Road Dirt Crew

Kawasaki Marks 50 Years of the Z

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | Jan 12, 2022 | Bikes & Gear |

Kawasaki just pulled the wraps off a set of four 50th Anniversary Z models, commemorating the iconic original Z machines- the Z900, Z650, Z900RS and Z650RS. Kawasaki has long utilized the “Z” moniker to make the statement that like the last letter of the alphabet, the Z line represents the ultimate in motorcycling. Whether that’s true or not is in the eye of the beholder (and rider), but the Z bikes have always been dominators in their respective categories. This family of motorcycles has certainly grown into one of the brand’s core lineups.

Supercross Season Kicks off With Ken Roczen Win

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | Jan 10, 2022 | Industry & Racing |

The 2022 Monster Energy AMA Supercross series kicked off Saturday night with Team Honda HRC’s Ken Roczen grabbing his fourth season opener win in the 450SX Class inside a sold-out Angel Stadium. Defending champion Red Bull KTM’s Cooper Webb charged hard for a second place finish amid the roar of 45,050 race fans. Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia, who was in line for a record-breaking fourth-straight season opener victory, put in a smart and fast ride to fill out the podium in third.

Harley-Davidson Reveals 2022 Model Lineup

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | Jan 5, 2022 | Bikes & Gear |

From the Motor Company:

Harley-Davidson revealed a portion of its 2022 motorcycle line and announced these bikes are arriving at authorized US Harley-Davidson dealerships starting now and at dealers around the world in the coming weeks, with additional new motorcycle models to be unveiled later this month. The limited-production 2022 models from Harley-Davidson® Custom Vehicle Operations™ (CVO™) and more new Harley-Davidson motorcycle models will be revealed during the “Further. Faster.” World Premiere Event on January 26 at 10 a.m. CST.

MotoAmerica TV Launches

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | Dec 20, 2021 | Industry & Racing |

We’ve covered the MotoAmerica motorcycle racing series since our inception in January of 2019. Senior editor Rob has covered the series since it’s inception in 2015. We have a great history with Wayne Rainey and company. So we were excited to learn the news that MotoAmerica was teaming up with Triple-B Media to launch MotoAmerica TV, a 24-hour, 7-day a week television network dedicated to airing MotoAmerica’s racing to a worldwide audience, dating back to the series’ first season in 2015. Triple-B Media is a full-service television and digital media company, specializing in free, advertiser-supported television networks, such as For the Fans (FTF), Lacrosse Sports Network, and Fido TV.

Top Five Fave Motorcycles of 2021

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | Dec 15, 2021 | Bikes & Gear |

We at Road Dirt saw incredible growth across the 2021 year and with it, a widening circle of relationships with motorcycle manufacturers. We’ve had the opportunity to sample quite a variety of bikes this year, and frankly, we loved them all. So when we kicked around the idea of sharing our “Top 5 Faves” for the past 12 months, we honestly had a tough time selecting them. We found much to love in each one we got to throw a leg over. Unlike the days of old, when brands would occasionally “lay an egg” with a debut model, motorcycles today are state-of-the-art, high-tech, very well-built machines from manufacturers who take form and function seriously. No lemons here.

Legendary Bikes: 1901 Triumph Prototype

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | Dec 6, 2021 | Legendary Bikes |

From Triumph: An amazing historic find, discovered and restored by leading vintage Triumph collector Dick Shepherd, the 1901 Prototype rewrites the history books, adding a whole new chapter prior to Triumph’s official sales starting in 1902. Long rumored to exist and referenced within advertising and reviews that appeared in 1901, this first Triumph prototype was developed from a standard Triumph bicycle, with an engine provided by Belgian manufacturer Minerva, in order to generate interest and gauge the public’s demand for a Triumph motorcycle.

One Million Strong

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | Dec 1, 2021 | Bikes & Gear, Industry & Racing |

Triumph has a long illustrious history in motorcycling, however rocky their journey has been at times. From their initial launch back in 1902, the iconic motorcycle company has grown into a world leader in the field, weathered financial storms, and has emerged stronger than ever. They now prepare to celebrate two milestones- 120 years of manufacturing world-class motorcycles, and rolling out their one millionth machine since reorganizing and relaunching in 1990. The one-off, special edition Tiger 900 Rally Pro was unveiled at Triumph’s global headquarters in Hinckley, England by the company’s CEO, Nick Bloor, in the presence of the entire UK team. The choice of the Tiger 900 Rally Pro was the ideal bike to receive the honor, being such a versatile, all-terrain, do-everything motorcycle, truly representative of the brand’s history and capabilities.

Royal Enfield Marks 120 Years With Special Edition 650 Twins

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | Nov 26, 2021 | Bikes & Gear, Legendary Bikes |

It was in November 1901 that Royal Enfield launched its first motorcycle at the Stanley Cycle Show in London, England, kickstarting the journey of an iconic brand which has since inspired millions in their pursuit of pure motorcycling over the last 120 years. From their humble beginnings in 1901, Royal Enfield, the oldest motorcycle brand in continuous production, is marking this milestone year with a pair of 120th Year Anniversary Editions of its popular 650 Twin motorcycles—the INT 650 and Continental GT 650—revealed at the annual EICMA 2021 in Milan, Italy this week.

A Brief History of the Cafe Racer

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | Oct 1, 2021 | Legendary Bikes |

The café racer has long been a popular genre in the motorcycling universe, and remains a sought-after look and style among today’s “modern classic” offerings by so many brands. Editor Rob even owns an example of one in the form of his 2017 Triumph Bonneville Street Cup. So we decided to take a short dive into the origins of the café racer, to discern its lasting appeal to motorcyclists the world over.