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Simon Roberts

January 29th, 2025

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Two-Wheel Temptations

Explore the best motorcycles and gear for every rider, from adventure touring to superbikes, plus must-have accessories for performance and safety.

Riders are spoiled for choice with driving machines that cater to every conceivable riding style and preference, from rugged adventure bikes designed to conquer both highways and dirt trails to sleek superbikes built for pure speed. Pair these impressive machines with the right accessories—whether for performance, safety, or style—and you’ve got the ultimate riding experience. While it can be difficult to sift through the boundless bike and gear options, some of these standout examples might accelerate your enthusiasm.

Adventure Touring

The Swiss Army Knife of Motorcycles

Essential Motorcycle Gear and Bike Picks

Adventure touring motorcycles, often called “ADV bikes,” have increased in popularity over the past decade, offering a compelling blend of on-road comfort and off-road capability. These versatile machines are characterized by their tall riding position, long-travel suspension, and ability to carry equipment for extended journeys.

BMW R 1300 GS Adventure

Essential Motorcycle Gear and Bike Picks

The 2025 BMW R 1300 GS Adventure remains the gold standard in this category. With its distinctive bulletproof boxer engine producing 145 horsepower and a massive maximum 110 pound-foot of torque, the GS Adventure combines German engineering excellence with practical features like traction control and sophisticated electronic suspension adjustment, which are invaluable for picking your way through single tract trails. With a tagline of “As Strong as Your Willpower, this bike will take your wanderlust far and wide.

Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES

Essential Motorcycle Gear and Bike Picks

With a cost-effective price tag and plenty of options to rev up your excitement, consider Honda’s Africa Twin series. Its Adventure Sports ES trim offers a more economically approachable entry point to serious adventure touring. The supremely reliable and easily maintained parallel-twin engine produces plenty of horsepower to get you on your adventure along highways and through dirt, sand, and gravel. The Africa Twin lineup offers as much titillating tech as the more expensive bikes but at a more affordable price.

Superbikes

Fast and the Curious

For those whose passion lies in knee-dragging through turns, superbikes represent the pinnacle of motorcycle engineering. These machines transform spaceship technology into street-legal packages that deliver life-affirming acceleration and effortless handling.

Ducati Panigale V4

The Panigale V4 showcases a sexy Italian style packed with power for days. Its 1103cc V4 engine produces a fist full of power at 209 horsepower, while fancy aircraft-like winglets generate significant downforce at speed. Thankfully, Ducati chose the iconic Swedish brand Öhlins’ electronic suspension, and the rest of the electronics package was developed in-house at Ducati. Stereotypically like most Italian motor vehicles, the Panigale V4, is beautiful to look at and exciting to drive, but comes with a lavish price.

Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP

Honda’s flagship superbike carries forward the company’s racing heritage with a 215-horsepower inline four-cylinder engine in a package that emphasizes Japanese precision and control. The SP version includes Öhlins electronic suspension, Brembo brakes, and a quick shifter, making it equally useful on the street or track.

Touring

Long-Distance Cruisers and Bikes

If you want to see the world up close, it is hard to argue with the experience you get covering big miles on a motorcycle. If you want to do that in the most comfortable way possible, take a gander at these beauties.

Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide

The CVO Road Glide represents the pinnacle of American touring motorcycle design. Its Milwaukee-Eight VVT121 engine provides the iconic Harley-Davidson sound and feel that are a must if you ride a Harley. Modern amenities like a touch-screen infotainment system and a sophisticated Rockford Fosgate audio system make long-distance travel a pleasure rather than a chore. The CVO line is a more modern take on the Harley Davidson experience, but worth it if you are serious about covering some big miles.

Honda Gold Wing Tour

The Honda Gold Wing Tour has long been the benchmark for touring motorcycles, and the latest generation continues this tradition. Its horizontally opposed, six-cylinder engine provides incredible smoothness, while features like Apple CarPlay integration, electronic suspension adjustment, and an available DCT transmission make it one of the most technologically advanced motorcycles on the market.

Modern motorcycles offer incredible capabilities across all categories, with technology making them safer and more accessible than ever before. Whether you’re planning cross-continental adventures, track day heroics, or comfortable touring, there’s a perfect motorcycle waiting for you. Remember that the best motorcycle isn’t necessarily the most expensive or most powerful — it’s the one that best matches your riding style and helps you achieve your two-wheeled dreams.

Indie Ridge

While the bikes themselves are undoubtedly the stars of the show, no ride is complete without the proper protective gear. From sturdy boots that provide durability and support to helmets that combine cutting-edge safety technology with bold designs, the right gear not only keeps riders safe but also elevates the overall riding experience. Whether you’re carving through mountain roads or cruising city streets, this essential equipment ensures you’re prepared for the journey ahead.

Steve Lauria, owner of Indie Ridge, has been called the Willy Wonka of the motorcycle industry, with his eccentric and obsessive approach to gear design.

Lauria’s goal is simple: to create protective motorcycle gear that riders want to wear both on and off the bike. Indie Ridge boots break the mold, offering protection, comfort, and style without the bulky biker aesthetic.

Lauria’s dedication goes beyond boots; he tweaks gloves and even spent a year perfecting t-shirt blanks. His commitment to safety is evident, with boots earning the highest CE certification for puncture resistance, waterproofing, and more. Indie Ridge’s gear is resonating with the community, offering a sleek look and exceptional functionality for riders who don’t want to scream, “I ride motorcycles!” 

To dive deeper into Indie Ridge’s innovative gear, read the full article here.

