RIDER MAGAZINE – Motorcycles | Sports & Recreation

CFMOTO’s Ibex 800 E delivers a lot of bang for your adventure bucks, and the optional aluminum luggage makes it ready for the long haul. (Photos by Kevin Wing) What do you look for in an adventure bike? A well-rounded one that excels both on and off pavement? A good balance of power and weight? High-tech features? Good value for your hard-earned dollars? The CFMOTO Ibex 800 E checks all these boxes, and a few others. We logged more than 1,700 miles on our test of a 2025 model (the only changes for 2026 are colors and graphics), mostly on pavement but with a few off-road excursions. Starting at just $10,299, the Ibex 800 E punches above its weight in terms of performance, capability, tech, and standard features. Our test bike was equipped with CFMOTO’s optional three-piece aluminum luggage set ($1,699). The panniers attach to the tubular luggage rack that comes standard, and the set includes a mounting plate for the top box.  Rated at 94 hp and 57 lb-ft of torque, the 799cc Twin delivers serious thrust. At its heart, the Chinese-made Ibex 800 E has a 799cc parallel-Twin that makes 94 hp and 57 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to a partnership between CFMOTO and KTM that goes back more than a decade, the engine is from the KTM 790 Adventure and the Ibex’s bodywork was designed by Kiska, the European firm that has given KTMs their distinctive styling for years. The full-coverage skid plate and centerstand are both standard equipment. To give it best-of-both-worlds capability, the Ibex is equipped with tubeless spoked wheels – a 19-inch front and a 17-inch rear – wrapped in Michelin Anakee Adventure tires. At 6.3 inches on the fork and 5.9 inches on the shock, suspension travel is middle of the road for an adventure bike, but it allows for a manageable 32.5-inch seat height. KYB suspension components include a fully adjustable inverted fork and preload- and rebound-adjustable rear shock.  Tubeless spoked wheels are shod with Michelin 80/20 tires. What makes the Ibex 800 E such an outlier is the amount of tech you get at this price point. The throttle-by-wire system enables six ride modes (Sport, Rain, Offroad, Offroad+, All Terrain, and All Terrain+) that adjust throttle response, ABS, and traction control. Cornering ABS and TC, wheelie control, cruise… [TheTopNews] Read More.

Inline braking is the safest way to kick off a successful scrub-in process. (Photos by Kevin Wing) This month I decided it was time I introduced you to my good buddy Trenner Marchetti. What’s he like? Trenner is insanely intelligent, quick-witted, and in possession of more than the minimum required dose of vigor to criticize most of your life choices within the span of a quick lunch at Applebee’s. He’s also the undisputed champion of arcane legal knowledge. Do you know about the 1893 Supreme Court case of Nix v. Hedden which centered around whether a tomato is classified as a fruit or a vegetable? Trenner does. How about a California traffic law that gives peacocks the right-of-way to cross any street in the city of Arcadia? Yep, he knows that one too.  No, I didn’t know traffic codes like Trenner did, but Capt. Kirk didn’t grasp all the ins and outs of Vulcan culture like Spock did, and he managed just fine. Where I did have power over Trenner was in regard to motorcycles. And more specifically, as it pertained to scrubbing in a new set of greasy tires on our police motors. Sure, it was a small victory and only occurred a few times a year, but it was fantastic when it happened. Mere seconds after Trenner’s police bike would get new tires mounted at the local shop, I would get a happy little phone call from him sheepishly asking if I had a few minutes to assist him with scrubbing them in.  Trenner and Quinn. You better believe I made him grovel a bit, but because he was one of my best buddies, I would meet up with him and get to work scrubbing in his tires while he sat in the shade, researching fancy getaways to burn his seemingly endless vacation time on. The process I used back then was the same one I use today, and it has worked flawlessly for high-speed pursuits, cross-town emergencies, and most critically, motor unit coffee meetups after morning commuter traffic has settled down. So this month I decided to share it with you. Now I am fully aware that the following steps represent my process, and there are a million and three ways to do it. So if you have your own method, just keep on keeping on. You won’t hurt my feelings. There… [TheTopNews] Read More.

Ohio’s Triple Nickle is a highlight of this Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana motorcycle ride. (Photos by the author) It was almost noon as I rolled into Zanesville, Ohio, and my stomach reminded me that all I had for breakfast was black coffee and a granola bar. I had a decision to make, but there’s only one decision that should be made on an empty stomach. An hour later, after a delicious lunch of Jamaican jerk chicken, fried plantains, and island-style homemade ginger ale, I spread out my trusty Butler Map to decide how I was going to get home. Scan QR codes above or click Day 1 or Day 2 to view routes on REVER Sure, I could bounce between Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 40 and be in my Indiana home by dark on that long summer day, but where’s the fun in that? My finger traced the squiggly lines south and then west. State Route 555, aka the Triple Nickel, the crown jewel of Ohio’s Windy 9 routes, was a no-brainer. Then I figured I’d follow the Ohio River Scenic Byway for a while, perhaps ducking north into the hills now and again to shake things up a bit, before eventually crossing into northern Kentucky and then seeing how it went from there. Such niggling details were a tomorrow decision though, and freshly fueled I was ready to tackle the Triple Nickel and be on my way. Zanesville, Ohio, with its signature Y Bridge. Many stories have been written about what is arguably Ohio’s most famous motorcycling road, including Greg Drevenstedt’s “All Roads Lead to Athens,” so I will only say that our editor-in-chief described the Triple Nickel as Mister Toad’s Wild Ride, and after my first experience on it, I concur. The fresh tar snakes – the slippery kind – were an added “bonus” on the rollicking ride, and by the time I reached the southern terminus at U.S. Route 50, I had a new respect for those who ride pillion on the Nickel, especially after a big lunch. Zanesville is also a great place to grab a bite before hitting the twisties. After being shaken and stirred in the thick afternoon heat, I was ready for some airflow and a pleasant cruise. After a brief stint on U.S. 50, I turned left onto State Route 124, the Ohio River Scenic… [TheTopNews] Read More.

