One doesn’t necessarily think of Russia when pondering which country makes the best motorcycles. But if you’re searching for one with a sidecar, the Rooskies have a lock on that market thanks to their pride and joy, the Ural. Commonly thought of as an urban motorcycle — something you might throw your dog or significant other into ­­— Ural has something else up their sleeve with the Gear Up GEO.

With only 20 units available, this hand-painted, off-road capable sidecar is as unique as it looks. And at $26,999, it’s as expensive as it is unusual, but that’s what’s so appealing about the Gear Up GEO.

Does it have what it takes to be your next uber-capable grocery getter? Pour a shot of straight vodka, and let’s sip our way through the features of this Russian renegade.

Ural Gear Up GEO’s Base

As a platform for this off-road wonder, Ural looked to their already capable 2WD Gear Up ($17,549). The Gear Up comes bedazzled with fanciful parts like Brembo brakes, fuel injection, a reverse gear option, nearly 7 inches of ground clearance, and 2.9 cubic feet of space in the trunk. The base Gear Up is capable of hauling 1,325 pounds as-is. But this wasn’t enough capacity for the GEO; Ural decided to level-up, and level-up they did.

Ural Gear Up GEO’s Trick Bits

The GEO receives a blend of convenience and capability that befits the stylistically conscientious adventurer with looks to spare. Nitron shocks, Heidenau K 37 tires, and an off-road-only GPR exhaust system were added to the base-model Gear Up to improve off-road capabilities.

Additionally, a new spare wheel rack, sidecar nose rack, crash bars, headlight grill, and light guards wrap the GEO up in high-viz orange protection.

Rotopax supplied an additional fuel cell for those extended voyages, while a handlebar-mounted GPS top clamp guides the way. A skidplate and USB charger are there to assuage your worries once you get off the beaten path, and the ergonomic upgrades will keep you in the saddle longer.

Not For Everyone

Sure the military-inspired camo is de-natured by the bright orange accents, and the price tag is seriously steep for such a utilitarian vehicle, but I’m in love with the GEO. If only I had an endless expanse of backcountry and an off-the-grid cabin to ride it to; I’d probably be in line for one of these right now. But alas, Vlad and the boys back in The Motherland will have to sell my model to someone with more means.

Maybe next year, Ural!

Commonplace electric motorcycles take a lot of heat for possessing toyish design features, often looking more like a wannabe urban motorcycle commuter than a serious contender on the racetrack. But slowly, electric bike technology is bleeding into the world of competition. And there’s some severe aesthetic ingenuity bleeding in with it. And the retooled, one-off electric SR/S by Deus ex Machina and Zero Motorcycles combines a most capable electric powertrain with exceptional architecture.

Taste-maker Deus ex Machina partnered with Zero, the leader in electric motorcycles, to completely re-imagine what an electric bike could look like sans conventional restraints. To complete this task, the companies turned to none other than renowned bike builder Michael “Woolie” Woolaway. The result was a swing for the fences.

Zero SR/S Bike Platform

To begin this project, Zero gave Woolaway its soon-to-be-released SR/S way back in February 2020. The SR/S model is one of Zero’s latest attempts to buck the perception that electric motorcycles are just appliances with wheels. The SR/S model is Zero’s first full-fairing motorcycle whose ergonomics are more akin to a touring machine’s than a race bike’s. However, the bike has all the right stuff for a remodel.

Motorcycle Playground

Looking at Woolie’s redesigned Zero, it is almost challenging to envision the original SR/S living beneath the new livery. Woolie claims he “shaped the bike by hand,” starting with the gas tank and working his way through the fairings and tail section. Electing to buck the trend of sketch-ups and computer renderings, the Venice-based builder instead implemented hand tools to shape everything out of foam plastic.

