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First Ride Review: CFMoto 800MT Explore 2026 — We Spent Six Days on Tarmac and Trail to See If This Budget Adventure Tourer Can Genuinely Compete With the Established Mid-Range Field
adventure touring
adventure touringCFMoto 800MTmid-range motorcyclesfirst ride review

First Ride Review: CFMoto 800MT Explore 2026 — We Spent Six Days on Tarmac and Trail to See If This Budget Adventure Tourer Can Genuinely Compete With the Established Mid-Range Field

We spent six days aboard the 2026 CFMoto 800MT Explore, covering everything from motorway slabs to rocky forest trails, to find out whether this Chinese-built adventure tourer has what it takes to genuinely challenge the Honda Africa Twin, Yamaha Ténéré 700, and Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 in the hotly contested mid-range segment. The 800MT has always shown promise, but CFMoto's 2026 revision brings sharper electronics, a retuned chassis, and a more aggressive price point — so does it finally deliver the complete package? Read on for our full first ride verdict.

Bikenrider
May 17, 20261 min read
First Ride Review: Yamaha R9 2026 — We Spent a Week on Road and Track to See If This Is the Sport Bike That Finally Fills the R6-Shaped Hole in Yamaha's Lineup
Yamaha R9
Yamaha R92026 sport bikesmiddleweight supersporttrack day

First Ride Review: Yamaha R9 2026 — We Spent a Week on Road and Track to See If This Is the Sport Bike That Finally Fills the R6-Shaped Hole in Yamaha's Lineup

After years of silence in the middleweight supersport segment, Yamaha has returned with the all-new 2026 R9 — a purpose-built machine designed to reclaim the throne once held by the legendary R6. We spent a full week riding it on public roads and a closed circuit to find out if it truly delivers on that promise.

Sammy Jackson
May 17, 20261 min read
First Ride Review: Kawasaki Eliminator 500 SE 2026 — We Spent Five Days on City Streets and Open Highways to See If This Retro Cruiser Can Win Over a New Generation of Riders
Kawasaki Eliminator 500 SE
Kawasaki Eliminator 500 SEcruiser motorcyclesbeginner motorcycles2026 motorcycles

First Ride Review: Kawasaki Eliminator 500 SE 2026 — We Spent Five Days on City Streets and Open Highways to See If This Retro Cruiser Can Win Over a New Generation of Riders

We spent five days aboard the 2026 Kawasaki Eliminator 500 SE, threading city traffic and stretching its legs on open highways to find out whether this retro-styled cruiser has the substance to match its style. From its parallel-twin engine to its surprisingly capable chassis, the Eliminator 500 SE makes a compelling case that Kawasaki has cracked the code on beginner-friendly bikes that experienced riders will also want to own. Here's our full verdict.

Bikenrider
May 11, 20261 min read
First Ride Review: Ducati Diavel V4 2026 — We Spent Five Days on Road and Track to See If This Power Cruiser Is the Most Exciting Bike in Its Class
Ducati Diavel V4
Ducati Diavel V4power cruiserfirst ride review2026 motorcycles

First Ride Review: Ducati Diavel V4 2026 — We Spent Five Days on Road and Track to See If This Power Cruiser Is the Most Exciting Bike in Its Class

Ducati's Diavel V4 has always pushed the boundaries of what a power cruiser can be, but the 2026 model raises the stakes considerably with a refined V4 Granturismo engine, sharper electronics, and a chassis tuned for both boulevard comfort and genuine track capability. We spent five days putting the new Diavel V4 through its paces across sweeping canyon roads, open highway miles, and a dedicated track session to find out whether Ducati has built the most exciting bike in its class. Here's our full verdict.

Bikenrider
May 10, 20261 min read
First Ride Review: Indian FTR Sport 2026 — We Clocked 500 Miles on Street and Dirt Track to See If This Flat Tracker Crossover Delivers Real-World Thrills Beyond the Hype
Indian Motorcycle
Indian MotorcycleFTR Sportflat track2026 motorcycles

First Ride Review: Indian FTR Sport 2026 — We Clocked 500 Miles on Street and Dirt Track to See If This Flat Tracker Crossover Delivers Real-World Thrills Beyond the Hype

Indian Motorcycle's FTR Sport returns for 2026 with refined ergonomics, updated suspension, and a claimed dual-purpose personality that begs the question: can a street-legal flat tracker actually cut it on the dirt? We put 500 miles on tarmac and loose clay to find out.

Bikenrider
May 10, 20261 min read
First Ride Review: Suzuki GSX-S1000GX 2026 — We Spent Six Days Cross-Country to See If This Sport Tourer Can Dethrone the Tracer 9 GT and Ninja 1000SX
motorcycles
motorcyclesreviewssport touringSuzuki

First Ride Review: Suzuki GSX-S1000GX 2026 — We Spent Six Days Cross-Country to See If This Sport Tourer Can Dethrone the Tracer 9 GT and Ninja 1000SX

We rode the all-new 2026 Suzuki GSX-S1000GX across six days and roughly 1,800 miles of mixed terrain to find out if Suzuki's flagship sport tourer has what it takes to unseat the dominant Yamaha Tracer 9 GT and Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX. Here's everything you need to know before you buy.

