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We take a ride on Yamaha Bicycles dual-sport like Wabash RT pedal-assist gravel bike.
We take a ride on Yamaha Bicycles dual-sport like Wabash RT pedal-assist gravel bike. (Joseph Agustin/)

Introduced earlier in the year is Yamaha Bicycles’ new and improved 2022 Wabash RT gravel bike ($4,199). This is a dual sport–style pedal-assist 700c wheel equipped electric bike from the Tuning Fork brand. This bike is designed for riders who want a road bike that they can ride on pavement and off-highway, on light-duty trails.

Editor’s note: We operated Yamaha’s ebikes during the 2022 Yamaha CrossCore RC and Wabash RT Review article and video. We’ve also reported on these ebikes in the 2022 Yamaha Wabash RT Electric Bicycle First Look

It is powered by Yamaha’s proprietary PW generation electric motor. This motor is good for right around 59 lb.-ft. of torque. That’s more than gasoline-powered new motorcycles like Yamaha’s MT-07 and YZF-R7 duo.

The Wabash RT has the same series of modifications as its sister bike, the CrossCore RC (do-it-all, urban pedal-assist bicycle) which we tested during the 2022 Yamaha CrossCore RC MC Commute Review. This particular bike is endowed with a set of flared drop bars, oversize 700c Maxxis tires, and a handy dropper seat which also serves as a type of suspension. For example, say you traverse a big bump. The seat automatically gives a bit of suspension cushion.

For this test we operated a large (60cm) Wabash RT, which has added length in terms of its dropper post height versus size small (54cm) frames. For the majority of our test ride we rode in the Automatic power setting. This automatically adjusts the power level based on cadence, load, and terrain incline/decline. It removes the worry of being in the right power mode based on terrain or the environment you are operating in.

The neat thing about these Yamaha pedal-assist bicycles is that they are relatively affordable and easy to ride. You get to experience the thrill and excitement of cycling outdoors, but don’t have to be in top physical condition. You can still haul butt but without having to worry about your lungs exploding or leg muscles feeling like they are on fire. No doubt cycling purists could call you a weakling for operating this type of vehicle. Realistically, however, if you are a good cyclist, this bike will allow you to travel even farther.

In its lowest power setting, the RT has a range of right around 100 miles. The battery is charged via Yamaha’s proprietary charging adapter. It takes four hours to charge the battery from zero percent.

For this 2022 MY, Yamaha has fitted a larger 11-speed cassette (one speed up from the previous design). The awesome thing about this gravel bike is you can ride it in all sorts of terrain. The only caveat is you can’t really ride these things on super-gnarly terrain, because they don’t have the suspension travel nor the optimum wheel setup. But you can certainly ride off the beaten path and explore your neighborhood beyond where the pavement lies.

We certainly value the extra width and extra sidewall of these Maxxis tires. They’re almost like a trials motorcycle tire, which typically employs a gummy compound. The tread knobs are fine, like a fine-toothed comb. This affords surprising grip over loose, dry terrain. These shoes make precarious terrain more passable. We like how seamlessly it transitions on and off pavement.

In typical form, the Wabash RT employs more aggressive road-bike-style ergonomics. We like it because it keeps our back nice and straight, but still, it could be an unusual position for some. It also pedals nicely without a lot of mechanical drag through the cranks. Still, at 46.7 pounds (size large) it isn’t light. It isn’t nearly as heavy as the CrossCore RC, and it pedals well even with the power off in a straight line.

The Wabash RT has a top speed of 28 mph with pedal assist. Above that speed the vehicle operates like a traditional pedal bike. We recorded a 38 mph top speed. The hydraulic disc brakes do a marvelous job of shedding speed with pleasing lever feel.

If you couldn’t tell, we had a good time riding Yamaha Bicycles Wabash RT pedal-assist gravel bike. It’s the dual sport equivalent of a road bike. You can cover some serious mileage on or off-road, and see the sights and sounds of your town in a really fun way. It’s definitely a good addition to the garage for the avid powersport enthusiast.