There’s much more to this re-imagined SR/S than just a new fairing. The windscreen from Zero Gravity is all-race, so don’t expect to get behind it unless you’re prepared to go full-on race mode. Saddlemen provided the low profile seat, and a custom thumb break came straight from Spain to add a little MotoGP-inspired technology.

Overall the design is a beautiful re-think of what an electric bike can look like. Let’s just hope that this kind of look carries over into the consumer world because this bespoke bike ain’t for sale.

Learn More

Urban motorcycles aren’t necessarily a new category to the two-wheeled industry, but given the changing nature of work and commuting, they are beginning to return to the forefront of the transportation conversation. In many parts of the world, small-displacement engine bikes are the standard for urban mobility. As those developing regions seek bigger, the developed world has turned, if slightly, away from huge power. Even in the US, where power is king, we’re starting to see more engines in the 100 to 200-cc segment. And just in time for that development, battery technology is rapidly improving electric motorcycles’ capacity to deliver big fun in compact packages.

Ed Motorcycles is an Australia-based manufacturer that is preparing to release its first electric motorcycle offering they have coyly titled the “Model Z.” We can’t speak with credibility as to what “Z” stands for in this context. Still, we like to think it’s “zeewwww,” which is the near-silent whisper most electric-powered bikes make. With street tracker styling, a trellis frame, and a modernized finish, this bike looks like it’s a blast to ride. A deeper dive into the specifications should reveal a bit more about the beast to be. Let’s kick the tires.

History Lesson

Street tracker-style motorcycles take their inspiration from one of the wildest forms of bike racing, flat track. Flat track racing is an art form inspired by the motorsports hay-day that is the period between the mid-seventies and early nineties. This dogfight of a mad dash around a quarter-mile track is equal parts adrenaline and absolute madness. The bikes are highly modified street machines designed to sit low and long and ride as loose and fast as can be.

This aesthetic weaved its way into the stylings of cafe racers, street fighters, and many other types of bikes as the custom building community adopted the crazed vibe of 100 mph street bikes ripping around a dirt oval.

Original Future

Ed Motorcycles has adopted the street tracker style and imported it into their vision of motorcycling’s future. The low, long trellis frame looks to put the rider in a fairly aggressive riding position, perfect for zipping around town. Directly below what would typically be a gas tank is the power unit, managed by a Seven Gen 4 controller. The controller is the Achilles heel of the electric motorcycle; Ed clearly recognized that and utilized an industry-standard throttle controller.

The motor itself is brushless (pretty standard now) and claims an output of 52kw, a pretty punchy power unit if geared correctly, and the throttle ramps in a manageable way. Though Ed does not claim a total run time or distance, at that kilowatt rating coupled with a 99v high-performance lithium-ion battery, you could probably expect to get a good 100 miles per charge, but more detail and full road tests have yet to happen with the Concept Z.

The Verdict

There’s a lot to love about this lightning bolt in a bottle. Certainly, I wouldn’t make it many days before being carted off to jail for attempting to back this thing into every slick corner in town, but I’d look good doing it. At the time of writing, there is no published price for this high-voltage flat tracker from down under, and Ed Motorcycles’ designer Tony Roberts is still tinkering with the design. I can’t wait to see the price tag. Until then, I’ll just have to make the “zeewwww” sound inside my helmet over the sound of my antiquated combustion engine street tracker.

Purchase

Few motorcycle design elements have made it as long as the hub-and-spoke wheel system, the chain drive, and the combustion engine. 2020 is a category-breaking year, and Verge, a Finnish motorcycle manufacturer, heeded the call to throw out all old conventions. The Verge Hubless Electric Roadster looks like a hybrid between the Italian stylings of Ducati smashed against the futuristic form of “Tron.”

While we know that the hubless design combined with an electric motor gives the appearance of the future, there are few things you need to know about this unique ride. As a twenty-year veteran of the powersports business, I’ll see if I can’t put you in the driver’s seat and envision what this thing has to offer. Let’s go.