Bikenrider
Apr 24, 20261 min read
First Ride Review: Ducati DesertX Discovery 2026 — We Spent Seven Days on Sand, Gravel, and Tarmac to See If It Is the Most Capable Factory ADV Bike You Can Buy Right Now
ducati
ducatiadventure bikesreviews2026

First Ride Review: Ducati DesertX Discovery 2026 — We Spent Seven Days on Sand, Gravel, and Tarmac to See If It Is the Most Capable Factory ADV Bike You Can Buy Right Now

We spent seven days riding the 2026 Ducati DesertX Discovery across sand, gravel, and tarmac to find out if Ducati's most ambitious adventure bike yet truly earns its bold claims. From Moroccan dunes to Spanish mountain passes, here is our definitive verdict on the most talked-about factory ADV machine of the year.

Sammy Jackson
Apr 12, 20261 min read
First Ride Review: BMW S 1000 R 2026 — We Spent a Week Pushing the Most Refined Naked Superbike on the Market to Its Absolute Limit
BMW S 1000 R
BMW S 1000 Rnaked superbikefirst ride review2026 motorcycles

First Ride Review: BMW S 1000 R 2026 — We Spent a Week Pushing the Most Refined Naked Superbike on the Market to Its Absolute Limit

BMW's 2026 S 1000 R arrives as the most comprehensively developed naked superbike the Bavarian manufacturer has ever produced, blending race-derived power with street-focused refinement in a package that demands serious attention. We spent a full week riding it hard across mountain passes, city streets, and track days to find out whether the hype is justified. Spoiler: it absolutely is.

Bikenrider
Apr 10, 20261 min read
First Ride Review: Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE 2026 — We Spent Six Days on Dirt and Tarmac to See If It Finally Challenges the GS and Africa Twin
motorcycles
motorcyclesreviewsadventure bikesSuzuki

First Ride Review: Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE 2026 — We Spent Six Days on Dirt and Tarmac to See If It Finally Challenges the GS and Africa Twin

We spent six days riding the 2026 Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE across gravel tracks, mountain passes, and open highway to find out whether Suzuki's most capable adventure bike yet can finally take the fight to the BMW R1250GS and Honda Africa Twin. Here's our full first-ride verdict.

Bikenrider
Apr 10, 20261 min read
First Ride Review: KTM 1390 Super Duke R Evo 2026 — We Spent a Week on the Most Extreme Naked Bike on the Market to See If It Is Road-Legal Fun or Pure Madness
KTM
KTMnaked bikesreviews2026 motorcycles

First Ride Review: KTM 1390 Super Duke R Evo 2026 — We Spent a Week on the Most Extreme Naked Bike on the Market to See If It Is Road-Legal Fun or Pure Madness

KTM's 2026 1390 Super Duke R Evo is the most extreme naked bike money can buy, and we spent a full week thrashing it on road and track to find out whether it's genuinely usable or simply an adrenaline-fuelled liability. Spoiler: it's both — and somehow that's exactly the point.

Bikenrider
Apr 4, 20261 min read
First Ride Review: Royal Enfield Himalayan 650 2026 — We Put 800 Miles On It Before It Hits Showrooms
adventure motorcycles
adventure motorcyclesRoyal Enfield2026 motorcyclesfirst ride

First Ride Review: Royal Enfield Himalayan 650 2026 — We Put 800 Miles On It Before It Hits Showrooms

Royal Enfield has finally stepped into the mid-displacement adventure segment with its long-anticipated Himalayan 650, and we got 800 miles on it before it reaches showrooms. Here's everything you need to know about whether this bike lives up to the legendary Himalayan name — and then some.

Bikenrider
Mar 19, 20261 min read
First Ride Review: BMW R 1300 GS Adventure 2026 — We Put 1,000 Miles on It Before Anyone Else
BMW
BMWadventure motorcyclesreviews2026 motorcycles

First Ride Review: BMW R 1300 GS Adventure 2026 — We Put 1,000 Miles on It Before Anyone Else

We got exclusive early access to the 2026 BMW R 1300 GS Adventure and logged 1,000 miles across highways, mountain passes, and unpaved back roads before the public launch. Here's everything you need to know about BMW's most capable adventure tourer yet.

Bikenrider
Mar 11, 20261 min read
First Ride: 2025 Kawasaki Eliminator 450 – Back-to-Basics Fun on a Budget
REVIEW
REVIEWKawasaki Eliminator 450 review2025 Kawasaki cruiser first ridebudget cruiser motorcycle

First Ride: 2025 Kawasaki Eliminator 450 – Back-to-Basics Fun on a Budget

The 2025 Kawasaki Eliminator 450 is a new budget-friendly cruiser that pairs classic style with modern fun. Its 451cc twin-cylinder engine delivers peppy, beginner-friendly performance, and with a very low seat and light curb weight, it’s easy to hop on. We take a first ride to see how it feels on the road, what features it offers, and how Kawasaki balances retro flair with today’s expectations.

Bike n Rider Staff
Jun 23, 20251 min read

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