2022 Yamaha Wabash RT Electric Bicycle Technical Specifications and Price

Price:$4,199Battery:Yamaha lithium-ion 500Wh, 36V, 13.4AhDrive Unit:Yamaha PWSeries ST 3-bolt mountShifter:Shimano GRX 11-speed RX600Rear Derailleur:Shimano GRX

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By: Adam Waheed
Title: 2022 Yamaha Wabash RT Gravel Bike Review
Sourced From: www.motorcyclistonline.com/story/news/yamaha-wabash-rt-gravel-bike-review-2022/
Published Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2022 21:40:54 +0000

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Prizefighter: A custom Ducati Monster 600 built for a Turkish actor

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Custom Ducati Monster 600 by Bunker Custom Cycles
The Ducati Monster is widely credited with saving the Italian marque in the 90s. Part of its success lies in its minimalist brawler aesthetic—and part of it lies in the fact that Ducati has always offered the Monster in myriad engine sizes at varying price points. If you couldn’t quite spring for an M900 back in 1994, the Ducati Monster 600 looked just as cool, cost less, and still made adequate power.

Decades on, the Monster is a very different beast and has even shed its trademark trellis frame. But the mid-90s Monster still has appeal—and it’s got tons of custom bike potential, as evidenced by this custom Ducati Monster 600 from Turkey’s Bunker Custom Cycles.

Custom Ducati Monster 600 by Bunker Custom Cycles

The 1998-model Monster 600 belongs to the Turkish actor Kadir Doğulu, who went through considerable effort to obtain it. The story goes that the bike was one of four imported to Turkey in the late 90s as show bikes for a major local 4×4 event. Kadir spotted it in the corner of a parking garage gathering dust and hassled the owner for ten years before he finally agreed to sell it.

By then, the Monster 600 was desperately in need of rescue. A decade of being parked had given the elements time to work, leaving the chassis, fuel tank, and a whole whack of alloy parts covered in rust. Kadir held onto the bike for a while, then called in the brothers at Bunker Custom Cycles, Mert and Can Uzer, to revive it.

Custom Ducati Monster 600 by Bunker Custom CyclesRead More

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By: Wesley Reyneke
Title: Prizefighter: A custom Ducati Monster 600 built for a Turkish actor
Sourced From: www.bikeexif.com/custom-ducati-monster-600
Published Date: Tue, 26 Sep 2023 18:57:09 +0000

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Where Is the 2024 Honda CB750 Hornet Naked Bike?

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Honda’s CB750 Hornet was officially unveiled in Europe last year, and has appeared in other markets globally—just not the US.
Honda’s CB750 Hornet was officially unveiled in Europe last year, and has appeared in other markets globally—just not the US. (Honda Europe/)

It’s been 25 years since Honda’s massively popular 600cc Hornet wheelied onto European tarmac, so when word got out a couple of years ago that a new Hornet was in development the buzz (sorry) around the internet was palpable. The first and second-gen Hornets were almost universally beloved for their light weight, revvy characterful engine, and uh, down-to-earth price tags. Fun, practical, and cheap? It’s no wonder crowds of riders signed up to own one. And while the naked-bike segment has evolved tremendously in the ensuing years, a midsize model with those same characteristics along with the reliability and build quality Honda’s known for—at the right price—might still put up a good fight against its Trident 660 and MT-07 rivals.

The Hornet’s chassis is dominated by a new lightweight diamond steel frame and Showa suspension front and rear.
The Hornet’s chassis is dominated by a new lightweight diamond steel frame and Showa suspension front and rear. (Honda Europe/)

Sure enough, Honda pulled the wraps off its long-anticipated CB750 Hornet at the 2022 Intermot show in Germany, and it had all the goods we could hope for: a rollicking 91 hp twin engine (not an inline-four like the old model), a robust menu of standard features, and a better-than-expected electronics package. The compact 755cc Unicam eight-valve parallel-twin engine was entirely new, as was the diamond steel frame, and the bike sported throttle-by-wire, ABS, four ride modes, traction and wheelie control, a six-speed transmission, and more.