Function

Let’s start with the motor. On a traditional motorcycle, the power plant sits firmly between your feet. The energy gets transferred to the rear wheel via a drive system (belt, chain, or shaft), and eventually, that power hits the pavement. There’s a lot of latency in that system due to all of the interlinked parts. Many components have the potential to fail, and even when they do work as planned, there’s a loss of power at each transfer. A dated design, yes, but no one has stepped up to best it — yet.

Verge has relocated the motor unit to the rear, removing several links in the system. The end of the swing arm features an 80 kilowatt (kW) electric motor system that integrates into the rear wheel’s rim. Verge claims this system delivers a smooth 107 horsepower with a staggering 738 foot-pounds of torque, which is more than enough for most. The lengthy swing arm is likely an attempt to balance out the unsprung weight of the motor, hub, and tire.

Though there are few specs on either the brakes or suspension, the photos show Brembo brakes — which we hope is an option — and what appears to be Ohlins suspension, which should soak up the chatter from the rear end.

The size of the battery is also a mystery, but Verge claims a range of 124-186 miles per charge, putting the bike at the higher end of power, and about average range when compared to its contemporaries. Though there are few specs on the brakes, the photos show Brembo, which we hope is an option. We are sure that a fast-charging DC system can juice the battery in 50 minutes or less, with a total charge of 4 hours from a standard wall socket. So whether you’re at the office or parking the bike for the night, you can be sure even a traditional charging environment will give you a full buzz.

Fashion

The styling of the Verge Hubless Electric Roadster is quite striking, but also slightly anachronistic. The juxtaposition of a hubbed front wheel and the donut on the back seems somewhat out of sync. However, the front brake on a motorcycle is critical, so we can see why they wouldn’t try and innovate their way into a new braking system.

The seat and footpads offer two very different riding positions. A low-slung front footpeg allows the rider to sit more like a Harley; this is your highway mode. Rear-mounted pillion pegs put the rider in a more aggressive posture, your around-town manner.

Overall this electric motorcycle has all the clean lines and hard edges that one would expect from a future-focused manufacturer. The Roadster’s color options are orange, green, grey, blue, red, and our favorite — matte black.

Fusion

There’s a lot of style and technology in confluence here. With big power, good range, and what appears to be a reasonably comfy and versatile cockpit, the Verge Hubless Electric Roadster has a lot to offer. You’ll have to throw down about $2,400 for a deposit, and the MSRP at the time of writing is $27,000. It’s not cheap, but the early adoption of technology never is, so save your pennies now, the Verge Roadster starts shipping soon.

Purchase

Whether it is your first motorcycle or another addition to your garage, choosing an urban motorbike is not easy. Most companies specializing in motorbikes have already realized that big city dwellers are a vast, almost unexplored customer niche, so the market has been getting more and more saturated with city-friendly motorcycles in recent years. This is great because you have a lot of options to choose from, and healthy competition promotes innovation and improvement. Still, settling on just one model when there are so many alternatives can be tough.

We’ve decided to test some urban motorcycles to help you make that important decision. To us, an urban bike absolutely has to be agile, compact, and economical. Preferably, it is also beginner-friendly, as the urban commuter is likely going to be the first motorcycle for a lot of people. Finally, we wanted our top picks to be reasonably well-rounded and versatile, giving you the opportunity to take them off the beaten track and into the wild if you wanted to. Here the top 10 urban motorcycles that satisfied all or most of these criteria.

BMW G 310 R

If you’re new to the world of motorcycles, you need one that won’t make you feel like you’re trying to ride an untamed wild horse (or about a dozen of them). The BMW G 310 R is a great beginner motorcycle because it is easy to mount, has very responsive steering, and can be taken on fun rides outside of the city if you want to.

