Tag Archives: review

Review: Ducati Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour

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Those folks at Ducati are something else. If you were considering a Multistrada not too long ago, you would have had to choose between six models (V2, V2 S, V4, V4 S, V4 S Rally, and V4 S Pikes Peak). But hey, the more, the merrier, right? So, Ducati added two extra models in 2023: the V4 S Grand Tour and the V4 S RS.

Let me help you identify the different family members. The V2 is the twin-cylinder, with the V2 S as its more luxuriously equipped counterpart. On the other hand, the V4 is the standard four-cylinder. Wheelie control, cornering ABS and traction control come standard on the “regular” V4, while the V4 S offers more options, including electronic suspension, a larger display with smartphone connectivity, a quickshifter and cruise control. The V4 S Rally is geared towards off-road enthusiasts, the Grand Tour for the travel-hungry, the Pikes Peak for the sporty riders, and the RS for the even sportier ones.

I had the chance to test whether the Ducati Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour truly lives up to its promise as a touring bike and took it for a weekend ride all the way to Normandy.


The Grand Tour comes with a bundle of options on top of the V4 S equipment: side panniers, heated seats for both rider and pillion, heated grips, fog lights, adaptive cruise control (instead of non-adaptive), blind-spot warning, tire pressure monitoring and a center stand. These options can also be ordered on other Multistradas too, but on the Grand Tour, Continue reading →

Travel test: Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro

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The Triumph Tiger has always held a special place in my motorcycling heart. When I tested the Tiger 800 XCA in 2015, I immediately ordered one. And even though I traded in that Tiger five years later for a big twin, my love for the three-cylinders from Hinckley is still strong. My Street Triple RS doesn’t rack up nearly as many miles as it deserves, yet it never fails to put a broad smile on my face every time I ride it. I’m curious to see if the same holds true for the new Tigers. That’s why I was eagerly anticipating taking the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro on a week-long trip to the Picos de Europa.


New generation

In 2020, Jean tested the Tiger 900 Rally Pro in the Moselle region. For the 2024 model year, Triumph has refreshed its 900 lineup. The changes compared to the previous model may seem subtle, but they are far from it.

To start with, the number of Tigers (and specifically the 900 series) has been reduced from an overwhelming seven models to just three. Because it turned out that the vast majority of buyers opted for the lavishly equipped top versions. From this year on, there are Continue reading →

Travel test: BMW R 1300 GS

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2023 must have been a very anticipatory year for BMW Motorrad. Because when you replace the most popular steed in your stable, you obviously don’t want to make a poor impression. Moreover, BMW didn’t settle for a cautious facelift and a few small technical tweaks, but pushed itself to a major makeover. I had the opportunity to test the new 2024 BMW R 1300 GS for a week during a trip to Spain with two friends. The report of that trip will follow. For now: my findings of the GS after 4300 km in the seat.


To illustrate the importance of the GS for BMW’s business figures: in 2023, BMW sold a little more than 209,000 motorcycles worldwide. More than 60,000 of those were accounted for by the ‘big GS club,’ namely the 1250 GS, the 1250 GS Adventure, and the new 1300 GS (which has been on the market since the fall of 2023). You can safely say it’s BMW Motorrad’s cash cow.

I also want to mention upfront that I’m not a member of the GS Haters Club. Okay, it seems like everyone has a GS, making it feel somewhat ubiquitous. But after testing the 1200 GS Rallye and “needing” a new motorcycle myself, I almost bought a second-hand blue 1200 Rallye. Yes, I chose Continue reading →

Travel test: KTM 890 Adventure

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Despite a preference for adventure bikes here at the editorial office, we hadn’t yet tested the KTM 890 Adventure. A change was in order, especially now that KTM has given this adventure bike an update for 2023. I took the 890 for a week-long journey to Trentino, specifically to the Dolomites and the region around Lake Garda.


The updates for 2023 may appear subtle at first glance, but they do make the 890 a better motorcycle. The most noticeable change is the new front end: it has been redesigned, including a peculiar hole in the middle of the screen, aimed at reducing turbulence. Thanks to the new side panels, the 890 looks sleeker than its predecessor and also directs the wind away from the rider more effectively. Additionally, the 5″ TFT dashboard stands out: modern graphics replace the previously modest design. Suspension has also been revamped for easier adjustment, and the redesigned seat offers improved comfort.

