are ready to take back some trails back from the Germans (namely, the BMW F800GS). After rumor and speculation, Triumph, long absent from the adventure motorcycles is back with the Triumph Tiger 800 and an off-road variant called the XC. An 800cc Triumph Daytona engine, ~140 hp and 60 lb-ft torque…

There’s something about a blacked out motorcycle that stirs a feeling of gnarly rebellion from your cubicle, evoking a want to toss on your Belstaff, fire up your bike, and ride off into the sunset. And so, GP’s watchful eye for these two-wheeled SR-71′s continues with Blitz Motorcycles’ customized 1963 BMW R60/2, appropriately called the…

The motorcycles we cover have one thing in common. They are all awesome… from the staid and versatile BMW R1200 GS to the steampunk-esque and apocalyptic Confederate P120 Fighter. But the speed, power and liberation these two-wheelers can provide may also lead to unpredictable dangers including wheel-swallowing potholes, road debris, and soccer moms in titanic…

Helmed by metallurgically-talented Winston Yeh, Taiwan based Rough Crafts, has taken a 2009 Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron 883 and turned it into the Iron Guerilla project. Appropriately named, I’d say. Currently underway, the Iron Guerilla is an amalgamation of the Sportster in Harley’s “Nightster” theme amped up with a mix of subtle yet muscular upgrades including…

What’s the only thing cooler than a motorcycle that flies? Trick question, nothing is cooler than a flying motorcycle. Since it may be awhile before that’s a reality though, the Confederate P120 Fighter comes in at a very close second. Made by hand, and crafted almost entirely of air craft grade aluminum, the P120 takes…

Helmed by James Hammarhead (awesome name), Philadelphia, PA based Hammarhead Industries has a singular focus: create minimalist modern motorcycles in the spirit of iconic 1950′s design through repurposing and recycling. If the Triumph Scrambler based Jack Pine ($14,500) is a product of that manifesto then bring it on, we say. Torquing hard at our bike-strings,…

Normally the term electric scooter brings up images of Segway-like vehicles complete with pocket protector wearing riders. The Zev 6100 and 5100 utility scooters ($7,526) may redefine the stereotype though. Originally developed as a delivery vehicle for the police (back when the police used to compete with Fedex??), its wheelbase is 60.62 inches, which is…

A hark to their roots in racing, the 2011 Harley-Davidson XR1200X ($11,799) is inspired by Evel Kneivel’s fabled XR750. After a year, the bike is landing on U.S. soil and features a fully adjustable Showa front and rear suspension (dialed in to rider weight, riding style, and road conditions), improved front brakes, 1200cc Evolution V-Twin…

If you are in the market for a new bike or undaunted at getting yourself onto a Harley, then the Harley Davidson Fat Boy Lo is an outstanding choice. This comes from personal experience. There are few words that sum up every aspect of this bike, but dark and massive are a good place to…

Ducati has expanded the Monster line with the new 2011 Ducati Monster 796 ($9,995). Slotted right between the ease of the entry level Monster 696 and road-shredding Monster 1100 (S), the 796 is focused on user friendliness and top-end components. Of course, the fact that it’s oozing Italian bad-assery doesn’t hurt. Keeping with the signature…

Appearing originally back in 1914 within the company’s Brooks Book for Motor Cyclists, Brooks recently decided to bring back this classic and classy motorcycle accoutrement with a modern twist. Made of stout leather that is vegetable tanned in Europe, bikers can choose from three color options shown above including: brown, black, and honey. The kit…

Over the years, we’ve seen plenty of attempts by inventors to revolutionize the way urban dwellers get from point a to b (think The Segway). The Yike Bike represents the next iteration along these lines and was built to answer four basic questions: What is the simplest way to get from A to B with…

Mechanically identical to the award winning standard 2009 Daytona 675, this race-bred sport bike was built to turn heads thanks to new Pearl White body paneling and distinctive Sparkle Blue paint detailing on the swing arm and frame. With the lightest and narrowest chassis in its class (its frame weighs a mere 19lbs), this beast…

Sharing the namesake of the most ferocious predator to ever live, the Campagna T-REX 14RR has some living up to its moniker to do. Based on it’s specs, it lives up to it well. The T-REX 14RR is built with a reverse trike-style frame, which allows its driver to retain the stability of a normal…

Author Tom Cotter’s trilogy of vintage vehicle tomes are great reads – and nearly impossible to put down. After all, who among us doesn’t dream of finding a long-forgotten Ferrari or a classic Indian motorcycle collecting dust in some old codger’s shed just before it hits the estate sale? Cotter’s latest book, the Vincent in…

Rolling up in a scooter generally won’t turn any heads. You may garner a few looks, but not the kind you’re looking for. If on, the other hand, you’re behind the wheel handlebars of an Auto Moto, people will take note.

Last month, Gear Patrol’s Jon Gaffney was able to attend the SurferCross event in California, sponsored by Toyota. Since his return, he’s been pretty psyched up. And not just about the

If you think you can manhandle 800+ lbs of brutish motorcycle, then the 2010 Triumph Rocket III Roadster is your bike. Triump has equipped the beast with an equally beastly engine: a 2294cc (2.3 liter) 146 hp/165 ft lb torque powerplant. 43 mm dual inverted forks, Kabaya shocks, and Brembo brakes round out the equipment…

Don’t let Tesla drivers have all the fun. The Zero S electric motorcycle is a higher performance street bike that provides instant power and smooth acceleration without any more trips to the gas station. We certainly like the sounds of that.

The Duke Saturday, Fort Walton Beach – 80 degrees in October, not a cloud in the sky… think I’m going to ride. As a gear freak I’m always out and about trying to find the new hotness. On this particular day, I was cruising along the Gulf Coast throwing the deuces to my fellow riders…

Like Most Things Italian, Even Monsters Are Hot. Ducati Monster 1100    Courtesy: Ducati North America Many of you may not know this, but more than just Apple computers are announced in Cupertino, California. And for some of you, this might be the sexier beast. It definitely is for me regardless of my affinity for both…

[click on image to enlarge and view other angles] Somewhere in between a classic motorcycle, a European movie and the future lies the Enertia. A bike culturally and technologically appropriate to the current day. Using a high output electrical motor charged through a regular outlet the Enertia bike powers itself to a top speed of…

BMW Bikes are one of those rarities that are appreciated by the well versed man. It’s German engineering at it’s best. The R1200 GS is powered by a 100hp Boxer engine that produces 85 lb/ft of torque. The Telelever front suspension will keep your ride smooth no matter what the conditions and the signature drive…

An entirely new approach at top-down driving, the Spyder fuses the thrills of a motorcycle with top down roadster approachability. Using a revolutionary 3-wheeled stance, the Spyder is built around an SST frame that minimizes flex and keeps a low center of gravity for enhanced stability and handling. Further, it features: 106hp V-Twin Rotax engine…