Eagle Lights

Founded in 2005, Eagle Lights specializes in high-performance LED lighting upgrades for popular motorcycle brands. Their products include headlights, turn signals, brake lights, spotlights, and accent lights designed for Harley-Davidson, Indian, Honda, Triumph, Ducati, BMW, and Yamaha models.

The company is owned and operated by off-road and performance motorsports enthusiasts who saw a gap in the market that needed to be filled. Eagle Lights’ LED lights are over three times brighter and safer than stock lighting. They’re also easy for enthusiasts to install at home. Plus, all Eagle Lights LED products come with a lifetime warranty.

Eagle Lights prides itself on customer service through great communication and delivering on promises made. They also strive for continuous product and service improvement and hold themselves and their products to the highest standards.

Whether you ride a Harley or a Yamaha, Eagle Lights has plug-and-play lighting solutions to enhance your bike’s style and safety.

Z1R Solaris Modular Helmets

Z1R goes all-in on comfort and safety with its motorcycle helmets. The Solaris line features are plentiful and designed to enhance your riding experience, including an impact-resistant polycarbonate shell and a micro-metric chin closure that is easy to use, even with gloves on. Protect your eyes in various riding conditions with an easily removable, scratch-resistant polycarbonate shield and a built-in, drop-down sun visor. You can also opt for the Solaris Modular Snow Helmet with its anti-fog shield, giving you a clearer view of what’s ahead when riding in colder temperatures. Furthermore, Solaris helmets are approved by the Department of Transportation and ECE 22.06, so you know your dome is protected when you’re out on the road.

Its ventilation system has adjustable intakes and an exhaust to keep you cool, comfortable, and breathing soundly. The liner and cheek pads are removable too, so keeping it clean is no sweat. Plus, there are pockets inside for speakers.

Z1R’s Solaris helmets come in various colors, patterns, and sheens, so you can further customize the look. Z1R stays current with safety standards and technology trends and is dedicated to providing its customers with top-notch features, comfort qualities, and style, so all that’s left to contemplate is a destination.

American Metal Customs

American Metal Customs in Danbury, Connecticut, is a premier destination for custom cars, hot rods, and motorcycles, led by internationally acclaimed master builder Josh Allison.

With over 100 years of collective experience, the shop transforms vehicles into mechanical masterpieces, offering services ranging from metal fabrication to custom interiors and paint jobs. Allison, a WyoTech graduate and former lead fabricator at Orange County Choppers, has earned numerous awards for his innovative custom builds. The shop treats every project as a unique canvas, combining cutting-edge artistry with engineering excellence.

Deeply embedded in the custom automotive community, American Metal Customs connects with enthusiasts through events, partnerships, and engaging content, making it a leader in automotive artistry and craftsmanship in the Northeast. 

To learn more about American Metal Customs’ impressive builds, read the full article here.

Rockford Fosgate

Riding a motorcycle has always symbolized freedom, but what if you could enhance that adventure with a concert-worthy soundtrack? The challenge is that most audio systems aren’t built to withstand the open road’s noise and harsh conditions.

Rockford Fosgate, however, has been perfecting on-road audio for motorcycles since 1980, with purpose-built systems designed to cut through road, wind, and exhaust noise. Their Element Ready™ technology ensures speakers and amplifiers are durable enough for rain, dust, and UV exposure, delivering crystal-clear sound for Harley-Davidson models from 1998 and newer, like the Road Glide® and Street Glide®.

In 2021, Harley-Davidson partnered with Rockford Fosgate to offer factory-equipped high-performance audio systems, giving riders premium sound straight from the dealership. Whether upgrading your bike or purchasing a new one, Rockford Fosgate delivers a top-tier audio experience for the open road.

To explore how Rockford Fosgate is transforming the motorcycle audio experience, read the full article here.

Wild Ass Motorcycle Air Cushion

When the innovative minds of a motorcycle enthusiast and a sales executive from a medical technology company whose plans were upended by the sale of that company join forces, great things can — and did — happen. Wild Ass Motorcycle Air Cushion’s Craig Johnson and Scott Parman used their business sensibilities, experience, and love of motorcycles to create a cushion with cutting-edge technology and medical-grade materials — versatile cushions that can be used on or off the bike, making any seating situation more comfortable.

The Wild Ass patented seat designs set a new standard for comfort on two wheels and beyond. In 2021, Chris Hopper used a Wild Ass Motorcycle Air Cushion for his record-setting 100,000 miles in 100 consecutive days ride, a true testament to the product’s performance. Combined with a devoted following of loyal customers, it’s clear that Wild Ass is a top choice in the long-distance riding community.

EAGLERIDER Rentals & Tours

Would you like a motorcycle adventure but can’t get all the logistics to work without mortgaging your home and future? EAGLERIDER has a solution. The folks at EAGLERIDER had a genius idea: why not hook riders up through a subscription service so they can get their hands on tons of different bikes without all the hassle of actually owning one? Pretty sweet, right? The company’s “Club EAGLERIDER” has 150-plus global locations with premium bikes from Harley-Davidson, BMW, Yamaha, Ducati, and many more, with unmatched convenience. Its innovative Club EAGLERIDER membership unlocks spontaneous day rides starting at $29 monthly.

If you are looking for a quick winter escape, look no further than EAGLERIDER’s Sun Belt Tours in the warmer southern states like Florida, Arizona, Southern California, and the Gulf Coast. If it is an off-road adventure that you’re looking for, EAGLERIDER has you covered with its Las Vegas Ultimate Offroad Adventure through the Mojave Desert.

Whether you’re seeking coastal curves or desert adventure, EAGLERIDER’s extensive fleet, curated tours, and meticulous service stand ready to fuel your next journey.

Essential Motorcycle Gear and Bike Picks

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