Motorcycle guides

Kawasaki rolls into 2020 with a whole host of new models – some net new and some sophomore models that make it to U.S. shores for the first time – that are spread across the entire lineup.

Suzuki spices things up for 2020 with a veritable buffet of minor aesthetic tweaks and other improvements on the menu

Honda rolls into 2020 with the usual handful of Bold New Graphics items that include additional paint packages and not-so-subtle changes to the liveries across the board. The renowned Africa Twin family sports a new flagship with its Adventure Sports ES and ES DCT models, but for the most part MY20 is more about the improvement of existing models. Toward that end, you’ll find a handful of models which come with improved electronics packages as standard equipment instead of optional this year, but little in the way of newness to be found. (Spoiler alert; all of this changes for MY21.)

Harley-Davidson stepped up its game a notch ahead of the 2020 model year with a beefed-up lineup, starting with the mid-year release of its new entry-level cruiser, the Softail Standard. The apparent lag in rider-controlled ride-quality electronics was thoroughly addressed by the Reflex Defensive Rider Systems bundle, and for the electric-bike fans out there, the much-discussed/rarely-seen LiveWire has finally landed on showroom floors. A special Fat Boy marks the 30th anniversary of the model line alongside three new CVO models and an expanded Road Glide family with an S-model Low Rider to round out the new MY20 models.

Suzuki caused a tectonic shift in the motorcycle industry with the GSX-R750 and 35 years later the name still a sure-bet go-to for riders with racing aspirations. Any of the Gixxers – the 1000, 750 and 600 – are bikes capable for fast times on the track right out of the store.

Indian Motorcycle, under the broad Polaris umbrella, rolls into its 2020 model-year with a number of improvements, modifications, and additions to its already-robust lineup. New FTR models and bobbed-out Scouts join the 2020 lineup of existing bikes. New engines for 2020 include what was formally a crate engine. The punched-out Thunder Stroke 116 joins the production line and Indian has a net-new engine in the PowerPlus V-twin. The much-discussed Challenger family marks a new direction for the design staff with its broad fixed fairing and focus on performance.

KTM’s 2020 street lineup continues the tradition of offering race-capable motorcycles. Well known for its orange, white, and black livery, KTM offers bikes in single-cylinder, parallel-twin and V-twin configurations.

If carving up terrains was your idea of motorcycling, adventure motorcycles are a bipartisan look at how to tackle paved roads and dirt. With long travel suspensions, and a higher riding position, these machines can take your motorcycling learning curve through a multitude of terrains, teaching you some of the biggest lessons travelling on two wheels can.

With having a lot to carry around to fight a multitude of terrains, they are usually an expensive affair (easily 14 grand or more for the latest top-spec models). Luckily, manufacturers have been recognizing this and have been tweaking things around to offer more affordable options to give not so fortunate riders and the young guns to experience the thrill of finding our way through the unknown on two-wheels.

Being the closest thing to flying without leaving the ground, Cruisers have been the incarnation of the ‘30s to ‘60s American lifestyles. And if this is the way you want to get into the world of motorcycles, I guess you have taken the first step in the right direction. Feeling the wind in the air, the smell of cut grass on the countryside, the constant changes in the temperatures, cruisers can show you all these feelings and more at the twist of the throttle.

These six machines are our top pick come with plenty of low-end torque, forward set footpegs, and a laid-back reclined riding position defining any modern-day cruisers. All of this without breaking our banks.

Starting with a sportsbike as your first might seem off-putting. Still, with technology and the manufacturers’ ability to make bikes as user-friendly as possible, it might just be the right entry for your motorcycling adventures. They are sleek with aerodynamic bodywork, top-spec suspension and braking setups, and ride with aggressive riding positions.

There are plenty of affordable bikes out there for every skill level matching the size of small wallets. These are our recommendations for young riders itching to feel the wind in the most stylish and flashy manner. And occasionally maybe want to drop a knee on a racetrack or zoom around your local canyon road.

A motorcycle with an upright riding position, lacking plastic fairings for that narrow lane splitting ability, and lightweight construction for the ease of flickability is what we are looking for folks entering the world of two-wheels.

Providing confidence before they can get on the big guns, these motorcycles are the perfect choice for urban hooligans, making it easier than the rest to move around traffic and obstacles. Small mistakes on these machines could be classified as affordable and will be a perfect linear learning curve onto becoming a responsible motorcyclist.

Classic retro machines come along with more elegant finishing touches, detailing and craftsmanship that gives the bikes a panache in their own way. The sculpted flowing lines incorporate key heritage styling cues of the ’60s with beautifully styled minimalism. Classic motorcycle with modern technology and sophisticated craftsmanship pays homage to the yesteryears.

These Six machines in 2020 bring in a beautiful blend of classic style with an infusion of modern engineering, all under $ 10,000. Recalling the past glories, these neo-classic motorcycles have still managed to retain the charm and posterity of minimalistic elegance along with providing modern day mechanicals and the bits. They run on efficient high output engines that are both reliable and powerful and are equipped with state of the art suspension and brake setups that will bring the bike to a halt not far from their point of application, unlike the yesteryears.

With knobby tires, spoked wheels, and higher suspension travels, this segment is ready to take on tough terrains across the world. The retro-modern design language is literally in fashion now, and most of the Scramblers in the 2020 line-up flaunt them. It is an intelligent fusion of an old-school cover over modern technology that is born to live both the city and the wildlife.

Here is a list of our six favorite Scramblers who does all of that for just under $ 10,000. Aiding it will be a torquey motor with high mounted exhaust pipes and knobby tires to take it on terrains otherwise not possible.

Massive engines, aerodynamic bodywork, top-spec suspension and braking setups, aggressive riding positions, these machines have got it all to attack everything running on the street and the track. These sportbikes enter with the best of electronic packaging and power to just be the fastest one out there. Built for speed, acceleration, braking, and cornering, they come equipped with components from the industry’s best names to achieve a little more speed every single time they get on the paved asphalt.

We here give you a list of machines in 2020 that do all that, without breaking your bank. For under $10,000, these machines will blaze the streets and sweep us off our feet in the most fashionable ways possible.

Launched, oddly enough, from the aircraft industry, Vespa is the quintessential scooter. Since 1946, Vespa defined the classic look in reliable, uncomplicated transportation. The Vespa line of scooters ranges from 50 cc to 300 cc, and from youthful exuberance to business-like dignity, all combining iconic designs with modern technology.

Tall, upright handlebars, forward set footpegs, and void of fairings, naked streetfighters are the perfect choice for urban hooligans. These machines come with the epic combination of sport bike aggression and urban practicality. These motorcycles master narrow lane splitting and have lightweight construction for the ease of flickability around traffic and obstacles.

This list of machines are known to do just that and could be yours for under $ 10,000.