Initial reports praised its fat midrange, agility, and unique sound (for a parallel twin). It weighed less than 420 pounds, and for a naked middleweight, the price was right; less than 8,000 euro (about $8,500 USD).

Related: 2024 Honda XL750 Transalp First Look Preview

The new Hornet shares its all-new compact 755cc parallel-twin engine with Honda’s just-released XL750 Transalp, though there are slight differences.
The new Hornet shares its all-new compact 755cc parallel-twin engine with Honda’s just-released XL750 Transalp, though there are slight differences. (Honda Europe/)

You can bet plenty of US riders immediately thought, “Great, North America will get it next year.” And really, that didn’t seem like an outlandish idea. The bike had been teased since at least 2021, beginning with computer illustrations and then more fleshed-out reveals of a concept version; it had now become a familiar formula, with Honda then usually releasing a full production model in Europe, followed a year later with entry into the North American market. But here we are at the end of 2023 and many of the 2024 US models have already been announced, including the reborn 2024 Transalp model, which—it almost feels like a slap in the face—uses the same exact 755cc engine as the Hornet. A bike with the same drivetrain as the Hornet, that wasn’t expected in the US at all this year, and yet…

Hello, Honda?

A 5.0-inch color TFT display allows access to rider modes, traction control, engine-braking, and anti-wheelie settings.
A 5.0-inch color TFT display allows access to rider modes, traction control, engine-braking, and anti-wheelie settings. (Honda Europe/)

As we said, the engine is all-new, with the parallel twin using Honda’s latest vortex airflow ducting to improve intake flow in the low-end and midrange. Peak power is 90.5 hp at 9,500 rpm, with max torque of 55.3 lb.-ft. coming on at 7,250 rpm. The Hornet’s 755cc mill also uses a 270-degree crank for an uneven firing interval that injects more character to its delivery as well as its sound.

To be fair, the Transalp’s mill is ever so slightly different, with the airbox inlets being longer to give it more midrange, and its back

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By: Andrew Cherney
Title: Where Is the 2024 Honda CB750 Hornet Naked Bike?
Sourced From: www.motorcyclistonline.com/news/honda-cb750-hornet-coming-soon-rumors/
Published Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2023 22:17:08 +0000

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Make some noize for the Kawasaki H1 that didn’t race at Glemseck

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Kawasaki H1 drag bike by Krautmotors
The Glemseck 101 is the European event for anyone who loves fast, impractical, and highly imaginative machines. Those who partake in it do so with cult-like levels of obsession—returning year after year in a bid to outdo each other and themselves.

Rolf Reick is a regular face at the Glemseck 101. Based in Heidelberg, Germany, the perpetually cheerful industrial designer heads up a design school in the nearby town of Mannheim. But he also has years of experience building custom bikes—like this wild Kawasaki H1 two-stroke—under the banner of Krautmotors.

Kawasaki H1 drag bike by Krautmotors

Rolf has stockpiled a number of rad bits and pieces over the years. So he set himself a goal of building a drag bike for this year’s Glemseck 101 using only recycled parts from his personal stash, turning to external sources only when necessary. (It’s not the first time he’s used this approach.)

One of the parts that Ralf already had on hand was the triple-cylinder two-stroke engine from a Kawasaki H1 Mach III; the original ‘Widowmaker.’ But it was far from stock. It had previously been rebuilt by the Kawasaki specialist Ralf Gille, with a host of upgrades that included extensive head work, a new crankshaft, and a set of Mikuni carbs.

Kawasaki H1 drag bike by KrautmotorsRead More

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By: Wesley Reyneke
Title: Make some noize for the Kawasaki H1 that didn’t race at Glemseck
Sourced From: www.bikeexif.com/kawasaki-h1-krautmotors
Published Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2023 18:01:55 +0000

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