For this journey, KTM had equipped the 890 with panniers and the tank bag from the Powerparts catalog. The KTM branded Touratech panniers are incredibly spacious (45 + 31 L), and the top lid opens both forward and backward with the ignition key. The locking mechanism requires some force and practice, but once they are in place, the panniers are securely attached. Despite its 16-liter capacity and tall design, the tank bag never gets in the way, and attaching it with the Quick Lock ring takes just seconds.


My trip began with two days on the highway. With the cruise control on, eating up the miles is a breeze. From southern Germany to northern Italy, I was treated to hours of constant rain and heavy downpours. It wasn’t the most enjoyable experience, but it was perfect for testing the wind protection and comfort.

Highest position

With the seat in the lowest position, I quickly found Continue reading →

Travel test: Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Explorer

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It’s a tough battle if you’re a heavyweight adventure bike and want to maintain your position in the market. The dominance of the Gelände/Straße seems unshakable while almost every other brand is battling for one of the positions below the German overlord. And if you don’t want to fall hopelessly behind, you have to bring some innovation to your models regularly.

The Triumph Tiger 1200 is perhaps the most direct competitor to King GS. With the disappearance of the Yamaha Super Ténéré and the Honda Crosstourer, it’s the only remaining rival with shaft drive. The Moto Guzzi V85 TT also features a shaft drive, but with its 850 cc, it belongs to the adventure middle class.


The heaviest adventure bike from the Triumph stable first came to life in 2012 as the Triumph Tiger Explorer. It underwent a major update in 2018 when it was renamed the Tiger 1200, and then reincarnated for a third time in 2022.

The team from Hinckley started from scratch for this resurrection and built a completely new model. They chose the 1,160 cc inline-triple engine from the Speed Triple as the base, making adjustments to the ignition sequence and crank pins. These modifications were intended to provide stronger low-end power while maintaining the power in the mid-range and at higher rpm’s.

The frame, driveshaft and design were also reevaluated, with the electrically adjustable windscreen being replaced by a manual one. Additionally, the single-sided swingarm was exchanged for a double-sided one. Overall, this resulted in Continue reading →

Review: Zero SR

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Just to be complete: I tested the Zero SR 14.4+ ZF75-10 MY 2022.

You can’t get past the electrification of cars nowadays. This year for example, I traded in my diesel-guzzling company car for a PHEV model. Electric motorcycles, on the other hand, are pretty much a rare sight. But the past EICMA made it clear that they are on their way. A few major manufacturers presented their vision of the future, which is often electric. With the Zero SR I was able to test such a combustion-free bike.


Founded in 2006 in California, Zero has been the reference within the electric segment for years. The SR I tested is a model year 2022, equipped with the well known 14.4+ ZF75-10 power source. Important detail: the 2023 model has some important upgrades. More on that later.

The lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 14.4 kWh powers a patented Z-Force motor that produces 166 Nm of torque and 75 hp. The plus sign in the name indicates that the battery pack can optionally be expanded to 17.3 kWh.


The battery is ultimately what this motorcycle is all about. The key question everyone asked me: how far can you ride it? According to Zero between 124 km on the highway (at 113 km/h) and 251 km in the city. I never made it that far. With an easygoing riding style, never exceeding 100 km/h, 160 km was possible.

Second most asked question: how long does it take to charge? From a normal socket about 4.5 hours for a full charge. Fast charging is not an option with the base model.

And question three: what does charging actually cost? I don’t normally care about fuel consumption on a motorcycle, but it’s not an irrelevant factor when considering an electric motorcycle.

Follow along: Continue reading →

Review: BMW S 1000 R

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After the release of the new BMW S 1000 RR in 2019, we were looking forward to the launch of the updated BMW S 1000 R. Its predecessor already had some years on the clock: in 2014 it appeared in showrooms for the first time, as a direct descendant of the then RR.


Of course the design of the new S 1000 R is the first thing that catches the eye. The rather classic headlight makes you frown less than the one on the previous generation. The bike looks shorter and more muscular (although it’s actually three centimeters longer). Just one glimpse is enough to know that this bike goes hard.


BMW logically started off from the all new RR when developing their supernaked. The 1000 cc engine has been revamped to broaden the torque band, just like its predecessor. The RR’s ShiftCam technology was thrown overboard too. The philosophy behind these adjustments is that the RR must excel on the track, while the R has to show its best performances on the street – and therefore the highest revs are visited less often than with the RR.

BMW also invested in Continue reading →