Bikes & Gear

Evaluations & Recommendations

Introduction: Honda NT1100 DCT

Posted by Ted Edwards | Sep 29, 2026 | Bikes & Gear | 0 |

Garmin Zumo XT3 Motorcycle Navigator

Posted by Ted Edwards | Sep 17, 2026 | Bikes & Gear | 1 |

First Impressions: Moto Morini Seiemezzo SCR 650

Posted by Rob Brooks | Sep 15, 2026 | Bikes & Gear | 0 |

2026 Honda Rebel 1100 DCT SE: Final Impressions

Posted by Ted Edwards | Sep 8, 2026 | Bikes & Gear | 0 |

2026 Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide ST: Milwaukee Rocket

Posted by Phil Gauthier | Aug 13, 2026 | Bikes & Gear | 2 |

Introduction: Honda NT1100 DCT

by Ted Edwards | Sep 29, 2026 | Bikes & Gear | 0 |

With the departure of the wonderful Rebel 1100, Honda decided to fill the vacancy in Road Dirt’s Pacific Northwest Headquarters with their sport touring offering, the NT1100. The curious bit is that the NT1100 and the Rebel 1100 share the same parallel twin engine and DCT transmission but their purposes are polar opposites. Whereas the Rebel is the inviting cruiser, the NT1100 is the tall, high seat ride with touring intent and sporty features designed to make you thirst for the horizon.

Garmin Zumo XT3 Motorcycle Navigator

by Ted Edwards | Sep 17, 2026 | Bikes & Gear | 1 |

It would take a lot to convince me to ditch the maps, go digital and add yet one more thing to the cluttered dash of my bike, until Garmin sent me their newest motorcycle focused GPS system, the Zumo XT3 motorcycle specific navigator, abounding with features like smartphone connection, trip planning, lean angle sensor, group ride tracking and drag race timer. Drag times? Hmmm…

First Impressions: Moto Morini Seiemezzo SCR 650

by Rob Brooks | Sep 15, 2026 | Bikes & Gear | 0 |

“Ah, ze Moto Morini! I have not zeen one of zese motorbikes for many years!” So began a brief conversation with an older gent who approached me at a gas station outside Cleveland, Georgia over the weekend. Out riding the Seiemezzo SCR 650 with my friend Harrison Vaughan of Kingdom Adventure Tours (he was on a Honda Africa Twin), I rightly guessed this elder gent was originally from Italy, which also explained his familiarity with the Italian motorcycle brand.

2026 Honda Rebel 1100 DCT SE: Final Impressions

by Ted Edwards | Sep 8, 2026 | Bikes & Gear | 0 |

I remember how it felt the first time. At nine years old I threw a leg over a Honda Trail 90 and basked in the discovery of power, speed, wind and freedom, like God was pedaling my Schwinn Stingray, thrusting me forward with each twist of my mighty right wrist. I explored fields, streets and Pacific Northwest mountains just outside my back door with my smelly metal missile that opened up the world. Any motorcycle that recaptures that feeling of youth, the reason why we ride in the first place, is worth every cent. I never thought I would find it in a Honda Rebel.

2026 Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide ST: Milwaukee Rocket

by Phil Gauthier | Aug 13, 2026 | Bikes & Gear | 2 |

Every once in a while, a bike shows up that’s actually built for a guy my size. I’m 6’2″ and carrying a little north of two-and-a-half bills, and most of the “sporty” stuff in the touring world feels like I’m folding myself into a lawn chair. So when Harley rang Rob in late June and asked if the Road Dirt crew wanted to spend some time on a 2026 CVO Street Glide ST, I think it took him about a millisecond to say yes. So we coordinated with H-D and a local YouTuber to pick up the “Milwaukee Rocket”.

2026 Honda Rebel 1100 DCT SE- The Sport Naked

by Ted Edwards | Aug 11, 2026 | Bikes & Gear | 0 |

A few weeks ago, Honda North America dropped off a 2026 Rebel 1100 DCT SE at my front door. It was at my asking actually, to compare the revised 2026 model year’s new dash, seat and riding position to the previous model. I was not prepared for what happened next. Not at all.

2026 Triumph Tracker 400: Lean & Mean

by Rob Brooks | Jul 30, 2026 | Bikes & Gear | 2 |

I’m developing a serious problem with this new Triumph Tracker 400 motorcycle.
Only a few weeks in, and I’m already addicted to this bike. When I first got it back to the shop, before anything else, I threw my gear on and took it for a spin. What was only supposed to be a 15 minute check ride turned into a bit over an hour. Then the next morning after the wife left for work, I hurriedly scarfed down some breakfast, threw the gear back on and lit out again. “Research,” I told myself.

Sargent Seats- Ride in Comfort and Style

by Road Dirt Crew | Jul 27, 2026 | Bikes & Gear | 0 |

My butt knows seats. Having accumulated over 60,000 miles of riding on a wide variety of butt pans and piling up 7,000 to 10,000 miles a year on every seat from stock to Corbin to Russel Day Long, I can attest to the benefits of a custom motorcycle seat. When I got my new (to me) 2023 Suzuki GSX S 1000 GT I was again in the market for a custom seat. After giving the Suzuki’s stock seat a fair chance of 1000 miles, my hindquarters told me it was time to find another custom seat. But which one to get? Sargent Cycle stepped up and shipped me their custom seat for my sport tourer.

Vespa Life

by Road Dirt Crew | Jul 24, 2026 | Bikes & Gear, Ride Life | 2 |

While I’m a dedicated and proud motorcycle rider, I usually keep a scooter in the garage as well, and it’s usually a Vespa. Currently, I have a 2014 Vespa GTS300ie Super, the hottest hot rod the company made at the time. I’m also President of Vespa Club Portland, a vibrant and active group of scooter enthusiasts—“scooterists”—who ride year-round in the often damp Pacific Northwest. And in case you missed it, 2026 marks the 80th anniversary of the Vespa scooter.