The first impression from the BMW G 310 R is definitely a positive one. The motorcycle is very well-designed, so it looks great regardless of the color you go for. A closer inspection reveals that it is also well-built; you won’t be able to find any small defects in the paintwork or around the switches and footpegs. This comes as no surprise since the G 310 R is a BMW Motorwerks product, and the German manufacturer is known for paying attention to the smallest details.

Riding the G 310 R is a fun and uncomplicated affair. Admittedly, there are motorcycles out there that offer a more fun riding experience, but riding them in a city would be pretty tough as well as inefficient. With the G 310 R, you can cruise the city streets effortlessly, and making your way through congested traffic is a breeze, too.

As good as this little BMW motorcycle is, it still has some flaws. One major issue we have with this bike is that it lacks some features that its competitors in the same price range do offer. For instance, you don’t get the option to turn off ABS on this motorcycle, and the Ride-by-Wire throttle isn’t to be found, either. We think it would actually be a good idea to add these features even if that would cause a price increase, but the G 310 R is nevertheless a solid option for the beginner motorcycle aficionado.

2019 Yamaha MT-07

Yamaha is among the first brand names that come to mind when you think of motorcycles. The Japanese company has been producing outstanding-quality vehicles for over 60 years now, so we had pretty high expectations for the new MT-07 model. As it turned out, this little motorcycle offers so much bang for the buck that our expectations were pleasantly surpassed, and the MT-07 happily made our list.

A follow-up to the extremely successful FZ-07 model from 2015, the Yamaha MT-07 has kept many design features from its predecessor. However, a keen observer will be able to spot some differences, as Yamaha went for a simpler, more minimalist look with the MT-07. Of course, this is purely a matter of preference, but we think the straightforward design of the newer model is slightly more attractive.

You are only able to fully appreciate the MT-07 once you’ve taken it for a ride. We wouldn’t go as far as to say it’s the ideal city bike, but if we held a competition, it would be pretty close to snatching the first prize. The bike is very easy to control, the gears shift very smoothly, and you can almost feel the power trapped in its 689cc engine. What’s more, its speedy acceleration makes it a great choice for city streets, where you frequently have to stop or decelerate for traffic lights, pedestrians, and other vehicles.

As far as drawbacks go, we could try to complain about the non-adjustable front forks, but it would be fairly difficult for you to take us seriously at this point. With this performance and specs, Yamaha could’ve demanded a significantly higher price for this motorcycle, and it still would’ve sold pretty well. With the very reasonable price tag that it currently has, the Yamaha MT-07 feels almost like a steal, so we would readily recommend it to anyone looking for a new urban motorcycle.

You may also be interested in some of these powerful dual sport motorcycles from our list. Be sure to check them out.

Honda Grom

As much of a bargain as the Yamaha MT-07 is, it still may not be within the limits of your budget. Or maybe you want an even smaller motorbike, one that comes with all the practicality of a scooter yet feels like a full-fledged motorcycle. Well, we can’t promise you that riding the Honda Grom feels like riding a Harley Davidson (in fact, we can promise you it doesn’t), but if your trips are going to be happening almost exclusively within the city limits, the Grom might be exactly what you need.

Design-wise, there’s really not much to say about the Grom. It features a standard look with no cool or innovative deviations worth mentioning. However, what you do have to know about this motorcycle is that it looks tiny compared to other motorcycles you’re used to. This is the smallest motorbike we’ve tested for this review.

The top speed of the Grom is officially 75mph, and on a good day, you might even be able to actually achieve that speed. For all practical purposes though, you should count on it being able to go at about 65mph per hour. Given this speed limit, it’s easy to figure out that riding the Grom isn’t in any way an overwhelming or ground-breaking experience. Yet, Honda managed to somehow make the Grom a very fun motorcycle to ride. We can almost guarantee that you’ll want to take it for longer rides than just commuting to and from work, and it does hold its own in the countryside surprisingly well.

For the price, we can’t really complain about any aspect of the Honda Grom. It’s a very compact, economical, reliable, and, most importantly, fun motorbike. Unless you have unrealistic expectations of this machine, it won’t disappoint you.