The Honda Ride Red Demo Days is your chance to test a fleet of motorcycles from six categories. Throughout the year of 2026, the Honda Ride Red Demo Days program invites riders to visit Honda dealerships to try out models from six categories, including touring, sport-touring, adventure, dual-sport, cruiser, and sport. Rider staff and contributors work hard to provide in-depth and honest reviews of Honda motorcycles and all other major manufacturers, but nothing beats getting into the saddle yourself to experience a new model first-hand. These demo events will bring that opportunity to many riders across the country. Two trucks will haul a dedicated demo fleet to 50 dealerships throughout the year, with the first stop being at RideNow Peoria in Peoria, Arizona, April 3-4. Other events scheduled in April include stops in Tuscon, Arizona; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Littleton, Colorado. During the stops, riders will get a close-to-home opportunity to experience these models, and some dealerships will also offer food, activities, and give-aways during the event. While the list of available models is subject to change, the current demo-fleet lineup includes the following models from six categories: Touring: Gold Wing Sport Touring: NT1100 Adventure: Africa Twin, Transalp, NX500 Dual Sport: CRF450RL, CRF300L Rally Cruiser: Rebel 1100, Rebel 300 E-Clutch Sport & Standard: CBR1000RR, CB1000 Hornet SP, CB750 Hornet, CBR650R E-Clutch, CB650R E-Clutch, CBR500R, CB500R, CB300R See all of Rider’s Honda motorcycle reviews here “As any rider knows, the best way to understand a motorcycle is from behind the handlebars,” said Colin Miller, manager of experiential marketing at American Honda. “With the support of our amazing dealer network, Ride Red Demo Days give customers a convenient, fun, hands-on opportunity to experience the performance, comfort, and technology of Honda’s extensive lineup of two-wheel on-road models in real-world conditions, helping them discover the bike that truly fits their riding style and needs.” Honda Ride Red Demo Days events will continue to be added to the Honda Events Page, so check back often to find an event near you. The post 2026 Honda Ride Red Demo Days to Visit 50 Dealerships in U.S. appeared first on Rider Magazine. [TheTopNews] Read More.

Dressed in matte Carbon Black, the Can-Am Pulse looks as stealthy as it sounds. (Photos by Kevin Wing) Electric motorcycles usually come with baggage: whispers about range anxiety, soulless rides, and that awkward “sci-fi toy” vibe. The Can-Am Pulse doesn’t quite play by those rules. Yes, it’s battery-powered, but it packs BRP’s new 35-kW Rotax E-Power drivetrain, which means twisting the right grip rewards you with an instant surge that’ll lift the front wheel and your eyebrows at the same time. Where many EVs feel like futuristic appliances, the Pulse feels like a motorcycle, just quieter. It’s not the ultimate canyon carver, and it can’t go toe-to-toe with a gas bike in terms of range, but it has a surprising simplicity that makes the whole experience refreshing. With a 390-lb curb weight, a 55.6-inch wheelbase, and a 30.9-inch seat height, the Pulse is sized like a naked middleweight (think Yamaha MT-07 or Kawasaki Z650). It feels light and narrow between the knees, and you really notice that when weaving through traffic or lifting it off the sidestand. I expected it to feel heavy and wonky, but it was a very easygoing ride. Instead of the usual bolt-in battery box, the Pulse’s frame doubles as the battery housing, a design that, according to BRP, improves weight distribution, and it does feel balanced in corners.  The Rotax E-Power motor makes 47 hp. Torque is where the Pulse really shines, delivering 53 lb-ft from 0 to 4,600 rpm, which helps it rocket from 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds. There’s 47 hp on tap too. The great thing about electric bikes is that they make incredibly consistent power. Rolling on the right grip sends more power directly to the rear wheel, just like turning up a dimmer switch increasingly brightens a room. No dips, no hiccups. Power response is snappier than most 650-700cc Twins, though I noticed a slight hesitation when rolling back on the throttle after regenerative braking. When I tried to trail brake, I struggled to get the motor to respond precisely when I wanted it to, feeling like it was lagging after a roll off.  The drive chain is fully enclosed. The Pulse offers four ride modes. Sport+ sharpens response for maximum grin factor, while Normal dials things back for everyday sanity. Eco reins in acceleration and caps top speed… [TheTopNews] Read More.