7 - 2025 | Road Dirt

Royal Enfield Shotgun 650: The Ultimate Budget Bobber?

Posted by Nathan Baron | Jul 31, 2025 | Bikes & Gear |

Over the past two months, I’ve had the chance to ride and live with the Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 in its clean, classic Stencil White colorway. In that time, I put nearly 600 miles on the bike, riding to the gym, commuting to work, running errands, and even taking it on a day-long highway trip out of state. Through all of that, one question kept coming to mind:Can the Shotgun 650 hold its own against classics like the Harley-Davidson Sportster, Indian Scout Sixty, or Triumph’s Bonneville Bobber?
At $7,100 brand new with a 3-year factory warranty, it just might.

Gear Review: BILT Nomad Modular Helmet

Posted by Phil Gauthier | Jul 29, 2025 | Bikes & Gear |

Modular helmets have been around since the 1980s, but in recent years their versatile design has become even more popular with motorcycle riders, specifically among older bikers, longer distance tourers, and riders who may not be in a position to shell out the bucks for $500+ premium helmets. So we decided to take a look at more affordable options in the modular space, and found one among our friends at Cycle Gear.

5 Questions with Miranda Cain

Posted by Ted Edwards | Jul 23, 2025 | Industry & Racing, Ride Life |

Royal Enfield’s all female “Build.Train.Race.” program started with a ladies flat track exhibition race in October of 2020. Road racing was added in 2021 and the series joined the MotoAmerica race series full time in 2022. During MotoAmerica’s stop at The Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington recently, I enjoyed a conversation with Miranda Cain, who is in her second year with the program.

Triumph Tiger Sport 800: A Tall Order

Posted by Phil Gauthier | Jul 21, 2025 | Bikes & Gear |

As a 6’2” rider with a 34-inch inseam, finding a motorcycle that balances sporty performance with long-distance comfort is a tall order- pun intended. The 2025 Triumph Tiger Sport 800, a middleweight sport-tourer with adventure-inspired ergonomics, promised to deliver on both fronts. After a week of riding and testing across small town streets and winding country roads, I’ve put this bike through its paces to evaluate the rider triangle, comfort, and powerplant performance.
Here’s my take.

Through the Lens: ARCH at Laguna Seca

Posted by Geoff & Barb Nickless | Jul 18, 2025 | Industry & Racing |

Race fans were all abuzz in the pits with everyone’s first up-close look at ARCH Motorcycle’s new 2S-R with it’s 1940cc v-twin engine, a beautifully custom designed race bike. Laguna Seca race fans were able to get their first look at the new ARCH ride for Jeremy McWilliams #99.

Suzuki Goes Retro Cool

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | Jul 14, 2025 | Bikes & Gear |

From the old-school round headlights and bar-end mirrors, the tuck/roll seat stitching of the 8T, to the sweet 1980s style square headlight cowling and under-cowl below the pipe headers on the 8TT, not to mention the gorgeous paint jobs, both bikes drip 1970s-early 80s inspiration. These bikes are long overdue from Suzuki, and we’re sure they’ll be popular with North American buyers if the price point is right (no price yet as of the time of this writing).

Rob’s Musings- The Family of My Heart

Posted by Rob Brooks | Jul 10, 2025 | Ride Life |

Born from MacKenzie and Davidson roots, MacKenney reunions on my mother’s side, in memories of my childhood, were always filled with laughter, hugs, games, and lots of food. And they were always held outside, in an expansive backyard under towering oak and willow trees overlooking the Charles River, or by the waters of Hamblin Pond, a small bay near Falmouth Harbor on the Cape.

Brake Free- Helmet Brake Light Review

Posted by Ken "Hawkeye" Glassman | Jul 8, 2025 | Bikes & Gear |

A couple of years ago, I was at a local motorcycle event and came upon a little booth and met the folks from Brake Free, demonstrating their new product, and boy was I ever impressed. The Brake Free Smart Brake Light is a stand-alone, helmet mounted device with 100 extra bright LED lights which makes it almost impossible for anyone behind you not to see you. It’s totally self contained, and requires no wiring to the motorcycle.

The Mighty Mini: Honda’s Dax 125

Posted by Rob Brooks | Jul 1, 2025 | Bikes & Gear |

With the rapidly growing popularity of small bore motorbikes these days, something we have documented frequently here at Road Dirt, Honda reached out and asked if we’d like to ride and review the 2025 Dax 125, otherwise known as the Trail 125. One look at the bike, it’s old school “t-bone” frame and design, and I had to ride one. It so recalled my cousin‘s old Trail 70, it made me think back and wish I had not been so easily deterred by that small pipe burn as a youngster.