Here are some of the best touring motorcycles on the market. Don’t miss them.

Honda CB300R

While we’re on the subject of Honda, let’s take a look at another motorcycle from the Japanese company. After all, you don’t get to be the world’s largest motorbike manufacturer since 1959 unless you really know what you’re doing. Honda may not produce the coolest or most desired motorcycles, but Honda machines are very well-made and reliable, and that alone deserves respect.

The CB300R is Honda’s newest city-friendly motorbike. At first glance, it kind of looks like an oversized Grom. Once you start to take in the details though, you can see that the CB300R is both conceptually and substantially a full-fledged motorcycle. It’s not a sportbike, so it doesn’t look too sleek and powerful, but it’s a good enough design to turn some heads as you’re passing the oh-so-slow pedestrians by.

Riding the CB300R may get challenging at times, which is why we’d rather recommend it for people who have at least minimal experience with motorcycles than for those who are completely new to the whole thing. Of course, you could still make the CB300R your first motorbike and successfully learn to ride it, but we felt that some other models on our list were more beginner-friendly. The Honda CB300R rewards a good riding technique, so you’ll feel more confident and have more fun on this motorcycle if you learn the ropes on something else.

As for drawbacks, we couldn’t find many. Seeing as the Honda CB300R is apparently more geared toward intermediate to advanced riders, it could’ve had a more powerful engine. Still, you don’t want to go too fast within the city limits, and this is primarily an urban bike, so we wouldn’t consider that a serious disadvantage.

Our guide on top adventure motorcycles features more powerful bikes like this. Check them out.

Kawasaki Z650

Even if you’re absolutely new to the culture surrounding motorcycles, you’ve probably heard of Kawasaki motorbikes. Produced by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Motorcycle & Engine from Japan, they are solid bikes that deliver a lot of bang for the buck. This is proved by the extremely popular Kawasaki Ninja product line. Let’s take a look at a bike that could easily have belonged to that line, the Z650.

The Kawasaki Z650 is based on the Ninja 650, a well-balanced and fun motorcycle that has won the hearts of many motorcycle enthusiasts. If you compare them just by their specs, it might be difficult to tell them from one another because they have the same engines and even the same disc brakes. However, once you actually take a look at the Z650, it becomes very easy to tell it from its Ninja cousin. The Kawasaki Z650 features a naked design that is inspired by sportbikes. This makes it look very cool, and on the practical side, it is lighter than the Ninja 650, allowing for less fuel consumption.

Riding the Z650 is quite easy even if it’s your first time on a motorcycle. It has very smooth, predictable handling that is just responsive enough not to feel too slow. At the same time, it’s not hyper-reactive, almost making you feel dizzy with the slightest turns. This ease of handling persists through higher speeds too, so you can take this motorcycle for highway rides on weekends and still feel comfortable riding it.

We were hard-pressed to find any serious issues with the Z650. Okay, so maybe the design isn’t really for everyone, and the engine is a bit too powerful for what most people need from an urban motorcycle. Still, those looking for a versatile motorbike that does well in big cities with lots of traffic won’t be disappointed.

Our guide to the best-rated motorcycle pants offers some quality protective clothing for bikers. Check them out.

Zero DS

Many urban motorcycle models are smaller, lightweight versions of full-sized off-road or sports bikes. This means that they weren’t built from the ground up with the city conditions in mind. The Zero DS, our next pick, wasn’t designed specifically as an urban motorcycle, but it has some smart programming built-in that allows you to activate the city-friendly Eco mode with just a touch of a button. Oh, and did we mention it is also powered by electricity?

The Zero DS electric motorcycle has “Black Forest” in its full model name, and we think that suits its optic very well. If you go for the darker version, you’ll get a beautiful matte black frame with some contrasting chrome elements, such as the disc brakes. Some people are bound to find this almost exclusively black color scheme a little boring, but we loved the minimalist yet silently chic look of the Zero DS. It does look somewhat clumsy with the battery power tank attached, but we found we can live with that.

