They say: “Mid-size sport, maximum fun.”
We say: “Surprisingly different, and better, than the R”

Like every motorcycle manufacturer, Honda is fishing for new riders, and the 2014 Honda Grom is the company’s latest lure. Think of it as a bright, shiny spinner, like the kind you’d use to catch that big ol’ lunker that lives at the bottom of the lake. Except the big one Honda is after is Generation Y, which consists of young people who have smartphones glued to their heads and are so wrapped up in digital technology they have little inclination to get driver’s licenses, never mind buy cars or motorcycles. That’s a worrying trend for anyone in the business of building two-wheelers, one Honda hopes the Grom will reverse.

They say, “The CTX is your dream machine.”

We say, “If you dream of a low seat.”

They say: “Long-range comfort for less cash.”
We say: “The most affordable sport-tourer.”

BMW continues to strengthen its adventure-touring lineup with the addition of the 2014 BMW F800GS Adventure. Taking cues from the larger R1200GS-A, the new parallel-twin ADV machine aims to drive the platform further in the off-road direction. That starts with a version of the F800GS’s tubular-steel frame with a beefed-up rear subframe, a tweak intended to accommodate the new, larger, under-seat tank. Where the standard F800GS carries 4.2 gallons, the Adventure hauls a more distance-worthy 6.3. BMW says range increases by 100 miles.

They say: “The new benchmark for mid-size tourers.”
We say: “What are the other ones, again?”

They say: “Ready for your next adventure.”
We say: “And that adventure involves cleaning spokes.”

They say: “The new ambassador for the Moto Guzzi brand.”
We say: “This could be the rebirth of the marque.”

They Say: “An urban performance bobber.”
We Say: “A helluva lot of fun to ride.”

They say: "The pursuit of perfection."
We say: "In this contest, perfection doesn't stand a chance."

They say: "Better than ever."
We say: "Incrementally improved."

Now under the Polaris umbrella, Indian Motorcycle is an all-new company. The old, Gilroy-era bikes will be gone after the last 2013 Chief Vintage “Final Edition” rolls off the assembly line, and with those go the old, PowerPlus V-twin engine and its Harley-Davidson-derived design. The forthcoming, Spirit Lake-era Indians will be powered by the new-from-the-drainplug-up Thunder Stroke 111 V-twin, shown for the first time at this year’s Daytona Bike Week. The Thunder Stroke is an all-new, proprietary design, with nothing in common with the previous PowerPlus or any Victory engine.

The 2014 Star Bolt: a short, simple name for a short, simple motorcycle. And that’s the whole point. Rather than reaching back in time for stylistic inspiration, parent company Yamaha is leaning on stylistic trends in modern choppers to, “attract a new cruiser buyer to the Star brand.” That is, a trendier, more youthful buyer (relax, current Star owners, they still like you, too). To pique the interest of the young, hip, urban crowd Star has repurposed the 60 degree, 942cc, fuel-injected powerplant from its V Star 950 and cradled it in a bobber-style chassis. That means a low (27.2 inch) seat height and a claimed weight of 540 pounds with a full tank. In-house YHS shocks and 41mm fork suspend 12-spoke cast wheels—19-in. front, 16-in. rear—while the same wave-style, 298mm disc is mounted to both hoops.

After a few years spent focusing on big-boned baggers and budget-conscious Dark Customs, Harley-Davidson is bringing back the stripped-down chopper look with its all-new 2013 FXSB Breakout. If that name rings any bells, or the profile of this new bike seems at all familiar, kindly recall Harley-Davidson’s Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO) Breakout that debuted last year. This is the “production” version of that exclusive, expensive machine, with the standard Twin Cam 103 engine substituting for the CVO’s 110-incher, less chrome and more production-line paint, and, with an MSRP of $17,899, the price tag is almost $10K less than the CVO bike. This is the first time in Harley history that a standard production model has been designed and sold alongside the CVO bike.

Moto Guzzi created the first California in the early 1970s by fitting a V-twin roadster with cowhorn bars, buddy seat, windscreen, and saddlebags, just as American importers had originally done to create a bike for the Los Angeles Police Department. Not just for cops, the California remained in production through three capacity increases and seven revisions. Discontinued in 2009, it had been Guzzi's most successful and longest surviving model, selling more than 100,000 units and often keeping the firm in business.

They say: “Hyper performance with extreme versatility.”
We say: “Still favoring the former over the latter.”

If you’re like a lot of people these days, you’re pretty busy, maybe too busy to customize your own motorcycle. No worries, Triumph has your back with new special-edition models of the Bonneville and the Speed Triple.

They say: “A high-value ‘casual full dress’ tourer.”
We say: “Where the dress includes a GPS and sound system.”

They say: “A technological revolution without limits.”
We say: “The only limit is your ability to hold on.”

Honda’s famous “You Meet The Nicest People” ad campaign—and the lineup of inexpensive, accessible motorcycles that ad campaign promoted—introduced thousands and thousands of non-riders to the sport of motorcycling in the early 1960s. By softening the hard edges of the biker stereotype and making motorcycling seem safe and wholesome, countless everyday Americans who had never considered themselves motorcycling material were soon straddling Super Cubs and Dreams.

They say: “The world’s most versatile travel enduro.”
We say: “A claim that’s more than an empty boast.”

They say: “For around town and shorter trips.”
We say: “For around corners and faster trips.”

Italian manufacturer Aprilia is ready to reenter the red-hot adventure bike category with an all-new 2013 Aprilia Caponord 1200. Besides the nameplate—a reference to Norway’s barren North Cape—this latest Caponord shares nothing in common with Aprilia’s ETV1000 Caponord that was discontinued in 2008. Instead, the new bike is based very closely on the Noale firm’s current Dorsoduro 1200 supermoto.

2013 BMW R1200GS pricing update here: http://bit.ly/UJU5OZ

They say: "It's even better than before."
We say: "So true, and thank goodness!"