On the road, Zero DS feels just as fun and easy to ride as the best motorbikes with combustion engines we’ve tested. If it’s your first motorcycle, you’ll learn to ride it with ease, and your skills are going to be applicable to just about any other bike you choose to ride. You can also take it off-road with the Sport mode that optimizes the bike’s performance on anything other than smooth asphalt. Just make sure your travels don’t take you too far from a power outlet, and have fun.

The most obvious disadvantage of this motorcycle is its price. You could get two or even three regular urban motorbikes for the price of a single Zero DS. Is this investment worth it? That mostly depends on your initial budget. Charging the DS is ridiculously cheap, so your rides to work and back are going to be almost free. In addition, this e-motorcycle doesn’t need as much maintenance as a regular motorbike, so that is going to save you money over time as well. All in all, we’d say go for it if you have the money at hand.

Yamaha TW200

If you weren’t impressed by the electricity-powered Zero DS, don’t worry; we still have a couple urban motorcycles with a traditional gas tank up our sleeves. Another product of a Japanese company, the Yamaha TW200 is a great motorbike for people living in cities where the streets could use some maintenance. It is also the ultimate commuter motorcycle for those who live in the distant suburbs and may have to ride some rougher roads before they make it to the highway.

We were really impressed by how awesome the Yamaha TW200 looks. Don’t get us wrong, the cool factor is definitely not the most important thing in an urban bike, but isn’t it nice to swing your leg over a gloriously powerful motorcycle every morning rather than something that seems to have borrowed its aesthetics from a scooter? Just one piece of advice: go for the darker color scheme if you want the most impressive looks. Of course, you can also get the beige-colored one, but we found that it looks kind of old-school and loses a lot of that cool dirt-bike aesthetic.

The TW200 is a very beginner-friendly motorcycle. It is very lightweight, so it’s easy to pick up if you happen to drop it. Also, it is sturdy, so you won’t feel as bad dropping it as you might feel damaging the plastic fairings on some of the shinier bikes. It handles very well, so you won’t have to wonder how to properly execute a basic turn. All in all, it’s great for beginners, and you might even consider taking your motorcycle license test with it. It won’t be easy for you to outgrow this bike, either. As your skills improve, you’ll find that there are many cool things you can do with the TW200, and riding it on rough terrain might become your preferred way of spending the weekends.

The Yamaha TW200 is a very good motorcycle, but it’s not perfect. Its low weight is achieved with a few sacrifices, one of which is a smaller fuel tank. This could be a deal-breaker if you don’t want to develop a mental map of the nearest gas stations every time you ride your motorbike. It is also quite slow even for an urban motorcycle, which is good for beginners and works very well with those fat tires on rough roads but may end up being disappointing once you get good at riding it. Still, we don’t think that these disadvantages are critical for a city motorcycle, and we’re sure that the TW200 can make some riders very happy.

For some excellent protective gear for bikers, check out our list of the best-selling modular motorcycle helmets.

Ducati Scrambler

We knew this list could never be complete without mentioning a Ducati motorbike, and with “Urban” in this model’s name, we immediately knew which one we had to test first. Hailing from Italy, Ducati motorcycles are mostly oriented toward speed and fun, but the company does have some “downtuned” models that can take on the city streets and come out victorious.

We’d say the Urban Enduro is a well-rounded motorcycle that performs well on the city streets but doesn’t shy away from some off-road fun either. The one issue we could have with it is the price. At more than two times the price of the conceptually similar Yamaha TW200, it may not be worth the investment if the TW200 drawbacks aren’t that important to you.

You may also be interested in some protective motorcycle racing gloves from our list. Don’t miss them.

Harley Davidson Road Glide

Well, speaking of motorcycles and investments, how about a motorbike that comes at double the price of even the Ducati Urban Enduro? That kind of price may seem like overkill, but wait until you take a look at the motorcycle in question. It’s the city-friendly, yet undeniably classy and charming Road Glide from Harley Davidson, a motorcycle that’s all about the experience rather than merely the end result of getting from A to B.

Harley Davidson motorcycles are great performers, but they also tend to feature iconic looks that are associated with the whole biker culture. The Road Glide purposefully looks like an older motorcycle that was built in the 70s or 80s. However, a quick ride is enough to make you understand that beneath this stylish retro frame you’ll find modern components that work together in perfect sync to make every mile as enjoyable as the first one.

Yes, the Road Glide is that good. Make no mistake, you’ll still need to make an effort riding this motorcycle, probably even more effort than you need with any other model on this list. However, it pays off, as riding the Road Glide is a very, very enjoyable experience. The bike is very stable, and it offers a smooth ride regardless of the speed. The Road Glide actually welcomes higher speeds and almost wants you to get away from the city streets crammed with other vehicles and rush into the unknown. We don’t recommend you do that until you’re completely sure you know how to control your Road Glide though, as the handling may get challenging at times, especially for those without much experience riding motorcycles.

All in all, Harley Davidson Road Glide is a high-quality urban motorcycle with some flaws. The first one is the sheer size of this bike, which means that it’s not that agile in congested traffic and needs a proper parking spot. This could be a deal-breaker if you need to get to your downtown office past what feels like millions of cars and don’t have your own designated parking spot. The second problem you could have with this motorcycle is the price. So, we would only recommend the Road Glide to people who already have some experience with motorcycles so that they are fully aware of what they want from their daily urban commuter bike and what they’re going to be getting from the Road Glide.

Don’t forget to invest in a pair of durable motorcycle racing boots from our list that will keep you protected.

KTM 390 Duke

KTM AG is an Austrian company that produces motorcycles and sports cars but is best known and recognized for the former. KTM motorbikes are fast, aggressive, and fun to ride, but the needs of city dwellers have convinced KTM to come up with a bike that feels at home on the busy, sometimes narrow city streets. Of course, the company couldn’t simply set aside all its past experience designing motorbikes for highways and off-road use, so the 390 Duke is a lot more than a humble commuter machine.

Just looking at the 390 Duke makes you think that this is a bike that means business and won’t tolerate inexperienced riders. Well, appearances are deceitful, as this Duke actually is very beginner-friendly, but we’ll get to that. The combination of black, gray, orange, and white colors makes this motorcycle look like it just came out of a motorcycle race that it probably won. Of course, this is a purely subjective matter, but we do love the 390 Duke’s aesthetics and find that some of the bikes on our list could borrow an idea or two.

Once again, beginners don’t have to feel intimidated by the 390 Duke. It’s a lightweight, agile bike that’s very easy to handle. This means that you’ll be navigating the traffic lanes like a pro on this bike in no time. Thanks to the low weight and solid mid-range 373cc engine, the 390 Duke is also reasonably fast. Overall, it’s a very balanced motorcycle that feels at home on the city streets, on a highway, and even on a mean rural road that’s never heard of asphalt. This versatility means that it will take you a long time and a lot of skills to outgrow this Duke, so this bike is a very solid investment.

We were very impressed by the KTM 390 Duke, so we almost didn’t want to look for any possible shortcomings. As it turned out, there really aren’t many, and the biggest problem we could find is that even when pushed to the limits, the 390 Duke is probably not going to go as fast as you might want it to. This is going to take some fun out of your rides as you gain more experience, but it also makes this Duke a little safer for newbie riders and saves you money in the long run thanks to lower fuel consumption. The KTM 390 Duke is fun, versatile, practical, and affordable. What more could you possibly want from a good urban motorcycle?

If you’re a motorcyclist and want adventure, a dual sports motorcycle is a must-have. Dual sports motorcycles can conquer both on-road and off-road travel. It’s a good thing the manufacturers came up with this type of motorcycle to satisfy your need for adventure.

However, finding the right dual-sports motorcycle can be difficult, especially when there are so many options to choose from. The most popular manufacturers of dual-sport motorcycles are Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and KTM.

Besides the quality and price of the bike, the biggest thing to consider is your Height. If you are less than 5’6” tall, riding a dual sports motorcycle may be a little tougher for you. The high valve trains and long travel suspensions tend to be on the leggy side. However, some manufacturers offer kits that will shorten the suspension. You can look into models in the 250 range, like the Kawasaki KLX250, the Honda CRF230L, the Yamaha WR250R, and the Suzuki DR-200SE.

Here are the best dual sports motorcycles.

There is nothing quite like the feeling of barreling down the highway on your motorized steed. You’re not encased in a metal cage like those in a car. Nothing comes between you and the environment, providing a more intimate experience of the world. This makes riding a motorcycle a more adventurous and engaging way of touring the country.

If you’re planning on touring for a few days or even a few weeks, then you need to get the right motorcycle for the job. Technically, any type of motorcycle can be used for touring – albeit in a not so comfortable way. Motorcycle manufacturers have designed many different bikes with specific features for use in many different ways. Sport bikes are ideal for going fast on tracks. Scooters and mopeds are mostly for slow, leisurely rides on smooth paved roads. Off-road bikes, on the other hand, ride best on dirt roads. Cruisers are designed for maximum rideability on paved roads, while adventure motorcycles are designed to be both at home either off road or on concrete and asphalt.

Since you have to be bold and adventurous to begin with to become a motorcycle rider, the culture naturally gravitated toward longer distance rides. Bike makers addressed this new activity by manufacturing the best touring motorcycles with functional features to make your long ride better.

Auto Fabrica created this brilliant BMW R Nine T Type-18 rendition using high-tech manufacturing processes, and the result is absolutely stunning. This concept bike is a futuristic spin on a fantastic German motorcycle, with styling aspects paying tribute to BMW’s long aviation history. Many of the futuristic elements of this motorcycle are made using state-of-the-art 3D printing technology, along with the classic motorcycle building skills handed down from generations of master mechanics. Auto Fabrica used expert styling and combined it with top-of-the-line Brembo suspension to create a fantastic motorcycle with exceptional handling characteristics.

Recast Moto transformed a worn-out 1999 Moto Guzzi Nevada 750 cruising bike into this incredible all-black monster of a motorcycle. This revamped custom cruiser is a masterpiece of modern engineering and design, featuring the best quality materials and a thorough mechanical refresh. Each aesthetic improvement to this bike is custom and carefully sourced, including the duralumin controls and snowmobile grips. They also added an antique Honda CB750 gas tank to enhance the look. This Belarussian scrambler is a definite eye-catcher, and the handmade subframe certainly adds to the appeal. Its custom and hand-stitched leather seat perfectly complements the charcoal black matte finish of the bike, and the bold spoked wheels round off this incredible motorcycle build. Recast Moto did a fantastic job with its rendition of this classic Moto Guzzi Nevada 750.

The hefty price tag on this beast might seem off-putting, but when you take all of the incredible features and quality into account, it might just become the most worthwhile investment you ever make. Diamond Atelier is where Panache Customs founder Charles Murillon learned his craft over several years before breaking out on his own. His tradesmanship shows in his now world-renowned designs and modifications. A nickname like “Falkor” (after the beast in The Neverending Story), follows this grand design as an unassuming exterior boasts incredible features and stamina, without seeming overdone.

Minimized wiring and a dual front disc setup join many of the original aesthetics (such as the original exhaust headers) to make this XS 360 a real treat to observe. It might not be the fastest offering in its league, but certainly promises to turn heads and challenge other creative motorcycle custom engineers in the future.